Goblin Town -- Logs

Shane comes back to find Mary looking bewildered; he settles down with her, offering her a cup of fragrant tea. His voice is quiet so as not to disturb Elias, "I know that look. That 'am I going mad?' look. Saw it on my own face once when I finally met me da'." The objects that Elias quickly set aside looked like wax-sealed test tubes.

Mary accepts the cup with slightly overwhelmed relief, holding it with both hands. She sighs and relaxes a bit as she sniffs the gentle steam... then has a cautious sip. It's marvelously reassuring -- it makes her feel human again, rather than all mixed up. She sighs again after that, murmuring to Shane, "Still not sure if I should scream and run... or just assume this is a really freaking confusing dream!"

Shane's smile flashes again and he keeps his voice down, "At least you weren't pretty sure you were about to get run through with a sword. Me da', Quinn, he's a guardian, and I sort of stumbled in where I wasn't expected..." He pats her shoulder gently, "Don't scream and run. Never run from anything immortal; it attracts their attention." There's a little smile in those words and Elias says distractedly, "Don't tease the girl, Shane. She mightn't know you're quoting a book and joking." Shane nods and says, "Yes, Elias." To Mary, he says, "I don't think Liam would have sent you here if he didn't think you'd fit."

Mary blinks at Shane as she pushes her glasses up her nose again, "The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle. I loved that story! That was one of my favorite lines, too! The harpy was loose... and they walked casually away from her." She sighs as she adds, "Poor creatures."

Shane smiles as Mary catches his reference, "Yes. Poor creature. Most immortal creatures are like that. Long-lived, lonely, and tired. It's one of my favorite books as well." His voice goes a little lilting, "The unicorn lived in a lilac wood and she lived all alone." He shakes his head with a half-smile.

Elias is frowning a little, "He sent me blood and hair... just a few drops and a few strands... and a letter."

Mary wrinkles her nose in revulsion despite herself -- she's been carrying body parts around?! Shane's lips quirk again, "Feels like they'd warn you, right?" Elias holds up the tiny vial. From a distance, it just looks like a drop of paint inside a glass bottle no larger than the first joint of Mary's pinkie.

Mary nervously clutches her teacup to her chest, trying to keep her voice steady, "S-so what... what's the letter say? Are the body parts from the m-murderer?"

Elias pushes his glasses up on his nose, "I would hardly call three drops of blood and three hairs 'body parts.' The hair is no more than you'd shed just sitting anywhere." He leaves out anything reassuring about the blood, "The letter says a lot of things. But mostly it says that he was poisoned. Someone stabbed him. He grabbed at them and the hair pulled out. The blood, I think, probably came when his claws caught them. He must have been partially transformed." Elias looks kindly at her, "Child, if you don't want to be here, you needn't stay, but let Shane escort you out to the end of the street."

Mary stares at Elias, frozen in place. She should go! She knows she should! But... poisoned? Stabbed? Someone stabbed her relative? Wait... why didn't he try to become part of her life once she'd left home, then? Wait, wait, wait -- that's not important right now! She should... should... go... and... find out...? No, she doesn't know how to do that -- but... Elias must? Her voice is tiny and her eyes are still huge as she whispers, "D-do I... have to go?"

Elias smiles kindly, and this time he keeps his lips over his fangs. It's clear he's not used to having to hide his nature, though -- it takes some effort not to show all those scary teeth, "No, child. You don't have to do anything you don't wish to do." Shane adds quietly, "And Elias is right. I'll stick with you if you don't feel safe."

Mary's laugh is shaky -- almost more a gulp to swallow tears -- as she says to Shane, "I... honestly, I think I stopped feeling safe... when I had this sudden tugging t-to come here! S-so... so I don't think it's fair to ask you to stick around constantly, y-you know?" She's abruptly terrified at the thought of being alone with Elias -- but Liam did say the guy was an old friend, right? So... Mary swallows hard and forces herself to sit up straight as she thinks it through: so if Liam is wrong about Elias -- and by extension, wrong about all the other hugely scary monsters on the Council -- then... then Mary would rather find out now -- when there's just one of them and maybe... maybe just breathing fire and running away would be enough to escape Elias. And if she has to do that then... then yes, that'll be really good proof that she doesn't belong here! Mary sighs gustily, remembering to unclench her fingers from around her teacup. Okay... a decision! She can live with this. Her voice is only a little shaky as she says, "So... do you have a way to track the murderer with those bits, Elias? And... c-can I help?"

Shane's lips quirk again, "Then let's say I'll stick with you until you are safe on your way out of the city." Elias nods, "There are ways, yes. I could tell the person if they were close. I'd be able to smell them. But perhaps we can scry them out with this. If Liam was betrayed, then others on the Council might be in danger as well. He was a voice of reason." Shane says, "Think of it like the Supreme Court, and Liam was a liberal justice. He was the odd number; the person that leaned the Council toward sanity."

Mary blinks, remembering the last part of Liam's instructions to her -- the ones she'd not yet mentioned: Elias is supposed to take her to the Council so she can have Liam's chair there! She wonders a bit perplexedly if only Liam knew that -- or maybe only the Council members know it? That'd explain why these two aren't mentioning it to her. Okay... that makes sense. Cautiously she says, "C-can you... do you both know anything about the Council members? I mean... are they like insane or something, then, from the way you're talking? And... how many are there, then? Are they all huge scary monsters like dragons and stuff?"

Elias smiles again, lips still closed, "I don't know that I'd term any of us insane. Old-fashioned and elitist, but not insane. After all, most people sitting on it are at least a hundred years old." Shane adds, "Most. Three of them are my age or younger. They try to drag everyone else into this century."

Mary nods slowly, her eyes bright as her gaze flicks between the two men, "Um... okay? So, like... how old are you then, Shane?"

"There are thirteen. Twelve at the moment." Shane laughs softly, adding, "Twenty-eight. I'm twenty-eight. Not everyone around here came from the Old Country. There are three members that are young. One is actually a couple of years older than me. The other two are in their mid-twenties. They inherited their seats."

Mary's eyes get huge -- so she wouldn't be the only one! Carefully she asks, "The... inherited ones? Do they, um... get attacked a lot or something?" She flounders a bit as she realizes how that sounds, "I mean, like, uh, like verbally or stuff? Or, or, or like... like mocking, you know?" She winces, remembering all too clearly the sneering derision she sometimes got for her clothing and/or reading choices.

"Well, no more than anyone else on the Council," Elias answers. "I get lambasted regularly for suggesting that we stay out from under prying eyes. Humans are not notoriously tolerant of differences. My goodness, look how they treat brown people here! How do you think they'd react to me? Especially after all those ridiculous books and movies..."

"Uh... yeah..." Mary sighs, considering carefully... then unhappily asks, "So, like... what if you wanted to retire? Is the only way off the Council... dying?"

Shane chuckles with a sigh, "As Elias said, no more than any other members. Hilde -- she's the one a couple years older than me -- doesn't stand for that sh... that stupidity on anyone's part. Seen her step right between one of the elder members and one of the younger ones." Elias shakes his head, "You can resign, but almost no one does. I, for instance, wouldn't want to step down without assurances that someone with my same leanings would be appointed. "

Mary sighs again as she realizes: she really should... at least try this Council thingie. She grimaces nervously, staring at her teacup where it sits on the little coffee table in front of her, and tangles her fingers together... she leans first one way, then the other, trying to work up the courage to at least maybe fulfill some of Liam's faith in her... finally, when she's almost knotted her fingers together she mutters tensely, "I, uhh... I think... Liam... um, I think y-you're supposed t-to introduce me to... to the Council? P-please? Because... um, I'm not sure why he thought so but, uh... b-but Liam seems to think I should be, er... t-taking his chair now?"

Shane says quietly, "Because they are passed down hereditarily, normally. Resignation is how it gets thrown up into the air. Or if someone dies without heirs."

Mary nods nervously at Shane, "I... I guess so?"

Elias looks almost surprised; he takes off his reading glasses, folding them and tucking them carefully into the pocket of his shirt, "You're sure? I know Liam had all the faith in the world in you. He was centuries and centuries old. Very rarely did his genes breed true, and when they did, he tried to be in that child's life." He smiles that gentle smile of his. It's really hard to think of him as a vampire at times, "He wasn't able to get into yours and then thought that once you were an adult, you might be... skeptical."

Mary gulps and nods emphatically, "Well, he got that right!" She pauses, then adds politely, "Er, sir?" She sighs a little sadly, "I mean... do you know, maybe, why he didn't try to become part of my life after I left home?"

Shane has started moving around the room and even opens the door a crack to look out before turning around and standing in front of it at something like parade rest. Elias nods, "Because, as I said, he thought you'd be skeptical of him -- even scared of him -- and he would not have blamed you. No one could. Shane, what are those books about that boy that gets sent to a special school?" Shane laughs and looks at Mary, "He's talking about Harry Potter. He's saying that it would seem fantastical and that Liam was afraid you'd reject him outright." Elias nods, "That's the one. But I know in the last couple of years, he was talking about trying anyway. He'd been writing his letters to you for so long..."

