Don't....

Back To Normal [27 Chirreb 4261]

I slept half the day, but I did waddle over to the Daukrhame Embassy wearing an Orreny tube of a dress to collect Ilottat for dinner and legitimate physical affection between equals.

(Um ... well, adulterous physical affection between equals.)

News travels fast. He was distinctly upset about Diffitt. Already. We didn't manage to get to dinner. Instead we had a shouting match on the staircase. Jherrel and Crander shoved us into his room and did Cani diplomat things at us to try to calm us down. They really didn't want us shouting indiscreet things about my true species at their friend in the hallway.

After a while they worked, even. Insidious Cani diplomats.

So the four of us went out to dinner, at a fish place not far from the Daukrhame Embassy.

Ilottat kept snipping and sniping at me, though. I can't remember most of them. I was looking at an Orren waitress carrying a flounder dessert thing to another table, and he said, "Wondering how she tastes? I mean, how it tastes?" That sort of thing, a dozen of them. Crander finally told him to stop, and he sort of did.

But there was no way I was going to get a civil evening from him in that mood, much less the hero-administrator's welcome I really wanted. So I waddled home and am going to have more brandy and go to bed for real.

Don't....

Back To Normal [27 Chirreb 4261]

I slept half the day, but I did waddle over to the Daukrhame Embassy wearing an Orreny tube of a dress to collect Ilottat for dinner and legitimate physical affection between equals.

(Um ... well, adulterous physical affection between equals.)

News travels fast. He was distinctly upset about Diffitt. Already. We didn't manage to get to dinner. Instead we had a shouting match on the staircase. Jherrel and Crander shoved us into his room and did Cani diplomat things at us to try to calm us down. They really didn't want us shouting indiscreet things about my true species at their friend in the hallway.

After a while they worked, even. Insidious Cani diplomats.

So the four of us went out to dinner, at a fish place not far from the Daukrhame Embassy.

Ilottat kept snipping and sniping at me, though. I can't remember most of them. I was looking at an Orren waitress carrying a flounder dessert thing to another table, and he said, "Wondering how she tastes? I mean, how it tastes?" That sort of thing, a dozen of them. Crander finally told him to stop, and he sort of did.

But there was no way I was going to get a civil evening from him in that mood, much less the hero-administrator's welcome I really wanted. So I waddled home and am going to have more brandy and go to bed for real.

(no subject)

Surprised [1 Oix 4261]

Oix is hot this year, for which I am eternally grateful. Well, grateful for the next twenty-seven days, at least. I probably won't care for most of eternity...

But today! Outdoors is invigorating, like stepping into a puddle of burning brandy. I flew back from Enchantment class in half the time it usually takes.

But that's not all ... the breakfast box project is done! I get to be a regular Sythyry now, not just a spare claw for the Duke!

And of course all the Orren in town are wearing a lot less than they were yesterday.

The Reaction from Oorah Thrassen

Well, I should start a scrapbook or something. Here's from the Howling Horn of Hressh-Huu:

Breakfast Barrage! The Duke of Vheshrame has ordered his pet nendrai to provide delicious pastry boxes from the Academy Bakery to everyone in Oorah Thrassen. Which she did promptly and obediently, with just one spell. The wild Gormoror and wicked wizards were treated to slices of devastatingly fine cake and fearsome biscuits. We trust this will show them who is who -- even the greatest of their wizards couldn't manage that as a spontaneous spell. The Howling Horn trusts that the wormlike wizards will wage war upon us no more!

1. I'm glad Vae is the Duke's pet and not mine.
2. It wasn't everyone in Oorah Thrassen, just the people outside of the city walls.
3. It was actually two spells, or dozens and dozens, depending on how you count.
4. They haven't waged war on us. We've waged war on them.

Which means it's a pretty accurate broadsheet article, as these things go.

Also, it doesn't mention me, for which I am quite glad.

(no subject)

Surprised [1 Oix 4261]

Oix is hot this year, for which I am eternally grateful. Well, grateful for the next twenty-seven days, at least. I probably won't care for most of eternity...

But today! Outdoors is invigorating, like stepping into a puddle of burning brandy. I flew back from Enchantment class in half the time it usually takes.

But that's not all ... the breakfast box project is done! I get to be a regular Sythyry now, not just a spare claw for the Duke!

And of course all the Orren in town are wearing a lot less than they were yesterday.

The Reaction from Oorah Thrassen

Well, I should start a scrapbook or something. Here's from the Howling Horn of Hressh-Huu:

Breakfast Barrage! The Duke of Vheshrame has ordered his pet nendrai to provide delicious pastry boxes from the Academy Bakery to everyone in Oorah Thrassen. Which she did promptly and obediently, with just one spell. The wild Gormoror and wicked wizards were treated to slices of devastatingly fine cake and fearsome biscuits. We trust this will show them who is who -- even the greatest of their wizards couldn't manage that as a spontaneous spell. The Howling Horn trusts that the wormlike wizards will wage war upon us no more!

