The Eagle and the Vixen (Closed)

[Lillorainen]

We laughed at that story, too, especially at the conclusion of him wanting to join the Navy - it seemed illogical for someone with a hate for water to join a Navy, which usually tended to operate on water.
It was one of those merry illogical things, which could only amuse.
Finn, finishing his meal, remarked with a smile: "Then he would be right at home with the SDF-Navy. They take non-swimmers as well - they defend the ships for longer."
I shook my head, grinning. "Too late, told him that joke already!"
"Och!", the young man made, grinning as well, "Well, first come, first served - or joke told, as the case may be. It's a classic, though!"
I nodded in agreement as I finished up my salad.

Indeed, Chris already knew the joke, but he snorted, anyways, as it was definitely one of these classics that never got old.
"He was even smart enough to post it on Piffle" - Chris said. "What he failed to think about was that Commander Ligtrup could see that, too. Now he knows, and he's probably gonna make Robert clean the deck tonight." He laughed.
Then he started to finish up his salad.
Between two bites, he said, "You know, I don't have siblings - unusual for a Federation Lillo born in the nineties, but still -, yet a lot of cousins. Robert has always been like a brother for me. I could spend the rest of the night telling stories about all the stuff we've done."

[The Selkie]

Indeed, Chris already knew the joke, but he snorted, anyways, as it was definitely one of these classics that never got old.
"He was even smart enough to post it on Piffle" - Chris said. "What he failed to think about was that Commander Ligtrup could see that, too. Now he knows, and he's probably gonna make Robert clean the deck tonight." He laughed.
Then he started to finish up his salad.
Between two bites, he said, "You know, I don't have siblings - unusual for a Federation Lillo born in the nineties, but still -, yet a lot of cousins. Robert has always been like a brother for me. I could spend the rest of the night telling stories about all the stuff we've done."

"Keep them for later tonight, when our throats are properly watered by Ale and Whiskey and whatever in Gavida's Good Name they brew around these parts.", Finn said with a steadying hand motion, grinning. "Or, if that doesn't work, we still have the sugary hydrogen bombs known as Selkie-Lemonade."
"Oh, Gods... Leonard's Special?", I asked with dread in my voice, Finn and Amy nodding, the latter with a grin, "...oh, Abhcan spare me... and my figure!"
"Come on, it won't be that harsh after a few rounds in the bay!", Amy tried to comfort me.
"While we are at it, where is the party anyway?", I asked as a distraction, rising again and arranging my silverware in the proper arrangement for signalling, that I was finished.
"We picked a little bay not too far away from here for it, and we already established an observation post to counteract any possible intruders.", Finn alleviated any concern we might have had because of our observers in the afternoon.

[Lillorainen]

"Keep them for later tonight, when our throats are properly watered by Ale and Whiskey and whatever in Gavida's Good Name they brew around these parts.", Finn said with a steadying hand motion, grinning. "Or, if that doesn't work, we still have the sugary hydrogen bombs known as Selkie-Lemonade."
"Oh, Gods... Leonard's Special?", I asked with dread in my voice, Finn and Amy nodding, the latter with a grin, "...oh, Abhcan spare me... and my figure!"
"Come on, it won't be that harsh after a few rounds in the bay!", Amy tried to comfort me.
"While we are at it, where is the party anyway?", I asked as a distraction, rising again and arranging my silverware in the proper arrangement for signalling, that I was finished.
"We picked a little bay not too far away from here for it, and we already established an observation post to counteract any possible intruders.", Finn alleviated any concern we might have had because of our observers in the afternoon.

Chris had nodded in agreement - he would throw some of these old stories into the conversation as soon as there would be some that were fitting into the given context.
He snorted when Cel expressed concerns about Selkie-Lemonade ruining her figure. "Your lemonade can hardly be worse than ours" - he said. "It is said that one gains ten kilograms just by seeing a bottle of Munnweiler's Beste - even if the bottle's empty!"
She distracted from her issues by asking where the party was going to take place. Finn's answer was satisfying and relieving - the latter because some observation post surely could not harm.
Chris was finished; he arranged his silverware properly, too.
He noticed that there was still some wine left in his glass and took a sip.

