Of Cats and Foxes in the Land of Horses (Closed)

[The Selkie]

"It certainly doesn't look good for them if they switch to something we don't understand," Vershenov whispered, leaning in closer to Golahman. "Because, if they're secretly doing hanky-panky, they're going to be either rejected as diplomats or under extreme surveillance and placed in separate quarters." He smirked. "They're 'honorable', right? Surely they wouldn't want to be dragged into the capitol square in the middle of the night and shot."

"I wouldn't think that far," Golahman said. "There are probably more people available who'll be better qualified as diplomats to Krugeristan."

Not even mentioning, that dragging a foreign ambassador out onto a street and shoot him or her would be a gross breach of the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic Relations and grounds for war, a war, which Krugeristan would not be able to win, Aingeal and Ayden were not doing any hanky-panky.
They were very close friends, sibling in anything but blood, singer and roadie. Both would see such things as a downgrade of their relations between each other, not an upgrade.
They were honourable people - however, some things were not for the ears of foreigners, simple as that. No one kept Vershenov and Golahman from switching into Russian, should they feel the need to.
However, neither of the diplomats commented any of that, indeed not hearing the two Krugeristanis exchanging these words, Aingeal being occupied with the potatoes, Ayden putting away materials for crafting usage. The Master of the House was still on the horn.
A few minutes later, the young man returned to the kitchen, grabbed a knife and began to first peel, then cut carrots. The hum of Aingeal's voice was soon accompanied by the low hum of a full, deep, yet untrained voice as the two worked away.

[Krugeristan]

"It certainly doesn't look good for them if they switch to something we don't understand," Vershenov whispered, leaning in closer to Golahman. "Because, if they're secretly doing hanky-panky, they're going to be either rejected as diplomats or under extreme surveillance and placed in separate quarters." He smirked. "They're 'honorable', right? Surely they wouldn't want to be dragged into the capitol square in the middle of the night and shot."

"I wouldn't think that far," Golahman said. "There are probably more people available who'll be better qualified as diplomats to Krugeristan."

Not even mentioning, that dragging a foreign ambassador out onto a street and shoot him or her would be a gross breach of the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic Relations and grounds for war, a war, which Krugeristan would not be able to win, Aingeal and Ayden were not doing any hanky-panky.
They were very close friends, sibling in anything but blood, singer and roadie. Both would see such things as a downgrade of their relations between each other, not an upgrade.
They were honourable people - however, some things were not for the ears of foreigners, simple as that. No one kept Vershenov and Golahman from switching into Russian, should they feel the need to.
However, neither of the diplomats commented any of that, indeed not hearing the two Krugeristanis exchanging these words, Aingeal being occupied with the potatoes, Ayden putting away materials for crafting usage. The Master of the House was still on the horn.
A few minutes later, the young man returned to the kitchen, grabbed a knife and began to first peel, then cut carrots. The hum of Aingeal's voice was soon accompanied by the low hum of a full, deep, yet untrained voice as the two worked away.

"We still have yet to conduct background checks," Vershenov said.

"What if they lie their way through them?" Golahman whispered.

Vershenov folded his hands, eyes half closed. "We'll think of something to make sure they tell the truth and nothing but the truth."

"But, surely Finn wouldn't have let them in his house if he didn't think they were alright and capable of being alone together. After all, he is the head male of the household."

Vershenov glanced at Golahman. "I guess you have a point there."

[The Selkie]

Not even mentioning, that dragging a foreign ambassador out onto a street and shoot him or her would be a gross breach of the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic Relations and grounds for war, a war, which Krugeristan would not be able to win, Aingeal and Ayden were not doing any hanky-panky.
They were very close friends, sibling in anything but blood, singer and roadie. Both would see such things as a downgrade of their relations between each other, not an upgrade.
They were honourable people - however, some things were not for the ears of foreigners, simple as that. No one kept Vershenov and Golahman from switching into Russian, should they feel the need to.
However, neither of the diplomats commented any of that, indeed not hearing the two Krugeristanis exchanging these words, Aingeal being occupied with the potatoes, Ayden putting away materials for crafting usage. The Master of the House was still on the horn.
A few minutes later, the young man returned to the kitchen, grabbed a knife and began to first peel, then cut carrots. The hum of Aingeal's voice was soon accompanied by the low hum of a full, deep, yet untrained voice as the two worked away.

