#kc_necropolis

And so it was, Kerri found herself at the door of one CC's home. Not her club, but rather the actual domain where the woman lived.

It's a nice set up. Clearly Caesar takes care of his mama

This wasn't her first choice for meeting. She'd have preferred the neutral territory of Firnost, and this feels...risky. Especially if Stodgepole is around. But...she takes a breath and knocks.

The door opens and, she sees CC, who is holding a baby over her shoulder "Kerri? Come in, come in.. I did not expect this"

"Hello, Miss CC." Kerri nods, businesslike. "I was hoping we could speak for a few moments. I didn't mean to interrupt dime with the grandchildren. Which one is this?" Oh, having a baby in arms is Not Fair.

"This is Aquilla feeling a bit gassy I think" gentle jostling "Faustina, her sister, is in the crib over there sleeping trying to fool me into thinking she's the good one... May Maude is their mother. They have her dark hair. Now come in, come in"

Kerri enters. Part of her is expecting poison darts to shoot out of the wall as soon as she crosses the threshold, or for CC to try to steal some of her hair for nefarious purposes. Maybe I've been listening to Frank and Brekke too much. She gives little Aquilla a bit of a grin. "Sweet children."

"They are.. born in may, they were the first set so get to gloat about being older by a day" CC says. Aquilla gives a bit of a burp and looks MUCH happier

"They'll be holding that over their cousins' heads forever, yes." Pleasant enough, but still that air of business...and watchfulness. "You're sure you don't mind the interruption?"

"Nonsense, this is the very definition of a pleasant surprise. Would you like to hold her a moment while I get us something to drink? I don't know if it's too early in the day for wine for you, but I have tea, or can put on some coffee. Heck, I think I have lemonade."

"Oh, nothing for me thanks." But she accepts the baby easily. "Hello, there."

"Well, if you change your mind, let me know" CC goes into the kitchen. Aquilla stares at Kerri as if memorizing her features.

"Anything to eat? A snack maybe? I feel like a bad hostess just throwing a baby in your arms and nothing inside you" CC says peeking out

"You're a mother and a grandmother, Miss CC. You know that holding a baby can be just as satisfying as any other sort of nourishment, for a time." Kerri gives the baby a serious look. "That does not mean that I'm going to eat you."

"There is something uplifting about new life in front of you isn't there? Makes you think it's all worth while, the tears, the tragedies, the downs... they're all okay" She comes out with tea, while none is poured for Kerri's cup, it's easy to do now

The baby looks dubious, but yawns

She cradles the baby and bounces her just slightly, that soothing motion that babies seem to adore just as they're getting drowsy. "She's about to follow her sister into a nap, I think."

Another grin at the baby, and then she looks to CC, and her expression goes more serious again. "I wanted to speak with you about Brenda. In Rivervale."

BIC: "Oh is she? I should invite you more often" CC says "here.let me put her back next to her sib"

She hands the baby off to her grandmother.

"Brenda Thomas? " She says as she takes the baby gently, then gives her a kiss, and looks at the two babies next to each other with happiness in her eyes before turning "Is she all right? She's had a rough patch."

"She has, yes. And she and her husband...well, they're both struggling. I don't want to reveal any confidences, but your name came up in passing. As...an advisor, of sorts."

"Yes, the traggo up there is full of characters, but my heart really goes out to Brenda and Kyle. I do not disparage your kith, fine folk, but Satyrs and Trolls often have very different world views, If they'd been the same kith, I think it would be easier. I gave a little advice from a satyress viewpoint"

"Would you be willing to share what you advised? I'd like to know if you and I are working at cross-purposes." Oh, a hint of chilliness in her tone that she didn't quite manage to hide.

A slight frown, and she takes a seat, "Kerri, I don't want to sound flippant but you understand I'm not one to reveal my confidences lightly either?"

"Well, is it a confidence if it's advice you gave? Not something she said to you?"