[The Selkie]

Chris had nodded in agreement - he would throw some of these old stories into the conversation as soon as there would be some that were fitting into the given context.
He snorted when Cel expressed concerns about Selkie-Lemonade ruining her figure. "Your lemonade can hardly be worse than ours" - he said. "It is said that one gains ten kilograms just by seeing a bottle of Munnweiler's Beste - even if the bottle's empty!"
She distracted from her issues by asking where the party was going to take place. Finn's answer was satisfying and relieving - the latter because some observation post surely could not harm.
Chris was finished; he arranged his silverware properly, too.
He noticed that there was still some wine left in his glass and took a sip.

I smiled at Chris as he took a sip of his wine, suddenly remembering something.
"That reminds me...", I said and pushed my tea cup over on the saucer. "Didn't we want to swap sips? You still onboard?"
Horny Goat Weed Tea, for those without the a taste for it, tasted horrible, a bit like cinnamon - and the uncomfortable part of cinnamon-taste, too. But one not only could drink it, but also, if the drinker remembered all of the benefits, it went down quite easily. And it was small on calories, too.
That also led away from the topic of lemonade, which was basically a bit of water, lots of sugar, a bit of fruit and lemon. Lots of sugar - Finn was not joking, when he called it a hydrogen bomb. Restaurants mainly catering to foreign guests had put warnings onto their menus for this drink, as it tended to destroy teeth.
But back to the topic: I was not a wine-drinker, but I wanted to know, what it tasted like.

[Lillorainen]

I smiled at Chris as he took a sip of his wine, suddenly remembering something.
"That reminds me...", I said and pushed my tea cup over on the saucer. "Didn't we want to swap sips? You still onboard?"
Horny Goat Weed Tea, for those without the a taste for it, tasted horrible, a bit like cinnamon - and the uncomfortable part of cinnamon-taste, too. But one not only could drink it, but also, if the drinker remembered all of the benefits, it went down quite easily. And it was small on calories, too.
That also led away from the topic of lemonade, which was basically a bit of water, lots of sugar, a bit of fruit and lemon. Lots of sugar - Finn was not joking, when he called it a hydrogen bomb. Restaurants mainly catering to foreign guests had put warnings onto their menus for this drink, as it tended to destroy teeth.
But back to the topic: I was not a wine-drinker, but I wanted to know, what it tasted like.

Now that Cel was mentioning it, yes, there was something.
The lemonade topic was off the table now, as she reminded him of what they had agreed on before. Chris hadn't exaggerated, either - Lillo lemonade was just as much of a hydrogen bomb as the Selkie one was, also being warned about.
Chris wasn't really a wine drinker either. Janina, coming from a wine, cider and fruit brandy region would surely have been able to tell more about it, including an expert's opinion on whether or not it was worth its price. Chris, being a North Shore child, was rather an expert on beer and a number of spirits.
"Sure, I'm still onboard!" - he said and pushed his glass closer to her.

[The Selkie]

Now that Cel was mentioning it, yes, there was something.
The lemonade topic was off the table now, as she reminded him of what they had agreed on before. Chris hadn't exaggerated, either - Lillo lemonade was just as much of a hydrogen bomb as the Selkie one was, also being warned about.
Chris wasn't really a wine drinker either. Janina, coming from a wine, cider and fruit brandy region would surely have been able to tell more about it, including an expert's opinion on whether or not it was worth its price. Chris, being a North Shore child, was rather an expert on beer and a number of spirits.
"Sure, I'm still onboard!" - he said and pushed his glass closer to her.

I smiled and handed him my tea cup including saucer, preparing myself mentally for an indirect kiss...
...what was I? Ten?
Still, I grinned at that thought and by the look on Amy's face, she thought something similar. Now, I had explained to me once, how one drank wine: I softly swirled the glass and smelled it, trying to experience the aroma... then quite honestly supressed the urge to shrug, taking a small sip.
I swirled it on the tongue and tried to experience the flavours. There definately was something...
...besides my decision of not being a wine-person, I mean.
"Thank you, Chris.", I told him and gave him his glass back.