"We still have yet to conduct background checks," Vershenov said.

"What if they lie their way through them?" Golahman whispered.

Vershenov folded his hands, eyes half closed. "We'll think of something to make sure they tell the truth and nothing but the truth."

"But, surely Finn wouldn't have let them in his house if he didn't think they were alright and capable of being alone together. After all, he is the head male of the household."

Vershenov glanced at Golahman. "I guess you have a point there."

The two diplomats, blessed with good skills in the kitchen, still worked away on the vegetables and potatoes, soon evolving the ingredients into the basis for a vegetable and potato, with emphasis on the potato, soup. Their melody evolved with them, the tune picking up pace as the hummed along, soon evolving into a sort-of dance, which made their cooking seem well choreographed.
A bit of time passed like that, before steps were audible and the Master of the House returned, first poking his head into the kitchen, telling the two diplomats something in Selkie, and getting a reply. He lingered for a moment, then entered, inspecting with a wide smile, complimenting them about something or the other in their language.
That, in turn, seemed to bring joy to the two cooks.

[Krugeristan]

"We still have yet to conduct background checks," Vershenov said.

"What if they lie their way through them?" Golahman whispered.

Vershenov folded his hands, eyes half closed. "We'll think of something to make sure they tell the truth and nothing but the truth."

"But, surely Finn wouldn't have let them in his house if he didn't think they were alright and capable of being alone together. After all, he is the head male of the household."

Vershenov glanced at Golahman. "I guess you have a point there."

The two diplomats, blessed with good skills in the kitchen, still worked away on the vegetables and potatoes, soon evolving the ingredients into the basis for a vegetable and potato, with emphasis on the potato, soup. Their melody evolved with them, the tune picking up pace as the hummed along, soon evolving into a sort-of dance, which made their cooking seem well choreographed.
A bit of time passed like that, before steps were audible and the Master of the House returned, first poking his head into the kitchen, telling the two diplomats something in Selkie, and getting a reply. He lingered for a moment, then entered, inspecting with a wide smile, complimenting them about something or the other in their language.
That, in turn, seemed to bring joy to the two cooks.

"I know one thing," Vershenov muttered. "There will be no singing in Krugeristan if they pass the test."

Golahman shrugged.

"The more they do it, the more suspicious I am."

"You'd be suspicious if they dropped one of those bloody potatoes."

The two men were quiet when Finn finally returned. Vershenov looked at Golahman. "I still don't like this. Besides, that fool, Crionna, made me choose between numbers instead of giving the names and descriptions of these two nutcases."

"Really?"

Vershenov nodded.

"By the veins in Assad's core . . . That is bizarre."

"I'll make it very clear we're keeping these . . . people in separate quarters."

[The Selkie]

The two diplomats, blessed with good skills in the kitchen, still worked away on the vegetables and potatoes, soon evolving the ingredients into the basis for a vegetable and potato, with emphasis on the potato, soup. Their melody evolved with them, the tune picking up pace as the hummed along, soon evolving into a sort-of dance, which made their cooking seem well choreographed.
A bit of time passed like that, before steps were audible and the Master of the House returned, first poking his head into the kitchen, telling the two diplomats something in Selkie, and getting a reply. He lingered for a moment, then entered, inspecting with a wide smile, complimenting them about something or the other in their language.
That, in turn, seemed to bring joy to the two cooks.

"I know one thing," Vershenov muttered. "There will be no singing in Krugeristan if they pass the test."

Golahman shrugged.

"The more they do it, the more suspicious I am."

"You'd be suspicious if they dropped one of those bloody potatoes."

The two men were quiet when Finn finally returned. Vershenov looked at Golahman. "I still don't like this. Besides, that fool, Crionna, made me choose between numbers instead of giving the names and descriptions of these two nutcases."

"Really?"

Vershenov nodded.

"By the veins in Assad's core . . . That is bizarre."

"I'll make it very clear we're keeping these . . . people in separate quarters."

