Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 7 2008, 10:10 PM
Alex slipped the parcel into his pocket with a little frown. He always felt dirty after dealing with Key. Trying not to think about where all the man's merchandise might have come from, he instead edged back up through the galley, looking for Elaine.

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 7 2008, 10:20 PM
Who was in a soft, cream-colored dress that was a little too big for Niabheara's body, and didn't quite suit the girl's coloring, but looked very much as if it probably looked lovely on Elaine.

And which was not at all suited for sailing.

She came out of Knocks' old cabin with a thoughtful look in her eyes, not quite taking in anything around her.

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 7 2008, 10:24 PM
"Ah," Alex started, the words sucked out of him by the sight of the dress. "I-uh. er. Elaine?" he tried, coming up next to her and trying to subtley eye the status of her hair. "You alright, there?"

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 7 2008, 10:29 PM
The girl blinked, then smiled easily. "Fine," she assured him. "Couldn't be better. How are you adjusting to the whole Tuatha-thing now?"

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 7 2008, 10:33 PM
"I--" Alex blinked. "No different than this morning.... Fine, save the smell. You--look nice," he started again, wondering if that was the right thing to say about a body that wasn't hers. "I imagine... that dress looks even nicer on the proper..."

Clearing his throat, he thrust out a gloved hand clutching an iron bolt. "Iron. Sorry."

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 7 2008, 10:39 PM
Elaine made a face. "It burns," she groaned. "Can't we just...come up with some code-word only you and I know?" she asked. "And promise we won't kiss or jump each other's bones or accept food or drink or gifts?"

She smoothed the dress down. "It's too big for Nialla," she agreed. "But I've never worn it before, and I felt like wearing a dress."

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 7 2008, 10:45 PM
"But if the Puck is floating about, all he has to do is overhear the code word once," Alex pointed out, not pulling the iron away. He gave the dress a moderately suspicious look.

"Besides, I sort of have a gift for you, so... a small gift. A very small and possibly useless gift. But it does prevent entering into that sort of agreement..."

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 7 2008, 10:49 PM
The girl raised an eyebrow. "Now I'm suspicious. What are you giving me gifts for?" she asked, and she reached up to touch two gold rings that weren't in her ears. "Give me that iron."

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 7 2008, 10:51 PM
"To apologize for fleeing the scene this morning," Alex shrugged. He tugged off his other glove, touched the iron and showed her the burn--then offered it up. "It was pretty rude of me."

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 7 2008, 10:53 PM
Elaine laughed. "I was the one making fun of you!" she answered. "If you want to apologize, apologize to Nialla. She's the one who had lady-troubles."

She touched the iron herself, and did the same.

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 7 2008, 10:56 PM
"Well, she's not readily available, and I'm too afraid of her Queensman to give her presents," Alex laughed, tucking the bolt away. "Though you may not need this, either, really. I was gonna help you with your hair."

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 7 2008, 11:09 PM
"Nialla fixed it," Elaine answered with a grin. "And the Queensman is a sissy, Alex. You could take him in a fight," she assured him, making a face. "I don't see what she sees in him. At all."

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 7 2008, 11:27 PM
Alex looked disappointed at this, and shrugged. "Ah. Well.... that's good. I suppose she'd know how to care for it, wouldn't she."

He laughed. "I don't fight people? So I think Marcello would have an easy time with me."

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 7 2008, 11:31 PM
"Oh, stop cutting yourself down," Elaine retorted. "Seriously; he's a pussy-cat. He wouldn't get mad at you. What, you think he'd be jealous? You're ten years younger than he is, and Nialla's smitten, smitten."

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 7 2008, 11:39 PM
"Ten years younger makes me a bit more age-appropriate, doesn't it?" Alex laughed. "The Countess can't be much older than me, and I am dashingly handsome... when I'm not suck in a faerie-skin, that is. He's going gray, Elaine. Gray!"