[Lillorainen]

I smiled and handed him my tea cup including saucer, preparing myself mentally for an indirect kiss...
...what was I? Ten?
Still, I grinned at that thought and by the look on Amy's face, she thought something similar. Now, I had explained to me once, how one drank wine: I softly swirled the glass and smelled it, trying to experience the aroma... then quite honestly supressed the urge to shrug, taking a small sip.
I swirled it on the tongue and tried to experience the flavours. There definately was something...
...besides my decision of not being a wine-person, I mean.
"Thank you, Chris.", I told him and gave him his glass back.

Well then, let's get behind it - Chris thought, but didn't show it. He grinned instead.
"So, let's see what this is like."
He took a small sip.
Horny Goat Weed Tea ... indeed, it had some cinnamon taste, and not only the nice parts of it - just as if someone had decided to spice their tea with cinnamon and had failed to take the right amount of it. Chris liked cinnamon, but this was a touch too much.
And as nobody had informed him about the benefits yet, he could not judge it by them.
"Thank you, too" - he said.

[The Selkie]

Well then, let's get behind it - Chris thought, but didn't show it. He grinned instead.
"So, let's see what this is like."
He took a small sip.
Horny Goat Weed Tea ... indeed, it had some cinnamon taste, and not only the nice parts of it - just as if someone had decided to spice their tea with cinnamon and had failed to take the right amount of it. Chris liked cinnamon, but this was a touch too much.
And as nobody had informed him about the benefits yet, he could not judge it by them.
"Thank you, too" - he said.

"Not going to be your favourite, eh?", I asked with a grin. "Don't worry, it's not everyone's favourite, too. I mostly drink it because it helps with the heart, the kidneys and the liver... the use as an aphrodisiac is a nice side effect." I threw Chris a wink. "Fun aside, you'll encounter many teas, which have good health effects around these parts, many of which don't taste good until you heard of their benefits... or until you sugared them. Some, however, only work by closing the eyes and thinking of Cuan."
I shrugged.
"It's one of the reasons why we stay so healthy for so long, I think.", I remarked with a smile, "And, of course, the good food. Desserts are uncommon, though."

[Lillorainen]

"Not going to be your favourite, eh?", I asked with a grin. "Don't worry, it's not everyone's favourite, too. I mostly drink it because it helps with the heart, the kidneys and the liver... the use as an aphrodisiac is a nice side effect." I threw Chris a wink. "Fun aside, you'll encounter many teas, which have good health effects around these parts, many of which don't taste good until you heard of their benefits... or until you sugared them. Some, however, only work by closing the eyes and thinking of Cuan."
I shrugged.
"It's one of the reasons why we stay so healthy for so long, I think.", I remarked with a smile, "And, of course, the good food. Desserts are uncommon, though."

Cel seemed to guess his minds correctly again - this time, it wasn't even too hard. His mimics were telling sufficiently.
Aha, an aphrodisiac, so that was the side effect. Chris had grinned when he caught the wink, well aware what this meant.
With the taste still on his tongue, he closed his eyes. As his knowledge on Cuan's city scape was too vague, he just imagined the beach of Aldekant in Nienhagen - all the houses of mixed size in the immediate background, the promenade with the numerous beach bars, the rushing ocean, the seagulls fluttering around ... hey, it wasn't even that bad! You just need to know what you're drinking.
He opened his eyes again and grinned. "So that's your secret recipe for staying healthy, I got it."

[The Selkie]

Cel seemed to guess his minds correctly again - this time, it wasn't even too hard. His mimics were telling sufficiently.
Aha, an aphrodisiac, so that was the side effect. Chris had grinned when he caught the wink, well aware what this meant.
With the taste still on his tongue, he closed his eyes. As his knowledge on Cuan's city scape was too vague, he just imagined the beach of Aldekant in Nienhagen - all the houses of mixed size in the immediate background, the promenade with the numerous beach bars, the rushing ocean, the seagulls fluttering around ... hey, it wasn't even that bad! You just need to know what you're drinking.
He opened his eyes again and grinned. "So that's your secret recipe for staying healthy, I got it."