1. I'm glad Vae is the Duke's pet and not mine.
2. It wasn't everyone in Oorah Thrassen, just the people outside of the city walls.
3. It was actually two spells, or dozens and dozens, depending on how you count.
4. They haven't waged war on us. We've waged war on them.

Which means it's a pretty accurate broadsheet article, as these things go.

Also, it doesn't mention me, for which I am quite glad.

(no subject)

Ficina's Distillation [2 Oix 4261]

I tried to visit Ficina -- and, incidentally, Yarwain, Thery, and Levande -- yesterday evening. It didn't work. They had decamped! Escaped! Fled! I actually had to bribe the hotellier to tell me what had happened. They -- Yarwain and Levande, since Thery was still unconscious and Ficina had not yet experienced Surprise -- had decided to move to Levande's townhouse. Where, among other things, the Sorceress of Gloun controls the temperature.

(I don't think I've met the Sorceress of Gloun. Levande does, apparently, have a whole sorceress on retainer, for use in ... whatever fancy magic a county needs. Truthspells, surveying spells, battling monsters, and climate control, I suppose.)

So, of course, at noontime or so today, I visited.

Thery had been awake for an hour!

She's not looking very good, to be sure, but she was sitting up, lapping from a chalice of brandied milk that Yarwain was holding, and cupping a sleeping Ficina in her tail. Thery did not look wholly pleased with the situation, nor quite familiar with it. I suppose she hadn't been worrying quite as much as the rest of us about whether she would come out of her coma or not.

Levande was sitting on a divan in the corner, looking entirely scorched.

Thery and Yarwain and I exchanged a modest number of greetings, platitudes, expressions of goodwill, obvious sentiments. Thery fell asleep in mid-platitude. Yarwain evicted me, saying, "She's only been sleeping for two weeks. It's not time for her to get up yet."

Levande demanded that I join her for kathia after I recast her Draught of the Rassimel Mother.

Levande is very obviously a countess. The kathia that her cook makes up on no notice is better than most that I've had in even very good kathia shops. He brewed it strong, though. Levande has been drinking it rather than sleeping.

Levande does not cut a fine figure of a countess these days. Expecially in contrast to Ilottat.

Levande:"When Thery's feeling a bit better, could you talk to her?"

Me:(in the Nice Language)"I ... hope I don't forget how to speak Ketherian by then."

Levande:"I beg your pardon?"

Me:(Back in Ketherian)"I don't think she'll be too upset with me."

Levande:"She's upset with me. She thinks I kidnapped her, and stole her daughter's affections, and seduced her husband."

Me:"... seduced her husband?"

Levande:"I didn't! Not exactly."

Me:"Not exactly? He seduced you, then?"

Levande:"... no ..."

Me:"You'd better tell me what happened."

And what happened was this: She was nursing Ficina on the couch, and Yarwain was helping, as usual, and sat down next to them, because he won't leave his daughter alone with Levande ever. Everyone fell asleep. When the maid came in, someone's mouth was positioned in a fairly improper position, except that everyone was clothed. The maid's tittering woke them up. I'm not quite sure how Thery heard this story.

Levande:"But that's not what's important. I fear that Thery will hate me and think the worst of me."

Me:"If the worst of you is that you have been making considerable personal sacrifices to tend her family ... I have a nendrai I wish would measure herself by your standards."

Levande:"If the worst of me is that I've stolen her daughter's love and rammed myself into her family forever, how am I different than a nendrai?"

(I'm pretty sure this is a trick question. Here are some answers:

1. She is a person, not a monster.
2. She lactates.
3. Her powers are reasonable and lawful.
4. She is the creation of a nice goddess.
5. Her tears are salt-water, not jaggy glass.
6. Her powers can produce good kathia.

)

I somehow neglected to say this to Levande, though. (I have only a certain number of emotional cley set aside for bearding counts, and I am saving them all for Ilottat.)

Me:"Did you steal her daughter's love and ram yourself forever into their family?"

Levande:"I hear from other wet-nurses that Ficina will take as mother whoever acts most mothersome towards her."

Me:"That makes sense to me; it's how I arranged matters. Though I don't have a mother or father in the multisexed mammal's sense."

Levande:"But I have rather intruded on their family."

Me:"Saving Thery's life is all but unforgiveable. I wish that were a bon mot, Levande, but I think ... in her situation, I would feel indebted in a way that could not properly be paid off. On top of another debt that I had already declared ethical bankruptcy on."