With that, Alex scratched as his chin. "Well, your hair's sorted but I suppose you can have this anyway, I certainly don't have any use for it." He pulled out the parcel from his pocket and passed it over, with a wry look. Wrapped in a pale blue handkerchief were a number of barrettes, a ribbon, and a rather fine looking comb of bone he'd managed to talk out of Key.

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 7 2008, 11:48 PM
Elaine gave him a look. "What planet are you from?" she asked, a bit scoffingly. "No one's going to be interested in a teenager without prospects." She wrinkled her nose at him. "I've never heard of anyone marrying a man who wasn't at least old enough to be established. Not unless they're marrying nobility."

She made a face then. "The gray is sort of...I told her I don't know what she sees in him. She likes the gray, though."

She accepted the handkerchief, then raised both eyebrows as her fingers slipped over the comb. "You're sure this isn't a come-on?" she asked.

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 7 2008, 11:53 PM
"Earth?" Alex tried, hopefully. "I thought nobility was doomed to marry some stuffy noble, until a brilliant young knight wins their heart and whisks them away in the name of True Love? Not that I'm really interested in the countess, mind you. Marcello can do all the whisking he likes, fine by me."

At her question, he shook his head, though his face did redden slightly. "Nah. I wouldn't bother with that, having heard you quite literally sing the praises of your blond friend..."

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 8 2008, 12:02 AM
Elaine laughed, looking a bit sheepish, and she wrapped one of the ribbons around her finger. "Oh, don't remind me. About the singing, I mean. I talked to Jochy, just now. He's-- he's hoping to come here. I'm waiting for Judith to refuse and kick him off the ship."

She snickered then. "You were so raised on novels."

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 8 2008, 12:06 AM
"I wasn't raised on anything," Alex admitted. "I did borrow my Master's daughers' books from time to time, when they were away in the country. Nothing but the sugariest of romances for those girls... guess it shows."

He deflated slightly. "Oh, I see. That explains the dreamy look you had on when you came waltzing out of Judith's cabin." Rather awkwardly, he reached out to pat her arm. "He's probably safer elsewhere, honestly, given what we're sailing into."

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 8 2008, 12:17 AM
And she elbowed him-- hard.

"Oh, you just shut up," she said, flushing, which was much more apparent given her current skin tone. "We had a very interesting talk, that's all. And a lot of innuendo. And right-out suggestion," she added mischievously. "He's a mage. And he's saved my life, more than once. I'd rather have him here."

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 8 2008, 12:23 AM
"Suit yourself," Alex shrugged said, a bit brusquely, rubbing at his ribs. Hearing her talk on this subject set him blushing to the roots of his dark hair. "I'm sure things will work out. Judith adores you, anyway."

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 8 2008, 12:26 AM
"She adores me," she agreed. "She can't stand him. And with good reason," she added. "He's done a lot of things for her to be angry about."

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 8 2008, 12:37 AM
“Worse than seducing her apprentice?” Alex asked, amused. "To be honest, I don't know... or, ah, care much about Jochy... so long as he's decent to you. You deserve someone who makes you happy."

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 8 2008, 12:41 AM
She smiled shyly. "He's very decent to me," she answered. "Well, he has been since we stopped sleeping together," she admitted. "Before, he was good to me, but not decent. He was married. To a man. And he didn't seduce me, really. I seduced him, but still. There was a point where he was being unfaithful to a lot of people all at once."

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 8 2008, 12:48 AM
Alex could not hide his utter bewilderment—and so he looked away, folding his arms. "Uh. Can I just clarify this? So he’s done loads of bad things, broke up his marriage, was unfaithful to—more than two?—people, gave you the brain clap, and you’re still enamored with him?"

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 8 2008, 12:50 AM
"He also saved my life, twice, taught me how to speak with my mind, trusted me with secrets, treats me like an adult, and gave me a compass," Elaine answered. And then she gave the boy a smirk. "And he's done other things to me that don't bear mentioning in polite company."

