#scarsdale

She nods. "It is. There's a hedge maze, nu?"

"Ha! I like that. Let the bastard work for it if he tries to uncover."

She kisses him. "So let that be the plan."

A kiss, "Okay. A box. A key, and a maze. That..works " A kiss

A stroke of her hair, "I won't lie, you scared me my love, and not in the way that was fun or either of us."

"I'm sorry..." She places her hand over his, eyes closed, and turns her face to kiss his palm.

"I just... I wanted..."

"I'm sorry."

"I know, and, it's okay. I think," he answers honestly, "I think it's easy for me to wish you weren't always so needing to know. But that's part of who you are, and I love you so, it would take something precious away. " he holds her close, "And let's face it, I have some flaws that probably make you worry too. I doubt myself too much in some areas. I sometimes totally misread a.... remember that time I tried to romance you by faking my hanging? we are totally even on that now" A try at a grin, "And I now get it. My dreaming that was so dumb of me. But you forgave that, because romantic fool is part of who I am. And the one who needs to know is part of who you are. We'll just have to roll with the punches for each a bit is all now and then"

She burrows against him, cold hands twining through his. "I love thee."

"And thus I feel worthy of love, because if such a woman loves me, there must be something in me grander than I realized."

A soft chuff of laughter. "Me?"

"you." Assurance.

She twists around to plant a kiss on his cheek. "Aye, then."

"now, that thing has scared us once, let's wrap it up in material now at least, and then... the paper and a trip to firnost, or firnost and the paper?"

"Hm. Paper?"

"Paper, because by this time I'm curious. If you wanted it that badly, it had to be good."

She nods.

He rises with her, and grabs some paper to first put the choker into, or hands the paper to her if she insists. And reboxes it

Paper, and then silk - she insists on the silk. "It's better," she insists with a soft hiss.

"I know, I touch it when I touch your hair" He says gently

"Now you flatter. I know tis coarse." But she still smiles before fishing out the paper. "Music. But.. oh, this music is wrong... look at it."

Earl blinks, "I'm not trained as you, but this is.. garbeled chaos, and why the low register? "

"It's... code. Look, see... by going so low, you get over three octaves..."

"See? Yes.. see, here. A is A... but this A is H...."

His brow knits, horns furrowed, "Oh! Important secrets disguised as bad musical composition. Few would think to translate musical notes, they'd just take it for face value . "A raised brow, and a smle, "You really are the cleverest witch of your generation"

She beams. "Except when I am being the most foolish, aye..."

"So... pen, pen, I need a pen..."

he looks to the set of dozens on the shelves, "Oh no, where ever will we find one?"

She sticks out her tongue at him - black against the grey and white.

A laugh, and he plucks up a pen and hands it to her.

She takes the pen, and begins carefully charting out letters...

He eats a cookie, turns into a redcap, and devours that damn choker/necklace. Burp.

OOC: DLP

BIC: He offers to help how he can, but realizes she may mostly need silence.

"Of note: The Balor have an Operation Prime Nocte, the brainchild of one Sir Arawn Paler. This dedicated agent proposes biological warfare of the oldest kind . Paler, and his peers among the Pater Umbra. by subterfuge and seduction, literally 'plants' potential agents in courts around the world. It may take years to bring these agents through to fruition, but what do years matter to those with access to the Dreaming? So what if prolonged exposure to that beautiful chaos drives one mad? It's arguable that in Paler's case, no one will notice. It has worked quite well in Concordia, and with Paler himself claiming no less than six known off spring now into their wilder years. Alas, one or two have been 'lost' by fortune's ill wind, but others have come along swimmingly. Blackmail, ruination, and 'suicide' await if subterfuge and seduction not work. special note to self, see if one can get a drop of this fellow's blood. He may appear to be work in Concordia, but a drop of his blood might allow me to unveil any bastard spies he has in Albion as well."

She sits back, nose wrinkled.

When the translation comes out, his eyes widen. "Just when I thought Balor couldn't be any more warped"

"Does that... " She frowns. "Does that make me a plant?"

"I think it makes you one of the one or two who has been 'lost' to him. And he wants you back" A frown

"I am not his."

"I have a father. And mothers. And uncles. I am not his."

"I agree, but I worry he sees it differently. And he's a manipulator it seems. That fits. the fine gifts, the attempt to 'win your interest' and use it to win your service."

"Houses don't run in blood."

"...right?"

"No, they do not," He kisses her gently "Emmit has your name. If it was in your blood it would be in your name, like your sluagh nature. And no way would my great uncle would teach a Balor naming"

"I hope. Aye."

He raises a brow "100% sure on that one actually."

"But that doesn't mean Paler can't make you doubt yourself, can't chip away at your self concept. " A frown "is it okay if i want to punch him in the face?"

"You're allowed."