"I talked a little on how things work for Emmerson and I," She says "And well, she needed to hear some of it so it goes. Still, you say we might be working at cross purposes? Why not cut to the chase and tell me what yours is. I'm pretty sure we agree on that actually. Who wants to see a marriage fail?"

"Well...I think we can both agree that some marriages should never have happened in the first place, and the sooner those are resolved and in the past, the better." She folds her arms. "But Kyle and Brenda...they're struggling, but I think they can see it through. I think they're strong together, and can grow stronger. I want to see that happen. I'm concerned that...you might be suggesting options that might intrigue her, but be difficult for Kyle to accept."

"You mean an open marriage? Oddly it's Kyle who seems to want to let her do that... and she's putting up her hackles...but if you mean what they say and what they want... yes, there might be some resistance to that. Unfortunately, Satyrs are not good at physical fidelity. In fact, it's almost alien to most of us"

Kerri sighs, trying to think through how much to share. "Kyle's approaching it as a duty that he's obliged to perform for her well-being. There's an imbalance there."

"Oh dear," She says "And you're worried that's a recipe for future resentment? I had hoped Duty for trolls would be like passion for satyrs."

"Well, he's framed it as 'letting her cheat' more than once. And that's not sitting at all well with Brenda, understandably. She's made some suggestions to make things equal, but Kyle isn't hearing it. Honestly, I think the open marriage option in this case creates more problems than it solves."

"Letting her cheat?" She looks alarmed "Oh dear."

"You see my concern."

"I do. " She says "I do worry that a traditional marriage won't work out either though. Not to have anyone think less of my kith, but sex is a form of social interaction for us satyrs... it can be very isolating to never engage EVER with anyone else. It can lead to banalty creep"

Kerri pauses, choosing her words. "There...can always be the illusion of somebody else. Without jeopardizing the traditional marriage."

"I mentioned that.. in fact, I was teaching Brenda some tips on Metamophsis for that very reason..." CC nods

"But the danger there is what if one prefers the 'other' each time?"

Kerri nods...still troubled, but considering.

"Well, if that happens, then the marriage is truly in trouble."

"Well, it may already be," CC sips, frowns, not at the taste of the tea, but at the subject "But I hope not. Another use for it would be anonymity and pride salvaged. See, if Kyle prefers, Brenda could create an Alter Ego to go OUT in. Get the spell to last long enough, get her fun... all while she looks like some hot Pooka gal or the like? One night stand guy doesn't know her real name... and Kyle's pride is intact"

A blink. "And not tell Kyle this is happening?"

"What? Of course he knows.. but it might reassure him to know there's zero chance of anyone thinking less of his manhood or 'not holding onto his woman' if he's feeling..well, egocentric about it. I don't think Kyle IS like that, I'd like to think not, but everyone, man and woman, has pride to some degree"

"now I do NOT suggest she mention WHO and where.. just that it's going on"

"Hm." A pause. "I can see that. It makes me uncomfortable, but I can see it." A sigh. "Of course the good part of this is that they came to speak to me, together, to seek help. That tells me they sincerely want to make the marriage work. I think...as long as we are both advising them in ways to try to meet that goal, we should be fine."

"I'm glad they did. I suggested you" She says

CC says "I mean, I could give the satyr point of view, but they needed a troll one."

A blink. A pause. "I did not realize that."

CC says "You didn't realize I suggested you? Unless they mentioned it specifically, how could you? However its my understanding that Hearths often handle the domestic side of troll town, not merely cleaning, house keeping, and cooking, that's the OBVIOUS stuff... but you're ..well you tell me if I'm wrong, you handle the kith interactions within a lodge on the community unified level? That would , I imagine, at least bump into couple's counciling"

"If I should have suggested Sir Franklyn, I'm sorry, but he's already , well, with some good reason given the past, a bit paranoid about Emmerson and there for me, but he just didn't seem the ah..type to be comfortable with that?"