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 8 2008, 12:57 AM
"Great," Alex muttered. "I'll just take notes, then. Compasses, the quickest way to a girl's heart."

He then gave her an pained look, embarassed. "I wish you wouldn't talk about things like that. It... it's not something I'm accustomed to hearing about."

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 8 2008, 01:02 AM
"What?" Elaine teased. "With all the romances you read, and you can't handle a little frank discussion of intimacies? Is this like lady-trouble? You're never going to get a woman if you can't flirt properly. The compass, no. Compasses don't do it. Baubles, like this," she held up the handkerchief. "These work better. So do flowers. But how are you going to get up a girl's skirts if you can't even think about it?"

((I have to sleep now! Night night!))

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 8 2008, 01:43 AM
"I just don't like thinking of you tangled up with some blond of questionable moral character," Alex said, stiffly. "I don't care about skirts. That's--you know that's not why I gave you those things," he added, looking mortified.

Posted by: Elaine Romain Jul 8 2008, 07:33 AM
"His morals are impeccable!" Elaine objected. "It's just his ability to compromise them with everyone else's that's a problem."

She looked down at the handful of baubles. "You're not supposed to care about the skirts. You're supposed to care about what's under them, anyway. Don't you like girls?"

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 8 2008, 08:40 AM
At this suggestion, Alex actually looked offended. "If I didn't like girls, would I have bothered giving you my finest handkerchief?" he asked, dryly. "I don't care about what's under the skirts--at any given time half the people in the world share that exact same trait. I care about what's upstairs."

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 8 2008, 10:34 AM
Elaine gave the boy a pained look. "One would hope," she retorted. "But caring about the philosophical and the spiritual and all that doesn't preclude caring about base instinct."

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 8 2008, 05:11 PM
"I care -- I just care, privately. I'm not a person prone to letting his baser nature dictate his actions," Alex admitted, thoroughly embarassed.

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 8 2008, 11:23 PM
Elaine smirked at the boy. "You said dick-tate."

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 8 2008, 11:54 PM
"Oh my god, Elaine," Alex groaned, and pressed his face to his hands. "...you're ... you're not helping."

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 9 2008, 12:10 AM
She grinned, evidently very pleased with herself. "I'm trying my best not to," she informed the boy, beaming from ear to ear.

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 9 2008, 12:17 AM
"You're incorrigible," the boy-turned-Tuatha blustered, rubbing at his cheeks. "Fine. I rescind my offer to do up your hair for you... Too bad, too. I’m terribly good at it."

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 9 2008, 12:19 AM
Elaine tossed her very fabulous hair. "What would I have to give you to get you to change your mind?" she asked, batting her lashes at him.

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 9 2008, 12:26 AM
"You could just ask nicely? And maybe stick to speaking on ... more... appropriate topics," Alex suggested, folding his hands behind his back.

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 9 2008, 12:29 AM
Elaine tilted her head to one side. "Good, because I don't feel right offering to take you down to the hold and make a man out of you when I'm stuck in someone else's body and you're my stepmother's uncle," Elaine answered cheerfully. "Will you please do up my hair for me?" she asked sweetly.

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 9 2008, 12:32 AM
"You don't-- I don't need - that's not an appropriate--" Alex started, then dropped his eyes to his boots. He did want to touch her hair.

"Fine. Here, sit, and I'll just..." he held out his hand for the bundle of baubles.

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 9 2008, 12:42 AM
Elaine handed it back, and found herself a spot on a crate. "So how does a boy know how to braid hair?" she asked interestedly, still grinning. "And how come you're so uptight? Your brother sleeps with everything he can shove his dick into."

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 9 2008, 12:47 AM
Alex was glad to get around behind her, so that she couldn't see how rosy his face had gone. Somewhat hesitantly, he picked up the comb and began seperating out sections of hair, smoothing them out individually. "I always took care of my little sister," he said, embarassed. "She used to refuse to go outside and play unless her hair looked nice."