Mary sighs, slumping a little in the comfortable chair as she stares at the teacup, "Now... he won't get to." She considers for a bit, feeling a little dispirited -- the one relative she might have been able to stand, and she'll never get to meet him! However, her more analytical self takes over fairly rapidly: she's wasting time moping around like this -- and the moping won't change anything! So... so best to do something. She sits up a bit and nervously repeats, "So... so can you introduce me to the Council?" She hopes Elias isn't too embarrassed by her to take her along. At that thought she tries to smooth down her hair a bit -- isn't that what women do when they want to look nicer and more respectable?

A gentle hand comes to rest on her shoulder, at her slump. When she looks up, Shane is looking at her with a sympathetic smile, "I was lucky to meet my father. Quinn had left my mom behind because he had to protect his trod... and to protect her and the trod, he had to leave her behind. I can't imagine what it would have been like to never know him." Elias answers her question, "Of course I can, child. I'm a member. The question is, do you wish to meet them in all their panoply at the actual council chambers, or would you rather meet 'our side' in more welcoming surroundings?" He even does air quotes.

Mary jumps slightly at the touch... but manages a slightly tremulous smile at Shane's kind words. Her reply to Elias is far more decisive -- if also still a touch nervous: "The latter, please!"

Elias nods and stands, walking over to his desk and sitting down, then taking out some stationery. The pen he uses looks old and solid as he dashes off several quick notes -- apparently calling, texting, or emailing is not the done thing here! He folds each of them in thirds, seals them with wax, and asks Shane to see they're delivered. "I'll put these in their hands myself, Elias," Shane assures the older man. He looks at Mary, "Do you feel safe staying here by yourself with Elias?"

Mary nods, still somewhat wide-eyed -- but, she reasons, if she's going to trust the va- the vam- er, this man to introduce her to folks, she might as well trust him to not scream and leap at her too! The vaguely silly thought makes a slightly hysterical giggle rise up in her throat, and she swallows it down firmly. "Uh, y-yes, thank you. Though..." She pauses, then considers carefully... then shyly adds, "M-maybe later... like if you're not busy or anything? Um... would it be, um... okay to sightsee in the Goblin Market with you there?"

Shane nods, "Of course, Mary. It would be my honor and my privilege." He seems utterly sincere in saying that. He pats her shoulder again and heads out, missives in hand. Once he's gone, Elias stands and heads toward the kitchen, calling over his shoulder, "I'm going to get out some biscuits and jam. One must always have refreshments for company! Would you prefer boysenberry or redcurrant?" He keeps failing signally to be menacing.

Mary blinks thoughtfully -- she's never had either, to her knowledge, "Er, I d-don't... um... ah! Do you have a favorite?"

From the kitchen there's a warm laugh, and Elias replies, "I am fond of the redcurrant. I can only taste a little, but it does taste wonderful. Not too sweet!" There's some muttering as well about clotted cream.

Mary brightens, rising to her feet -- maybe she could help! She likes feeling useful, honestly, "Redcurrant sounds fine to me, then. Oh, clotted cream is lovely with scones and biscuits and things! Um, can I... can I help at all?"

Elias's kitchen, like Elias, looks like it is from a few decades back... or maybe a few centuries. There's an icebox -- the type with a drum on top that needs actual blocks of ice. His stove is gas and there aren't many cabinets. Instead, there are a multitude of shelves. He smiles at her when she enters, "Oh please! The good dishes are over there..." It's an actual china cabinet. "Shane will be bringing back five people. So how many do we..." He stops and laughs at himself, "I apologize. Old habits and all."

Mary blinks again as she looks around -- some of these, um... furniture pieces? -are old enough that she doesn't have any idea how they work! She nods once when she's directed to the china cabinet, carefully opening the glass doors and starting to take out settings for eight... though she pauses when Elias stops, giving him an inquiring look. Elias waves a hand, "I'm a teacher. Or was a teacher. Or am sometimes a teacher. I found that young children seem to retain information better if it is presented to them in a practical way. Adding up numbers of people to see how many plates you need. Buying actual fruit in the market to teach money..." He laughs softly, "But you are already excellent with numbers, and not a young child. I just fell into an old habit."

Mary smiles a little uncertainly at the... well, vampire, really. She might as well call him what he actually is, after all, right? Especially since there may be even weirder creatures coming to visit? "Well, umm... I thought perhaps it'd be nice to have a serving for both of us and Shane too? Is that... okay, or will the council people mind him being there?"

Elias chuckles, "Shane will be quite welcome. He is trusted by almost everyone. It is said of him that if you do not trust him, it is because he cannot trust you. You know the type." He says this as if everyone knows a paladin. The china he points out is delicate and almost translucent in its beauty. There is a subtle pattern of sun symbols around the edge. Mary ooohs softly at the china, handling it with care. She sets it out where directed, not mentioning anything about paladins or similar sorts... mostly because she's never met one before, to her knowledge. Instead she tries to be helpful in the kitchen, while simultaneously not getting in the way. It's a slightly awkward dance for her -- she's usually in her own kitchen, or not in anyone's kitchen at all! She's trying her best, though.

Elias, as is the way with many teachers, seems to be able to move around other people quite easily. Of course, that might also be because he's got senses beyond human. He demonstrates his reflexes are beyond them when he himself nudges something that tries to fall -- and it instead lands in his hand... and there wasn't even a blur. His hand was just suddenly in the right place. Mary blinks startledly a heartbeat after the near-miraculous looking catch! She hadn't initially realized what he was doing... which, she supposes, is about par for the course if he's that fast! He directs Mary to arrange the dishes on one of three sturdy wooden trays. The biscuits, clotted cream, and jam are arranged as well and he goes to put on more water for tea. As he's doing this last, there's a knock on the front door. He pauses and looks at her, "Would you feel okay answering or would you rather finish up here?"

Mary takes a deep breath, considering -- then remembers: Shane's likely there with the new people! She smiles, "I'll go answer the door, sure! Should I just show them into the living room again?"

Elias nods and smiles, "Please do. They've all been here before. They don't bite." There's a little twinkle when he says that, apparently trying to gently tease her into being truly comfortable with him. When Mary opens the door, there is no Shane. Instead there is a tall, pale, amazingly pretty, grungily dressed young woman. She's got white-blonde hair down to her waist and she's wearing distressed jeans, hiking boots, and a flannel over a t-shirt. She looks to be no more than nineteen. Her eyes -- which are a color that's hard to pin down -- blink as she sees Mary at the door... and then she smiles widely, clearly happy, "Hello! I'm Hilde! You have to be Liam's granddaughter!" She sweeps forward and hugs Mary tightly.

Mary squeaks startledly, freezing in shock! A heartbeat later she remembers: Hilde's the nice one that doesn't like people fighting. She takes a deep, nervous breath and awkwardly tries bringing up her arms to sort of pat-hug Hilde's back, "Uh, um, ah... hi? Uh, yeah, that's m-me... M-Mary?" Later she'll be sort of resignedly envious of Hilde's casual comfort with herself and her gorgeous looks... but for now Mary's mostly trying to slow down her heart!

Hilde does not hug like it's a duty -- she hugs as if it is a sheer pleasure to be touching someone! She lets Mary out of the hug after a couple of those back pats, "It is so good to meet you! Liam adored you." They're still standing in the doorway.

Mary stares up wide-eyed at the beautiful young woman, nodding once, "Uh... th-thank you?" She pushes her glasses back up her nose, then blinks, "Oh! Um, er, ah, won't you please come in?"

Hilde is still beaming as she nods, "Oh! Please. We probably shouldn't keep the door open too long. Poor Elias. I think he misses sunlight, but you know... it's like someone with a peanut allergy missing Snickers. It would be a pleasure right up until you croaked." She steps into the room and calls through to the kitchen, "Shane brought your letter. I think he must have run the whole way!" Elias's voice is dry, "Or just moved like a beansidhe." Mary smiles uncertainly, closing the door to the outside once Hilde's not standing in it. The slender young woman flops into a chair and pushes her hair out of her face, still beaming at Mary, "You have his eyes, you know?"

Mary blinks at Hilde again... then smiles uncertainly again, "Um, th-thank you?" She pauses, her brain racing -- this would certainly be a very good person on the Council to be friends with! She takes a breath, glancing around as she frantically tries to think of something nice to say... then sheepishly admits, "I, um... er, you do know I never actually met him, right? So, like... I'm not really sure what he was like at all?"

Hilde sits up straight and looks abashed, "I am so sorry. I just get excited easily. He was so nice. Strong, but nice." Elias says from the kitchen doorway, "Liam wanted people to be at ease. Until it was time for people to not be at ease... and having a dragon angry at you... it's not fun."

