Staging an Intervention

[Faith Augustin]

48th Ymiden, 717

"Oh! There you are, you beautiful child!" There was no escape, Katie had more or less pounced on Padraig straight after he'd walked in the door. First, of course, was the compulsory hug and the ritual deposit of lipstick on both his cheeks in perfect kiss-marks. "Katie was getting very worried about you, you know. You and that little doll of yours, you're out all breaks of the trial. Then, she's cooking and when she's not cooking she sewing or making things. Then you, with the teaching. Well, I think we should have a sit down and a nice chat. Come sit with me?" Katie put her arm through Padraig's and led him to the living room where she sat on the armchair and him on the couch. "Cy! Paddy's home!" Faith, who should have been home at the same time as him, was not yet here.

It seemed, Katie had arranged this talk with his grandfather. As he came in from the kitchen with a drink in hand, Katie launched into what she had to say. "Now, we love you both and this is coming from a place of love. But my darling, we're concerned." Katie's eyes were very serious, she really seemed to be taking whatever she was saying absolutely to heart. "We're all family here and the pair of you are just always busy. When do you get time to yourselves?"

Evidently, the armchair was too far away, so Katie stood and moved to sit next to Padraig, leaving the armchair to Cyrus. Now, when Katie sat next to someone, she meant next to them. She had no notion of personal space at the best of times and, apparently, when staging an intervention, even less so. Perfectly manicured hands wrapped around Padraig's and frankly, he might be grateful that there was no hugging to her bosom.

Cyrus had told her after that first time she'd done that he thought maybe it had made his grandson a touch uncomfortable.

"So this is what we would like to do. Cyrus is more than happy to take over the jobs around the house, walk the dog, that kind of thing. Katie can't cook, I'm awful at it, but I can clean around and take care of the laundry." She looked at him with an expression which told him that she understood his pain. "Does your Faith actually sleep? How you two ever get time to maintain an intimate relationship is beyond me." She glanced at Cy and without shame or concern for Padraig's mental health she dropped a very suggestive wink. "My Cy tells me, if it's over in less than two breaks, he's rushing me."

No, no boundaries. Not a one.

"We're here to help you, not be a burden to you. We appreciate everything you're doing, all your lovely hospitality, we do, but we're here to help. We want to help you, Padraig." It was the first time she'd used his name. "So, either Katie sees you two going out on dates, romantic walks and having time together, or I'm going to have to take drastic measures." She looked at him and seemed to be entirely serious when she said, "you two have dates, or the four of us will. Let us help you?"

As Kura just happened to walk in to the house at that moment, she did so to the sight of Katie and Padraig holding hands on the couch, or so it seemed. "Oh, and here's another one! Always busy busy. Kura, we haven't really had a chance to meet how are you, darling?" Katie, who was probably thirty but looked twenty five walked over and hugged the Mortalborn, kissing her on both cheeks, leaving lipstick stains. "I'm Katie, Paddy's grandma by proxy. You look tired out you sweet thing, come and have a sit down."

Looking between them Katie beamed. "Shall Katie put the kettle on and make us all a nice cup of tea?"

[Kura Wolfsdotter]

Kura was tired, but it was, to her, a very welcome kind of tired. It was the tiredness one felt after a good days work. And a good days work was exactly what she had accomplished. She had learned about the other factions of Scalvoris, a bit about what she would need to do for her friends wedding, and she had even found a name and address for one of the people she needed to find for Brandel, a man named Peake. However, she was still up to date on what was going on in Faith and Padraig's house. After all, she had left Phelan there in physical form. The wolf was laying on her bed right now, but he was awake, listening, and reporting.