"Not-so-secret-secret, to be honest. Every tourist leaves with bags full of Selkie herbal tea mixtures and smoking herb blends.", I replied with a grin, "But its too early to lit the pipes. That comes once we are outside or in a well-aerated room. Politeness and all of that jazz."
A number waitresses floated around, collecting the empty plates with smiles and receiving the compliments, Finn speaking ours as a waitress collected the plates from our table so that Chris and I could talk amongst the two of us.
"But I'm not a fan of smoking, except its smoked meat, I must admit.", I added for Chris, "Bad coughing fits. Anyway, I don't think, that I ever asked you, but can you ride a horse?"

[Lillorainen]

"Not-so-secret-secret, to be honest. Every tourist leaves with bags full of Selkie herbal tea mixtures and smoking herb blends.", I replied with a grin, "But its too early to lit the pipes. That comes once we are outside or in a well-aerated room. Politeness and all of that jazz."
A number waitresses floated around, collecting the empty plates with smiles and receiving the compliments, Finn speaking ours as a waitress collected the plates from our table so that Chris and I could talk amongst the two of us.
"But I'm not a fan of smoking, except its smoked meat, I must admit.", I added for Chris, "Bad coughing fits. Anyway, I don't think, that I ever asked you, but can you ride a horse?"

Chris could quite imagine to take a few bags full of stuff back to Lillorainen.
Finn took the job to speak out compliments to the staff, so Chris just nodded to them in a friendly way and got back to Cel.
She really had never asked if he could ride a horse - at least not that he could remember. "Well, I've managed to move one a few times without falling down" - he said. "I'm only far away from being a professional, but still, I'd manage. - As for smoking, I only smoke stuff when I consider it beneficial - so not that often."
... which would probably have surprised everyone who knew the statistics about per capita consumption of tobacco and joints in the FL. Not to mention it was fully accepted anywhere (well, except for gas stations, maybe ...). But each to their own.

[The Selkie]

Chris could quite imagine to take a few bags full of stuff back to Lillorainen.
Finn took the job to speak out compliments to the staff, so Chris just nodded to them in a friendly way and got back to Cel.
She really had never asked if he could ride a horse - at least not that he could remember. "Well, I've managed to move one a few times without falling down" - he said. "I'm only far away from being a professional, but still, I'd manage. - As for smoking, I only smoke stuff when I consider it beneficial - so not that often."
... which would probably have surprised everyone who knew the statistics about per capita consumption of tobacco and joints in the FL. Not to mention it was fully accepted anywhere (well, except for gas stations, maybe ...). But each to their own.

"Oh, we'll make a horseman out of you before too long!", I said with a grin, "And if that doesn't work, you'll ride with me. Eireaball should be able to carry us both."
Eireaball was a male in my life, which I rode regularly, he was my horse, after all. Getting from A to B in the Free Lands required one and he was a late addition, that was true, but one held dear. Even the foxes held the young stallion in high regard. He wouldn't be winning any dressage contests, that was true, but he would get us from A to B.
I remember showing Chris a few pictures of me and the fuchsia horse, including an old snapshot of me snuggled against the sleeping horse with Cladhaire snuggled against me and a small baby-fox snuggled against him - Snuggleception, so to speak.
"And if that fails, too, we'll take your car.", I added for the last resort option.

[Lillorainen]

"Oh, we'll make a horseman out of you before too long!", I said with a grin, "And if that doesn't work, you'll ride with me. Eireaball should be able to carry us both."
Eireaball was a male in my life, which I rode regularly, he was my horse, after all. Getting from A to B in the Free Lands required one and he was a late addition, that was true, but one held dear. Even the foxes held the young stallion in high regard. He wouldn't be winning any dressage contests, that was true, but he would get us from A to B.
I remember showing Chris a few pictures of me and the fuchsia horse, including an old snapshot of me snuggled against the sleeping horse with Cladhaire snuggled against me and a small baby-fox snuggled against him - Snuggleception, so to speak.
"And if that fails, too, we'll take your car.", I added for the last resort option.