Mary sinks cautiously into a chair, her hands in her lap as she glances between the vampire and the... umm... she cautiously raises a hand, "Um, is it okay to ask... sort of personal questions? Like... what someone is?"

Hilde blinks and then grins, "Sure it is. They might not answer, but you can ask. It's only pushing that's impolite -- and I'm a ljosalfar. My people are from Norway."

Elias adds, "Norse elves. Light ones."

Mary nods slowly, "Like... Shane?"

Hilde grins, "Yes, but no. Shane's a beansidhe. Well, half beansidhe. His mom's human. Quinn... isn't. Shane didn't know what he was until about ten years ago. Me? I grew up in it." When Elias carries in the tea tray, Hilde hops up and takes it from him to put on the coffee table. As she's settling it, there's another knock at the door, and Hilde exclaims, "Oh! That's probably Jarek. He lives next-closest."

Mary rises slowly to her feet, "Umm... is it ok if I get the door?"

Elias smiles and nods, "Please do. They'll all be happy to meet you."

Mary takes a deep breath, preparing mentally this time... then opens the door, her words ready on her lips, "Hello! Thank you for com- ...ing..." Her voice trails off as her eyes widen yet again! When Mary opens the door, she has to look down to see Jarek. He's maybe a hair over three feet tall and is a stout person. His hair is black and cut into a flat top but his mustaches are long, flowing and reach down to his chest. He is dressed in a smart suit and has a cane that he's leaning on. When he speaks, it's with a thick Slavic accent, "Ah! Liam's get!" It doesn't seem to be an insult.

Mary just stares for a few seconds... then nods mutely. A heartbeat later she pulls herself together, "Ah! Uh, yeah! Yes! Sorry! Um -- come in!" She hastily stands to one side, holding the door open and mentally berating herself for staring so -- how embarrassing! She can feel her face heating up -- ugh, she's blushing, darnit!

Jarek either doesn't notice the stare or doesn't care about it. He stumps past her, calling out to Elias in another language. Whatever it is makes Elias laugh and then say, "It's rude to speak a language your guests can't understand, Jarek. Yes. That's Mary and yes, she does have the look of him around the eyes." The little man hops up onto a chair that has an ottoman that lets him rest his feet on it. It seems like this is his normal spot. When Hilde gets him a cup of tea, he pours a splash of something clear into it and looks at Mary, "It is my pleasure."

Hilde adds, "He's a domovoy!" Jarek laughs, "Da. Domovoy, though it has been some time since I have been able to be in my ancestral home."

Mary resists the sudden urge to curtsey -- she doesn't even know how! Instead she bobs her head a bit awkwardly and says, "The same, thank you." She blinks at Hilde, then looks back at Jarek, twisting her hands together, "Ummm... is it rude to ask what a... a damo-voy is?"

Jarek smiles, flashing what looks like a silver -- or maybe iron -- tooth in the front of his mouth, "It is not rude, no. People do not know another's culture, da? We are household spirits. The myth is that we are the progenitors of a certain kin." He says 'progenitors' carefully, as if it is a word he has to work to pronounce, "But it is more that we come into being when they do."

Mary looks confused, "You... what? Er, what kin are you coming into being with... I think... please?"

Hilde pipes up, "He means a family line. Domovoy are connected to a particular family." Jarek says with friendly sharpness, "I can explain myself, youngster!" He turns to Mary, "We are the spirit that comes into being with a family line, as she says. We guard the houses. We protect them." Elias says drily, "And punish them if they are disrespectful."

Jarek huffs, "Children must have discipline!"

Mary looks confused again, "So... if you're here, though... what happened to your family line? Who's watching it?"

Jarek smiles and there's a little sadness, "There are not so many of them now, and they are all here, in this city. I do not come here for all the time. I have a room here that I stay in when there is a need."

Mary nods slowly, unsure why Jarek seems sad. Tentatively she says, "I... I'm sorry if I asked a... bad question?"

Jarek reaches out a small but much callused hand and pats Mary's wrist, "it is not so bad a question. I just miss the old country. Things here... things everywhere... they are so busy! Homes are not so permanent as they were."

Mary nods at that, her smile tentative, "I... yeah. I can see that." Internally, however, she's deeply relieved that her family really isn't one of those big old European ones where everyone lives either in the big house or nearby. She thinks her parents and sister would've driven her to drink by now if so!

Jarek smiles back at her, "Do not be sad! There is to be a new child soon! I always like them."

Mary grins ruefully at that, since she's got no desire for children at this age, "Well, congratulations then!"

Jarek smiles again, flashing the silver tooth just as there's another knock at the door. This one is perfunctory and the door is already being opened by the person that knocked. They are the least-human looking one that Mary has seen yet and the voice is a growling rumble, "Elias! Shane said..." Then they stop and blink. They are well over seven feet tall and are unmistakably a werewolf. But they are dressed in some very oversized khakis and a polo shirt.

Mary squeaks startledly again, leaning back in the chair as she stares in astonishment! But... Shane wouldn't trust the guy if he wasn't trustworthy, right? Oh, and Elias wouldn't have invited him... maybe? Slowly she straightens, though her eyes are very wide again as she pushes her glasses back up her nose and just... stares! She doesn't mean to be rude... but she's studying this person with confused fascination by now. Said person is studying Mary in turn -- and then they lean in and snuffle at her hair curiously before standing back up and lolling their tongue, "You smell like him!" Then there's a very enthusiastic wag that makes Hilde yip as she gets tail fluff in her face. The wolf holds out a massive paw, "I'm Josie."

Mary eeks a bit as the huge nose comes diving at her, one hand coming up as she wrinkles her nose and leans back... but then she grins in spite of herself when she sees the wagging tail. He's so... so doggo! Or... whoa! This is a girl?! Mary looks surprised but intrigued as she carefully shakes the huge, clawed paw, "Um, pleasure to meet you, Josie? I, uhm, I'm Mary." Then she looks around with curiosity, "So... Hilde, Jarek, Josie, Elias... um, are you three the younger ones Shane talked about?" She smiles at Elias, "Two more, right?"

Josie takes Mary's hand in hers carefully as if she knows she might hurt the human woman if she's not careful, "I am so happy to meet you." The tongue lolling grin is still present as is the wagging tail. After getting whacked a couple more times, Hilde gives it a yank and laughs, "Sit! You're going to give someone a concussion!" Josie laughs and sits on the floor, pulling her knees up, "We're two of the three younger ones. I'm twenty-three. Hilde's thirty, I think. Marcus..." here both Hilde and Josie roll their eyes, "is twenty-five. He won't be here." There's a mutter of something from Jarek that makes people laugh. Elias translates, "He says basically, 'good riddance.' Yes, two more." About that time, there's another knock.

Mary bounces up, "Oh! I'll get it!" She darts to the door, firmly reminding herself to not be shocked or stare or -- or act like an idiot again, sheesh! She smiles confidently as she opens the door, "Hello!"

At the door this time is someone who is most likely the same species as Shane. She's not quite so tall, but she's also pale and has the raven-black hair and amber eyes. Her face is rounder and merrier, and with her is someone who looks quite human. His skin is coppery and his hair and eyes are dark -- he looks, in fact, to be Native American. "Mary!" the woman exclaims but does not sweep in for a hug, "It is so wonderful to meet you! I'm called Aisling and this is Sparrow. Shane will be back soon -- I sent him off to find a good bottle of whiskey." Aisling is dressed much the way you'd imagine a faerie to be dressed -- in a soft lavender gown cut high under her breasts. Sparrow is dressed much like Hilde, except his clothes look like they're probably his work clothes.

Mary is faintly relieved -- nothing shocking or mind-boggling with these two! She waves a hand inwards, "Thank you so much! I see you know my name. Won't you please come in?"

Aisling's voice carries the unmistakable lilt of the Celtic lands. "Oh, Shane told us why we were being asked here." Sparrow nods his head and steps past them to go sit near Josie with his legs crossed. Aisling looks around and laughs, "Ah! The whole rogue's gallery!"

Mary blinks at that... then smiles a bit uncertainly, "Ahh... ok? So... would everyone like some tea?" Food is safe! She knows how to hand out food and drink, fortunately.

Aisling smiles and perches on the arm of the chair that Jarek is occupying, "Yes! Food. Drink. Let us share them so that we know one another as friends." Mary nods and busily occupies herself making sure everyone has tea, and the biscuits and jam and such are passed around... and then she has some herself as well. Food is sounding good by now, honestly!

Around the room, people are doctoring tea to their own liking and nibbling on the tasty food. Josie teases Elias slightly, "You cook really well for someone that doesn't usually eat."

The vampire chuckles and says, "Hospitality is important. Food makes people comfortable."