Still, she hadn't quite expected Katie be on her right when she walked in the door. Faith had been absolutely correct in her assessment of the woman, an explosion of glitter was a perfect description of this woman. "Sorry, I've had things to attend to now that I'm here. Findin' a place to live, and getting ready for my new job." she said, reaching up to wipe the lipstick off her face. "And trust me, I could keep going for another few hours without wearin' down if I thought it would do me any good. As it was, I managed to get more done for my job in one day then I believe half the people on the council right now could have accomplished in a week." she said, grinning slightly before looking over at Padraig. "Speakin' of, I was hoping I could pick yours and Faith's brains a bit when you're not too tired." she said, making her way over to a chair. Phelan left her room at that point and sat down next to Padraig, putting his big head on the mans lap and seeking attention. Speck, meanwhile, was off doing owlish things and Cally was, for all intents and purposes, being as quiet as a ghost.

"Tea would be lovely though, thank you." she said in response to Katie's offer. Then she turned her attention to Padraig's grandfather. "I'm sorry, you must be GrandPad. In all the flurry, I haven't yet had the opportunity actually catch your name." she said, though Phelan looked at her and rolled his eyes before he went back to begging for Padraig's attention. The wolf knew perfectly well that Kura knew what Cryus's name was. After all, he had told her himself, though they were still hiding his nature as a spirit wolf for the moment.

She nodded after he either introduced himself or Padraig did, smiled slightly. "Nice to meet you, Cyrus." she said, before looking at Padraig. "You have told them that every time you and Faith try to do somethin' romantic, something bad happens, right lad? Pirates, ghosts, obnoxious illusionists, large birds, and didn't the two of you wind up involved in the Strangler case in Rharne durin' a date?" she asked, her voice showing some amusement at their bad luck. "Perhaps you should plan to attend somethin' bad and it'll turn into a romantic date?"

[Padraig]

Padraig had hoped, against all logic, to arrive home and discover that Katherine was out shopping or something. It had been a long trial and he'd remained even longer after one of his classes, trying to help a student who he'd begun to wonder was being deliberately obtuse just for the extra attention. But no, his grandfather's companion was on him as soon as he'd walked through the door. Somehow she even managed to get to him before Cosmo. Had she been lurking behind the door, watching out the window?

And where was Faith, he wondered while trying to look past all that perfectly arranged hair. "Faith isn't here yet?" he'd asked, trying to put his briefcase away on the move as she pulled him off towards the couch. Immortals forgive him, but they might. Padraig wondered if Faith was deliberately late, delaying her return home for the very reason that he was beginning to think it was a very good idea.

"Concerned?" he'd said while poor Cosmo was trying to climb up on the couch and wedge himself between the two of them. What time did they have alone? None, Padraig was tempted to say, since she'd arrived. But as if his grandfather had read his mind before he'd even thought it, Cy strolled into the room and gave him a stern look before sitting down.

"The two of you don't need to do any of that," he argued when she offered up all the things they could do. But when the topic turned to intimacy and word of his grandfather's apparent views on the topic, Padraig stiffened and might have even gone a little flush in the face. And where was Faith again?

No surprise then, that when Kura strolled in, Padraig had never been happier to see anyone. For one simple reason. She served as a diversion, and freed him from the woman's focus. At least temporarily. Cosmo hopped down to greet her at the door, but was too slow in returning to the couch to prevent Kura's very large companion from taking his place. Quattro meanwhile, who hadn't had time to adjust to new animal's in the house, arched her back and hissed quietly, her tails like a four pronged bottle brush with blue arcs sparking between them.

Padraig was powerless to stand up, though Cyrus did. "It went well then?" Padraig asked regarding Kura's business that trial. "Happy to," he added when she said she'd like to speak to him and Faith both. And yes, tea would be fine, he told Katherine. His grandfather meanwhile, smiled...as much as Cyrus Augustin ever did which meant that much was left to interpretation, said dryly, "It's Cyrus. And I think that maybe if your romantic endeavors aren't going as planned," he added, using probably the longest string of words he had since first arriving, "then you're not doing it right."

And just how had his and Faith's intimate life become a topic for open discussion? And by the way, where was Faith? Padraig ended up wearing a smile that almost exactly mirrored his grandfather's when he declared, "I think it's only that romance is subject to a different sort of interpretation, where Faith and I are concerned."