With his inspection done, Finn left the kitchen, munching on a carrot with a smile - and stopping as he saw the two Krugeristanis watching the kitchen.
He looked at the carrot in his hand, then to the two, back to the carrot...
...and back to the two.
He swallowed.
"Afternoon.", he greeted with a small smile, "Want one, too? Ayden is currently cutting them up, but he can do a few more, if you want one. I need to tell you two something anyway."

[Krugeristan]

"I know one thing," Vershenov muttered. "There will be no singing in Krugeristan if they pass the test."

Golahman shrugged.

"The more they do it, the more suspicious I am."

"You'd be suspicious if they dropped one of those bloody potatoes."

The two men were quiet when Finn finally returned. Vershenov looked at Golahman. "I still don't like this. Besides, that fool, Crionna, made me choose between numbers instead of giving the names and descriptions of these two nutcases."

"Really?"

Vershenov nodded.

"By the veins in Assad's core . . . That is bizarre."

"I'll make it very clear we're keeping these . . . people in separate quarters."

With his inspection done, Finn left the kitchen, munching on a carrot with a smile - and stopping as he saw the two Krugeristanis watching the kitchen.
He looked at the carrot in his hand, then to the two, back to the carrot...
...and back to the two.
He swallowed.
"Afternoon.", he greeted with a small smile, "Want one, too? Ayden is currently cutting them up, but he can do a few more, if you want one. I need to tell you two something anyway."

"We're good," Golahman said. "Go ahead . . . what's going on?" He frowned. "Are we in trouble? . . . Did something happen to Gwen and Fiona? Have . . . Have . . ." He covered his face. "Oh my God . . ."

[The Selkie]

"We're good," Golahman said. "Go ahead . . . what's going on?" He frowned. "Are we in trouble? . . . Did something happen to Gwen and Fiona? Have . . . Have . . ." He covered his face. "Oh my God . . ."

"Nah, the two of them are alright.", Finn said with a small smile, "Nothing to worry about... though, the problem is, that neither of them will be home tonight, coming back tomorrow. The business talks they were having dragged out and there's a storm approaching - nothing serious, only strong enough, that planes can take off or land."
He looked at Golahman.
"Fiona told me to tell you, that she wishes you pleasant dreams, nice dreams and good dreams, all three kinds, she hopes, involving her.", he told him with a small smile.

[Krugeristan]

"We're good," Golahman said. "Go ahead . . . what's going on?" He frowned. "Are we in trouble? . . . Did something happen to Gwen and Fiona? Have . . . Have . . ." He covered his face. "Oh my God . . ."

"Nah, the two of them are alright.", Finn said with a small smile, "Nothing to worry about... though, the problem is, that neither of them will be home tonight, coming back tomorrow. The business talks they were having dragged out and there's a storm approaching - nothing serious, only strong enough, that planes can take off or land."
He looked at Golahman.
"Fiona told me to tell you, that she wishes you pleasant dreams, nice dreams and good dreams, all three kinds, she hopes, involving her.", he told him with a small smile.

Golahman removed his hands from his face, remaining still as he looked at his boots. Vershenov looked at Finn. "Golahman's had a hard enough day, sir," he said. "Got any good news?"

[The Selkie]

Golahman removed his hands from his face, remaining still as he looked at his boots. Vershenov looked at Finn. "Golahman's had a hard enough day, sir," he said. "Got any good news?"

"Well...", Finn said. While it wasn't good news, he wouldn't call his wife and daughter staying in Fortham for the night bad - more unpleasant. He didn't have good news, though.
"Dinner's almost ready!", Aingeal called from the kitchen, as if she was sensing the mood, "Well, in around 15 minutes, give or take, but we could need a few hands to set the table - any volunteers?"
"You need someone to set up?", Finn asked over his shoulder in confusion.
"Yeah.", Aingeal called back, "It's Grandma's special recipe and I need Ayden to not go ahead and taste-test half of the pot. Also, what would our esteemed guests like to drink?"

[Krugeristan]

Golahman removed his hands from his face, remaining still as he looked at his boots. Vershenov looked at Finn. "Golahman's had a hard enough day, sir," he said. "Got any good news?"