Elias is finally settling in when there's another knock at the door, but as with Josie, it's opening before anyone can answer it -- and Shane's voice calls, "Incoming!" He manages to slip inside through a gap that really doesn't seem quite wide enough for his broad-shouldered form. He's got an unlabeled green bottle under one arm that he playfully presents to Aisling as if he's a wine steward in a restaurant, "As m'dam ordered. A good whiskey. Some of Aric's." That gets a pleased 'Ooo!' from some of the folks in the room.

After Shane opens it, Aisling pours a tot into her tea and then passes it to Hilde, who does the same thing. Jarek has already put something in his and the others pass on it. When it comes back to the half-beansidhe, Shane pours himself a dram and trickles just a little water into it. He settles near Mary... actually on the floor in front of Mary's chair. It's a very sort of 'you'll have to go through me to get to her' kind of spot, even though the company seems quite friendly. Mary feels slightly weird about that... but also weirdly reassured, if that makes sense. She thinks she'll pass on the alcohol though! She's never been much of a drinker as is, and right now she really, truly wants her wits about herself!

Mostly she's looking around the room in fascination, trying not to stare but also to study these amazing, peculiar, wonderful new people she's meeting -- people which, for some incomprehensible reason, seem to think she, dowdy little Mary Brown... is their peer! She has a quick, nervous gulp of her tea at that thought -- then coughs a bit when it's too hot! She swallows hard, eyes watering a little, and huskily whispers, "Sorry! Sorry... swallowed wrong!" Shane looks around, checking on Mary with a raised eyebrow. A sort of silent 'You're sure you're alright?' look. When he's reassured himself she just swallowed a little too fast, he settles again. Mary firmly reminds herself -- or at least tries to sound firm in her head -- that she is not without resources! She has a doctor's bag full of gold and some letters full of useful (she hopes) information about this Council... both from her great-something grandfather Liam -- and he had faith in her!

Elias smiles, eyes twinkling slightly, "I'm sure you're all wondering why I asked you here tonight..." That gets a snort from Josie and Hilde pretends she's going to throw a cushion at him. That makes the vampire laugh and he says, "OK, I suppose you're not wondering a bit." He continues, "You all knew Liam. And you all got to hear him enthuse about his granddaughter." He leaves out all the greats. It's just easier that way, "He sent her to us with resources to help find his killer. And also, if she will agree, take his seat on the council."

Mary blushes slightly at the reminder of how enthusiastic Liam was about her! Aisling leans forward and speaks in her gentle, lilting voice, "He was starting to speak as if he was going to introduce himself to you, you know. Not to everyone, but to some of us." Mary nods mutely, feeling that unaccustomed stinging in her eyes again. She isn't sure she'd have believed Liam... but darnit, she really wishes she could have met him! A relative who doesn't think you suck... if nothing else, he'd have been a wonderful novelty!

Josie reaches up with one large paw and gives Mary's hand a careful, gentle squeeze. "I never met my mom. My dad raised me. She was killed in some battle or another. I wish I'd met her."

Mary blinks several times, smiling shakily as she squeezes back. Oddly, that's... very comforting! She takes a deep breath, reminding herself that even if she doesn't feel dragonish, she's still supposed to be one. That helps her settle enough, mentally, that she says carefully, "I... I, um, th-thought Elias' idea of meeting you all... er, 'his side'? -- before the Council was a good one! I, ah, I h-hope you don't mind?"

Jarek snorts, "Is more than good idea! Is excellent strategy!"

Sparrow nods and when he speaks, his accent is deep, deep south, "Don' mind a bit, young'un. It's good to meet you. To know your face..."

Josie adds, "And your smell!"

Mary blinks startledly at Josie, self-consciously starting to draw in her limbs -- then registers: of course a werewolf would catch people's scents! Josie's not saying Mary stinks, after all. Mary smiles uncertainly, "Uh... ah, th-thank you all for coming, then? But I... so, uh... I, um, don't really know much... er, you know? About... er... counciling?" She wonders frantically: is 'counciling' even a thing? Or has she just made herself look even more stupid to all these... these incredibly beautiful and/or exotic people?

Hilde smiles, "Most of us didn't at first."

Josie grins, tongue lolling and tail thumping against a chair leg as she wags, "I still don't, much. My dad was on the council, but he retired. Said he was getting too old and impatient and wanted to step down before he bit someone's head off." She says it not like it's a metaphor, but as if biting someone's head off might have been something her father might literally do!

Aisling clucks her tongue gently at Josie, "You are doing fine, child. You grew up in a pack. Packs understand doing things for the greater good."

Mary gives a startled squeak of laughter at that -- then hastily slaps her hand over her mouth! A moment later she adds, "Sorry! Sorry, I, uhh... right." She takes a deep breath, then adds, "So, um, so! C-can you all tell me more about it -- the Council, I mean? Please? Like... like how many times do you meet and how long the meetings are and if... if it's dangerous and, uh... well, and any, um, advice?"

Jarek's voice is a little flat, "Yes, it is dangerous now. We will not start out with a lie." There are solemn nods all around before the domovoy continues, "But that does not mean it is not worth it. Have you ever seen a parliament or a congress in session? It is like that... but smaller."

Sparrow mutters, "And louder..."

Aisling chuckles and picks it up from there, "It's run very much according to Robert's Rules of Order most of the time. There are votes. There are debates..."

Hilde chimes in, "There is intrigue..."

Elias smiles slightly, "And that is sometimes idiotic and sometimes very, very serious. Liam's death, for instance."

Mary looks back and forth from person to person as they speak, occasionally nodding. At the pause she says uncertainly, "So... so this is like, er... a democracy? You're all, um... like senators for your people, or something like that?" She pauses, then shakes her head, "No, wait -- that can't be right. There's got to be more than just 13 species! But, umm... hm. Majority rules? Or two-thirds?" She frowns, numbers starting to flicker through her head as she considers, "Gotta be majority -- that explains the murder. Does the other side not know about me yet? That'd explain it -- no murder attempts on me while I'm still convinced I'm only human... so they're looking for... what. How do you replace someone who dies without heirs, please?"

Elias nods and smiles, "Yes. There are more than 13 species. Some of us represent entire cultures."

Hilde holds her hand up, "Like me. I'm the face for all the Norse."

Aisling smiles, "There's a vote. Not easy with six and six, but any ties are broken by the local monarch."

Mary nods absently to Hilde -- then blinks, "Oh! So you're cultural senators?" She glances around thoughtfully, "Hmm... is Josie the representative for all shapeshifters? Though... wait, I know there are some Norse shapeshifters, right?" She frowns, muttering under her breath, "This... is confusing..."

Shane pats her foot with a chuckle, "Sure as hell is."

Mary adds, "Or wait -- that's right. Shane said you all were more like Supreme Court Justices -- that's it!"

Josie lolls her tongue again, "Nope. I represent some of the Eastern First Nations."

Aisling smiles, "They didn't know about you. They still don't. Liam was old and canny and careful. He was very good at knowing who to trust... most of the time."

Mary sighs and relaxes a bit -- the idea of having to ward herself against murder is damn scary -- and moreso when she isn't prepared for it! But it looks like her... jeepers, she has got to come up with a better term than 'great-great-lots more greats-grandfather' for Liam! Er... big-great grandfather? Well, that'll do for now -- ok, right, so... where was she? Umm... right! So big-great-grand-Liam has done that right by her, in that she's going to be as much a surprise to the, er, the bad-guy side of the Council as they're going to be to her! Mary pauses, then blinks, pushing her glasses up her nose as she curiously asks, "What's a First Nation, please? Is it like-" No, wait -- can't be like the US or such... not supernatural enough! "Er... I mean, um... what is it?"

Sparrow chuckles and says, "She means Injuns." That gets him a nudge from Josie and a wrinkled nose. He smiles at her and pats her leg, before explaining to Mary, "Native peoples. Indigenous. They were here first, see? Well, we were here first." He makes a motion in a direction that Mary is somehow sure is west, "I represent some of the Western ones, even though I was raised in Georgia."

Mary stares in silent fascination at the interplay between the two... Councilmembers? Yes, that should be right, to call them that. She nods slowly at Sparrow's comment, murmuring a polite 'thank you,' then takes a deep breath as she thinks a bit. OK, what else does she feel she needs to know? Hmm... oh! "Um, also maybe could you all tell me, please, what the, ah... species? Is that the right word? -- what they are for the other, uhm, other six councilors?" Then she falls hopefully, expectantly silent, since she's got a lot of questions on the table right now!

Elias picks that up and smiles, "Aoi is a Phoenix. She represents most of the Asian peoples. Nasteexo is the face for most of southern Africa. He's a spirit of some sort..."

Elias looks at Aisling who smiles and says, "He's lwa. The kind that you hear about in voudou."

