#earthrunes

"They'll know they have a pooka with them already"

"True... but Vince is not dishonest a much as he....embellishes."

"My thought is," Tylar adds "It's not dishonest , what Benny's suggesting, because there is already someone present. No more dishonest than police recording an interogation":

"I... suppose... it would be fit to have another noble present." reluctantly "In some form."

"And if Velvet is seen recording notes...."

"As you like, my liege" Velvet says

Vince tuts a bit. "Less likely to open up if there are eyes on the prize."

August ponders a moment "If.... if the lady objects.... or is less than forthcoming due to Velvet's presence... then.... she would withdraw out of sight?" He struggles with a strong sense of fair play.

Velvet smiles at her lord "that would be fine with me, my lord"

He nods slowly, convincing himself. "Then... is there one her who can Veil me?"

"I have some veils you would look lovely in. Sheer fabric, quite lovely."

"I could veil you beffore it, my lord" she says

A sigh, no one likes Vince's fashion advice today.

Benny pats the Pooka's hand reassuringly

"Thank you, Velvet, please do. And Vince, I appreciate the offer."

BIG smile.

Tylar ponders "Baron, Thane Rollo asked if you wanted him to patrol around thhe Leanhaun's manner? "

"Yes. Please check with Baroness Coradel but I think it would be meet to have someone on-site for the time being as well as a patrol. Please ask her, and follow her guidance on who and how long."

And then after a moment he clears his throat. "Then.... are we all prepared?"

"I ..believe we are" Tylar says

"Then, Squire Velvet, if you will do the honors I will follow you and Vince. Tylar, Benny, please work together to address the question of patrols with Baroness Coradel while we do."

"Yes, Baron" the boggann and Kinan agree

"Squire." he nods permission to Velvet.

Velvet nods "Yes, Liege" Annnd off hey go

(With August veiled in due course)

Baroness Lialeh ap Leanhaun turns as they enter. She wears delicate shackles, and a veil over her mouth.

"Lady Lialeh, I presume?" Vince asks politely. He has changed to one of his fine courtier's outfits, cut to show off his assets without being overly revealing. He pulls a small cart with him, some delicate snacks and ingredients for drinks.

Her voice is a whiser, as if gaggged by the veil, but she nods

He frowns, and murmurs. "Not right, it is not right at all, to treat a lady thusly. By my tail and whiskers. Please, may I join you?" He asks.

A brow lift, a nod

He moves over to join her, the cart drawn behind him. A hand delicately reaches up, then pauses. "It is a shame to hide the face of a beauty. May I?" Moving to remove the veil if she does not protest.

A nod

August watches in the shadows with Velvet.

Gently, his fingertips just barely brushing her cheekbones, he removes the veil. A soft sigh, "I have heard of the beauty of the Leanhaun, but now I see that they were all terrible lies. Nothing can compare to the reality."

"May I pour my lady a drink? You may be technically held here, but that still means you are a guest of the Barony, whatever others might think." A sniff, apparently tiffed by her treatment thusfar.

"You're an odd one" She finnally says "Courteous, but odd. Yes, a drink will suffice"

"Not all Lions mistake bravery with brash behavior." He smiles, and offers her a drink of her choice, making one for himself as well, and allowing her to choose her glass, lest she think him aiming at poison.

Her hannds sill shackled by the oddly thin shackles given, she gestures clusmily to a drink "You realize they fear I'll dictum you or otherwise?"

"I am not afraid. Please, allow me." He lifts the glass gently for her to sip. "My name is Vincenzo Lorenzo Alfresco Rio De Janiero the 5th, Esquire, but I would be most pleased if you would call me Vince."

She sips "Much better than the water that odious boggan tthane gives me. Very well, Vince. You have my attention"

"I merely wish to hear your own story, if you are willing to share it. Boggans are most insidious creatures, you know, the way they gossip so, without pausing to verify the veracity of their venom. Now, myself? I pride myself on always giving pause."

He holds his hands like a cat's paws, rather cutely, for a moment.

Offering her next a bite of a small, delicate treat of some sort.

The best that the kitchen had, in fact, from the same stores used to serve the Baroness.

She eats it, then says "My story? Simplicitty itself. I enjoyed what I did. Have you ever toyed with mortals Vince? Bentt their vey wills? It's delightful. the closest to becoming the gods we were, if only for a time. I speak of all changelings, not just sidhe."

"I toy with them regularly, it is true. It brings me great delight." Honestly - thinking of how much he loves to play, hidden in the form of a cat, with his own young sons.

"I had wondered if perhaps you worked on the behest of another. Perhaps some higher lord or lady, or one that held control over you. While I personally am best served as serving the sidhe, common tabby that I am, it could be that your work was being cruelly ordered, such that you labored while another reaped the rewards?"

A soft laugh

"Oh, i suppose you could say I was hired. Oh I lived like a queen though, not every sidhe is lucky ennough to afford mansions. But the offer was good. I ggot to indulge my darkest needs, as long as it was here." A sigh "I suppose I should have realized there was a catch from my annnonymous benefactor"

He lifts the glass to her lips once more, sipping his own companionably. "A catch? The cads! How dare they? Do tell!" Inviting further discourse on those terrible folk.

"Oh, just that I had tto settle in this barony. I avoided this court.. for OBVIOUS reasons.... but somehow word got out. " A sip As the strong drink works "Alas, whoever they are, be tthey Shadow Court or just a noble with a grudge, I don't know. All I knew was that I got the wealth I always longged for, and the most delicious of meals. Broken hearts, like pinnatas full of candy. Oh how worthless the women were. And the men? Slaves"

Vince's smile remains, though his grip on his glass has tightened just a touch. A little less control, and the delicate stemware might have snapped in his normally careful and meticulous grasp.

"You don't say." He murmurs.