Chris remembered the pictures of Cel with her Snuggleception. He grinned while thinking about that.
Winning dressage contests didn't really bring people from A to B, that was for sure - Chris could now have enumerated ten people, just now, de la main, whom he had tried to teach that lesson at one or another point. The last one he had told that had been Janina, on the ferry, as she had grown up with horses, coming from a region where, apart from beverages, also horse breeding was a major branch - and, for his own surprise, she had instantly agreed with him.
He nodded. "The car's just there for the case any other option fails. Just to be prepared."

[The Selkie]

Chris remembered the pictures of Cel with her Snuggleception. He grinned while thinking about that.
Winning dressage contests didn't really bring people from A to B, that was for sure - Chris could now have enumerated ten people, just now, de la main, whom he had tried to teach that lesson at one or another point. The last one he had told that had been Janina, on the ferry, as she had grown up with horses, coming from a region where, apart from beverages, also horse breeding was a major branch - and, for his own surprise, she had instantly agreed with him.
He nodded. "The car's just there for the case any other option fails. Just to be prepared."

"Exaclty.", I agreed with a firm nod, "Better have and not need then need and not have!"
That, and I was a bit concerned about the fuel - I quite honestly did not know, how much that car Chris brought over took per a hundred kilometres, but better safe that joker for when it was needed. I also assumed, that he had tanked full before departure.
"That being said, a summer dress like this one is rather uncomfortable to ride with...", I said with a sigh before I turned to Amy, "Say, Amy, how did you get everyone here?"
"We have a carriage with us, why?", the young woman replied, ripped out of her small talk with Finn and the waitress (although most of the conversation was on Finn and the waitress, with little being said by Amy). "Thinking about what to do if the two of you are too full to ride?"
...I had completely forgotten about that. Much like with cars, riding while drunk was not a good idea...

[Lillorainen]

"Exaclty.", I agreed with a firm nod, "Better have and not need then need and not have!"
That, and I was a bit concerned about the fuel - I quite honestly did not know, how much that car Chris brought over took per a hundred kilometres, but better safe that joker for when it was needed. I also assumed, that he had tanked full before departure.
"That being said, a summer dress like this one is rather uncomfortable to ride with...", I said with a sigh before I turned to Amy, "Say, Amy, how did you get everyone here?"
"We have a carriage with us, why?", the young woman replied, ripped out of her small talk with Finn and the waitress (although most of the conversation was on Finn and the waitress, with little being said by Amy). "Thinking about what to do if the two of you are too full to ride?"
...I had completely forgotten about that. Much like with cars, riding while drunk was not a good idea...

"That's fully correct" - Chris had said.
Of course, the car was tanked full, and since he had taken over it, it hadn't even gone two kilometers. People usually crossed the islands with it at very high speeds without having to refuel, so getting it a few hundred kilometers and a few more back wouldn't be the issue, even if there wasn't any gas station on the entire way. Janina had brought her own 'housewife tank' (a leftover from living in a place where it made sense to have one), after all, and that for a reason. But still, it was for emergencies.
Amy reminded them of a very good point.
"Dammit, yes ... bringing a carriage would have made more sense ..."

[The Selkie]

"That's fully correct" - Chris had said.
Of course, the car was tanked full, and since he had taken over it, it hadn't even gone two kilometers. People usually crossed the islands with it at very high speeds without having to refuel, so getting it a few hundred kilometers and a few more back wouldn't be the issue, even if there wasn't any gas station on the entire way. Janina had brought her own 'housewife tank' (a leftover from living in a place where it made sense to have one), after all, and that for a reason. But still, it was for emergencies.
Amy reminded them of a very good point.
"Dammit, yes ... bringing a carriage would have made more sense ..."

"Don't worry.", Amy said with a smile, "We have a designated team of carters, who will stay sober... but if you don't want to walk home or stay overnight, it'll be an early departure as the kids need to get to bed."
"Mistress Mamaí?", I asked with a small smile.
Amy nodded. "Yes, she is our carter. Once she got the kids into bed, she will decide whether she returns to have some fun herself or if she stays with Lil' Enya and the other kids, but she'll not cart anymore today after that.", Amy explained with a smile, "Really nice of her, too." She leaned forward a bit. "She's a terrible lightweight, though, so be careful!"
I nodded in agreement.