Elias nods and goes on, "Jalil is a djinn. He's most of Northern Africa and the Middle East. Taadaki is sort of like Hilde. He's an elf. German or Austrian, I think. The parts of that bit of the world that aren't just plain Norse. Killa represents most of South America. He's also a shapeshifter of some sort... serpentine, I think..."

Sparrow nods and drawls, "Big damn snake, actually."

Elias nods and says, "And last, Qadan. The parts of Eastern Asia that were Mongolian once upon a time."

Mary listens silently, wide-eyed and fascinated... and, honestly, a little sad to hear all these amazing folks seem to be bad guys! "So... so why are they the, er... the bad guys? And... which one is Marcus -- the only other young guy?"

Shane speaks quietly then, "Liam was... unique. Aisling represents most of the British Isles, but Liam basically represented those that didn't have a representative."

Josie chuckles, "Taadaki. He uses Marcus because he thinks his name is entirely too old-fashioned."

Elias smiles softly, "They're not all, as you say, 'bad guys.' Most of them are simply proud and sometimes angry. Some of them have ideas that humans are far, far above their station."

Hilde mutters, "Like Marcus."

Mary nods slowly, faintly relieved to discover she's not got a huge, um... citizenry? -- that she's now responsible for, that will expect things of her! She considers, then says carefully, "Okay, so... who're they likely to try pushing for to take Liam's place? Is this... the kind of thing where a surprise appearance of me would work best, or should they know about me well ahead of time?" She grins ruefully as she adds, "Also, you never said -- is this a majority-rules thing? Also, um... who's the local monarch? How many are there? Wouldn't other monarchs want the Council in their lands, so sometimes they get to vote too?" She pauses, then puzzledly adds, "Wait. If... if Marcus is an elf, then... er, wh-what are you, please, Aisling?"

Elias continues speaking, "The Council travels. Every season, it's in a different area." He sighs quietly, "I can sometimes make it there. Other times I send a proxy."

Aisling raises her hand, "That would be me. I get a double vote at that time. That drives Marcus fair mad, I tell you. The local monarch is Caradog. Lots of Celts around here, y'ken?" She laughs warmly, "Beansidhe. I'm a beansidhe. What they once called Unseelie."

Mary nods slowly, listening carefully -- something tells her this is all going to be very important to her soon! "So banshee... like Shane?"

Shane pronounces the word again for her. It sounds sort of like banshee, but there are subtle differences, "Sort of like me. I'm a half-breed. Me da's a beansidhe. Mom's plain old run-of-the-mill human..."

Hilde laughs, "Shane, from the way you and Quinn talk, your mom's far, far from run-of-the-mill. Human, yes, but not so unremarkable as that."

Mary says a little indignantly, "Humans aren't that bad!" Then she pauses, thinking, [Wait. Am I human any more? Hmm... well, yes? I mean... everyone except Liam was human, in my lineage, right? OK, so... yeah! I'm lots human!] "Um, sorry... go on?"

Aisling's amber eyes twinkle, "I never said humans were bad, child. I simply meant that Shane's mother is extraordinary. Even amongst us having your beloved simply say 'I have to go away. It's important. I can't tell you because I don't want you hurt...' would cause wailing and gnashing of teeth. Shane's mother simply told him to be safe and went about raising their son to be an amazing man."

Elias smiles softly, "And the six of us here? We are definitely on the side of humans." Mary blinks at that, then nods slowly. She suspects she'd be way over on the wailing and gnashing of teeth side -- if there was actually someone she loved that was abandoning her! She waits, though, for the rest of her questions to be answered -- she has a lot to mentally digest as it is!

Aisling continues, "Yes. I think we'd like for you to be a surprise. To put them off their stride, y'ken? I'm sure they'll have a whole slew of contenders. And it is majority rules. Simple majority. Which is why you, acushla are so very, very important. Liam would not have told us about you and sent you here if he did not trust you. And Caradog... he's gealsidhe. We definitely don't want him settling any vote that I'm a part of."

Mary looks surprised, "He's... Seelie, then? Er, do you -- do the courts still hate each other that much?"

Aisling rolls her eyes and sighs, "Not all of them or I'd not be the representative. There'd be a leprechaun or a giant or, Goddess forfend, a Fomorian. Apparently I'm trustworthy." Those amber eyes glint impishly at that and Shane snorts. Aisling smiles at Shane and then at Mary, "But Caradog is old -- old as I am but for a few months -- and remembers when there was much more animosity. When the Seelie and the Unseelie were blood enemies."

Shane's voice is quiet as he adds for Mary, "They're cousins of a sort."

Mary nods silently, her eyes wide. "Is he, um... does he attend the -- the Councils?" She mentally crosses her fingers that he doesn't hate dragons too!

Aisling laughs, "Aye. Cousins. My great-great-grandmother was sister to Caradog's great-great-grandmother. But my great-great-grandmother was more, ah... adventuresome than her sister..." There's another twinkle in the female beansidhe's eyes, "And so my great-grandfather was half gealsidhe. But since then, it's been all beansidhe. So that makes me one-sixteenth gealsidhe, I suppose. Though I've bred true to the beansidhe side. Oh, he comes to the councils at times. Even he respected Liam. All the Celts did, even if they didn't agree with him."

Mary gives a tiny little sigh of relief at that! She takes another deep breath, thinking furiously... then says carefully, "Do, um... does the Council help out its, ahh... its councilors financially when the vote moves to other places?"

Shane translates again, "Aisling's great-great-grandmother had an affair with a beansidhe noble. Then the baby was born and she handed him over to his da' to be raised by the beansidhe... at the apparently furious insistence of her husband."

Mary blinks at Shane, then stares in surprise at Aisling, "Oh! I, ah -- I d-didn't realize! I'm sorry -- I didn't mean to be rude!"

Josie nods and smiles her tongue-lolling smile again, "We're compensated, period. Some of us are paid in cash money... the ones that live mostly outside with the humans... Some of us are paid in room and board. Some of us are paid in things we need that are hard to get..."

Aisling laughs cheerfully, "You weren't rude. If I didn't want to tell the story, I'd have said I didn't want to. You're new. You'll have questions."

Mary gives Aisling a weak smile, feeling like an idiot -- then gratefully turns to Josie, still blushing hotly in embarrassment at her apparently-not faux pas! "Oh, uh, okay! So, um, so what's hard to get?" She pauses at a thought... then looks at Aisling again, "Oh, I get it now! So the Other side is sure they'll get the person they want to replace m-my -- Liam... because there's six of them and the monarch is a gealsidhe, and you're a beansidhe!" She smiles wryly, "Boy, are they going to be furious. Um, so how do I prove descent from Liam? Is there like... a magical thing you all do, or what?" She grins as she adds, "Or do I just... breathe fire?" Mary feels slightly proud of herself -- she can breathe fire, after all!

Josie lolls her tongue again and says, "Depends."

Elias picks up then and says, "For me? Blood. It has to be not long harv-... donated. Just minutes after being drawn, it begins to lose its nutritive powers for me. After two hours, it does barely anything... after six it's poisonous to me." Mary nods interestedly to Elias -- she should make lists! If she can help folks find things they have trouble getting, they'd be happy about that and maybe like her more, right? Like, for who she is... as well as that she's Liam's 'get'?

Hilde laughs this time, "Liam likely gave you something to use as a token... were there any gifts his sweet wife passed on?" Her blue eyes flash a little, partially humor and partially at thinking of the consternation of Marcus and Caradog, "Though breathing fire wouldn't hurt. That's a rare ability."

Mary frowns then, "But... wait. Surely the blood I brought in that box from Liam was more than six hours old? Or... oh! Was it special or magical or something blood?"

Elias smiles and nods, "It is. But it's a special thing. It has a cantrip laid on it to keep it from killing me. Some of it is Liam's blood. Human blood is good, but I need it more often than other kinds." Mary nods slowly at that, both fascinated and slightly disturbed.

Jarek is the one to speak next, "You are a very bright girl. You ask questions that not even the people that have lived here would think to ask. It is a good thing. I think I am liking you very much." His silver tooth flashes again as he smiles.

Mary blinks at Jarek -- then blushes hotly as she mumbles, "Oh, well, uhmm, I, er... thank you, sir?"

Jarek waves one horny hand and snorts, "Do not sir me, girl! I am just Jarek. I say things as I see them!"

Aisling murmurs, "Which is why he causes wailing and gnashing of teeth all on his own."

Mary is wracking her brains, trying to think if she got a token -- surely they don't mean the gold? She... doesn't really want to abruptly produce that in the Council, honestly... -and then she remembers: the necklace! "Oh! Yes, I do! I mean, she did -- er, I have one!" She pulls out the necklace from her shirt, obscurely pleased by how lovely it is -- the deep, rich emerald-green pendant in the platinum setting, surrounded by the small, perfect pearls. There's pride in her voice as she adds quietly, "Isn't it lovely?"

