[2026/09/22 14:56] Sonja Bikergrrl: to the Table!
[2026/09/22 14:58] Sapphire: Mecha: think a mild scene change so that... Syra actually meets some of the other folk in the castle.... or do you think it's more interesting to do a more reasonable heart to heart with Pyra instead?
[2026/09/22 14:59] Sapphire: preference?
[2026/09/22 14:59] Mecha: tough call
[2026/09/22 15:00] Sapphire: evens the first, odds the second?
[2026/09/22 15:00] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me leans full weight on a starting handle and it whirs round and round, the tank engine splutters into life. "Ready for ya!"
[2026/09/22 15:00] Mecha: Sounds good
[2026/09/22 15:04] Sapphire: Previously: http://81.133.27.194/Dungeons&Kittens/logs-2025arm/20260825.html
[2026/09/22 15:04] Sapphire: A grand kiss, potent enough to knock a witches socks off and answer questions about the nature of alliances.
[2026/09/22 15:04] Sapphire: -- ☿ -- ♥ -- ☿ --
[2026/09/22 15:04] Sapphire: It's been a half hour or so, enough time for the table to be set with food. The Magi are taking their meal in a smaller office, quite sparely furnished with the table a portable model with ropes holding it's legs in position. A window looks out on the mountainside, a runic diagram carved into the black stone to wrap illusions for anyone trying to look inwards.
[2026/09/22 15:04] Sapphire: Arthur, what food are you bringing up?
[2026/09/22 15:04] Sapphire: the Magi are Cato, Syra, and Pythagora, who has finally roused, but still quite stunned, a mug of hot rose petal tea in her hands.
[2026/09/22 15:05] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me stares out of the window
[2026/09/22 15:06] Mecha: Since these are the Magi, roasted meats, breads, root vegetables , cheeses
[2026/09/22 15:07] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me looks to Sonja y Ddraig Goch Fach. "You want some roasted meat, pet?"
[2026/09/22 15:07] Sapphire: It's a view of the rocky cliff that would be a very rough approach to anyone sneaking in, but plausibly someone might try to perch out there and spy. Or send a flying familiar around. Sonja rubs a cheek against Pyra's while she's staring. Arthur likely overhears much of the following conversation unless they're actively trying not to.
[2026/09/22 15:08] Sapphire: The offer of roasted meat gets an affirmative chirp.
[2026/09/22 15:08] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me eyes flick from tree to tree... where are they...
[2026/09/22 15:09] Sapphire: Cato sips a mug of his own drink, boiled water for now, and inquires, "are you searching for something... or some *one* specific, our... recently joined ally?" Pythagora glances up, then follows Pyra's gaze.
[2026/09/22 15:09] Sapphire: Syra*
[2026/09/22 15:10] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me immediate puts on a neutral, innocent expression. "Sorry? My mind wandered a bit." (reaches out with her mind to her familiar) "Pet? You there?"
[2026/09/22 15:14] Sapphire: Her familiar chirps softly in the affirmative, leaning down to nip at a chunk of meat. Their own mind has not yet fully expanded to the use of language, though it likely will over time, more with the investment of seasons of lab time to the matter. Still, even with the cords you have between each other, you get a pulse of confirmation.
[2026/09/22 15:14] Sonja Bikergrrl: Syra to Sonja y Ddraig Goch Fach: "Good girl."
[2026/09/22 15:16] Sapphire: Pythagora mutters a cutting spell at her loaf of bread and then spoons some meat into the middle of it, adding a bit of cheese as well, glancing up to the bird. "A Fire Kite, yes? You hadn't had one at the tournament."
[2026/09/22 15:17] Sonja Bikergrrl: Must be charmed by my attractive personality. Took two, three kisses, and now she goes where I go.
[2026/09/22 15:22] Sapphire: She blushes, looking down at her food and taking a bite while she thinks, then Cato speaks up. "Rare to find such this far west, though our house does take an effort for such... versatile familiars. Did you not intend similar, Pythagora?" "I was more inclined towards requesting the chance to bind with a Shadowowl, actually, once I had the time to do so." "Similarly versatile." The mood is strange, dancing around the proper issues at hand.
[2026/09/22 15:23] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me looks aside, to nuzzle her cheek on the side of her familiars' face
[2026/09/22 15:28] Sapphire: "I feel," Cato speaks, "that were this a more traditional situation, a bit more ceremony might have been made to... court my filia, as it were," he uses the word for a magi's (female) apprentice, itself adapted from the latin for daughter. "And while i might normally demand a challenge, with the upcoming wizards war, terms for such seem quite obvious." Pythagora narrows her eyes at Cato. "Parens!" He looks back at her. "Do I speak incorrectly?"
[2026/09/22 15:29] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me looks at the guy with an amused expression. "You never ask a lady this, but... you ain't no lady. What's your vintage?"