[Lillorainen]

"Don't worry.", Amy said with a smile, "We have a designated team of carters, who will stay sober... but if you don't want to walk home or stay overnight, it'll be an early departure as the kids need to get to bed."
"Mistress Mamaí?", I asked with a small smile.
Amy nodded. "Yes, she is our carter. Once she got the kids into bed, she will decide whether she returns to have some fun herself or if she stays with Lil' Enya and the other kids, but she'll not cart anymore today after that.", Amy explained with a smile, "Really nice of her, too." She leaned forward a bit. "She's a terrible lightweight, though, so be careful!"
I nodded in agreement.

"That sounds good." Chris nodded, smiling. "In that case, my car won't be needed - though, of course, I hope someone's gonna watch it carefully in the time being. I need to bring it back, after all."
He tried to calculate how much time it might take to go a few hundred kilometers with a carriage - but he was not exactly familiar with the average speed of Selkie carts. Their horses weren't exactly the slowest, as he knew, their national speed record being almost 70 km/h. He didn't know the Lillorainian speed record right now.
"A bit lightweight?" - he repeated, wondering. "In what sense?"

[The Selkie]

"That sounds good." Chris nodded, smiling. "In that case, my car won't be needed - though, of course, I hope someone's gonna watch it carefully in the time being. I need to bring it back, after all."
He tried to calculate how much time it might take to go a few hundred kilometers with a carriage - but he was not exactly familiar with the average speed of Selkie carts. Their horses weren't exactly the slowest, as he knew, their national speed record being almost 70 km/h. He didn't know the Lillorainian speed record right now.
"A bit lightweight?" - he repeated, wondering. "In what sense?"

"She can't hold her liquor.", Amy said with a small grin, "Or any alcohol, really - three ales and she's three sheets to the wind."
"And she's a funny drunk, too.", Finn added with a smile, having said goodbye to the waitress as she was needed elsewhere. "Best stories of her little girl one could ever imagine. Manure Monster Amy is only the start!"
"Hey!", the young woman in question protested with a grin, switching to lecture Finn in rapid-fire Selkie, which was hard to understand even for those fluent in the language.
I let them be, turning to Chris. "Don't worry, she's cool. And her girl is so adorable!" My gushing was interrupted by a thought. "But don't worry about your car. It's on the inn's parking lot and no one would dare to touch it. They'll have an eye there, the stables are right next to it, after all." I let a beat pass. "I'm thinking about whether or not to take a few of the foxes with us, but I'm undecided... what do you think?"

[Lillorainen]

"She can't hold her liquor.", Amy said with a small grin, "Or any alcohol, really - three ales and she's three sheets to the wind."
"And she's a funny drunk, too.", Finn added with a smile, having said goodbye to the waitress as she was needed elsewhere. "Best stories of her little girl one could ever imagine. Manure Monster Amy is only the start!"
"Hey!", the young woman in question protested with a grin, switching to lecture Finn in rapid-fire Selkie, which was hard to understand even for those fluent in the language.
I let them be, turning to Chris. "Don't worry, she's cool. And her girl is so adorable!" My gushing was interrupted by a thought. "But don't worry about your car. It's on the inn's parking lot and no one would dare to touch it. They'll have an eye there, the stables are right next to it, after all." I let a beat pass. "I'm thinking about whether or not to take a few of the foxes with us, but I'm undecided... what do you think?"

Chris laughed. People who couldn't bear much alcohol tended to be quite funny to watch. He remembered a number of foreign tourists who hopelessly overestimated themselves with drinks in his homecountry. Especially in the Cider Belt, where many foreigners had learned to stop thinking that cider wasn't an alcoholic beverage - the notorious Orjinaale Lööchelner Viez had taught them a lesson for their lives.
He had just considered asking what 'Manure Monster Amy' was referred to, then Amy interrupted this thought by her lecture in Selkie language, telling Finn ... whatever. Even if he were fluent at the language, he'd probably have a hard time understanding this. Just like even native German speakers would have trouble if Chris started to rapid-fire in Rhenish.
Chris and Cel simultaneously decided to ignore this.
Cel's gushing of Mrs. Mamaí got interrupted by a thought she caught from him - reassuring that the car was perfectly safe where it was. She could not decide whether or not to take some of her vulpine babies with them.
"Hmm ... do they tend to jump off carts and run away very often? Because, logically, we don't want them to be lost in the jungle, do we. If that isn't likely to be a problem, sure, why not."