He chewed on his lower lip. "I... I don't know. He was raised by our mum. I was raised by the man I'd been apprenticed to."

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 9 2008, 12:55 AM
"So it doesn't run in the family, then?" Elaine asked. "What was your mum like?" she asked interestedly. Then she laughed. "God, the nuns were always fussing with my hair when I was-- well, until I left. How old is your sister?"

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 9 2008, 01:00 AM
"I don't know that I would say that," Alex said, a bit stiffly. "We're all half-siblings, so I'd say he got it from somewhere. Clara's a wee little thing--she'll be just ten come April." His hand paused, mid-stroke. "Have we passed April?"

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 9 2008, 01:03 AM
"Yes, I turned sixteen in April," Elaine answered. "We're into June now." She looked curious for a moment. "You had three papas?" she asked. "What happened to them all?"

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 9 2008, 01:14 AM
"Ah, not exactly," Alex said, vaguely. He ran his fingers through her hair, somewhat wistfully, and then started a simple plait at her hairline. "Closest to a father was Mr. Gray. He took on Aeron as an apprentice—when he died, the agreement fell to Giles, but Giles left."

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 9 2008, 01:22 AM
"Aeron's the crazy evil rapist one, right?" Elaine asked. "Um. I mean, sorry, but you know. But you had three...four? Different fathers? Was your mama ever married, or just..." She trailed off, suspecting her questions were becoming rude.

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 9 2008, 01:27 AM
"Uh, yeah, that one. He was--he was kind enough when he was small." He pulled the plait tight, expertly. "I never met them. Mum was engaged twice, but we never met them either." Alex tried, as though that made things better--and then awkwardly added, "These ears sure get in the way."

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 9 2008, 01:30 AM
"Hey," Elaine growled, and flicked an ear back at him. "You say that one more time."

"So what happened to all those, um, you know? Fiances? Is your mama a black widow?"

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 9 2008, 01:39 AM
He flicked her ear in turn, giving it a poke with more cheer than he really felt. Taking a deep breath, Alex steadied his hands. "Mum was. Ah, a ... working woman, if you catch my meaning. I've no idea what became of our fathers... Giles' was a faerie, obviously. Aeron's was some kinda minor noble, who sent us money from time to time, probably to keep mum's mouth shut... but it doesn't really matter. This--this is all very embarassing, you know. Don't go around telling people?"

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 9 2008, 02:07 AM
"Eek!" Elaine squealed, and jumped at the poke. "Watch it!" she said. "Those things are sensitive."

What had Jochy said?

Oh.

She would try not to consider that at the moment.

"That's not embarrassing," Elaine assured him. "I mean, my papa is about to have another baby, and plenty of people's mothers wo-- oh," she said, as it occurred to her what he might mean. "So she, um. For money?"

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 9 2008, 02:41 AM
Alex scrambled to keep his strands arranged when she jumped. "Well, what else would you do it for? biscuits?" he asked, rather grumpily. His face had attained a shade comparable to her hair.

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 9 2008, 02:49 AM
"Oh, stop that, it's not like you're the one who did it," Elaine retorted. "Although I suppose it does sort of explain your brother?"

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 9 2008, 02:58 AM
"I know. I just... don't want to end up like that. Which? Giles?" Alex laughed. "He was always her favorite. He was a pretty kid, with those slanty faerie eyes and freckles... she liked to show him off."

He snorted, disapproving. "She even taught him to play cards, let him come out with her from time to time. She'd allow him a nip of gin for each win, and he was always puking sick the day after." Alex went quiet then, tucking a strand up from her neck and trying not to think about the smooth skin there.

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 9 2008, 03:13 AM
Elaine was frowning now, a serious expression on her face. "So...what, you think your mama made him get like this?" she asked. "I mean...I don't mean any offense, but why would you do that to your own kid?"