"Well...", Finn said. While it wasn't good news, he wouldn't call his wife and daughter staying in Fortham for the night bad - more unpleasant. He didn't have good news, though.
"Dinner's almost ready!", Aingeal called from the kitchen, as if she was sensing the mood, "Well, in around 15 minutes, give or take, but we could need a few hands to set the table - any volunteers?"
"You need someone to set up?", Finn asked over his shoulder in confusion.
"Yeah.", Aingeal called back, "It's Grandma's special recipe and I need Ayden to not go ahead and taste-test half of the pot. Also, what would our esteemed guests like to drink?"

"Hot chocolate," Golahman and Vershenov said at the same time. They glanced at each other, and decided to differentiate.

"White chocolate," Golahman called, while Vershenov wanted milk chocolate.

[The Selkie]

"Hot chocolate," Golahman and Vershenov said at the same time. They glanced at each other, and decided to differentiate.

"White chocolate," Golahman called, while Vershenov wanted milk chocolate.

Finn looked over to the young woman, a small smile on his lips, amused by his two guests.
"Coming right up!", the young woman replied with a firm nod, she turned and vanished back into the kitchen.
"Second cupboard on the right, upper row!", Finn called over after her, "And don't worry about the milk, we have a few canisters in reserve!" Something sounding like a confirmation came from the kitchen, followed by a male voice yelping and the clattering of a spoon on the ground. Finn sighed and looked back to his guests, an amused smile on his lips. "Young ones these days... come, let's set up the table!"

[Krugeristan]

"Hot chocolate," Golahman and Vershenov said at the same time. They glanced at each other, and decided to differentiate.

"White chocolate," Golahman called, while Vershenov wanted milk chocolate.

Finn looked over to the young woman, a small smile on his lips, amused by his two guests.
"Coming right up!", the young woman replied with a firm nod, she turned and vanished back into the kitchen.
"Second cupboard on the right, upper row!", Finn called over after her, "And don't worry about the milk, we have a few canisters in reserve!" Something sounding like a confirmation came from the kitchen, followed by a male voice yelping and the clattering of a spoon on the ground. Finn sighed and looked back to his guests, an amused smile on his lips. "Young ones these days... come, let's set up the table!"

Golahman stood up quickly, Vershenov following more slowly, with less enthusiasm. They both followed Finn, not saying anything to each other, though Golahman had many stories about how informal his dining room was on a daily basis, and how very few people had really experienced it. He told Finn that he cooked for himself when he wasn't hosting anything, and how he and Assad almost broke a toaster.

[The Selkie]

Golahman stood up quickly, Vershenov following more slowly, with less enthusiasm. They both followed Finn, not saying anything to each other, though Golahman had many stories about how informal his dining room was on a daily basis, and how very few people had really experienced it. He told Finn that he cooked for himself when he wasn't hosting anything, and how he and Assad almost broke a toaster.

Hearing the story of the nearly broken toaster, Finn laughed, directing his guests to their seats.
Their support in setting the table, he decided for himself, would be morally. He would do that, reaching into the cupboard to retrieve five soup bowls, spoons, glasses and everything else needed tonight and setting them up on the large dining room table, foregoing the tablecloth.
"You shouldn't leave Tyran and Glynn alone in the kitchen either.", he began to tell his own story, "Alone, they are relatively capable, but together? A burned down kitchen in the making. And an empty pantry, too. They once..."
That was the time, when Ayden came in, placing a small wooden plate on the table and stepping aside to hand the drinks their guests requested to them, revealing Aingeal, the black-haired woman carrying a large pot with steaming soup.
"Alright, people!", she said, grinning and brimming with pride. The soup was really hot, a broth of potatoes, with carrots, onions, leek, a bit of cabbage, and a few peas and spiced with herbs from the garden, boiled together for a while. "Vegetable potato soup, Granny Kiah's Special Recipe - plates or you get nothing!"
She really hoped, that she made it as good as her grandmother.

[Krugeristan]

Golahman stood up quickly, Vershenov following more slowly, with less enthusiasm. They both followed Finn, not saying anything to each other, though Golahman had many stories about how informal his dining room was on a daily basis, and how very few people had really experienced it. He told Finn that he cooked for himself when he wasn't hosting anything, and how he and Assad almost broke a toaster.