[The Selkie]

Chris laughed. People who couldn't bear much alcohol tended to be quite funny to watch. He remembered a number of foreign tourists who hopelessly overestimated themselves with drinks in his homecountry. Especially in the Cider Belt, where many foreigners had learned to stop thinking that cider wasn't an alcoholic beverage - the notorious Orjinaale Löchelner Viez had taught them a lesson for their lives.
He had just considered asking what 'Manure Monster Amy' was referred to, then Amy interrupted this thought by her lecture in Selkie language, telling Finn ... whatever. Even if he were fluent at the language, he'd probably have a hard time understanding this. Just like even native German speakers would have trouble if Chris started to rapid-fire in Rhenish.
Chris and Cel simultaneously decided to ignore this.
Cel's gushing of Mrs. Mamaí got interrupted by a thought she caught from him - reassuring that the car was perfectly safe where it was. She could not decide whether or not to take some of her vulpine babies with them.
"Hmm ... do they tend to jump off carts and run away very often? Because, logically, we don't want them to be lost in the jungle, do we. If that isn't likely to be a problem, sure, why not."

Playing it safe, eh?
No reply was a reply, too, I thought as I sighed. "Doesn't make it easier, for usually, when they are lost, they can find their way home easily - but usually, it's Cuan, not Dumhach Island. And not to mention, that they indeed jump off carts quite a bit...", I replied and supressed a groan. "Well, Mister Folaíochta will have to take care of them tonight... maybe he'll find a few willing volunteers... or we assign them to guard Mistress Mamaí and Lil' Enya and some of the other kids..."
I sighed.
"No, they'll stay here. Mommy needs a bit of fun alone, too.", I said, before I looked down to the side of my chair - Soiprigh sat there. "Didn't you have a good dinner already?" His tail swished back and forth, with a smile, I picked him up, setting him down on my lap. "You're never full, are you?"

[Lillorainen]

Playing it safe, eh?
No reply was a reply, too, I thought as I sighed. "Doesn't make it easier, for usually, when they are lost, they can find their way home easily - but usually, it's Cuan, not Dumhach Island. And not to mention, that they indeed jump off carts quite a bit...", I replied and supressed a groan. "Well, Mister Folaíochta will have to take care of them tonight... maybe he'll find a few willing volunteers... or we assign them to guard Mistress Mamaí and Lil' Enya and some of the other kids..."
I sighed.
"No, they'll stay here. Mommy needs a bit of fun alone, too.", I said, before I looked down to the side of my chair - Soiprigh sat there. "Didn't you have a good dinner already?" His tail swished back and forth, with a smile, I picked him up, setting him down on my lap. "You're never full, are you?"

Indeed, playing it safe. Chris didn't want Cel's children to be lost in the wilderness - and, of course, he didn't want it to be blamed on himself, them being lost because Mister Riescheid had said, 'Sure, why not, what can possibly go wrong?'
Another good point - they may know their usual home well, but this island, too ...? As long as he wasn't sure, and not even Cel was, the risk was, at least, obviously there.
Cel seemed to slowly come to a similar conclusion.
Soiprigh showed up next to her. She picked him up to place him onto her lap.
Chris grinned, moved his body into their direction a bit and gave Soiprigh some soft strokes over his head. "I'm bursting and you're still hungry, eh? Vulpine stomachs must be enormous."

[The Selkie]

Indeed, playing it safe. Chris didn't want Cel's children to be lost in the wilderness - and, of course, he didn't want it to be blamed on himself, them being lost because Mister Riescheid had said, 'Sure, why not, what can possibly go wrong?'
Another good point - they may know their usual home well, but this island, too ...? As long as he wasn't sure, and not even Cel was, the risk was, at least, obviously there.
Cel seemed to slowly come to a similar conclusion.
Soiprigh showed up next to her. She picked him up to place him onto her lap.
Chris grinned, moved his body into their direction a bit and gave Soiprigh some soft strokes over his head. "I'm bursting and you're still hungry, eh? Vulpine stomachs must be enormous."