[Faith Augustin]

"Oh we know we don't need to. But the two of you must just be exhausted and we want to help, not be an extra pressure." Katie's gaze was earnest and, frankly, she was within trills of the 'clutch you to my bosom' maneuver, no matter what Cy had said. However, Cyrus came in and Katie beamed at him, briefly distracted. Not, of course, distracted enough for her to avoid sharing details which Padraig probably would have been a lot happier never hearing. Oblivious to that, she blew Cy a kiss and then turned her full attention back to Padraig.

That state of affairs was mercifully brief, though, as Kura arrived. Lipstick was planted, dog and wolf swapped places and Katie went off to make a cup of tea in a flurry of energy. The cat was hissing, Cosmo gave a wuff and was trying to climb on Pad's lap despite the fact that Phelan was sitting next to him. In disgust, when he realised that it just wasn't happening, Cosmo turned and flopped in front of the fire. Everything about him told that he was unutterably miserable, until he decided that his chew-toy was much more worthy of his attention.

"He's doing everything perfectly, thank you." Faith's voice came from the doorway. "I, for one, would change nothing about our life." Evidently, she'd been coming in just in time to hear Cyrus' jugement, Padraig's reply and possibly Kura's observation also. She didn't know what had occurred, but she recognised that Padraig looked somewhat harried. Serious silver eyes met Cyrus' and she gave a slight smile. "I would suggest a man's romantic endeavors should surely be judged on the happiness of the woman receiving them? In which case, he is without equal." Faith turned to Padraig and her grin was pure mischief. "We do things differently than other people. Our way. It works for us. May everyone be as blessed as we are." Her smile softened, her eyes not leaving his. "As I am."

But, here was not the place for such, so, with a smile to Kura, Faith looked around at them all. "I'm sorry I'm late. I stopped at the market to stock up." After all, the house had gone from the two of them with their cat and dog to five of them with an additional wolf and owl. For all that everyone would undoubtedly be happy to look after themselves, Faith could not let that happen. "Where's Katie?" she wondered.

"Making the tea, little doll!" Katie called. Immortals forgive her, but Faith's thought was that at least she was saved the hugging and kissing. "Making a cup for you, too!"

"How did things go with the council, Kura?" Faith asked, and then glanced around and realised something. "My apologies. You were probably in the middle of that when I came in." Her smile was good natured and she gestured to the bag she'd brought in with her. "I'll get that unpacked and then start on a meal for us for this evening. We're having a starter of pate with a selection of relishes and a variety of breads. Then a tasting platter we're starting this season at the restaurant of five flavours of Hafrein with potato gnocchi and vegetable batons. Finally, warm ice cream in cold coffee for dessert." Her glance to Padraig at the last was wicked. He'd made that with her, after all.

It was, however, three courses for five people and even though she had purposely chosen things which were pre-prepared in the main, it would take some time. It never occurred to Faith that she wouldn't even manage to finish the starter and really didn't need to keep dishing up three course meals. They were here, she fed them. So, she was quite happy to leave them chatting and make her way into the kitchen to get started. Where, of course, the lipstick-monster attacked her. Faith smiled, hugged her back and gratefully accepted the cut of tea.

Katie came back into the living room with a tray of mugs of tea and gave a sigh. "She won't let me help her. So, I'm going to take that dog for a walk. Come on, Cosmo, come for a walk?" Cosmo, who loved to go for walks was up and trying to get his leash from where it hung before Katie had finished the word.

Off Topic

I've deducted 50gn for food and alcohol

[Kura Wolfsdotter]

Kura raised an eyebrow at Phelan as she saw Cosmo sidle off looking dejected, then leaned forward and poked the wolf in the leg with her foot. Phelan turned his big head to look at her with the most innocent expression he could muster. "Go make nice with Cosmo." she said. Phelan tilted his head at her. "I didn't do anything." he said in false protest. Kura glared at the wolf. "You're in his home and you're bein' an ass. Go make nice and behave yourself." she said. Phelan heaved a dramatic sigh and trotted over to Cosmo, sitting down next to the dog and speaking canine at him that even Kura didn't understand.

