#earthrunes

Siv staggers into the library. She was never a big reader, but she's learned one benefit to this library.

It's a haven

Zara looks up from her book. A cup of tea is on the table nearby, gently steaming.

"Hi, Zara. Mind if I rest up here for a bit?" Siv says, lowering her voice not quite to a whisper but quieter than her usual chatter , out of respect for sluagh ears

"Aye, you may... is all well?" She rises.

"Oh, just need a break" she admits "I love what House Fiona stands for, I do, and I don't mind the sparring, and the riding lessons, and the court lessons though I'm not so good at the last... but the crazy thing is it's like 'okay, we're done sparring and riding for the day, I think we're all tired. hey everyone, want to go dancing?'" She blinks "I'm like..what? that's how you rest up? Do something just as tiring?"

"Feh." She agrees, as she quietly prepares a new cup of tea for the troll.

"Thank you. I've always thought of meself as extrovert, out going, active," She says "But I find myself, and this is strange for me, but I find myself needing quiet time, small crowd time. I think, I think I'm feeling particularly trollish of late. I saw Oswald in the rain the other night, outdoors, rain falling a bit cold, a drizzle, gloomy, him all alone. And I found myself, with a planned visit to a gala and so on..envying him."

"Well - you are a troll."

"I am," She says "But at Rivervale I'm the least trollish troll"

"Speaking as an extraordinarily gregarious sluagh.... "

A smile at that "Oh aye, true chatter box you are. You getting two words into my every thirty"

"You must not neglect your dream. You can be yourself, aye - but it is a good thing to find what you need to center and refresh your soul."

"Just because the sidhe and satyrs wish to dance does not make you less fit for Fiona."

"You think?" Curious "I hear about other Fiona trolls, Bachdion has met them, but... a lot of folks seem surprised I'm trying the SIlver Lion because I'm a troll. Like... what an odd thing?"

"Commoners in houses are rare. And you are a rare troll." She offers out the cup and saucer.

"Thank you, both for the tea," She takes the cup and saucer, "And the comment which I shall take as a compliment. I suppose you and I are both askew just a bit for our kiths. " A sip "But they need us. House Gwydion needs trolls to hold it to honor over Ambition, House Fiona needs Satyrs to provide wisdom with the passion, and even if most sluagh shun houses, those same houses need sluagh as advisors to whisper truths as is rather than sidhe try to will things to be. They're better for our influence, for our voices"

"To an extent."

"Aye?" Curious "What would you say the extent is?"

"I will no join one, I find they uphold the noble hegemony.... a pity, really."

"But I think commoners will always be second-place in noble houses. Fiona is better than some, aye. Liam, too."

"I think trolls have it easier in Gwydion, more respect, than say Eshu or satyrs do. Falcons mix well with giants oddly" A pondering "But truth about Fiona and LIam. I rather like Fiona's fighting on Commoner sides during the accordance war."

"At least soem of them did" She ponders "I guess I must try to find out what is trollish in me that contributes to Fiona. What I can bring to them that few other kithain could. I wish to contribute"

"Now that is a trollish heart speaking."

"The Fiona are... " She trails off, considering. "Well. Very different from myself."

"Red's not your color normally" Siv agrees

"But nor would I fit in Eiluned, though were I to go to any house..."

"don't much care for Eiluned myself" She admits "but you have a curious nature and a magical gift"

"Precisely."

"But... I am a sluagh, and would never quite fit in that world."

"Maybe not, but I still maintain a sluagh friend to any hold or lodge is worth his or her weight in dross then some. Why Symon's been there for us again and again, thoug he'd blush for me to say it too loudly. "

"Symon is a mensch."

"Yes, but he'd much prefer to be known as a dark terror full of shadowy spirits I think so I try not to praise him in front of too many folk. You, I know, will respect his sensiblities"

"Of course. And it is appreciated."

"Oh, mother loved the book on trees that she checked out. I think she's still engrossed."

"Excellent."

Siv takes a sip, and enjoys the relative quiet, "I hope I'm no burden dropping in here for quiet now and then? I know sometimes you have your own studies."

"I do not mind polite company."

"I am, after all, shamelessly extoverted."

"Must be hard" She nods with as much sympathy as she can manage

"To enjoy company. To sometimes want to express an opinion."

"Well, some company is easier than others. But I enjoy yours, aye."

"Thank ye kindly" A sip "And if I may dare? I'm rather glad you're extroverted."

"Oh?"

"I find your opinions interesting and educational. If you were less inclined to share them, I would miss out"

A faint pink. "Ah."

"Tis very selfish of me, I know"

"Well... I.. I mean, I mind not."

"Good" She smiles then sighs "By the way? Sally Mae says you've moved onto corrupting Valer girls like you did The DeBukes? Gerd apparently is bargaining with Lovecraft"

A smug grin.