Diverging Futures at Ednas

[Anatole]

Anatole leaned forward, genuinely interested in Seraphina's achievements. He inclined his head at a few choice points.

"That is wonderful. I haven't delved too deeply myself yet. I have been interested in lore more than Contracts. Oh I have interests in them - but my main focus is Goblin Contracts. I was a legal person in my life before, so the twists and turns of those things are... much appreciated by me."

A sharp smile ghosted across the burned dwarf's face.

"Don't have too many Goblin Contracts yet; but I do hold a few powerful Secrets. In reserve. Hope I never have to use them."

Turning the subject.

"My plans? Well... If this Mhairi returned Edna's to being a boarding house; and Rhodes bought the building here... My stamp would be to mkae of Edna's a proper 'haunted house'. My intention is to let the building lie, and become overgrown. I'll let the children plaster her in rude glyphs. For a time I will tolerate the drug addled to hide under her roof - but only so far. By then I'll have full wrapped the Court Hollow around the old building's walls. And my Court will make the mortal's remeber fear. I want Edna's to be that house that no one goes near. Whose shadow they avoid. And only those who want to be tested come to. My Court will rest in the Hollow, behind the walls."

A pause.

"Tea? I believe the pot has seeped enough."

"Oh Harvest King! I rather enjoy putting on a spread. I don't think I can compete with Rhode's mastery of Fear."

[Seraphina]

An absent nod, “I suppose I threw myself into them to keep my mind busy and to not dwell on self-pity. Maybe I threw myself into them a bit too much.” She jokes with a laugh. But her face shifts to one of interest, “You were? Really? Wow! Do you ever miss it?” who would have thought Anatole a legal person?! “Fascinating!” clearly, she was enjoying learning about the dwarf. “I have to be honest; I’ve never touched the Goblin Contracts. Not sure why, maybe I just don’t like the price that comes with some of them.” Who knows.

The nod was one of understanding, “It’s important to have powerful secrets.” The nod was now solemn, “We all need something to fall back on if push comes to shove. I have my own, ones I never want to use against another.” But she wasn’t someone who enjoyed violence.

“It was Mhairi that brought it here. I think Rhodes just tried to make it work in its current environment.” But it wasn’t him that had it moved. Then a sly smile, “I like that idea. Edna’s already has such a rich history already, with the massacre that happened here, unsolved according to the local authorities. And I think those events, and the documentation of them, give the place an air of fear, though it has been lost over the years.” Truth be told. “Sounds like you are going to bring fear back to the walls, and it’s wonderful.” It truly was.

“Oh, yes please.” What goes better with bread then tea!

A relieved smile, “That’s great to hear. Not that you don’t think you could compete with Rhodes, but that you want to be called Harvest King.” She had been worried no one asked and he just went along with it. “And I think if you wanted that mastery of Fear, you could have it. But I also know Fear means something different to everyone and each wields it in their own way. At least, each Monarch I’ve known has a different take on it.” Though none had wielded it as Rhodes had.

[Anatole]

"Ah yes. The price. I can understand that. Goblin Contracts are as dangerous as land mines. Even learning about them comes at a cost - perhaps I enjoy that knife edge between wisdom and folly a little too much for my own good."

Anatole prepared two cup of tea - using her own blend - and handed one over to the Nix.

"Miss being involved in the law? Or miss my old life? My old knife not so much; that said I have an anger that must be served. One day. Not yet. As for the law. I... loved it. I guess that is why I was first drawn to Goblin Contracts... But when I lived my first life, I was no better than an instrument for the Gentry - only it was mine own family, instead. I have lived two lives a servant and don't wish to return to it."

The sharp smile flashed once again.

When Seraphina voiced her support for his plan, the burned dwarf sighed slightly.

"Thank you. I had been concerned that you might see my move as disrupting the Freehold. I am glad you understand that it is not meant to be so. Yes... I want to let Edna's be... feared... again. A little self indulgent perhaps, but people - mundane and magical, need to be reminded now and then."

He sipped his tea, emoted a surprised face as the delicate tea demonstrated its quality.

"You've mentioned this Mhairi before. What was she like?"

[Seraphina]

A quite chuckle, “Or you simply know the price will eventually be worth it. Or, like you said, you like the danger.” A simple shrug, “The world may never know.” She knew there was some powerful Goblin Contracts, “I’ve been tempted quite a few times though.” Having one of those in your back pocket had called to her here and there.

Accepting the cup, “Thank you.” Setting to down for a moment to cool.

“The law.” She knew most Lost didn’t miss their old life, and that more importantly, it was a delicate topic. Full of landmines and plenty of room for misunderstandings and unpleasantness. All of which she was happy to avoid. Frowning, “I’m sorry to hear that, that must have been horrible, when one cannot rely on their own family.” A gentle shake of her head, she understood that. “I wouldn’t wish such a return. It’s just too bad you can’t find a way to still do what you enjoy from a safe distance.” For her, it was selling her designs online under a fake name.