Hearing the story of the nearly broken toaster, Finn laughed, directing his guests to their seats.
Their support in setting the table, he decided for himself, would be morally. He would do that, reaching into the cupboard to retrieve five soup bowls, spoons, glasses and everything else needed tonight and setting them up on the large dining room table, foregoing the tablecloth.
"You shouldn't leave Tyran and Glynn alone in the kitchen either.", he began to tell his own story, "Alone, they are relatively capable, but together? A burned down kitchen in the making. And an empty pantry, too. They once..."
That was the time, when Ayden came in, placing a small wooden plate on the table and stepping aside to hand the drinks their guests requested to them, revealing Aingeal, the black-haired woman carrying a large pot with steaming soup.
"Alright, people!", she said, grinning and brimming with pride. The soup was really hot, a broth of potatoes, with carrots, onions, leek, a bit of cabbage, and a few peas and spiced with herbs from the garden, boiled together for a while. "Vegetable potato soup, Granny Kiah's Special Recipe - plates or you get nothing!"
She really hoped, that she made it as good as her grandmother.

"Did you prepare any meat?" Vershenov asked.

Golahman gave Vershenov a look while sipping his drink.

"--Just asking. You don't need to go to any trouble about it," Vershenov falsely finished, glaring at Golahman, who was getting the plates.

[The Selkie]

"Did you prepare any meat?" Vershenov asked.

Golahman gave Vershenov a look while sipping his drink.

"--Just asking. You don't need to go to any trouble about it," Vershenov falsely finished, glaring at Golahman, who was getting the plates.

Ah, a self-proclaimed carnivore..., Aingeal thought to herself as she smiled slightly apologetically and replied: "I'm sorry, but no. It's vegetable potato soup or dry bread. It's better for you, lots of vitamins, so now eat your veggies."
With a smile, she filled the first bowl with steaming hot soup, directing Golahman to place it in front of the Commander, the next one being for himself, then for the Master of the House, who sat down at the head, after that for Ayden next to her and lastly herself.
A moment later, they were all seated and Finn motioned to Golahman. "If you want to speak your graces, now would be the time, I guess."

[Krugeristan]

"Did you prepare any meat?" Vershenov asked.

Golahman gave Vershenov a look while sipping his drink.

"--Just asking. You don't need to go to any trouble about it," Vershenov falsely finished, glaring at Golahman, who was getting the plates.

Ah, a self-proclaimed carnivore..., Aingeal thought to herself as she smiled slightly apologetically and replied: "I'm sorry, but no. It's vegetable potato soup or dry bread. It's better for you, lots of vitamins, so now eat your veggies."
With a smile, she filled the first bowl with steaming hot soup, directing Golahman to place it in front of the Commander, the next one being for himself, then for the Master of the House, who sat down at the head, after that for Ayden next to her and lastly herself.
A moment later, they were all seated and Finn motioned to Golahman. "If you want to speak your graces, now would be the time, I guess."

"I've lived on dry bread before," Vershenov muttered. "It's what happens when you're born in the Soviet Union." Vershenov wasn't one to talk about his youth in Soviet Russia. When asked, he always replied, "It was shitty. What do you expect from a Communist country?"

Golahman quietly said his prayers before eating. "It's very well made, ma'am," he said, glancing at Aingeal.

[The Selkie]

"I've lived on dry bread before," Vershenov muttered. "It's what happens when you're born in the Soviet Union." Vershenov wasn't one to talk about his youth in Soviet Russia. When asked, he always replied, "It was shitty. What do you expect from a Communist country?"

Golahman quietly said his prayers before eating. "It's very well made, ma'am," he said, glancing at Aingeal.

Deciding not to comment on Vershenov's reply, mainly because she did not want to start an argument about the pros and cons of communism (and there were pros, although they were few), the singer-turned-cook-for-the-evening grinned. "Thank you, Mister Golahman. As mentioned, it's an old recipe from my grandmother, handed down since times immortal... except the potato that one's only around six, seven centuries old. We imported them from a place called the Silver Islands, which are south-east of the Northern Islands." She took a spoon. "And it improved cuisine quite a bit."

[Krugeristan]

"I've lived on dry bread before," Vershenov muttered. "It's what happens when you're born in the Soviet Union." Vershenov wasn't one to talk about his youth in Soviet Russia. When asked, he always replied, "It was shitty. What do you expect from a Communist country?"

Golahman quietly said his prayers before eating. "It's very well made, ma'am," he said, glancing at Aingeal.