[2026/09/22 15:31] D10: Sapphire rolls 1
[2026/09/22 15:33] Sapphire: "I do not mean to disparage you, but you strike me as a mage first, fighter second, and a lady third at best. As for my own vintage, I am nearing my one hundred and fiftieth." Pyra flashes a gesture suggesting that some significant rounding might apply to that report. "Unless you mean wine, where I lean towards north italian reds."
[2026/09/22 15:34] Sonja Bikergrrl: Syra whistles. "A hundred and fifty. No offence, old bean, but, young love finds it's own way without... I'll leave the sentance there for politeness. There's a lady present."
[2026/09/22 15:37] Mecha: Art shakes his head before moving back to the kitchen to make dessert
[2026/09/22 15:40] Sapphire: "For mere lust, this is perhaps true," he counters. "But we are magi, unbound by the mores or frivolities of the peasants. Granted, Pythagora has completed her gauntlet, suggesting she can defend herself, should it become... warranted." He runs a finger around his bowl of vegetables and casts a small warming spell upon it, omitting an incantation.
[2026/09/22 15:40] Sonja Bikergrrl: Syra looks astounded. "Defend herself? I kicked her ass."
[2026/09/22 15:44] Sapphire: -that- comment gets an offended glare from the maga in question, though she cannot deny it. Cato replies instead, "this time, and while i find your method of courtship curious on that front, should I need to, well. Observe this wizards war and then contemplate my capacity should I have reason for true wroth instead of... strategic moves."
[2026/09/22 15:44] Sonja Bikergrrl: Syra: "French, mate. Do you speak it?"
[2026/09/22 15:47] Mecha: *French mate.. isn't that a coffee creamer?*
[2026/09/22 15:47] Sapphire: "No. I favor Latin like any skilled magi," he replies, naturally enough in latin as much of the conversation has been going.
[2026/09/22 15:47] Sonja Bikergrrl: Syra: "Then don't complain when I ignore what is incomprehensible."
[2026/09/22 15:49] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me sighs and starts counting on her fingers, very slowly
[2026/09/22 15:52] Sapphire: "Let me be plain then, even brutish. Should you bring harm to my filia, I will be glad to respond with every nasty trick i have learned in a long career."
[2026/09/22 15:52] Sonja Bikergrrl: Syra: "Yep. That's all of them. Congratulations."
[2026/09/22 15:53] Sapphire: Pythaora inquires, "are you counting how many more words of patience you have left?"
[2026/09/22 15:56] Sonja Bikergrrl: Syra Hmmms? and looks up to Pythagoras, her eyes warm and she smiles briefly, then she looks back to the old guy, her expression wiped neutral. "I'm glad you have the smarts to ask. No, I was counting the rules of a crisis situation - so far this guy has broke them all - and the rules of war. The first two are a complete fail, and the third, which is the last one... is about to, no, actually, it just HAS failed. So, I got to ask, you're apparantly her to fight a war, old bean, and you don't know what you're doing. Are you insane?"
[2026/09/22 16:43] Sapphire: "I do not think I am insane, no. Not that the insane can tell." He sets his utensils down. "You'd also mentioned breaking the rules of hospitality earlier. So, you have my attention, young french mage. Please, if you have a list of such rules I'd compare them to... how we do things in Coeris."
[2026/09/22 16:44] Sonja Bikergrrl: Syra smiles serenely. "Now, you're doing the thing you should've done at the very beginning... ask me what you wanted to know."
[2026/09/22 16:44] Sapphire: He frowns, and gestures for her to continue.
[2026/09/22 16:45] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me just smiles, blinking slowly like a cat
[2026/09/22 16:46] Sapphire: "First, second, and third rules of a crisis, in your view?"
[2026/09/22 16:47] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me glances over at Pythagoras. "You know, I actually have a question for you." *looks back at Cato* "But I'm in a bind, I can't ask it in front of my intended. That just would not do."
[2026/09/22 16:50] Sapphire: "Is that so? Perhaps it would be most fair to trade... questions for questions then. If you have a question for me and wish Pyra to take a moment outside, well, i belive the chef is working on desert currently."
[2026/09/22 16:50] Mecha: *...Intended?*
[2026/09/22 16:51] Sonja Bikergrrl: Syra: Oh no no no. No moment, no stepping outside the door. Seriously, is this how you do things? There is -much- to discuss. And Pythagoras has an injured leg.
[2026/09/22 16:53] Sapphire: "House flambaue", Pythagora explains, "Indulges in far fewer secrets than ours does. As for my leg," she moves to stand up. "It's bound well enough until sundown. Enough for a brisk walk. But, my parens asked to know which rules of crisis you think he's violated, and we are still waiting to hear that."
[2026/09/22 16:55] Sonja Bikergrrl: Syra: "And for me to ask my question, there are conventions to observe, like the intended being elsewhere. I must drink Brudershaft with this gentleman - a quaint custom where we put our arms round each other, drink each others' health and try not to spill it. Then a discrete enquiry into future plans, who lives with who, career prospects, whether it is a good match or not. It'll take at least an hour, if we rush. And these conventions are NEVER rushed... I haven't got you pregnant, after all..."
