#fenixtj

"No, but it's still flattery, and might lead to dishonor if you are careless with it. Not mine, of course."

"Gwydion... think flattery is dishonorable?"

"I cannot speak for all Gwydion, but you came here with Piper did you not? She is your lady?"

"She's my girlfriend, yes. We came here together."

"Then you in danger of dishonoring her and yourself when you flatter a woman you have just met when she is the one you are accompanying"

Adam really really thinks on this a moment. "Is there somewhere these rules are written down? I mean.... I know about the Escheat and I've memorized it and I practice it but... like, for courtly romance and love and stuff. The Escheat isn't real in depth on that. That I have found."

"House Fiona has the most rules on Courtly romance... but every gentleman should treat the lady he is with as a Dulcinea to some degree."

"A what?"

"What mortals made play of to mock chivalry, we changelings see the glory in it. Don Quixotie, a mad man fancing himself a knight, charged windmills to defeat giants... and adored a vulgar creature as if she were a princess...forsaking other women, blind to them. " she says "Your flirtation with me was no crime but why begin with me at all when you have your piper nearby? Rather praise her beauty, her golden voice, the way her eyes catch the light...worship her from afar...and pursue her as if all other women were banished from this world, and you might grasp what romantic chivalry means to so many."

Deep introspection follows this; there's a lengthy pause.

"I flirt with Piper. And ... yeah, ok, she says she'd like...." he trails off. "She's not vulgar, though. So... you can't... you know, compliment anyone without it being....??"

"I think you misunderstand me. I am not saying Piper is Vulgar. Far from it. She's quite personable to my limited experience. I am saying that you should treat her as she leaves all other women in the dust when it comes to poise, class, and yes, beauty. IT doesn't matter of the Sparrow of House Liam herself wings past you...make a truth where your PIper outshines even her ... honor Piper and in doing so, prove honorable yourself. Can you compliment me with it out being a pass? Possibly. I admit sometimes I can be too guarded. Life experience has me quick to see flattery as an attempt to woo. THe problem isn't that a man might attempt to woo me. Nothing dishonorable in him for trying IF he is not with a lady. But you are with a lady. You came to this place with her as HER escort, and she yours. Do you not see the danger then of acting as if she were a mere movie pass to enter a theatre?"

"Yeah. I mean, Yes, Dame."

"Good. I feared for a moment Piper had chosen... poorly" A sniff

Adam ruffles slightly.

"Piper and me.... " he trails off "... no, nevermind. Sorry."

"Piper and you have a.. open relationship?"

Adam looks up, proudly. "We talk."

"Good. Actually conversation is the steel that keeps the strength of a romance intact. Everyone makes sonnet o f the gems in the hilt, but no one seems to realize such things are just trinkets . It is not my interest to judge you or Piper and what you have. But how you act with other women while she is known to be with you and vice versa reflects on her ..and you. As for Courtly love, as you're just a kinian, you needn't worry about it's every detail. "

He doesn't ruffles, he bristles. "So it's some kind of Fae-only super secret?"

"Super secret? No." The Gwydion says "It's not hard to learn I suppose. Hard to do, but not hard to learn"

"And it's not written down anywhere."

"Tthere are some who write on the subject and books exist, but why would it be of use to you? "

"Why wouldn't it be?"

"For much the same reason a snake can be shown which keys on a Piano make a complex symphony. He can bang away and make some noise, but he doesn't have what's needed to get it right.. in his case hands."

Her point seems bitter to him.

"Ok, so I should treat Piper like courtly love says to but I can't get taught how or even read it for myself?"

"Of course you can read ... you can read, yes? You're literate in at least one language?"

A skeptical brow

"Yeah." flatly.

"For a moment I feared mortal education had totally collapsed. Yes. Go ask the Scribe or Flex and Specs for a book on Courtly romance directly. Most likely they can find it if one is here. "

"I've been reading those already."

"So you already know about Bashful beloveds, the Ardent Admirers who pursue, and the game of nay and come hither." she says

"Yeeesssss....." Adam betrays some dubiousness.

"Do you comprehend it?" She asks

"Well, it seems simple enough. I mean, a ton of old books, mortal ones, and movies and poems and stuff are written like that."

"Well, youv'e read it at least. I advise Fiona holds."

A sigh. "Yeah."

"Though it does seem odd that a kinain should care so much about courtly love. Even some sidhe forgo it"

A shrug. "I'm interested in other Court stuff too but... starting to think it's one of those things you have to, you know, -do-?"

"In part." She says "But you're dealing with centuries of customs and traditions and ritual."

"Which is why I want to read up and study it and watch."

"I wish you luck, but if you're hoping for a tutor, it is not I."

"Yeah, no, s'ok." a trifle glumly.

"May I ask WHY you wish to learn it? When it seems to be so unlikely to be of use, or even in reach of you?"

"It's interesting. And since it's not going away, I should know what it is and how to act, right?"

"There's more to it than that, I suspect" she raises a brow

A shrug and he tears his gaze away.

"I wonder what Is keeping Piper so long? I hope she's not hit some snag."

"Maybe I'll go see....."