Deciding not to comment on Vershenov's reply, mainly because she did not want to start an argument about the pros and cons of communism (and there were pros, although they were few), the singer-turned-cook-for-the-evening grinned. "Thank you, Mister Golahman. As mentioned, it's an old recipe from my grandmother, handed down since times immortal... except the potato that one's only around six, seven centuries old. We imported them from a place called the Silver Islands, which are south-east of the Northern Islands." She took a spoon. "And it improved cuisine quite a bit."

"The potato," Vershenov said, smiling, "is a bitch. It has its uses, but when it starts to die, it creates a real commotion." He was referencing the Irish Potato Famine, and could've done so in a better way.

Golahman rolled his eyes.

[The Selkie]

"The potato," Vershenov said, smiling, "is a bitch. It has its uses, but when it starts to die, it creates a real commotion." He was referencing the Irish Potato Famine, and could've done so in a better way.

Golahman rolled his eyes.

Aingeal smiled, knowing, what he referenced, but having her mouth full - in most cultures, it was rude to speak with the mouth full. The Selkie were amongst them.
Instead, Finn replied like only a farmer's son could: "True, in a way, Commander. The problem is, in the more famous cases of crop failures and harvest losses of the potato, that it was used as a monoculture, the only crop on the field indeed being the potato. So when bugs and deseases strike, the whole field is affected instead of in a multicultural approach, where only one field is affected and the rest stands strong to balance out. Adding in, that in at least one of the more famous cases the government authorities not only did jack-shit about there indeed being a shortage in food supplies, but also exporting the last of the edible agricultural produce for the own profit and you have a, as you put it, 'real commotion'."
He smiled and took a spoon of soup.

[Krugeristan]

"The potato," Vershenov said, smiling, "is a bitch. It has its uses, but when it starts to die, it creates a real commotion." He was referencing the Irish Potato Famine, and could've done so in a better way.

Golahman rolled his eyes.

Aingeal smiled, knowing, what he referenced, but having her mouth full - in most cultures, it was rude to speak with the mouth full. The Selkie were amongst them.
Instead, Finn replied like only a farmer's son could: "True, in a way, Commander. The problem is, in the more famous cases of crop failures and harvest losses of the potato, that it was used as a monoculture, the only crop on the field indeed being the potato. So when bugs and deseases strike, the whole field is affected instead of in a multicultural approach, where only one field is affected and the rest stands strong to balance out. Adding in, that in at least one of the more famous cases the government authorities not only did jack-shit about there indeed being a shortage in food supplies, but also exporting the last of the edible agricultural produce for the own profit and you have a, as you put it, 'real commotion'."
He smiled and took a spoon of soup.

Golahman gave Vershenov a look, signalling for him to stop talking for now. The skinny leader looked at their hosts. "If . . . we're staying another day . . . what all can we do tomorrow? Are there any little events, places, maybe, that we can see?" With Fiona. And Gwen.

[The Selkie]

Golahman gave Vershenov a look, signalling for him to stop talking for now. The skinny leader looked at their hosts. "If . . . we're staying another day . . . what all can we do tomorrow? Are there any little events, places, maybe, that we can see?" With Fiona. And Gwen.

Finn knew, what Golahman was getting at and, depending on what came up at Gabha, he might be in for a rude surprise. Hoever, the older man decided not to mention that.
Additionally, there was something creeping into his expression, a small bit of darkness, which he would blame onto a piece of potato stuck in his teeth. Gwen was his wife and his wife alone. Her Cub or not, he would not let have that child have his way with his wife (whatever that way was), most likely breaking her heart in the process.
"Well...", Ayden said with a small smile, "The City of Traverse itself. Sightseeing, having two locals show you all the little spots tour guides usually leave out. And then there are numerous events all around the city, for example I know for a fact, that a certain someone..." He glanced to Aingeal, who tried to look innocent and failed. "...is going to give a small concert tomorrow."

[Krugeristan]

Golahman gave Vershenov a look, signalling for him to stop talking for now. The skinny leader looked at their hosts. "If . . . we're staying another day . . . what all can we do tomorrow? Are there any little events, places, maybe, that we can see?" With Fiona. And Gwen.

