#kc_necropolis

April Maude was something of a joy to get to know. But May Maude is... while similar, is another sort of troll Kinain. Not that she's unpleasant, but she's less shy about something . "let me understand this correctly, Mr. Stodepole, Miss CC? You were willing to pay for my plane fight here...and a hotel." They are in a nice one, meeting her.

"Yes." The short, stout man replies.

"Look, April told me you wanted to talk and it wasn't hard to guess about what..." May Maude says "But honest to god, why on Earth should I put MY dreams aside ? I've never had a baby, but I've plenty of relations who have. It's not all the joyous' ooh you have a glow' nonsense folks say. From my eye it looks like swollen ankles and a constant need to pee whenver your weight-which is considerable- shifts"

CC looks at Bill, "She's not far wrong," Then to the Kinain, "May Maude... is that what you prefer by the way?"

"Depends on who I'm with. May Maude, May, Maude, sometimes M&M..." She shrugs "Doesn't actually matter to me."

"You wish to see the world?"

"Going to see the world," May-Maude says "I'm young, I'm strong, and I've got will power- maybe not as much as a 'true troll' but that just means I don't wink out in banal places -not that I want to go there."

CC raises a brow "you are aware in the 21st century, women who are expecting travel all the time?"

"No drinking, frequent doctor visits, if I end up in a fight I'll worry about the fetus?" May-Maude says "Nevermind my body will not be in... look... I've heard of easy pregnancies but troll kin babies tend towards big even in the womb. I'll be the size of a circus tent"

William wisely holds his tongue.

He serves tea and delicacies.

"Thank you, honey" CC says and takes them, "No drinking, so the experiences, the luxuries are important to you?"

"Well, I'm WILLING to join the military to get there if need be... but Yeah I'd like to enjoy it" SHe says

CC nods, "You won't Maude. Your family will support a lot, but you know they won't support a world trip for the sake of it it. They'll expect you to be self sufficient... so you'l do hard work for little pay, OR end up in a job where WHERE you go isn't up to you. "

Bill notes the young woman's expression. And sees at the mention of 'family won't help' a sting and... agreement? There's .. ah ..yes. April had hinted as much. She had said May Maude was 'more Unseelie'. May Maude is not MORE unseelie, She IS unseelie. She dabbled and decided she liked it. And she's acting more Seelie than she is to 'fit in'. How much of that pushes her desire to travel?

He clears his throat. "If you like, I traveled extensively in younger years. I would be happy to provide my experience. You know, things to watch for, ways.... past impediments you might encounter. "

"You would be my tour guide? " May Maude says "Right"

"I'd be honored." He responds smoothly. "Regardless of your condition. If you like, we could leave today. What route is at the top of ypur list?"

"You two do realize this is borderline calling me a whore?" May-Maude's jaw sets. Stubbornness building. Defiance perhaps..but nothing concrete.

CC was gentle and kind with April, with May Maude she tries another tact, "Darling you don't have to have sex with anyone you don't want and frankly, if I were to hire a whore it would be one who knew all the tricks. I'm sure you're good, but we both know you're not professional. I've seen women in that task, most driven by desperation, some by ambitions that they thought that was the best way too- and as fellow women we might want to show a little sympathy for the former while revealing a bit of empathy for the latter " Before the young woman can respond, CC continues "But I DO think you know I'm right, and you're smart enough to realize this man WE, have a chance to make it happen. To open doors you can't get at. Now, I won't have my son abused by someone digging gold, but I can be generous. It's your body, your time, and if you choose to keep him or her, your baby- but it's obvious you're not fitting in on the farm. You're scratching to find a way out. You want an epic struggle at it so you can write a book when yo're my age about how hard it was? Be my guest, but if you want to actually enjoy those years.... well, this man is offering you the short cut. So am I."

This man nods gracious agreement with her words.

May-Maude's mouuth opens again, then "Wow. You are not soft people are you?"

"No, we are not. Miss May... I can sometimes see a bit into motivations. What Miss CC says is true, and more.... I think you secretly find that what most of your farm relatives find important and relevant seems.... silly, to you. Duty, honor as the represent it, even Love and beauty.... your sense of those things differs from theirs. Why not take this time to indulge what -you- value?"

Her back goes up, then "How could you tell?"

A shrug. "You know what we are?"

"I'm starting to suspect" SHe says. She may not be as academic as April but she's not stupid, "Look, we are now 'allowed' to be Unseelie on the farm. Me I blame a sluagh..she breezes through, lets Clem try it out...next thing you know we're taking lessons... zara the corruptor we jokingly called her... but most just treated it like a brief adventure. A few of us... well, it made sense. But it's not like how it is for you two, or one of you or whatever.. you can be iether court, folks might judge, but it's not this constant tut tut... and 'oh hopefully she'll come around poor dear' stuff. "

He laughs, eyes bright and twinkling.

"Oh dear, excuse me...." He brings himself under control. "My dear we may be -able- to choose one or another but we have preferences. Perhaps even imperatives. The Light Side is not always the default."

"Wait, an Unseelie Boggan?" The woman forgets herself "Holy crap. I thought you guys were rarer than unicorns"

"I did not say that." Evenly. "I was providing perspective. "

"Right" She nods, "And... it not being anyone's business is kind of the point. isn't it?" May Maude says

"Exactly the point" CC says. "Look, I won't lie to you about it... it is not easy, but we can give you resources to make it easy as possible AND see the world. Caesar will happily provide for the child"

"Assuredly. I think of it not so much as, well, quid pro quo, as.... those who -can- provide doing so for those it will benefit. This ... event... has put us in contact when we might never have had the pleasure of your acquaintance. Why not enjoy the relationship?"

"He's...smooth" May Maude admits to CC.

"you have no idea," CC responds

A modest smile.

"So not repay all debts but rather... me getting to indulge some passions with company?" May Maude ponders "What if... what if I have the child and I don't want to raise him or her? I mean, the farm would HELP but they'd expect me to be there."

She does not sound certain that she'll NOT want the kid once he or she is born, but she brings it up

"Taken care of."

"And if I do want to keep her or him?" May maude says

CC looks at the young woman, "You don't know me, or you wouldn't have to ask how I feel about that. Let's just say I don't take well to the idea of ANYONE ripping a child from their mother"

Indeed, for a moment, without a change of voile, CC lets her Shadow Priestess side out in her expressions alone. Dangerous, desperate, and ruthless she was then. A force of pure ruin for those who had tried for her son.

May Maude seems...convinced, "Okay. You're going to want something written up aren't you? a contract?"

He looks at CC.

CC sayss "That, or an Oath."

"Shit" Maude mutters

"I -do- understand."

"Okay," She says "I'll Carry the baby to term... but here's what I want. I want a week in New York City or Chicago, preferably in at least a four star set up with food included. I want a month in Europe, there I can do a different country every day..."

"Oh honey, don't cheat yourself" CC says at the comment of a different country every day

This causes the kinain to pause "You're wanting me to make MORE Demands?"