The necklace draws several looks and gasps over its beauty. Elias nods and smiles, "Ah. Yes. That would be it. It's a family heirloom, I believe. It cannot be stolen because it will burn anyone that has it for nefarious purposes. That is why Rebecca could handle it. All she ever wanted with it was to pass it on."

Mary has to hastily shove back the smaller, cheaper necklace she bought on the way here -- the one with the little cross on it. Embarrassedly she thinks to herself, [Oh my god, girl... what were you thinking?!] Then she looks up in surprise at Elias, "Really?! Huh! I didn't know that. Well... cool!" She grins happily, tucking it away carefully into her shirt again, then adds, "So, um, like, I've been blathering on and on. So... do any of you people have questions for me?"

Josie bounces a little in a way that seems very puppyish to Mary, her ears perked up and her tail thumping the chair legs again, "Will you stay? I have a room you can use..."

Shane grins and tips his head back to look up at Mary. He's apparently taken a liking to her or feels like he's her guardian in some way, "She's a pack animal. She loves having people stay with her."

Mary giggles in spite of herself, touched at Josie's enthusiasm! "Well, um, I wouldn't want to be a bother... uhm, when's the next Council meeting supposed to be?" She considers, then adds wryly, "If it isn't soon then... maybe I should stay away until then? I mean, you all said I look like Liam around the eyes... so if any of the others met me, might be they able to figure it out?"

Josie is still giving a big lupine smile and wagging. The idea of company really does seem to make her quite happy, "You do look like him around the eyes. The next meeting's in about a week. You can stay outside Coblyn Street if you want, of course..." Her ears sag a little at this idea.

Mary glances around inquiringly at the other councilors -- she figures they know better than she whether this is a good idea, or whether she'll be 'discovered' before the meeting. Aisling smiles again, eyes twinkling with mischief, "We can make sure no one that shouldn't be in on it knows that you're here, even if you want to explore. I've got a cantrip or two that will help." Hilde chimes in about being able to help on that front.

Josie beams and tongue-lolls again, "And I know how to change your smell!"

Mary blinks at that, slightly taken-aback... but the more she thinks about it, the more this sounds like... well, like a Grand Adventure! Plus, bonus: she can wander around the Goblin Market incognito -- before she has to be all official as a councilor! She grins shyly, "Well, if you're all good with it, then... sure? Er, I mean: yes, please?"

Josie yips and bounces up and toward Mary -- only to have Shane stand up and play 'brick wall' for the werewolf to bounce off of! Mary squeaks startledly and jerks back slightly -- but then realizes it was nothing more than a friendly greeting! The lycanthrope's ears blush as she mumbles, "Sorry..."

Shane hugs the huge werewolf and grins, "Just don't go jumping at people that have just met you, Jo."

Mary too blushes hotly, again, "Oh! I'm so sorry -- sorry! I, er, I -- I'm trying to get used to things quickly but, um..." She glances away, mumbling, "Well... working on it...?" She's sure there must be steam rising off her by this point!

Josie is quick to assure Mary that's she's doing just fine. Her ears twitch again and she ducks her head as she adds with a sweet smile, "I just get very enthusiastic with people I like."

Elias translates with affection in his voice, "In other words: expect lots of exuberant hugs and physical affection."

Mary blushes again as she half-mumbles, "I, uhm... Ilikeyoutoo?!" Then she coughs, and has a careful sip of tea. Tea is good, yes! Focus on the teacup... right. Maybe then her head won't feel quite so... incandescent! Josie's tail wags like mad at that! She sort of swoops both Shane and Mary into a hug. Mary squeaks startledly again -- but fortunately Shane is swift-moving enough that he scoops the teacup off to safety! Plus, as Mary quickly realizes... Josie's hugs are really... well, kinda nice! Soft and furry and warm and... eep! Is that Shane or Josie?! Wryly she realizes: once again, when she's released... everyone's going to see she's blushing madly! Shane does hug Josie right back, though it means he also gives Mary some of that hug. No one mentions the blush at all, though Aisling is smiling into her teacup and Hilde is giggling a little herself.

As people finish their tea they say their goodbyes and head back to their homes. Everyone aside from Jarek offers a hug; the domovoy, however, kisses Mary's hand before leaving -- leaving her both pink and startled! After the dust settles it's only the two beansidhe, the werewolf, and the vampire left there with Mary. There's a little asking of questions about how Mary would like to look as Aisling starts crafting the cantrip. The first thing to change is the eyes: the beansidhe changes the shape, tipping them slightly up at the corners and giving them a color that's almost black. Once that's done she shapes the rest of Mary's face, murmuring thoughtfully to herself as she does so. The end result is a slightly pointier chin and higher cheekbones, though Aisling explains that it's an effect anyone could get with the right makeup.

Mary nods as Aisling shows her in a mirror... and a wistful part of herself wonders: could a cantrip make her look slender, graceful, and lovely as her sister? Or... wait, no -- she doesn't want to be like Candi any more! But... wow, are all the supernatural women just naturally gorgeous?! A bit grumpily she reminds herself: do not ask questions you don't really want the answers to!

Once the cantrip is in place, Shane walks Mary and Josie back to the werewolf's place -- and is, of course, enthusiastically hugged again! He laughs and returns the embrace before turning to Mary and leaning down to kiss her cheek, "I'll be by in the morning." After that Mary reflects somewhat grumpily to herself that at this rate she's going to be permanently bright red!

Once the two entities are inside the little home, Josie shows Mary all the amenities. It's a small apartment with not a lot of space, despite having two bedrooms. As Mary looks around she sees photos of a coppery-skinned man with very square features, with a young woman who has similar features and a sturdy, stocky build. The woman has happy eyes and a large smile, but she is in no way slender and ethereally beautiful. Mary studies the photos with interest, then half-diffidently asks, "Is this... your dad and you?"

Josie pads over and looks, smiling happily, "It is! I look just like him, don't I?"

Mary feels a bittersweet internal pang at the thought of a parent actually being proud of her... though she smiles warmly up at Josie, "You have a beautiful smile." She curiously adds, "Is, um, Sparrow a shapeshifter too?"

Josie wags and tongue-lolls, "And you have amazing eyes." That makes Mary blink in perplexity as Josie moves around, putting things here and there. How can her eyes be amazing? They're just... brown, after all... not like her mom's and sister's lovely blue eyes... her train of thought is distracted as Josie continues, "Well... sort of? I mean, he's not like me. I'm a wolf. Sparrow's..." She laughs, "He's not a sparrow. He's actually a coyote, but he can be lots of things."

Mary blinks startledly, her eyes going wide, "He's... Coyote?!"

Josie wags and grins, "I don't know if he's the Coyote -- I can never get a straight answer out of him about that! He's a lot of fun if you're on his good side. If you're not... well..." She looks around as if seeing if anyone is around before lowering her voice, "One guy woke up and there were fire ants all over his floor." Mary winces at that! She hastily reminds herself: be very nice to Coyote!

Josie seems to immediately forget they were talking about someone that can manifest a carpet of insects that will make it painful for you to walk for days. She trots into the kitchen instead, calling over her shoulder, "What do you normally do for breakfast? I've got Poptarts and oatmeal and I think I've got some bacon..." Apparently her idea of hospitality is just finding out the things you like so you feel like you're living there rather than having to act like a guest. The small apartment has some oddly-matched furniture. There's a chair that's obviously sized for enormous-wolf-form Josie, but there's another that's much more human proportioned. There's also a cozy looking loveseat, all three arranged so anyone sitting on them could see anyone else on the furniture. There's no television, but there is a fairly good sound system.

Mary blinks as she looks around, then mentally shrugs and drops her duffel into the bedroom that doesn't appear to be in use. Hmm... she's really going to have to find out what to do with all that gold in the doctor's bag! Lugging it around would be, quite frankly, heavy -- and she'd have an absolute fit if it somehow got stolen out of her car's trunk! She leans out the door to call, "Well, umm... do you have any flour and eggs and milk? If you do, I can make pancakes and eggs and bacon for us?" Then again, nothing like the present with someone trustworthy! She adds, "Also... are there, um, like... banks or something for the, er... the supernaturals?"

Josie's whole demeanor lights up, "Pancakes?! Oh, I'd love that! I can get some really good eggs in the market!" She trots back in so Mary can see her face, brows together, "Do you care if they're goose eggs or chicken eggs or duck eggs? I usually get the goose ones because they're bigger..." At the question, she nods, tongue lolling again, "We do. It's less like a normal bank and more like a bunch of safety deposit boxes. Most of us, if we want to use a regular bank, just... use a regular bank."

Mary's eyes get a little wide, "Goose...?!" but then she frowns with determination, "Wait, of course there'd be more types... right?" She nods firmly, "Let's try goose! Is that okay with you? I've never cooked with them before, but... well, we'll just experiment, right?" A bit worriedly she adds, "Er... is that okay?" She wanders through the living room into the area that looks like a kitchen -- a very crowded kitchen with a seven-foot-plus werewolf in it! She tries to sort of peer around Josie to see what's there.