With Phelan settled, Kura looked over at Faith as she entered the door and grinned at her. "So you consider fightin' off pirates to be a romantic evenin', do ya, lass?" she said teasingly before turning to Padraig. "In that case, lad, you should take her on a mercenary outing as a date." she said, now teasing Padraig. At the second question about council business, however, she leaned back in her chair and gave a smile that could only be described as predatory. "Everythin's goin' exactly as planned, don't you worry." she said, her tone showing her full confidence in her plans and their progress.

Then Faith explained her dinner plans and Kura blinked. She had been busy a lot lately and hadn't realized the full degree Faith was going to in order to feed everyone. She looked at Padraig. "She does know we don't expect restaurant quality meals every day, doesn't she?" she said in confusion. When Katie emerged from the kitchen with tea and the news that Faith wasn't letting her help cook, Kura steeled herself and stood up. "She'll let me." she said as she headed into the kitchen. Phelan, meanwhile, accompanied Cosmo over to Katie and sat at her feet, looking up at her and yipping. Kura stopped and looked back at the wolf. "Phelan says he's goin' too. He'll stay with you, don't worry." she said before she went into the kitchen.

In the kitchen, she walked up to Faith. "All right, lass. I know why you're trying to drive yourself silly taking care of everyone. Cally would do the same." she said, causing the ghost, was so far watching proceedings with interest, to try and blush again. "However, we want to spend time with you more than we want you to make first class meals for us. If we want you to cook us restaurant quality food, we'll go to Cally's." she said firmly. Her expression made it clear that she was not discussing things with Faith, she was much more giving orders. "I will help you cook. When Katie gets back with the canines, she will help you cook. If Padraig or GrandPad want to help, they will help. You will allow it." she said firmly.

"And don't try to say you're workin' yourself into a fever because you're one of Famula's. If I need too, I will find to get the Soul-Keeper over here to tell you to relax." she said. "We clear, lass." Cally, after this looked at Faith. "Don't argue with her. You'll lose. And even if you win, you'll lose on account she'll just drag you out of the kitchen and tie your ankle to the couch. She did that to me when she was teachin' me I was allowed to not spend all my time serving people."

[Padraig]

To say there were things that Padraig would prefer not to know, was putting it mildly. Katie's observation that they seemed exhausted however was true, at least in his case. The malady had, not coincidentally, begun with the woman's arrival. He'd come to hear her voice in his sleep. He'd never say that though and smiled instead. There was no denying her intentions were good after all. "And we appreciate it, truly," he told her. "But you shouldn't worry so much. We both know our limits."

It was then that Faith returned and walked through the door. And while it always gave him a great deal of pleasure to look on her any time of the trial, it pleased him more than ever to see her return home when she did. He only wished that everyone would stop considering their romantic and even intimate life to be an acceptable, or wanted, topic of open discussion.

And it wasn't long before Faith took refuge in the kitchen in order to prepare their supper. Padraig envied what at the moment seemed like a very appealing retreat. If only he could actually cook. "Of course she knows," he answered Kura with a smile, a shrug when she asked about Faith's efforts and others' expectations. "That isn't why she does it." It was an important distinction, and he was about to elaborate...had Katie not breezed out the door and Kura charged into the kitchen.

Cyrus, who Padraig had assumed hadn't truly been listening all the while, shifted in his chair, glanced up and uttered dryly, "You going to leave it like that?" He didn't need to say it. Padraig was already getting up from the couch and following Kura into the kitchen. And he stopped there in the door way as the exchange began.

And he didn't care much for what he heard. Not the assumption that Kura was aware of the reasons why Faith did it. And not the tone that sounded much more like a command than a suggestion. If Faith wanted the help, it was for her to say so. But as for the rest? She'd been given enough orders in her life, long before he'd met her, to last a lifetime. "She doesn't do it because anyone expects it," he said dryly from the doorway. "and not because she's reverting to a slave's mindset either."

No one had told Faith what she would or wouldn't do for over an arc now, and rightly so. He smiled at Faith nonetheless as he softened his tone. "There's a difference between feeling compelled or expected to do something, and doing it freely because you choose it, because it's part of who you are. For any number of reasons that she'd be better equipped to explain than I am." It wasn't for him after all to explain. But he hadn't been able to remain silent either.

