#fenixtj

Sure enough, a morning audience is sought from Baron Tidemarch

Sought, and granted.

He comes in, and bows "Countess. If I may speak my mind?"

"Please do." as usual, her surroundings, attire, and attitude are informal.

"Your rule has not been kind to my barony" he says "I do not blame you, but merely point out consequence. Capataz tweak refers to me seeringly as Tidepool, with repeated insult. i endure it for the sake of your table. Baronness Mitra plays games I am not sure you notice. Nunnehi wander freely , scaring my citizens wih their presence. I have tried to follow your plan of peace but some act as if I am of no consquece. Vigilantes take the law into their own hands on my lands, and I am ORDERED to treat gently while she undermines authorities. I had more powerr over my own area under Rathbone, and she was a psychopath"

Jessica nods. "Would you like a drink?"

"Given my somewhat barbed complaint, however I feel it is honest, you're most kind to offer. yes. I would welcome it. But more, I would like some... consideration for my concerns. I would like to be the one not forced to compromise or surrender more power"

Jessica gets him a tequilla.

He takes it, "to the health of our charges" He drinks

"Hear hear." she agrees.

She seats herself again. "Ok. I don't want to force compromise, and I don't want you to surrender anymore power. Those are things you don't want. What do you -want-?"

"A fair point. I wish the right to arrest Nunnehi or lawbreakerrs without coddling them. While most Nunnehi behave themselves, some are bullies, even the peaceful ones are at least as prejudiced against us as we are against them. I'm a Varich, I undertand a man's hate can be ... precious to him, but as it stands, they seem to think If I arrest one tthey can just go over my head to you. My thanes feel frustrated that they can do little. I need to tel lthem they are allowed to take up violence if they judge it needful. Right to life is right to life, but you cann't catch a vigilanttte or bullying nunnnehi with slaps on the wrists. I would like to RULE in my way. The unseelie way. I would like the members of Unseelie Houses to feel they have at least as much right to visit here as Nunehi. They believe you horribly biased, you know? I tell them you have good reason to dislike us. Hate is a personal thing." He stops his sipping, then says "to your credit, the Ailil boy, Onyx. Your care for him has helped me there, to show them you are not a monster to them"

"Baron, one of my closest friends, a guiding force in my development, one of the first Fae I met after my Dream Dance, is Unseelie and proudly so. My father can't stand him, or so it seems to many. I welcomed the Unseelie of Summerstrike here at Fenix when they were cast out of that place. I really don't give a tinker's dam about any court except the Shadow Court."

"As long as we're speaking plainly."

"So shall I tell the Balor Knight he may take up residece here? Or the Leanhaun lady? you keep directing members of those houses to my hold"

"My concern with Balor is that they'll try to retake this hold, and perhaps the County."

"It has nothing to do with his Court."

"And the Leanhaun?" He says

A deep breath.

"Do they -want- to come here?"

"Of course they do, some to antagonize you, others forr the luxury here. And some because other holds are more crowded. Forgive me. I understand your dislike for tthe Balor AND distrust. But the few in this County must go somewhere. They come to my area. As do the Leanhuan, as do most Ailil. And they all have similar stories . 'I tried to have haven at Fenix, but was told to come here' or 'was hinted I'd be more comforttable here' or 'I was not made welcome' ... yes, the Balor are likely plotting. yes, tthe Leanhaunn may seem useless, and yes, the Ailil are power hungry. they're sttill changeligs, some maybe part of he Shadow Court, others might not be. As they refuse to wear Shadow Court hats, we can only guess, but they come to my court, and you wonde why most machinations seem to come from Sunkissed? Why we're both isolated and devious? It's because this is the building material I have now. To you, Unseelie houses seem to be a burden. Very well, if they are a burrden, then I and my baron deserve compensation for taking up the duty of lopsided hospitality your policies have led us to"

His tone is, a touch frustrated, yet he is tryingg to be respectful, and perhaps even sympahizes witth her worries about the Balor

She listens. She really listens, thinking about it.

"Baron, please stop assigning these issues to the Court of the individuals involved. Balor, Leanhaun, Ailil, and Varisch may be Houses that tend to the Unseelie Court, but my concerns are -not- related to Court, Seelie or Un." she repeats. "Although, I understand that it's easier to say it that way."

"That said.... which member of your court do you trust enough to make your representative here?"

"On a permanent basis. A liaison."

"It's not a matter of trust, Counttess. It's a matter of their right to go to ANY hold and ask haven, even if I don't trust them, I've taken them in because that's part of the Escheat. I am aware there are Seelie Ailil, and Unseelie Fiona. So let's say it's of the HOUSE of the nobles involved. I wasn't asking that you take in a representative. I was asking that the next time a Leannhaun or Balor requests haven HERE, you grant it the same as you would a Fiona or Gwydion"

"I understand the ask, Baron. My question stands. It's no secret that I'm .... less than apt when it comes to politics. That's a flaw, in a Countess, but here we are. -You- are more than apt, but you have a barony to run. So who, in your court, would you send here to liaison and advise me? -ESPECIALLY- since I'm going to order that any Fae, of any House, Court, or shoe size, receive haven here at the first request?"

He stops "Mmm," and mulls it over "the idea is not without merit. "

"Thank you." a touch acerbicly.

"Who's going to be your voice in my ear, Baron?"

"I think a voice will be useless if it's one you detest. With your permission, I would like to submit three applicants to pick from, you choose which one you find most tolerable?"

She nods. "Excellent idea. Soon, please."

"And thank you for bringing the matter to my attention. Now, the Nunnehi."

"With your agreement, I'm going to ask Otem to ask his people if they will send an ambassador to your court."

"Interesting. Am I expected to yield authority on Nunnehi matters to this ambassador?"

"I expect you to listen and consider his words carefully." she clarifies "He'll have diplomatic rank, if you will. Maybe he'll have a better, more impactful way of dealing with these bullies?"

"Very well," a consideration "Consider it done, at least on a trial period. Now, regarding La Cernicala? "

"And, it's possible you may learn from your Nunnehi ambassador some cultural ideas that explain their behavior in ways other than bullying." she adds "Yes, La Cernicala?"

"I would like permission to use force aggainst her, while we'll try to take her alive, it would be easier if we could hamstring the thief"

"Denied, Baron. My orders on this one stand. However. We can come together, all of us, and reassess after Carnivale."

"Why are you protecting her?" he seems baffled "Forgive me Countess, but do you have some personal interestt?"

"I'm not going to talk any more about it for now, Baron. Is there anything else?"

"Can I dictum tweak's lips shut at the next meeting if she calls me Tidepool again?" Dryly

"You probably -can- but also probably shouldn't."

"Baron, you know what nockers are like. I don't like the nicknames either, but after this many years it's come to just 'B' which is probably the best I can hope for and not that bad, all things considered. If I can deal with it, you can too."

"As you wish, but I'm starting to understand why herr husband is a pimp. No doubt, he enjoys having SOME Place where he can get a word in edgewise" A shake of his head "As it stands, while I am still hemmed in somewhat, I do thank you for hearing me out, Countess. I'll have that three options list sent to you soon"

"Thank you. I appreciate your coming to me, speaking honestly and directly, and working with me to find solutions. You're not alone in feeling ... restrictions, believe me."

"I suppose I could not be" He admits then adds "I think your selection of heirs has softened me. Too much, perhaps. My own ward, Vaeltilde, she was takenn onn for political purposes and tractiablity. Instead, having seen Ellie take her as a friend, I have noticed my litle Aeisn as...well, quite delightful in her own way"

"If our childlings can cross barriers, perhaps we can as well" He admits