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 9 2008, 03:22 AM
"I don't think she ... it sounds so sinister, to say she made him. We needed the money, Giles was lucky. I think he loved her, and sees nothing wrong with being like her," Alex said, quietly. "I'm glad that Clara has been ... well. Given a better situation than that."

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 9 2008, 03:29 AM
"I didn't mean made like forced," Elaine corrected. "I meant made more like...when you make a cake? brought into being? Encouraged?" She shrugged. "I don't mean anything against him, Alex. He's a decent enough person, I think. It's just sad, is all. Where's your sister now?"

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 9 2008, 03:33 AM
"I'm.... not entirely sure." Alex admitted, quietly. "She was working for a family when I left, cleaning their home and shop. The--the demon woman said would place her in a school, but ... well. I've no idea if that happened."

He tied off the first plait, and started on the other, beginning at the opposite temple. He was in fact very good at braiding. "I sound like a horrid brother, don't I."

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 9 2008, 03:37 AM
"No, you-- oh, god, the demon again?" she asked him. "I hate that bitch. I don't really trust her; she probably sent her to courtesan school.

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 9 2008, 03:50 AM
"I don't, either. She was... making all sorts of suggestive comments about her, before. Clara's nine. NI--well, ten now, I suppose." His voice went angry, and he forced himself to pause before running the comb through a tangled bit, lest he yank out some of Niabheara's pretty red hair in his distraction. "I don't want to go back to her until I know that monster isn't following me." Then, a sigh. "I missed her birthday."

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 9 2008, 10:16 AM
"Alex, I hate to state the obvious, but...she could have gone after her instead, couldn't she?" Elaine asked. "I mean, there's nothing stopping her, is there?" She tensed her jaw, gave the boy a sickly look. "Look, you know what? She's ten. She'll understand missing a birthday, Alex. My papa missed I don't know how many and he had Sylvie with him all the time, so he should've remembered. One birthday now isn't going to make her stop loving you, you know. But the demon? That, in the grand scheme of things, is more to worry about than a birthday."

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 9 2008, 04:39 PM
"She promised me she wouldn't, when my brother was controlling her--so she had no choice but to follow orders. But..." Alex tried, swallowing. This was so much more important than a damn birthday. "I--" But he felt ill at this point, and looked it. It had been foolish to assume Darai's honesty. When Aeron had controlled her he'd known Clara was safe, but without that tether, anything was within her power, wasn't it?

His hands stilled. "Oh, god. Is--is there any way to check on her? You people talk with your father's ship from time to time, do you not?" Even if he knew, what could he do? They were god only knew how far away in the wrong bloody world.

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 9 2008, 09:49 PM
Elaine nodded. "They have a mirror?" she answered. "They can use it to...talk to people? But only if you know them already, it doesn't work with strangers. If someone on the ship knows her, though, they could do that."

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 9 2008, 11:05 PM
Alex's face fell slightly. "No, no one there would know her. Perhaps when we meet them again..."

He pursed his lips, finished the plait, and brought the two strangs to the nape of her neck where he twisted a ribbon through one and began to weave them together. "What about your family? You must have moved around a lot, with a captain for a father."

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 9 2008, 11:54 PM
The girl shook her head. "No, I moved around a lot because I kept getting kicked out of schools. Mostly because I misbehaved," she explained. "Sylvie stayed with Papa. I went to school in France. It made sense at the time," she muttered.

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 10 2008, 12:16 AM
"No shaking!" Alex yelped, losing his grip and having to collect the stray strands as best he could. "That's good, though, that you went to school--isn't it? I'd like Clara to get a proper education. So she can support herself independently ..." he didn't finish the sentence, but his thoughts were obvious. ...and not end up like mum. "How did you end up with Judith, then?"

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 10 2008, 12:41 AM
"Sorry!" Elaine exclaimed. "I...well, it's a long story," she answered. "I ran away and left my sister in the convent...sort of, to trade places, to protect her? And my papa was sailing with Judith at the time."

"Proper education is all well and good, but convent education was half about how to be a breed sow."

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 10 2008, 12:59 AM
"There are a few people on this boat that might find that sort course of study useful," Alex snorted. "Insofar as knowing what to avoid. No convents for Clara. I was thinking of a trade school... she could be a seamstress, or something like that. But I'm not sure if she'd like that... and she's a bit young to know what she wants to do with herself."

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 10 2008, 01:02 AM
"Oh, anyone can teach sewing," Elaine offered. "Seriously. Anyone. I know how to embroider. You put her in one of those schools, she'll end up in a workhouse, that's not what you want for her. Get her running errands for someone with a nice shop."

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 10 2008, 01:07 AM
"I'd hoped that would be her situation, when I allowed this family to hire her on. She's mostly used as a cleaning girl, though, and assists the family's cook with meals. When she's a bit older, she might be allowed to mind the shop, but..."

He finished off the final braid with a flourish, and tied the thing as tightly as he could. "Annnnnnnnnnd finished. What do you think?"

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 10 2008, 01:11 AM
"I can't see it," Elaine pointed out, giggling as she reached up to touch her hair. "That sounds like a good place for her, then, for now, anyway. Are these people...they're good people?"

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 10 2008, 01:15 AM
"They seem a fair lot... She's never been hit, and they feed her well. Her room was a cold, but Master Gray's daughters knit, and sent over a box of blankets." Alex grinned, and guided her hands to the place where the braids joined. "See? Nice and neat."

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 10 2008, 01:20 AM
Elaine wriggled her shoulders approvingly as she felt the braids. "Very neat. It feels shiny," she assured him. "I never had shiny hair before. Thank you," she told him, grinning back at him delightedly. "You should dress hair for ladies of state."

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 10 2008, 01:25 AM
Alex scooted around to her side, and dropped his legs off the crate. "Sadly, the only nobility we've got aboard cheat... they can just glam up their hair," he pointed out, amused.

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 10 2008, 01:26 AM
Elaine laughed. "I mean in England. Or France. French women are crazy when it comes to hair."

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 10 2008, 01:30 AM
"I've never been to France," Alex told her, rather wistfully. "Actually, getting demon-napped was my first time out of Whitehaven."

He looked thoughtful for a moment. "When this is all over, I'm going to go to school and study French properly. French and Latin, I think."

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 10 2008, 01:34 AM
"Latin's boring as hell," Elaine informed him. "It's not good for anything except reading old books by monks."

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 10 2008, 01:36 AM
Alex nodded, considerately. "But it's rather necessary for a career in the church, and there's great respect to be had there, if you rise in the ranks. French, for diplomacy. I don't suppose whatever the Tuatha speak would be at all useful, back on our proper map..."

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 10 2008, 01:39 AM
"Haha, no, I doubt it," Elaine answered, then gave him a cockeyed look. "The church? Really? I mean...you can't get married. You have to wear dresses."

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 10 2008, 01:45 AM
Alex waved a hand dismissively. "In public. You could probably still lounge about at home in your trousers, I would think... but think of all you'd have access to. There's loads of land at the Church's disposal, and rumor has it their treasuries are packed fit to bursting."

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 10 2008, 01:46 AM
Elaine's eyes opened wide. "You!" she accused. "You're the sort of Papist the Calvinists are always warning against!"

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 10 2008, 01:51 AM
"I'm not a Papist!" Alex protested. "It's just, the Church of England is a bit of a joke. If we're talking about career moves, I'd just as soon set my sights higher."

Posted by: Niabheara ni Dowd Jul 10 2008, 02:01 AM
"You're an opportunist!" Elaine accused, laughing. "That's worse! Godless heathen!" She giggled and pointed.

Posted by: Gwydion Ceallaigh Jul 10 2008, 02:07 AM
"You're one to call me a heathen, little miss Witch In Training!" Alex threw up his hands, and grinned. "I spent too long being poor to spend the rest of my life that way. I'll take what I can get."