Josie nods and grins, showing an alarming number of teeth if one hasn't been around her long enough to realize that there doesn't seem to be a mean bone in her body, "That's fine! We'll get some goat's milk, too. It's so rich and nice. Do you want to go tonight? I mean, there will be some stalls open, but I usually try to go really, really early."

Mary blinks at Josie, "Oh! Uh... n-now...?" She pauses... then blinks again, "Wait. Going to the Goblin Market with a freakin' huge werewolf -- what am I worried about?!" She laughs at that, and grins up at Josie, "Sure! Um, about banks, though, and, uh... money? What do you all use there for trade and such?"

Josie realizes that she's taking up the space of one and a half people in a kitchen that's snug for two average-sized people, "Sure! I can give you something to wear that will make you smell like me a little bit. Oh... hrm... depends on who you're trading with. I mean, I trade labor for a lot of things. I'm kinda strong and I'm tall. That's really useful sometimes. Some people take gold and gems and stuff... there are even some that will take local currency. Not all of us live in Coblyn Street. There are a lot that live out with the humans."

Mary nods thoughtfully. "Okay. So... I've got my handbag and I know to wear it across my front. Um..." she gives the enormous werewolf an uncertain look, "er... what did you want me to wear of yours, though? I mean, umm... we're..." She waves a hand at her comparatively diminutive self in comparison to the extremely tall wolf... and grins a bit sheepishly?

Josie laughs and says, "I'm not always this size. In fact, I'm built a lot like you in my human form..." She pads into her bedroom and returns in a few minutes with a pair of jogging pants and a T-shirt that do indeed look like they'd fit Mary well.

Mary blinks at the jogging pants, having a momentary flashback to her father sniping sarcastically at her: "No, you don't have to go jogging with us, but if you don't you'll be fat and no one will want you!" The young woman closes her eyes tightly and shivers hard -- almost as if she's shaking something off her skin -- then opens her eyes again and forces a smile, "Th-that, er... ah, I mean: thank you so much, Josie! Let me, um... I mean, gimme just a moment, please, to change?" Almost fiercely she snaps at herself internally, [Okay, time to woman up, Mary Brown! You are an adult woman now! Your stupid parents have no hold on you any more! Heck, you're a heckin' dragon now too -- so their opinions are worth every penny you paid for them, and you remember that!] She jerks her head in a firm nod to herself, looking unwittingly mulishly determined as she nearly grabs the clothing!

Josie's ears go a little red, "They're not like fresh-out-of-the-dryer clean, but I only wore them for like fifteen minutes, so they'll smell like me. And you being with me will mask your smell even more."

Mary marches off with her back rigidly straight to her room, muttering fiercely to herself in a low voice she doesn't realize probably carries very well to werewolf ears, "I am an adult woman! My parents suck and I don't care what they think! So there!"

Josie looks worried, "Are you OK? I'll get you something else if you want... they're just my most comfy, favorite pants." Her ears flatten a little as she hears Mary's muttering. Being a pack creature, Josie knows that having a pack that doesn't love you has to hurt.

Mary pauses, turning to blink worriedly back at Josie, "Oh, no! No, please, they're -- I really want to wear them, ok? Er... if that's okay?" She pushes her glasses up her nose as she embarrassedly adds, staring at the floor, "I, um... I just... well... I guess I'm a little self-conscious about... m-myself, y-you know? My, umm... er, you know... my weight."

Josie tips her head at that and says puzzledly, "But you're built really well for cold weather..." Then she puts one big hand on her face, "Right. Stupid humans and their idea that everybody has to be skinny as a rail and blonde." She ducks her head a little, "I'm sorry. I haven't been out around the humans for a while."

Mary blushes hotly, almost fleeing into the bedroom as she squeaks, "IuhyeahIberightback!" She emerges a bit later, dressed in the jogging pants and deeply relieved the T-shirt is a little large... so it covers her well! She's also given herself time to 'cool down,' so to speak... and she has some questions again for Josie! "So, um, Josie? Can I... confide in you about something, please? I... well, 'cause I need some advice?"

Josie nods and sits down in her comfortable chair, "Sure! Sit down. We'll talk."

Mary looks relieved as she plops down in the human-sized chair and clasps her hands together, "Oh, thank you! Okay, so like Liam left me a ton of gold! -- metaphorically, I mean -- just... well, a lot, you know? Like enough that I have to use both hands to lug it around... and I need a safe place to stash it, and to know who would be willing to, er... 'break' one of the bars for me -- without, say, calling the Feds, and who is trustworthy to not, say, let others know I'm carrying a heaping pile of change for a while... you know? So, like... er, do you know who I should go to about this? And... is the safety deposit box at the Coblyn Street bank the right place to stash the bag for now?"

Josie has one foot tucked under herself and her hands clasped together as she watches Mary's face seriously. She nods, "I can see that. Dragons are good with numbers and investments. Liam used to teach math to some of the little ones. The Coblyn Vault would be good for that kind of thing... and no one here is going to any human federal authorities. We do our very, very best not to have any authorities at all know about us. Or, well, no authorities outside... there's the council, of course, and the monarch... and Shane. And Shane's less of an authority and more of a... I dunno... like a knight? He makes sure people are safe and that people who are misbehaving are taken care of."

Mary nods with relief, "Oh, good! Okay, then if you're okay with it, I'd love to stop by the bank as well today?" She frowns thoughtfully as she adds, "Well... Elias called him a paladin... but I didn't realize there were any Scottish ones? And that woman in the market that saw him chase off a pickpocket that was after me... she said he wasn't the sheriff only because he wouldn't let folks give him that title? But..." she sounds uncertain, "is he really the one that would make change on a bar of gold?"

Josie's tongue lolls in one of her happy smiles, "It's just the term people understand. Shane does what's right because it's right. He protects people because they need protecting. I think he won't take the title because then he'd have to play by someone else's rules."

Mary nods slowly, considering that. "I... huh. Yeah, I... can kinda see that..."

Josie giggles... which may sound a little strange coming from a creature her size, "You were talking about the feds. I was just saying no one's going to snitch on you. The best people to make change like that would be at the vault. They might literally make change, too -- like you might get the bar's weight in gold coins."

"Oh! Oh, okay, I get it." Mary blushes again, but then adds, "Er... well, that's the other advice I need, actually, please? Like... what would be the best, er, 'change' to ask for there?"

Josie tips her head thoughtfully, one ear flicking, "I'd say go for the weight in coins. Not all gold, though. Equivalent amounts of silver would be good, too. Smaller denomination, you know? I wouldn't do gems. They're harder to trade. You could also ask for some notes of credit." She grins, "It's really old-fashioned in a way. It's set up almost like a bank in like Edwardian times in England."

Mary looks relieved, "Okay! Worst comes to worst, I can just take some of the change, and put the rest back into the vault with the gold!" She beams, bouncing to her feet -- Josie's enthusiasm is starting to unwittingly rub off on her! "Wanna go, then? I'm ready if you are?"

Josie stands, wagging cheerfully, "Oh! Oh! I should tell you, you might not want to use your real name. Lots of people here don't. Like, my name's not really Josie, not the one my mom gave me when I was born, but it's my name here."

Mary smiles ruefully, "I have the most common, boring name in the world, Josie! Even if it felt like my 'real' name, I wouldn't mind getting a more exciting one here!" She tilts her head as she considers, then ruefully adds, "Though... honestly, I've never given any thought to what other name I'd pick." As she picks up her bag, arranging it across her front like Shane told her to, she cheerfully adds, "Got any suggestions?" She giggles as she adds, "Probably not anything like Flametooth McGruff, right?!"

Josie smiles and hmmms... "Mary... Like Maria... what's a name like Maria..." Her head tips in that canine way again, "That name means something about sorrow... There's lots of names mean sorrow. But maybe..." She startles and giggles at Mary's comment, "Maybe not that but hmm..." She starts murmuring, "Fire... flame... heat... I think Aiden has something to do with fire... and Brigitte, maybe..."

Mary blinks startledly at that -- wait, this means she really could have a cool new name! She brightens at that thought, beaming at Josie, "Wow, I can really pick any name I want, can't I? This is... so cool! Though, umm... let me think about it a bit, okay?"

One of the werewolf's ears flicks, "I did some research. Not much. I needed to pick a name that felt good to me."

Mary nods enthusiastically as she heads for the door with the werewolf, "Yes, exactly -- I want to do some research too!"

Josie grins and her tongue lolls again, "OK! What should I call you while we're out?" She grabs a wicker basket from beside the door on their way out.

Mary thinks for a moment... then grins a little tightly, "Call me Brown -- it suits my colors, it's my last name... and I don't ever have to put up with it again after I pick a cool new name!"