[2026/09/22 16:59] Sapphire: The two other mages look at each other, an oddly *calculating* glance going between each other. "Perhaps you two," Pythagora offers, "Should take a walk around the parapets then while I have a think." Cato inclines his head. "Such a custom is new to me, though I can... entertain the prospect for an hour. I have the building sensation this will produce a strange mix of hope and ulcers to hear." He stands up as well.
[2026/09/22 16:59] Mecha: *...*
[2026/09/22 16:59] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me rises, putting out a hand to stabilize Sonja y Ddraig Goch Fach
[2026/09/22 17:00] Sapphire: The kite moves from her shoulder to her offered hand. does Syra have her leather gauntlet on?
[2026/09/22 17:00] Sonja Bikergrrl: I mean for her to be stable on my shoulder as I rise
[2026/09/22 17:01] Sapphire: ah!
[2026/09/22 17:01] Sonja Bikergrrl: Do I have leather gauntlets? News to me.
[2026/09/22 17:02] Sapphire: With several months of knowing each other you would have had time to encounter the downsides of a familiar with knives on their feet. The cost to get basic gloves would be only several pence, fairly trivial for a mage to put together.
[2026/09/22 17:03] Sonja Bikergrrl: Yes, as I said back then, no need for a shoulder guard, if Sonja y Ddraig Goch Fach claws her Mommy, then, I won't object.
[2026/09/22 17:04] Sapphire: A bit of poking, even as they're trying not to claw you up too much though. in any case... heading out with Cato or doing otherwise?
[2026/09/22 17:05] Sonja Bikergrrl: Sure.
[2026/09/22 17:06] Sapphire: Alright, Cato walks at a slow enough pace to confirm that Syra is coming along with, and sends word to the nearest man at arms to ask the kitchens to send a bottle of wine and a couple large goblets up to the walls to meet them
[2026/09/22 17:06] Sapphire: (( Also checking.... how are we on time?
[2026/09/22 17:07] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me follows, patiently, awaiting for him to stop
[2026/09/22 17:07] Sonja Bikergrrl: (I think we got time.)
[2026/09/22 17:10] Sapphire: He heads up to the walls of the ringfort, where the shape of the fortification offers an unbroken circle that can be traversed, only interrupted by the watchmen on patrol, though if they all go clockwise, that's not even an interruption. "So, I am given to understand that you honestly intend to seek young Pythagora's heart and hand?" His gaze pierces hers, studying for any hint of deception.
[2026/09/22 17:10] Sonja Bikergrrl: Syra: "Yes. I've not told one single lie."
[2026/09/22 17:11] Sapphire: "How long have you sought this, then?"
[2026/09/22 17:11] Mecha: Soon Arthur comes up with the wine and goblets. Seeing the two of you."Oh finally gonna tell ehr about tha birds and bees..." Sets the wine and goblets down."All right, I'll leave ya to it dessert in an hour."
[2026/09/22 17:12] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me tuts. "Now now, I told you, Brudershaft. We must link our left arms and drink through each others' arms, that's how we do it. It's traditional."
[2026/09/22 17:13] Sapphire: "At the start, or for the entire hour?" He nods to Arthur and then moves to open the wine if it is not already.
[2026/09/22 17:14] Sonja Bikergrrl: Syra: For the hour would be rather long. Don't worry, it'll all be over before you know it.
[2026/09/22 17:14] Mecha: Top of the hour. as the bells chime signaling 15 past the current hour, so 45 minutes from now.
[2026/09/22 17:16] Sapphire: "Perhaps you intend that promise to be comforting." He answers, pouring out wine from his own stocks into goblets provisioned by his own forces, handing one at random to her.
[2026/09/22 17:16] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me takes the glass in her left hand, and holds her hand out at not-quite shoulder height
[2026/09/22 17:18] Sapphire: He does the same, hooking his arm around hers, expression seemingly relaxed.
[2026/09/22 17:20] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me smiles serenely. "About the first rule of war...." To Sonja y Ddraig Goch Fach: "GO FOR THE EYES! (image of Catos' eyes) (image of claws, beak, flames) CLAW! BEAK! BURN! BLIND THE BASTARD!" *reaches for the sharpened wand she filched and the scalpel she also filched and RAMS them up under Cato's chin, no QUITE breaking flesh, YET... "SURPRISE MOTHERFUCKER! I suggest you surrender RIGHT FUCKING NOW or your die right here!"
[2026/09/22 17:22] Sonja Bikergrrl: We are at 1:20AM. Cliffhanger?
[2026/09/22 17:22] Sapphire: (( Ah, the world makes sense again
[2026/09/22 17:22] Sapphire: (( Yeah, cliffhanger