Her face softens, “While I see power in us all being so closely located, I also understand that it won’t always be that way. And that a Court will find themselves a location that better suits them and their members. At the end of the day, I want to see every Court thrive, even if that means them moving from Funderland.” A shake of her head then, “No, not self-indulgent, you are doing what is best for you and your Court. You and Autumn deserve to thrive and reclaim what is yours, Fear. I will always stand beside you.” Her words spoken with conviction.

A brief look of surprise, “Oh, Mhairi was a remarkable woman. I was afraid of her when I arrived, being an Autumn, the Monarch, and a powerful one, she had fear down to a science. But once I got to know her, she was warm and welcoming, willing to help everyone around her, but not a pushover. I learned a lot from her, and cherish what she taught me. She actually made my wedding dress.” A sort of bitter and sad chuckle, “She also taught me to Hedgespin, I’ll never be as good as she is, but I like to think I’m good. You would have liked her, extremely knowledge about Fear but also a great friend.”

[Anatole]

Anatole gave a genuine smile as Seraphina spoke, hands paused over some of his still warm bread.

"Sometimes it can be quite painful. Sometimes... less so. I have to remind myself that I am not that man anymore. Still... perhaps one day I'll orchestrate a return to the law in some fashion. I've used my old knowledge to gain an advantage with my money making ventures and investments. So far, the strategy has payed a dividend."

He finally turned his attention to the food and buttered a slice of bread. Enjoying the processing immensely.

"Thank you."

A quiet response to the Sovereign's voice of support.

At last he turned to devouring the buttered slice, eyes narrowing as he listened intently to the Nix description of the former Ashen Queen.

"Really? Another student of Fear. I must be striking quite a different note as Harvest King. I should really focus on that... If only to back up my self made title."

He wiped crumbs from his beard, chuckled and supped from his tea.

[Seraphina]

A shallow nod, “I like to think our pasts have shaped us into who we are today. A lesson in sorts, allowing us to grow and overcome. I hope you get to put your knowledge to use, for yourself, in the future. Never know when it could turn the tides so to speak.” And sometimes, it was needed.

“Congratulations on the investments and ventures paying off. I’ve found some success in my online business selling custom dresses, not a huge payout, but I love it.” It gave her the chance to see her sketches come to life.

“If I’ve learned anything over my years here, it’s that Autumn and Fear mean something different to each Monarch. How each chooses to express it varies, and there is nothing wrong with either. It’s about how the Season and its emotion, speaks to you. I find it refreshing to have a Monarch who seems to add a different spin.” But that was her opinion. “I say focus on what moves you and what you enjoy, don’t let how others have done things dictate how you should.”

[Anatole]

"Well put. I have to admit though: I would have thought our Durance pretty much cut us off from our pasts - and the futures we might have had in store for us. I sometimes wonder if I am new and cut from a whole different cloth, clinging to things from the past only because we don't know better and don't realise who different we are."

He sighed heavily and played with his food for a moment.

"I saw that. Very subtle, Vernal Sovereign!"

He gestured, pointing across the table while a playful smile crept onto his features.

[Seraphina]

There was a thoughtful look as she thinks over his words, and how to say her opinions on it. “To some it might cut them off from their past and futures. But I don’t believe we are ever truly cut off from our pasts, they define us, they helped shape us. Now our futures are what we decide to make them. For some, that means going a completely different direction. But for others, it means defying Them, defying our Pasts, and still achieving what we were going to do.” A pause to sip the tea, savoring the flavor, “I don’t think you are cut from a different cloth. I think it’s the same cloth, just a different section. I still cling to things from my past, I use them for what they are to me, memories and shadows of who I was, and who I don’t want to be. You are different do to circumstances, but you can still keep the lessons of the past, look at it through different eyes and grow.” Then a shy shrug, glowing eyes shifting to her cup, “But I tend to look at things differently.” Sometimes it was a good thing, sometimes not.

An innocent shrug, “I have my moments.”

[Anatole]

Anatole was eating again, enjoying his own baked bread immensely. Washing it all down with a succession of delicate sips from his tea.

"It isa different take, I grant you. I don't think such a view is as rare as you think. Broad minded, yes. But not too different. From such a view does wisdom grow. You have the self discipline to look to make it work."

The wizened tried to turn his mind from the shy, ingenue, face that Seraphina presented, struggling against her magnetic pull to be beguiled, however innocently.

He couldn't think of much more to say.

"I am really enjoying this tea."

[Seraphina]

There was a thoughtful pause as she thought over his words and considered her own once again, “I just refuse to be a slave to my past. If I am, then I let Them win. The aast is a lesson.” It was simple to her. “We either learn, or we grow stagnant.” And that was a weakness she refused to have. Softly glowing eyes look to Anatoles own eyes, “Why do you think some are slaves to their pasts and are stuck living there?” she knew the dwarf was wise, and she curious as to his opinions.

Smiling, “I’m glad you’re enjoying it! It’s a lavender tea, though I cannot claim I grew it myself. The flowers came from a local flower shop and I dried and mixed the flowers. I find the smell and the flavor quite soothing.”