The Night After The Party We Don't Talk About

[Manacledairman]

Aldrich, seemingly unmoved, his aura peaks a red hot whenever Amaranth is mentioned, yet he remains serene on the outside.

"Thank you Elder Aurelia. I'm glad I didn't have to say it myself." He looks between Aurelia, Keane, and eventually Dukes "Your apology is noted Sheriff."

He sits forward leaning on his knee.

"Perhaps the group has forgotten themselves, two evenings in eachothers company away from court and the rules thereof." he pauses. "We need to be aware that each of our senses can be tricked. Moreso now than ever. Now Lady Valentina, would you mind joining me for a moment outside?" he smiles

[Madam Zaragoza]

Hermina’s eyes narrow when Aldrich calls Valentina outside. What can he have to say to her? Maybe it is Bristol business. She shrugs internally. She glances at Jean-Jacques again. Maybe sitting next to him gave the wrong impression.

[Posh-Tim]

Keanes mouth gapes open and closed a bit at Dukes' seemingly accusatory question. He ticks a little facially and seems to pass through a variety of emotions. As they settle down to arguing amongst themselves he calms down again and responds to Aurelia;
"Yes, Elder, I will accept that boon. Though I would not use it to force you to travel to Ireland. Forcing such things defeats the purpose in them." He leaves that sentiment hanging for a moment then presses on.
"Danu, yes. Well perhaps I can satisfy two at once. Both Elder Aurelia and Ancilla Audley." He clearly didn't mean that innuendo. "Because to speak of Danu is a tale in itself."
He looks around at the others.
"As the good Sheriff pointed out earlier, at some points the Tuatha De Danann were considered heroes, travellers from another land. Well it follows then that such heroes might have worshipped something of their own a being greater even than they, mighty heroes though they may have been. As he also correctly deduced that being was Danu and in the most basic possible sense was a Water Goddess. But in reality Danu was a lot more than this. She existed long before her Tuatha, one of the ancient things of the world. I will not speak of first cities of man or when first he began to construct such things, that is a talk for another time. But know that she was there then, fundamental in the lives of such creatures. I said she was not just a being of water, likely such an aspect was ascribed to her at a later time for water has ever been a medium of connection to the another world. Water grants life and takes it in its inky depths, and this is what Danu represented."
He looks at them again.
"I'm sorry I should probably have stood at the lecturn for this."
There are enough 'Get on with it' looks he carries on talking instead.
"The Dark Mother. There has always been a divide between the Light and the Dark of the world. I would carefully point out that this is very different from good and evil. Danu formed the Dark of this divide, birthing dark creatures that lived in the night. Worshipped and adored but also feared and respected. She was a consumer, a sorceress, a matriarchal queen but also a hag, a crone, a shadow in the soul. She was the dark of the night and the silence of the grave. She was the scream of battle, the cry of a newborn; she was the Everything, the first and the last spark of Creation. In the stories at least, though these stories I knew only from spoken word. I do not believe any great semblance of them has survived to this day in written word."
He gives Dukes a look, not unkind but akin to a teacher correcting a pupil.

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina's head whips up in surprise at Aldrich's words. She seems about to reply, when Keane starts to speak and and she looks to him with relief.

The story relaxes her and she clearly enjoys it whole heartedly, but when he finishes, there seems to be no help for it, so she stands and politely curtseys to Aldrich, casting a pleading glance at Keane (with a sinking feeling that she's going to end up oweing him big time) before starting to make her way out the room.

[Jean-Jacques]

Following her gaze towards the leaving Architect, jean-Jacques turns toward Hermina, nods and smiles

“Elder Hermina, ees zere somesing ee can get for you, ee would not weesh for you to be wizzout somesing you desire”

[alanwrotethis]

Niketas lies still, eyes closed, listening to Elder Keane's words.
As they progress to mention of old cities and dark mothers, his aura flickers with excitement. His eyes open, he sits up, giving the topic focus.
"Mmmmm.... mmmmmm...." he murmurs. "This... is new information. Oh I like this."
He smiles... and something close to a purr comes from his chest.
"Elder Keane... what do you know of Merlin, the real Merlin? I have a nasty habit of tying ideas together quickly, but I see a sticky stack being bundled here."

[Posh-Tim]

Keane stands and addresses the assembled;
"I am sure we can return to Story time when this has been resolved."
He looks at Aldritch and awaits his permission to follow Valentina.

[Manacledairman]

Aldrich stands and nods to the group before following Valentina out of the room.

"I shan't be a moment."

Upon noticing Keane's look, Aldrich stops and looks at him confused.

"You wish to join us?"

[Posh-Tim]

Keane nods.
"I think it would be to the benefit of everyone involved if I did. Ancilla Audley is a bit out of sorts and I think I can help her with that. It is something like the gift of my Clan."

[Madam Zaragoza]