#fenixtj

A figure tries to sneak past the guards at the Rivervale door. She is small, she is sneaky.

But is she successful?

"Well..." says the young girl being dangled by her scruff by Sir Phobos, "This is mortifying"

"Countess, we got a sluagh snuck in from Rivervale?"

A sigh from the dangling girl "Caught by a redcap. Jodi will chortle if she hears of this"

"Rivervale?" Jessica comes forward; there's a faint resemblnce in her to ... someone? "Welcome. What brings you here? Set her down, Phobos, thank you."

"Hello, Countess Jessica. My name is Lily. I don't recall if we've met before" She is sat down "But I know Ahpuch.He's a boy, but I know him"

"Welcome Lily." she says, keeping her voice soft "I don't think I have had the pleasure, no, but I know and love Rivervale."

"Well, of course, your mom and da live there" She smooths her coat

"Yes."

"I am..a friend of Connor. " She adds "Dame Dagmar is his knight. I terribly sorry if I've intruded on your day." A glare at the redcap, then back to smoothing her coat "How is your hold?"

"Very well, thank you. Can I offer you tea?" did someone train this troll?

She seems surprised, "Why that is most kind of you, Miss Jessica. Pardon, do you prefer Countess?"

"Jessica is fine. Please come with me. Thank you, Sir Phobos." she nods to her Captain of the Guard and leads the little sluagh to get a tea service.

Tea, as Jessica has shown, is not unknown to her, and the little sluagh girl seems most pleased when a proper tea is set up

Jessica serves, and sips, and waits in silence.

The girl takes a sip, then says "Most excellent. I thank you, Miss Jessica. This is most soothing after that embarrassing incident with your Sir Phobos. "

"Sir Phobos has a grave charge, and we are on a hightened alert just now, and for some time. Forgive him, but he does his duty proud."

"A heightened alert?" curiously she says "Are you in danger? Do you require assistance? I know you have some sluagh here, but I hear most are boys, and male sluagh, with some fine exceptions, can be slugabeds when it comes to proper spying"

"I thank you for your offer. Allow me to consider it?"

"Of course, one should never impose ones self" A nod "And you shall find my rates reasonable" A sip

"I am sure."

"Tell me, do you have many selkies in your area?" A sip "They are rare in Rivervale for obvious reasons"

"We do have selkies, yes."

"Are they decent folk? Assuming you know any personally" A sip "I realize one should not sterotype, but I am trying to broaden my education, you see?"

She nods that yes, she sees. "I do not know any very well, I'm afraid. They do seem decent folk, yes."

A nod "Good to know. Do you know any that might let me ask questions about their kith?"

"Well, I imagine that you could talk to your Kith Siblings. And you're welcome to talk to the Selkies. Fontaine -might- have information, I'm really not sure."

"Ah yes well, as I said, most of the sluagh here are boys. Dreadful condition. I hear it can't be helped"

"As you like."

"That said, I shall consult with Mister Fontaine"

"Feel free. Do you know the way?"

"I do. I understand pants are required? Is that for everyone? Or am I allowed a dress?"

"A dress is fine. Fontaine... um, we coached him a bit, on that subject. Just let him know and he'll have pants on."

"A mercy I am sure" the girl observes over her tea "You've been most hostible, miss Jessica. Shall I bear news to you of Rivervale?"

"Please do." a small smile "And give them my, um, every affection."

"it is awkard having to give affection. I understand" Sympathy there "Why, once, when he was being particularly sweet, I had the urge to hug the stuffing out connor. Most undignfied" She nods "And family can be just as trying. Well" A sip "you will be pleased to hear your mother and father exelled at Pennons.. your mother especially. They often do, but the results this year were very interesting. One Piskie made 20000 dollars off of it. " And she relates the various results of sports and contests for Rivervale. Including that Dagmar TIED the Chief, doubling Rivervale's glory

Jess listens with real interest, asking a few soft questions. She's not -completely- out of the loop, after all, telephones happen. However, a first-hand account is welcome before going home for Thanksgiving.

Oh indeed, and there are hints at some juicy secrets for the right price

Not that Jessica traffics in such things.

a soft sigh as dangled bait is not accepted. trolls she muses

"Of course we childlings had the most important match of all... coating our foes in the cursed green liquid that foretold their doom..."

She gets the King's eyebrow.

"Well, they called it a paint balloon match for childlings... but i am sure I read at least three our four portents of doom in some of the shapes that formed. There was at leasst one sidhe childling on the opposing side who I am sure, if the paint were a tea leaf, it would have read 'botched nose job in your future'"

"They would still look good." she reminds the sluagh.

"Likely, but it might very well drive her mad when she becomes a vain wilder.. mad... mwhahaha" She says her chuckle practicing it

The troll nods in grave appreciation. "Assuming, of course, that's what she does. Grow up to be, I mean."

"Well, ther e is that. Should she become a more mannerly court lady I suppose I would have to see her as suitable company. Egads, we might even become friends. I have seen it happen. Poor Miss Zara actually Likes Baroness Coradel now. Much to her consternaation"

"You.. said you were from Rivervale."

"I move back and forth. I am no eshu mind you, but I have a grandmother of sorts in Earth Runes. "