#fenixtj

Two days later, bedgraggled and weary looking, Mitra returns to Fenix

Jessica has been aware of her absence, and that means folks are probably on the look out for her.

(Mitra)

She's directed to Fontaine, and then Jessica is alerted.

Jessica hurries to the springs, not even remembering to mention pants prior to entering....

Jessica finds the sidhe in a swimsuit, and looking cleaner, and soaking in glamour

"My liege. I'm sorry, I was ordered to get healed and cleaned up first... more or less on your insistance and that you would be told to come to me. Seems wrong, but I abided by it. " She looks like she needs this, but her expression is still grim "Grab your snorkle and join if you like"

"Of course! Um." Jessica hesitates, makes a choice. "I'll be right back. Food? Drink?"

"Yes, and on the drink, your call what you have? But I'll want booze"

A look of concern flickers across her face, then a faint grin. "I'll have Diego bring you something?" a test... a tease?

A laugh "I'm over Diego, but yes... he's welcome to bring it"

"The drink that is" She blushes

Jessica lifts her eyebrows (if only her mother could see her.... a mirror....) but she nods and does so. Exactly those words. And then changes into a suit and a wrap and returns...... and she clears her throat, tapping at the entry, before saying "Dame.....?" as she enters. Slowly.

"Come in.. please" She says Soaking still but now with a drink in her hands.

She does, and after a glance around, slips into the water. "Ok, now... when you're ready."

"Emilio was dead on. He's got the kids in a camp for seelie indoctrination, there's at least 8 of them, ages 6 to 10.. they learn to recite the seelie code and explain why it is right. They have a confessional of sorts for Unseelie Thoughts... Father V is going to shit a duck when he hears about THAT perversion... " She takes a sip, "Security is...pretty tight for kids."

Jessica looks honestly -pained- "Mitra.... Mitra, what can we -do-? I can't just .... I have to do -something-....!"

"We get evidence. Such as oh...video footage. It shows the mortal side of things but there you go"

"Close enough. I can have people working on a chimerical camera for that but it'll take time and oh, Mitra, I don't want to have to need it. Can you take what you have to the Countess?"

"I will... and Jessica... believe it or not, I understand. " A frown "House Eiluned is considered ruthlesss at times, and we are, but even we have standards and this.. this bypasses them"

She shakes her head. "For this to be at House Gwydion's feet....." She looks ill.

"Mmmph... I don't know about the high house but when they fall they fall hard don't they?"

Obviously (if stoically) distraught. "Is... is there a chance there's something wrong? Bedlam or... or a spell?"

"The inquiry may reveal what. This could snowball, Jessica. "

"I don't -care-." Fierce. "Childlings, Mitra!" The absence of the lady's title speaks volumes.

"Then we'll see it to the end" She raises her glass

She rises and paces through the steaming water. "I feel like I could take my Maul and go over there and......"

"Jessica... that's the exact opposite of what you need to do"

She nods acknowledgement of the salute.

"I know, I KNOW......"

"This isn't apples. It's a wild west sort of set up. I mean, can you imagine someone trying this in Bergen?"

"No! Absolutely not, mom'd....." She stops that. "I know it's not Apples. I Know."

"Your mother would do what she did in Willows and a duel would arise. Jesscia? Summerstrike is a sociopath, but he's also a warrior. I'm not sure you'd win in a duel."

She thinks furiously..... "We don't have anyone who would, do we? Sir Buce would try but....."

"Sir Buce would fight a hurricane if you asked him, he'd die, but he would try."

She nods. "And I can't take him." It's a question.

A frown, "if it helps, I'm not sure I could either. There's always the chance of a lucky shot."

"We don't have.... as challengers he'd choose the weapon. Damn. DAMN." She's agitated.

"Yes. He values his honor, it's possible.. if we agitate him enough, he'll issue the challenge and you'll get to pick the nature of it. " A frown "The Countess should be on ourside

"

"Honor....." Bitter.

How odd to hear that from her.

"If the Countess does not act......"

A raised brow "The Countess will act, but if a protest to her choice goes to Duke Topaz, then it gets further. Also... House Gwydion is dying here, Jessica. It's influence dwindling. Summerstrike is a poor Gwydion, but he is a Gwydion, so at least over his barony they have some direct influence . T he Countess herself? She's nromally warring in the main land of Mexico. This place pulls her back too often... it might be argued that this is.. a necessary evil"

Her brow knits, thinking. "So... what are you saying?"

"I'm saying we better hope the Duke and Countess don't let House loyalty cloud their choices"

"Mitra, they are -childlings-....!" She can't seem to stress that enough, "Child...." She stops (dripping) then sprints from the pool and out of the room.

"Jessica wait..." but clearly the troll has gone.

Jessica, in a one-piece swimsuit and not caring, heads for where the pooka childling from Summerstrike is housed.

She finds the pooka childling with the sluagh kinian nanny in the study. They are reading from a book.