Finn knew, what Golahman was getting at and, depending on what came up at Gabha, he might be in for a rude surprise. Hoever, the older man decided not to mention that.
Additionally, there was something creeping into his expression, a small bit of darkness, which he would blame onto a piece of potato stuck in his teeth. Gwen was his wife and his wife alone. Her Cub or not, he would not let have that child have his way with his wife (whatever that way was), most likely breaking her heart in the process.
"Well...", Ayden said with a small smile, "The City of Traverse itself. Sightseeing, having two locals show you all the little spots tour guides usually leave out. And then there are numerous events all around the city, for example I know for a fact, that a certain someone..." He glanced to Aingeal, who tried to look innocent and failed. "...is going to give a small concert tomorrow."

Vershenov promptly made a face, looking away from the group while muttering a "holy shit" in Russian.

Golahman gradually lost his appetite, staring down at his dish while forcing himself to eat. "I'm not a concert person," he said, quietly. "I'd much rather go with people I actually know and will . . . let me look around at my own pace, I guess."

[The Selkie]

Vershenov promptly made a face, looking away from the group while muttering a "holy shit" in Russian.

Golahman gradually lost his appetite, staring down at his dish while forcing himself to eat. "I'm not a concert person," he said, quietly. "I'd much rather go with people I actually know and will . . . let me look around at my own pace, I guess."

Ayden smiled at the President, ignoring Vershenov and Aingeal's confusion, nodding. "I can understand that - if one wants to get a feeling for a place, getting a local to show you around is a good idea. One, that does not hurry you is an even better one. One, that does that and knows, what one is looking at, is the best.", he said with a nod, "And there's much to see in Traverse!"

Aingeal looked at Vershenov in a small bit of confusion. She did not know Russian, she would freely admit, but she knew, what a curse sounded like and whatever Vershenov had muttered, she thought, that it sounded like a curse over the fact, that she was actually going to sing a concert tomorrow.
Well, tough shit for you, then., she thought decisively, marking him up as unimportant, which he indeed was to the diplomatic doctrines taught to her, he was only the bodyguard after all, Tough shit, that I am a musician, who practices her art. If you have anything against that, go and suck a Pin Mouse's pins!
With that thought, she turned her head to watch Ayden and Golahman, taking the occassional spoon of her soup, a soft and friendly smile on her lips.

[Krugeristan]

Vershenov promptly made a face, looking away from the group while muttering a "holy shit" in Russian.

Golahman gradually lost his appetite, staring down at his dish while forcing himself to eat. "I'm not a concert person," he said, quietly. "I'd much rather go with people I actually know and will . . . let me look around at my own pace, I guess."

Ayden smiled at the President, ignoring Vershenov and Aingeal's confusion, nodding. "I can understand that - if one wants to get a feeling for a place, getting a local to show you around is a good idea. One, that does not hurry you is an even better one. One, that does that and knows, what one is looking at, is the best.", he said with a nod, "And there's much to see in Traverse!"

Aingeal looked at Vershenov in a small bit of confusion. She did not know Russian, she would freely admit, but she knew, what a curse sounded like and whatever Vershenov had muttered, she thought, that it sounded like a curse over the fact, that she was actually going to sing a concert tomorrow.
Well, tough shit for you, then., she thought decisively, marking him up as unimportant, which he indeed was to the diplomatic doctrines taught to her, he was only the bodyguard after all, Tough shit, that I am a musician, who practices her art. If you have anything against that, go and suck a Pin Mouse's pins!
With that thought, she turned her head to watch Ayden and Golahman, taking the occassional spoon of her soup, a soft and friendly smile on her lips.

Golahman was looking at Ayden with wide, frightened eyes. "I'd much rather go with people I am friends with," he said, his hands shaking before he hunched in on himself.

[The Selkie]

Golahman was looking at Ayden with wide, frightened eyes. "I'd much rather go with people I am friends with," he said, his hands shaking before he hunched in on himself.

Ayden was a bit unsure about the rather unsure person, who seemed to be afraid of his own shadow. Then again, he had heard about the social insecurity, but he didn't realize how bad it really was.
"I'm sorry, Sir.", he said with a sure expression on his face, bowing his head slightly.
Then, Finn spoke up: "You do realize, that Fiona knows Traverse like her desk's top left drawer, right?"