[Faith Augustin]

Quite what she had walked in to, Faith really didn't know, but when Kura asked if she found fighting off pirates to be romantic, Faith's expression changed to mischief, "They didn't stand a chance. Together, we are an indefatigable impossibility wrapped up in a unique brand of romance." She turned her gaze to Padraig and said, most clearly, "Anyone can make a candlelit meal romantic; I have much higher expectations and demand higher standards. It takes a genius of the highest order to achieve the level Padraig has." Why, Faith wondered, were they talking about this in the living room? She suspected that Katie had asked something or said something and it had gone downhill from there.

Frankly, rather him than her. With a smile at Padraig, Faith made her way into the kitchen where she was assaulted by Katie in the guise of a hug and offers of help. She returned the first and refused the second with thanks, then turned to start unpacking the bag. It was then that Kura walked in and talked. Faith blinked in some surprise and, as Cally spoke for her ears only, Faith realised that Padraig was in the doorway and answering Kura, at least in part. His tone was sharp, although it softened when he turned to her and she smiled at him. Padraig delivered his words with a smile but Faith knew him well enough to know just how close to home that struck him. He undoubtedly understood how well meaning Kura was being, but her delivery was more than Padraig, or she, would be prepared to accept. Especially in their home. However, he was right, this was something that she was equipped to deal with.

"Cally, I understand your point, but there will be no one dragging me anywhere or tying me to anything." She spoke softly to the ghost, her words kind and gentle, "Because Kura isn't teaching me and I have no need to learn that lesson." Faith kept her opinions of tying up a slave to teach them to herself but they were there in droves.

She put down the potato she was holding, placing it in the bowl with the others she had already pulled out of the bag with a very calm, very deliberate movement. "I'm very pleased to report that you're wrong on both counts, my lovely friend." Faith spoke softly her voice barely above a whisper. "I cook because I love to cook, I feed the people I love because it delights me to be able to do so." There was no anger in her voice, but her gaze was earnest. "You are also wrong in that you will not be helping me. Not you, not Katie, Padraig or Cyrus. You are not skilled enough to do so and I don't want incompetents in my kitchen. I love you all, but that is the truth."

With a slight shrug of her shoulders, she turned back to the bag and continued to pull out vegetables. "So no, none of you will help because none of you can and because I do not allow it." Slow, careful movements, precise and clear speech was what she maintained here. "I told you, I'm not broken. I'm also not a slave and I'm not a child. But if I was reverting to a slave mentality, then ordering me not to is an exercise in futility." Faith was clear on that. "I am a grown woman exercising my right in my own home to feed the people I love the best I can because I want to. I know it's hard, sometimes. I understand."

Her silver eyes met Kura's and she smiled a soft smile. "Especially since you knew me when Jamal owned me. It's difficult to remember, but I'm not that person any more. Please try to remember that. It's important to me."

With a smile to them both, she motioned to where the bottle of whiskey stood next to some bottles of wine. "Would one of you mind checking if anyone wants a drink?"

[Kura Wolfsdotter]

Kura had watched silently as Faith got that look that said she was listening to Cally, then had sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Please, for the love of Idalos, please tell me she provided the context for that incident." she said, sounding both mortified and rather annoyed. Then she sighed again.

"You're right, lass. You don't need me to teach you things like that anymore. I had...gotten used to it, not havin' seen you since Rharne, when you were still gettin' used to things. Doesn't help that I'm...becomin' more what I was before my Sev'ryn familiar started playin' merry hob with my life." she said, before grinning slightly. "Which was somewhat bossy and so used to bein' right that I don't always stop to consider that I might not be. Good for a politician, but it gets in the way with friends at times. Sorry for bein' a crab at you, lass." she said, reaching out to ruffle Faith's hair.

