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* Catreenia lays out the last of the rose-flowered tea service, adding a plate of sugared dainties to the table in the sitting room of the Hooke summer cottage. The curtains are drawn for privacy; rose-tinged afternoon light filters through them, giving the room a comfortable, muted glow to offset the shadowed corners. The skirts of Cat's black-trimmed rose silks rustle faintly as she fidgets with the table settings. * Prinda knocks hesitantly on the door. She's dressed slightly formally - in a pale lavender gown - and has a parcel tucked under her arm. * Catreenia glances at Bienca and takes a deep, settling breath before going to the door. For her bodyguard's peace of mind, she checks the peephole before opening the door to her old friend. "Prin! I'm so pleased you could come." She offers her a smile and a sisterly hug. * Prinda bites her lip, then returns Cat's hug, somewhat awkwardly around her parcel. "Lady Hooke. It's been some time. I should have come earlier." <Catreenia> Please, it's always Cat to you. And... it's alright. ::looking a bit awkward, herself:: I... sort of dropped out of sight, after... ::swallows:: Well, I wasn't the best of company, anyway. But come in, do! ::ushering her into the parlor:: * Prinda looks around. "I thought you were mad. You finished school so fast, and then you didn't... you didn't even invite me to your wedding! What was I supposed to think? And then, to not even be married for a year! How awful for you." <Catreenia> ::bites her lip:: Prin, I'm so sorry. I wanted to invite you, I did! But then plans were changed on us, and you were away on break, and there was no time-- ::shakes her head:: He had promised my father that he would see to the completion of my schooling, but he was... ::she quirks a smile:: Well, he wasn't the only one eager to be wed. And then.... ::more quietly:: It will have been three years, next month. <Prinda> ::looks around again, sitting:: