October 9, 2004

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Great Hall, Avalon...

Yosannah arrives via the sitting room. She rests one hand at her chest near the nape of her neck. Her fingers roll softly over her skin as she bites at her lip. She pauses at the sight of the others in the hall.

Lugh grins at Mercedes and Corwin. He says to Mercedes, "Well, if you miss me when I leave, just look for Jos, he's got my trmp. Or mom does." He begins moving to the stairs.

Corwin settles back into his seat. "Thanks. I was gonna get a cramp or something if I kept that up," he tells Mercedes. "See you later!" he calls after Lugh.

Mercedes curls up in the chair, tucking her feet up beneath herself. She grins. "It's good exercise or something."

Lugh gives Corwin a little wave, then one to Mercedes. He heads for the stairs.

Corwin says, amused, "Lots of things manage that without being that uncomfortable." He gives Yosannah a curious look, having spotted her, and then raises a hand slightly, greeting.

Yosannah lets her gaze follow after Lugh before she approaches the pair that remains seated, "Excuse me..."

Corwin says "Afternoon."

Mercedes laughs, then nods to Yosannah as the other woman draws closer, recognizing her.

Yosannah smooths out the folds of her skirt absent-mindedly, "Yes, good afternoon to you both. Merlin. Have either of you seen him today?"

Corwin shakes his head. "Nope. Haven't seen him all day. I heard he was around, but he hasn't been by."

Mercedes shakes her head. "No, I haven't seen him since that first day I saw you too."

Yosannah's shoulders slump and she exhales an audible sigh and a thoughful, "Huh."

Mercedes says "Do you have a Trump of him?"

Corwin says "I've got one, if you need to talk to him, yeah."

Yosannah runs a hand over her hair and shakes her head, "No, I tried." She smiles now though it appears feigned, "He's not answering."

Mercedes looks surprised. She says to Corwin, "Can you do that?"

Corwin says "Do what?"

Corwin says "If he's not answering ... mm, not much to do, I guess. He'll probably swing by sometime, I imagine."

Mercedes says "Not answer."

Yosannah nods in the affirmative for Mercedes' benefit and then replies to Corwin, "It's just that..." She shakes her head, "Anyway. I heard congratulations are in order, Mr. Corey."

Corwin says "Yeah. You have the option. Mostly, you just think ... you empty your mind, you don't think about anything, you -- say what?" He blinks at Yosannah. "Congratulations? For what?""

Mercedes gives Yosannah a grateful look, nods to Corwin, and then looks confused again.

Yosannah blinks once at the man before replying, light confusion in her eyes, "Regarding your daughter. The Empress." She lets her gaze go between the pair, "Is she not getting married?"

Mercedes says "Oh, is that what people were talking about upstairs? I didn't understand."

Corwin says "Oh! Oh, yeah, I guess she is at that. I sort of knew about that already, I guess. But yeah. Thank you."

Mercedes says "Lugh must be happy. No wonder he seemed in a better mood today."

Yosannah inquires, "The young man that just left here?"

Corwin says "Yeah, Bridget's son."

"And, Despil is his father, then." Yosannah's question is almost rhetorical.

Mercedes nods quietly.

Corwin says "S'right."

Corwin says "There's a sister, too, she's still off at school, I haven't met her."

Mercedes volunteers, "Branwyn."

Yosannah attempts to study Corwin's expression in regards to the mention of Lord Sawall. As she does, she offers to Mercedes, "Branwyn. What is she studying."

Mercedes says "Oh, I don't know. She went to a different school than Joscelin and Lugh."

Corwin's more or less neutral, as far as this goes. "Yeah. I could ask Bridget, I guess, next time I see her."

Bridget and Joscelin arrive.

Bridget pages to everyone in the room: I'm reminded to fix the messages on the exit.

Yosannah opens her mouth, meaning to comment as Bridget and Joscelin arrive. At the sight of them she thinks better of it and no sound is forthcoming.

Bridget and Joscelin come down the stairs, her hand in his, the smile she gives him, reassuring.

Black gauze spills from his shoulders and gathers at the wrists, the front ties up to just above the sternum. The collar folds over but rides high on his neck. Black breaches are well tailored with a broad belt wrapping the waist. Polished boots are short and somewhat non-descript.

Corwin waves to the two, his positioning by the fire making it somewhat uncomfortable. "Or you could ask her," he says to Yosannah, "now she's here."

Bridget looks a bit amused, and curious as she approaches the others, "I knew my ears were burning."

Yosannah stands beside Corwin and Mercedes who are seated. She smiles at Bridget and boy in tow. "Indeed. Hello, Empress."

Bridget smiles at Yosannah in return, "Good evening everyone."

Joscelin comes in with cheeks on fire but doesn't say anything. Rather, he just lifts his hand in way of greeting.

Yosannah offers, "I was just inquiring after your daughter, Lady. I am told she is collecting an education somewhere."

Bridget nods, "She is, much as Lugh did." She considers, "I've thought of bringing her home soon however."

Yosannah wonders, "What is she away studying, Lady."

Bridget smiles, "All those horrid things that she won't care much about again for many years. Music, and art and math, and mythology and histories, mechanics and any number of other things. I though soon, much like Lugh, that I'd search for a tutor a bit more...able in the metaverse sense of things."

Corwin gives Joscelin a curious look, but rather than questioning, just smiles.

Yosannah smiles at this, "Of course." She notes Corwin's regard for the child but continues her dialogue with Bridget, "And I hear you are to be married. Congratulations."

Joscelin stands now looking somewhat uneasy but doesn't move.

Bridget's features light up, "Thank you." She looks at Joscelin too, letting go of his hand, "I found this young man up in the hallway reading a book."

Corwin says "What book?"

Joscelin replies to Corwin "A poetry book I've had forever. Works of a Lord Byron..." He steps away from Bridget but not too far.

Yosannah tilts her head and regards the boy quietly.

Bridget says "I've told him I'll help him learn sorcery. Though, to be honest the only place I'm any good at it is here."

Bridget smiles, "But I suspect that's a good enough place to start."

Corwin says "Oh, hey, Byron. Yeah, I know him. Good stuff." He settles back into his chair.

Yosannah regards Corwin with a crooked smile. Regarding Bridget's comment she asks, "Sorcery training, hu?"

Bridget mmhmms. "Didn't I hear you're an accomplished Sorceress, Yosannah?"

Yosannah crosses her arms over her chest, casual, "Some might say." She purses her lips into a light smile.

Corwin says, with a slight smile, "That usually means 'yes'."

Yosannah offers, "There are those with just as much talent. And the ability to draw upon greator power sources then I am able, surely."

Bridget considers, "I wonder if it's as linear as all that."

Yosannah seems agreeable, "Probably not, Lady. But surely someone else." She lets her gaze slide to Corwin and offers, coyly, "Perhaps your father."

Bridget glances at Corwin, green eyes bright with amusement, "He's tricky enough."

Corwin says "Don't look at me. I'm no sorcerer. The tricks I know are kind of -- well, they're not the kind amenable to easy teaching."

Yosannah chuckles. A single, short exhileration of breath.

Joscelin blinks at that explanation but doesn't say anything. He just gazes between the others in the room.

Bridget glances at the sleeping Mercedes, but doesn't make mention.

Bridget moves to take a seat, "So what have I been missing?"

Yosannah asks of Joscelin, "Do you intend to take the Pattern one day?"

Joscelin looks stunned. "Me?" He points to himself. "No... I... I'm not related to anyone important as far as I know..."

Yosannah looks to Bridget now and asks on behalf of the boy, "No?"

Mercedes stirs a little, shifting in her seat, and her eyes open slowly, the pupils contracting. She takes in the new arrivals, a little bleary at first, then alert.

Bridget is surprised into a little laugh, "I think I would remember if he were mine."

Yosannah chuckles again. To Joscelin, "Well, then my style might actually suit you. To some extent."

Mercedes glimpses the plate of sweet rolls that has arrived during her nap. She pulls it over by the edge, immediately, and selects the first victim.

Joscelin asks "Your style... of sorcery?"

Yosannah looks to Bridget for permission to answer the boy's question.

Bridget nods at Yosannah, encouraging.

Corwin reaches over, somewhat stealthily, to pilfer one of the sweet rolls from the far side of the plate.

Mercedes's eyes flicker towards Corwin's hand, then away.

YoYosannah bites at her lip before answering, "Sorcery requires a ..." She considers, "Catalyst. A medium by which spells manifest. For some, such as the Empress, that medium can be the Pattern itself. For others, such as myself, it requires an understanding your environment so that you can draw upon the power within your location." She lets her gaze slip to the tray, "And that can be rather tricky... Can I have one of those?"

Mercedes nods to Yosannah with her mouth full.

Yosannah reaches for a roll, "Thank you, I'm starving."

Mercedes half-swallows. "We c'n ask f'some more."

Bridget says, aside, "The cook's incredibly happy these days. Don't be surprised if she starts sending food to your rooms." She looks amused.

Mercedes swallows all the way and gives Bridget a brilliant grin. "It's just all so good."

Bridget flashes a smile back at Mercedes, "Well, you're welcome to keep Cook working day and night if you want. She's loving it."

Mercedes replies affably "Okay," and turns her attention back to Yosannah.

Joscelin falls totally silent, moving back a step to consider Yosannah's words.

Corwin says, "The theory's not exactly my strong point."

Yosannah gulps, not particularly lady-like. She asks of Joscelin, "Do you find what I've said confusing. Don't worry, it is rather overwhelming a proposition for most who are not familiar with the skill."

Mercedes polishes off one roll and licks her fingers neatly.

Joscelin shrugs in response "Yeah... I didn't know that there was multiple ways for sorcery to work..."

Yosannah nods, "Every place is different. Here in Avalon, for example, I have a rather difficult time using my skills." She looks to Corwin and Bridget and asks, "Though I have no personal experience, I'm told that there are magics entirely indigenous to these lands. Is that true?"

Corwin says, indistinctly, "'r're 'me."

Corwin swallows. "Yeah. There're some."

Mercedes looks from Yosannah to Corwin, then Bridget. "'ike th' crows?" She has a smear of sugar on the corner of her mouth.

Yosannah suggests to the boy, "Well, there you are. Now that your first lesson is over, perhaps you might start by studying the magics of Avalon." She nods and takes another bite of her roll.

Corwin shrugs, a little blank. "Sure, like the crows, I guess ... " He looks across at Bridget.

"Um..." Joscelin clasps his hands behind his back. "Thank you."

Yosannah wonders, "Crows? What crows?"

Bridget explains, "For as long as I can remember, whenever i'd wander about Avalon, crows would appear, follow me about, chatter at me."

Yosannah raises a brow, "Really?"

Mercedes adds, "A crow came to see Lugh when we were on the mountain."

Bridget nods at Yosannah, brushing her bangs from her eyes.

Mercedes looks at Joscelin, looks at the plate of sweet rolls, and lifts her eyebrows.

Joscelinpeers between Mercedes and the rolls and shakes his head with a slight smile. "I wouldn't wish to take any from you..."

Mercedes shakes her head, offers again.

Yosannah wonders of Corwin, "And what about you, Mr. Corey. Do the crows of Avalon follow after you as well?"

Corwin says "What'd he say? The crow, I mean? Oh, me? No, they don't follow me. They leave me alone."

Corwin says "So far."

Mercedes says "Oh. He had a writing attached to his leg, and it was from Prince Osric."

Joscelin paces over and takes one of the rolls. "Thanks..." He paces back and nibbles on it, returning to his listening.

Yosannah furrows her brow in a lack of recognition regarding Prince Osric.

Corwin says "Different kind of magic, that. That's more Pattern magic."

Bridget furrows her brow as well. "I suppose I can't hold Lugh's hand any more."

Mercedes shrugs, nods to Corwin. She blinks at Bridget.

Joscelin shakes his head to this and finds a seat, sinking down.

Bridget tells Mercedes, "I just know that I don't trust any of my Uncles all that much, the Aunts either. And for one that I haven't met at all, to suddenly be ever so interested in my son, why, it makes me uncomfortable."

Mercedes says "But why can't you hold his hand?"

Yosannah listens quietly.

Mercedes decides, "I shouldn't have said anything."

Corwin says, dry, "I think it's -- complicated."

Yosannah looks amongst the group and finally suggests, "If this is a matter for family, I can excuse myself..."

Joscelin nods "Me too... if necessary."

Corwin says "If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say ... well ... he has to grow up, some day. He can't go through life with somebody to push stuff away, because there's not always gonna be someone there. So he's got to learn for himself, sooner or later. And if he's old enough to take the Pattern ..."

Mercedes nods, then looks down at the plate, defeated. She blinks at Yosannah, then asks, "Should I go too?"

Bridget considers, "I just meant that I can't do everything for him, keep him locked up. "

Bridget nods at Corwin, as if he said, what she was thinking.

Mercedes says "Oh. He isn't locked up. He's happy and he likes you and he has friends."

Bridget smiles, "He's a good son."

Corwin says "Good kid, yeah. Pretty quick study. I hope he manages all right, when he goes out exploring ... enh, he will."

Joscelin lifts his hand. "He asked me to go with..." Meekly stated.

Mercedes discovers the sugar on her face and uses a napkin to wipe it off. She smiles at Joscelin.

Corwin says "All the better, two heads're better'n one."

Mercedes says "He wanted me to go with too, but I said I would ask you or Lady Bridget first."