Levande:"You mustn't make Thery out to be wicked!"

Me:"No, just Rassimel."

Levande:"... like me ..."

Ficina woke up and started demanding services of the countess. I assured Levande that I would do my best to calm Thery down, once Thery was in any sort of shape to endure discussions.

(no subject)

Ficina's Distillation [2 Oix 4261]

I tried to visit Ficina -- and, incidentally, Yarwain, Thery, and Levande -- yesterday evening. It didn't work. They had decamped! Escaped! Fled! I actually had to bribe the hotellier to tell me what had happened. They -- Yarwain and Levande, since Thery was still unconscious and Ficina had not yet experienced Surprise -- had decided to move to Levande's townhouse. Where, among other things, the Sorceress of Gloun controls the temperature.

(I don't think I've met the Sorceress of Gloun. Levande does, apparently, have a whole sorceress on retainer, for use in ... whatever fancy magic a county needs. Truthspells, surveying spells, battling monsters, and climate control, I suppose.)

So, of course, at noontime or so today, I visited.

Thery had been awake for an hour!

She's not looking very good, to be sure, but she was sitting up, lapping from a chalice of brandied milk that Yarwain was holding, and cupping a sleeping Ficina in her tail. Thery did not look wholly pleased with the situation, nor quite familiar with it. I suppose she hadn't been worrying quite as much as the rest of us about whether she would come out of her coma or not.

Levande was sitting on a divan in the corner, looking entirely scorched.

Thery and Yarwain and I exchanged a modest number of greetings, platitudes, expressions of goodwill, obvious sentiments. Thery fell asleep in mid-platitude. Yarwain evicted me, saying, "She's only been sleeping for two weeks. It's not time for her to get up yet."

Levande demanded that I join her for kathia after I recast her Draught of the Rassimel Mother.

Levande is very obviously a countess. The kathia that her cook makes up on no notice is better than most that I've had in even very good kathia shops. He brewed it strong, though. Levande has been drinking it rather than sleeping.

Levande does not cut a fine figure of a countess these days. Expecially in contrast to Ilottat.

Levande:"When Thery's feeling a bit better, could you talk to her?"

Me:(in the Nice Language)"I ... hope I don't forget how to speak Ketherian by then."

Levande:"I beg your pardon?"

Me:(Back in Ketherian)"I don't think she'll be too upset with me."

Levande:"She's upset with me. She thinks I kidnapped her, and stole her daughter's affections, and seduced her husband."

Me:"... seduced her husband?"

Levande:"I didn't! Not exactly."

Me:"Not exactly? He seduced you, then?"

Levande:"... no ..."

Me:"You'd better tell me what happened."

And what happened was this: She was nursing Ficina on the couch, and Yarwain was helping, as usual, and sat down next to them, because he won't leave his daughter alone with Levande ever. Everyone fell asleep. When the maid came in, someone's mouth was positioned in a fairly improper position, except that everyone was clothed. The maid's tittering woke them up. I'm not quite sure how Thery heard this story.

Levande:"But that's not what's important. I fear that Thery will hate me and think the worst of me."

Me:"If the worst of you is that you have been making considerable personal sacrifices to tend her family ... I have a nendrai I wish would measure herself by your standards."

Levande:"If the worst of me is that I've stolen her daughter's love and rammed myself into her family forever, how am I different than a nendrai?"

(I'm pretty sure this is a trick question. Here are some answers:

1. She is a person, not a monster.
2. She lactates.
3. Her powers are reasonable and lawful.
4. She is the creation of a nice goddess.
5. Her tears are salt-water, not jaggy glass.
6. Her powers can produce good kathia.

)

I somehow neglected to say this to Levande, though. (I have only a certain number of emotional cley set aside for bearding counts, and I am saving them all for Ilottat.)

Me:"Did you steal her daughter's love and ram yourself forever into their family?"

Levande:"I hear from other wet-nurses that Ficina will take as mother whoever acts most mothersome towards her."

Me:"That makes sense to me; it's how I arranged matters. Though I don't have a mother or father in the multisexed mammal's sense."

Levande:"But I have rather intruded on their family."

Me:"Saving Thery's life is all but unforgiveable. I wish that were a bon mot, Levande, but I think ... in her situation, I would feel indebted in a way that could not properly be paid off. On top of another debt that I had already declared ethical bankruptcy on."

Levande:"You mustn't make Thery out to be wicked!"

Me:"No, just Rassimel."

Levande:"... like me ..."

Ficina woke up and started demanding services of the countess. I assured Levande that I would do my best to calm Thery down, once Thery was in any sort of shape to endure discussions.