Josie grins and wags, accidentally thumping Mary with her tail, "Brown it is! No one's gonna associate that with Liam." That last is said in a very low voice. Mary nods with determination to Josie! [Plus,] she thinks firmly to herself, [it'll be the last hold my parents have on me. After this... I'm gonna be a new woman for reals!]

Josie seems to know just about everyone they pass. She introduces Mary as a friend and people don't pry. Of course, who wants to pry when they're talking to someone seven feet tall with a mouth full of very sharp teeth? "Do we want to get the stuff you want to trade first? Or eggs?"

Mary quietly lets Josie know her 'important bag' is in her car, which is still parked slightly outside of Coblyn Street. "If you're okay with it, I'd like to get that taken care of ASAP, please?"

Josie nods, "I'll wait at the entrance for you. I shoulda changed before we left..."

Mary blinks -- then looks chagrined, "Oh, I'm so sorry, Josie! I wasn't thinking. I'm, er... still getting used to this, you know? I'll hurry right back, okay?"

Mary walks with Josie to the turn-off into Coblyn Street, pointing out her car -- then she walks briskly over to her vehicle to fetch the heavy doctor's bag. Josie nods and settles down cross-legged on the sidewalk near the entrance of the street, humming to herself as she takes out a long piece of twine and starts playing a string game with it. Mary returns as quickly as she can, lugging the heavy thing in both hands. Now that Mary has been to Coblyn Street, the entrance to it is plain as day to her. When Josie sees her coming back, the werewolf hops up and reaches to take the bag, "Let me carry that. It's probably heavy if it's... that metal." Yes. It's very heavy. And Josie carries it like Mary might carry a sack of feathers.

Mary sighs in relief, rubbing her arms, "Awesome -- thank you, Josie!" Then she grins up at her amazingly tall and strong new friend, "Okay, off to the vault now?" [Whoa... okay, this is really cool, Mary-not-Mary -- I have a real, honest-to-god new friend -- and not just someone who wants to get closer to Candi through me!] A small part of her wonders, in fact... could Candi even see Coblyn Street? That gives Mary a small, gleeful inner squeee! Something really cool -- that she does better than Candi!

Josie is obviously having a lovely time and points things out to Mary as they walk: The best place to get goat's milk (but you do that in the mornings). Her favorite place to take her clothes to be cleaned. The tiny balcony where an even tinier little woman is knitting. Josie lowers her voice, "Liane sees so much stuff and she's been around a long time. Tells great stories!" Mary nods with interest and stares around avidly -- and actually... lets... herself smile a bunch at folks! She feels far, far more confident in the Goblin Market with a honkin' huge werewolf at her side, after all! Plus, now she's not scared... this is a really awesome cooool place!

The vault is around a curve in the street... and just how do they hide a street that seems to be quite long with a lot of zigs and zags?... and the entrance is guarded by someone actually taller than Josie, but he seems to be mostly human. Just a very, very big one. Mary blinks up at the huge man, feeling rather... tiny, actually! "Er... helloo?" Her voice is a bit awed as she murmurs to Josie, "Is everyone huge here?!"

Josie is just as cheerful with the guard as anyone else, "Fionn! This is Brown. She's got some things she needs kept safe." Fionn looks down at Mary carefully. He's got carroty red hair and very pale skin... at least the parts not covered by freckles are pale. That question makes him laugh, "Nah, nah, lass. But a wee small feller wouldn't be a very good intimidation tactic, would 'e?"

Josie giggles too, "You know we aren't! You've even met a domovoy!"

Mary turns a bit pink, "Oh! Right -- that's right! Sorry, sorry... er, um, p-pleasure to meet you, Fionn?" She adds ruefully to them both, "The very first person I met here, I almost walked right into him -- and he was a huge bear! ...man... er, -type... person!"

Josie looks delighted, "You met Vanya? Don't you just want to hug him?" This makes Fionn laughs, "Josie-lass, you want to hug everyone! But enough chin-jawing -- c'mon in, Brown. We'll make sure yer valuables are safe."

Mary gives Josie a rueful grin, "At that exact moment? No, I was struggling to just not have my jaw hit the ground -- or, alternatively, screaming and running!" She's a little pink again as she smiles up at Fionn, "Thank you, sir!" Fionn's very blue eyes twinkle as he sees the two women through the door.

Inside, it's not much like a bank out in the human world. There's a couple of desks and a heavy vault door in the back wall. One of the people at a desk looks up and smiles, "Josie! What an unexpected pleasure!" The guy looks... human. Sandy brown hair, brown eyes, light complexion... and a face you'd forget as soon as he left the room. Mary blinks, her eyes widening as she studies the man. She absently pushes her glasses up her nose as she beams -- someone else that looks as plain as her! This is oddly... reassuring, actually! The man stands up and smiles at Mary, "And you are?"

Josie smiles widely, "This is Brown. She's just gotten into the city and she's got uhm... some stuff..." Josie puts the doctor's bag on the table, "Brown, this is John."

Mary nods with enthusiasm, "Yes, please! Also, some change as well as the vault? Er, I'm sorry -- I mean: hello! Pleasure to meet you. May I get a safety deposit box, please?" She's a little pink again!

John smiles and says, "Well, let's see what we have..." He opens the doctor's bag and looks impressed, "This is quite a lot..." He takes out one of the bars and hefts it in his head, head tipped and eyes looking up and to the right, "Hm... You want coins or letters of credit for it? And how much do you want to cash out?"

Mary says, "Just one bar, please? Also, er... what, um, would be the best sort of... of cash, so to speak, for use here on the Street?"

John puts the one bar into a small strongbox he pulls from a drawer in his desk, "I'd say coinage. Easily portable. Easily tradable. Can always be brought back here and exchanged for something else. We take care of a lot of valuables." He begins taking the rest of the gold out of the bag and putting it onto a scale, murmuring in an impressed way, "You could buy yourself a really lovely house on the street here and live off this for three or four human lifetimes..." He notes down the amount of gold and puts it back into the bag, handing Mary the slip of paper with the amount and a signature on it. It might be John, it might be something else. "This is your proof of what you handed over."

Mary accepts the paper with a relieved smile, "Thank you!" then carefully tucks it away in her wallet with her other important papers. She's internally thanking her deceased relative too -- it was incredibly kind of Liam to set her up financially like this! She's nearly beaming as she watches the gold being put away, in fact -- it just feels so good to her to know she's got such a huge boost to her hoard here!

From the same strongbox where he stashed the single bar of gold, he produces a pile of coins. Most of them seem to be silver, but there are a handful of gold ones, "You won't need the gold much. People here aren't like out there. They give good value." Josie snorts and John laughs, "I should say that there's not as much profiteering. You do need to be careful what you trade away."

Mary nods gravely to John, "Okay, I think I get it... and thank you. Um..." she glances up at Josie, "Would it be wisest to only take some of the coins, or what, please?"

Josie says, "I'd take all of them. You want ready cash. I've got a place you can stash what you don't want to carry." John smiles, "And no one is going to risk taking something from Josie." That makes the werewolf laugh and wag her tail.

Mary beams again at that! "Okay, then... and thank you again -- to both of you!" She carefully tucks the coins away as well, then bounces slightly on her toes with an excited grin, "So! Can we go shopping now, Josie?" She's already mentally planning tomorrow's breakfast -- she wants it to be really yummy, if she can do that, so she can show Josie how grateful she is for all the help!

Josie is happy to go shopping, "We'll have to get the milk in the morning. They're sold out by like midday most days. But they'll still have eggs... and mushrooms! Do you like mushrooms?" The shopping is done in this cheerful way with Josie introducing Mary as her friend Brown. No one seems shifty when dealing with them, but that may be the fact that Josie is, as Mary has thought several times, a freakin' huge werewolf. Even if she is a very friendly one. By the time they're done, there are apples, eggs, cinnamon, vanilla, and a couple other things in the shopping basket Josie brought with them. And Mary's little personal hoard isn't very depleted at all. It's getting quite dusky by the time they get back to Josie's place.

Mary is beaming a lot more by the time they're done, even if she is a little tired and footsore. In fact, she's almost bubbly with happiness, "This was so cool, Josie -- thank you so much for showing me around like this!"

Josie grins down at Mary as she locks the doors and checks her windows, "I had fun, too! I like people and I like having someone to take care of."

Mary turns a little pink at that! She's already collapsed with relief into the human-sized chair, and has one shoe off to rub her tired foot, as she exclaims, "Oh! Well, er... um, good? Though... I mean, I don't want to be a bother or anything?" Josie assures Mary she's not a bother and points out extra toothbrushes (plural) and towels if Mary needs them. She also points out that she'll leave her bedroom door open in case anything odd happens. In all, Mary gets the feeling that she's well-protected.

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Last modified: 2019-Jun-12 19:53:32

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