#fenixtj

Duff did not want to come into this hold again. The tattooed troll is dressed in leather jacket, blue jeans, and a scowl.

Jessica is, of course, working in her 'public' offices.

... and wondering, helplessly, how mom manages to govern a barony without private offices and such.

Duff approaches "Jessica. You have a moment?"

She looks up. "Um."

"Yes, of course. Seat?" she gathers herself and puts the papers away off to the side.

"No, this won't take long. I want you to know I am told about the white slaver trade starting up again. I'll be putting a stop to it"

She's quiet a moment.

A long moment.

"Thank you for bringing it to me. I feel like we should be involved; are you willing to share?"

"Jessica, we don't work well together. You end up trying to take charge of my operations or preventing them entirely. " he reminds "However I did think you should know I was moving on it."

"There are those in the County who -do- work well with you, and who do work -for- me, for the County. If you prefer I won't be directly involved but I do want to be part of ending, or interfering with that trade."

"I'm sure you do" he says "But it's been proven we don't want the same thing in many areas. And if you're talking about Demos, it's a side business , we use a protection racket to put pressure on those who rob from Kithain and kinain. We can't be open about it without violating the right of ignorance. THis however goes beyond that"

"How so?"

"White slavery has a chance of stealing kinain, or dreamers. I think it's called for even on the practical sense to stop it. Nevermind I just happen to hate the idea of slavery in the 21st century"

"We are agreed in this."

"Why should we not work towards this common goal?"

"Because I don't answer to you, and you insist that I do. Perhaps telling you I was on it was a mistake. Do what you will. I'll do what I will" he turns to go.

Jessica makes no response.

And off he goes.

She gets up and gets herself a long drink of water from the pitchers there.

The staff is kind, just enough ice mixed in that they apparently refresh

She takes some time to think.

She goes to see if she can find Nancy.

She finds Nancy, who appears to be eyeballing a guitar in her room, an accoustic one

Her door IS open

Jess knocks on the doorframe.

Nancy looks over, then looks surprised "Jessica? Come in.. what's up? " She clears off a spare chair

She waves off the offer as unnecessary. "Thank you, no need. Do you have a moment for some business?"

She rises "Sure. I was just trying to decide if I was ever going to bother to learn how to use that thing" Meaning the guitar "Is there some emergency?"

"No. Not yet, anyway, but the day is young. Do you still do business with Duff? I know he has side projects, social justice projects. Do you work with him on those?"

"Sometimes sure. He's more street level than I am, at least on the shady side of the street but he donates generously, and sometimes comes to me when someone he knows needs help like a place to stay or help getting to the states. He actually gave us a gift certifiate for his shop as a prize for our canned food drive for the Ukraine recently. Really nice of him"

She nods. "He was just here to see me. He's got a lead on human trafficking in the County, plans to do something about it. Refused to share, or to take assistance. If he comes to you, I'd like to know about it. I'd support the effort, and I especially want to protect the Escheat in and around it."

She thinks this over, then nods "Okay. I guess I can do that. Uhm.. he can be awfully stubborn at times. I'm sure you know that"

"I do."

"Okay . Well, I'll let you know if he comes ot me. You want me to go to hiM?"

"To be clear, Nancy, in this case I care about the Escheat first, and the saving of Fae who might be caught up in the trafficking. Then the mortals. I'd like to keep violence to a minimum, but I understand that violence might happen. Saving of Fae counts for the Fae involved in the rescues." she pauses at Nancy's question "Up to you."

"Understood" she says "I won't let you down"

"Thank you." she nods and heads back to her office.

Where she tries to buckle down on the work she was doing before Duff's visit.

And she gets cracking! Inventory approval from Diego! BAM! Requests for recognition of an old Grump's hard work and care! BAM BAM! A move to build a statue for a lost heroine La C... oh for the love of pete

Going to have to slow-roll that one....

Yup. Bottom of the pile

There is tapping of hooves outside her office

She glances up; hooves could be satyr,or pooka... and it's best to be looking at pooka....

A satyr boy is trying to sneak in the hallways

A boy? Do they have any satyr boys??

Not that she knows ! Kid doesn't look local

Jessica rises and goes to the door (quietly) to watch.

She's seen the boy before some where. He is moving towards one of those flowers Ellie likes so much