Soiprigh was happy as a clam, enjoying the petting and leaning his head into the scratches.
"They are.", I said, well-versed in those matters, "Between our whole troupe, roundabout three dozen foxes, they could have snacked away the entire fish and they would still have room - note, having room does not mean hungry." Chris, by coincidence, found The One Spot on his head, which he liked and elicted a pleased sigh from the little vulpine. "My lads and lassies are an awesome bunch... and too cuddly for their own good!"
Sure, their fur was scratchy, but that was part of the charme.
"It's also likely, that he left space for Mommy to fill.", I added with a smile, "Well, young man, what is it?"
Soiprigh was in no condition to reply as he enjoyed the scratching.

[Lillorainen]

Soiprigh was happy as a clam, enjoying the petting and leaning his head into the scratches.
"They are.", I said, well-versed in those matters, "Between our whole troupe, roundabout three dozen foxes, they could have snacked away the entire fish and they would still have room - note, having room does not mean hungry." Chris, by coincidence, found The One Spot on his head, which he liked and elicted a pleased sigh from the little vulpine. "My lads and lassies are an awesome bunch... and too cuddly for their own good!"
Sure, their fur was scratchy, but that was part of the charme.
"It's also likely, that he left space for Mommy to fill.", I added with a smile, "Well, young man, what is it?"
Soiprigh was in no condition to reply as he enjoyed the scratching.

Chris continued his petting while listening to Cel.
Obviously, he had found The One Spot - a pleased sigh was to hear. He was also too busy to answer Cel's question.
"Leaving room for seconds is obviously quite usual amongst vulpines" - he said. "Or, to put it into better terms - desserts might not be usual in here for human beings. Whereas I tend to assume that vulpines have a different opinion on that."
With his free hand, he took another sip of his white wine.

[The Selkie]

Chris continued his petting while listening to Cel.
Obviously, he had found The One Spot - a pleased sigh was to hear. He was also too busy to answer Cel's question.
"Leaving room for seconds is obviously quite usual amongst vulpines" - he said. "Or, to put it into better terms - desserts might not be usual in here for human beings. Whereas I tend to assume that vulpines have a different opinion on that."
With his free hand, he took another sip of his white wine.

"Indeed they have.", I replied with a grin, "Of the many vulpines, which I raised, none ever said no to me, when it was feeding time."
I grinned and turned him a bit in my arms, so that his head was easy to reach for Chris and I could scratch Soiprigh's back. He was remarkably calm, even rolled himself up a bit to give us even easier access.
"I'll do that before we depart.", I decided, which seemed to elict a satisfied purr from the vulpine - maybe it was that or the combined petting of the two of us of my little baby. Well, he wasn't a baby anymore, but one gets the idea, I hope. "The rest of the troupe should be looking for a nice, cozy spot for them to spent the night right about now. Their basket is in Mister Folaíochta's room, so he won't be alone tonight."

[Lillorainen]

"Indeed they have.", I replied with a grin, "Of the many vulpines, which I raised, none ever said no to me, when it was feeding time."
I grinned and turned him a bit in my arms, so that his head was easy to reach for Chris and I could scratch Soiprigh's back. He was remarkably calm, even rolled himself up a bit to give us even easier access.
"I'll do that before we depart.", I decided, which seemed to elict a satisfied purr from the vulpine - maybe it was that or the combined petting of the two of us of my little baby. Well, he wasn't a baby anymore, but one gets the idea, I hope. "The rest of the troupe should be looking for a nice, cozy spot for them to spent the night right about now. Their basket is in Mister Folaíochta's room, so he won't be alone tonight."

All the foxes had never rejected Cel's 'milk shop' ... surprise, surprise.
She turned Soiprigh a bit, so it was easier for both to continue their petting and scratching simultaneously. The vulpine helped by rolling himself up a bit. He elicted a satisfied purr when Cel announced to give him his dessert before they would go off.
"I'm sure they will find their spots" - Chris said. "Just as sure as I am that they're gonna laugh their butts off when we're totally drunk and desparately trying to find our spots. Confusion incoming." He laughed.