Yosannah crosses her arms over her chest and lifts a hand to her chin, pensive.

Corwin says "Well, I mean, you don't have to ask either of us, I don't figure. What d'you think?"

Bridget nods, agreeing, "I'm with you, father. " She smiles, "Go if you want, if he wants. "

Mercedes says easily, "Okay."

Corwin says "Do you? Want to go, I mean?"

Mercedes says "Sure, it sounds like fun."

Mercedes says "Also we're supposed to learn how to use skis."

Corwin says "As part of the trip, or is that separate?"

Mercedes says "Separate I think. Lord Bartie who lives up the hill doesn't know how either."

Corwin says, somewhat bemused, "Lord Bartie?"

Despil has arrived.

Mercedes says "Um, he said he was a friend of Lady Sarah's and Lady Sarah knows Lady Bridget and it's her house. Chalet."

Mercedes takes another sweet roll.

Yosannah suggests, perhaps for Bridget's benefit, "They'll all have a great deal of fun, no doubt."

Despil walks slowly into the room. He looks around for a moment before saying, "Lords and Ladies."

Bridget says "Ah yes, there's a big party going on these days up at the Chalet."

Corwin says "Right. Must be the same guy."

Mercedes looks up, seems to recognize Despil, gets up, bows politely, and sinks back into her chair, getting sugar down the front of her nightgown in the process.

Bridget pauses and smiles at Despil, "There you are."

Despil smiles. "Took longer than I thought." He walks over to Bridget and offers his hand.

Yosannah is already standing when Despil arrives. She is situated somewhere between where Corwin and Mercedes are seated and the fireplace. She turns her head over her shoulder to regard the Lord of Sawall.

Joscelin stands up and bows in Despil's direction before reseating.

Corwin just remains seated. Well, he raises a hand to wave vaguely in Despil's direction.

Despil bows to Corwin, Mercedes, then to Joscelin.

Mercedes blinks, swallows.

Bridget slipes her hand into Despil's, her regard softening and lingering for a time. "I figured as much. Have you met everyone, darling?" She thinks, "Perhaps not Mercedes?"

Mercedes shakes her head. "No, but Lugh showed me your Trump. It's a pleasure to met you, m'Lord."

Despil smiles broadly. He says, "I was sure you knew me and I had forgotten you. A delight to meet you, Milady Mercedes." He bows again.

Mercedes returns the bow gracefully, then curls back up into her seat. She glances to Corwin.

Yosannah offers after Mercedes and Despil have their exchange, "It is good to see you, Despil. I was hoping to offer you my congratulations in person."

Corwin, expression neutral, shifts slightly in his seat. "Ah ..." he says, and trails off.

Despil says "It's good to see you, too, Yo. I heard you were around."

Yosannah offers him a light, crooked smile, "I'm always around."

Corwin says, unnecessarily, "You two know each other, huh." He sinks deeper into his chair, eyeing Mercedes. "You learn any other games from Lugh?"

Mercedes looks up. "No, he was going to teach me fichwhatever once he learned it from Prince Osric."

Despil takes a seat next to Bridget.

Yosannah lets her gaze linger on Despil after Corwin's comment but she offers nothing in response.

Corwin digs himself out again, crossing to the table. "Well, you up for another game, then? See if you can whup me again." He winks.

Mercedes grins in answer and bounces to her feet, padding over to the chess-table and gathering her robe around her waist. "I can try, anyway. You almost had me last time."

Bridget glances at her father, just a little flicker of a look, before talking quietly with Despil a moment.

Despil laughs a bit and says, "I'll kibitz in a moment."

Mercedes asks Corwin, "What's kibitz?"

Corwin shoots Bridget a smile, before following Mercedes. "Yeah, sure, you're just tryin' to talk me up ..." He pauses. "Kibitz is, it's like, when, uh ..."

Mercedes guesses, "Does it have sugar?"

Despil says "You don't participate but comment. Or don't comment, but stare."

Corwin says "No, it's more like -- yeah, like that, like you're an onlooker, kind of."

Corwin says "Like you were seeing it on television and not actually being there."

Bridget slips a bit closer to Despil, just a moment, for a gentle tug of arms and embrace. For a moment a concern, and yet, reassurance, seems to touch her features as she hugs him. The exchange is a brief thing, but affectionate.

Yosannah runs a hand over her hair, "In any event, I will leave you all to your kibitzing." To Bridget, "If I may excuse myself, Empress."

Despil leans to Bridget and hugs her and whispers in her ear for a quick moment.

Bridget nods at Yosannah, "Certainly.'