Then Faith mentioned Jamal and Kura let out one of those inhuman growls again. "That one. If I ever meet Jamal, I will bury him." she said, her tone of voice angry enough that Cally, dead though she already was, actually looked rather unnerved. Then Kura shook herself and smiled at Faith again. "I'll remember, lass. I promise. But one thing still holds true. We want to spend time with you, not just be fed by you. So don't go thinkin' to spend all your time in the kitchen." she said, before looking over her shoulder. After a moment, she leaned in close to Faith. "While I get wanting to get away from the glitter monster, Katie might get it into her mind to go hidin' all your stuff around the island if she thinks it'll get you and Pad to walkin' together." she said, before grinning again.

"For now though, I'll let you cook our excellent meal in peace." she said, stepping out of the room. At the door, however, she stopped and glanced at Padraig, with mischief in her eyes. "Sorry for bein' an ass to your lady, but are you really goin' to take that she just called you an incompetent cook?" she said, before dodging out of the kitchen in case Faith decided to lob a potato at her for that one.

[Padraig]

Padraig had known that Faith could say it better than him. And she did. Besides, while he ordinarily considered himself to be fairly good at being diplomatic, the exchange had tested him. Had it been anyone but a friend with the best intentions, he might have responded otherwise. As it was, he smiled at Faith, and continued to lounge propped up, shoulder against frame in the kitchen doorway.

Still, he grinned a little when she pointed out even his own incompetence in the kitchen. In general and for the most part. He'd have argued however that he made a damned good piece of toast, and before he'd met her he'd as good as mastered the art of flipping over an egg, over easy. Mostly. He'd managed to survive, anyway.

Nonetheless she said it, and in no uncertain terms. Padraig was fairly sure that this was the most forceful he'd ever seen her. And seeing it brought him a great deal of pleasure. The ruffling of Faith's hair however raised a brow. He'd done similar to Cosmo time and again. Nonetheless when Kura passed him in the doorway and apologized, then wondered aloud, Padraig only grinned and shrugged. "For the most part, she is not wrong," he quipped before heading back into the parlor to inquire about drinks.

Apart from Kura though and Quattro, he found the room empty. Cyrus' chair had been abandoned and his shoes that had been left by the front door were gone. It didn't surprise Padraig in the least. His grandfather was observant, no fool and sometimes the most meaningful statements weren't those spoken aloud. "I think he's gone out to join Katherine on her walk," he called back to Faith before finding a seat on the couch. Turning to Kura then, he asked, "So apart from business, are you enjoying being in Scalvoris?"

[Faith Augustin]

Faith's eyebrow quirked ever so slightly, which was all the indication Kura would get that no, there was no real context. When Kura ruffled her hair, though, Faith could not maintain her composure and she burst into laughter, stepping into the outstretched hair-ruffle and shamelessly turning it into a hug. "It's fine. I'm sorry, I shouldn't bite, I'm probably over sensitive." She smiled up at her friend and added the simple truth, though, "I can only be that way with people I care about. Ask him," she smiled at Padraig as she turned back to the job of emptying the bag, "I've been snippy and feisty with him since the first trial." Her smile softened, though she was ostensibly focusing on the last few contents of the bag. It seemed she'd done a lot of shopping. "I plan on remaining so for all the trials to come, too."

As for Katie hiding her things around Scalvoris, Faith grinned and nodded. "Point taken." She heard what Kura said to Padraig, but she simply lowered her head in apparent concentration over what she was doing. Mostly, she did that to hide her grin. Faith would be more than happy to spend many breaks discussing Padraig's many and wonderful talents. Cooking would not be on that list. She admitted, though, "He does good eggs. I accept nothing more, but he does good eggs."

The pair of them left her to it, but Padraig quickly called back to her and Faith, looked at what she had to do and considered that she could afford a little time. So, she made sure that she'd arranged everything the best she could, and came back out into the living room. "I can't really start until they're back. There's a schedule, you know." she smiled and was quite content to sit on the couch next to him in what was their usual way of sitting together, her nestled against him quite contentedly.

"How long ago were you here last, Kura? Were the Pirate Lords here?" Faith wondered. She'd heard about them, after all and had to admit to be interested to find out what had changed.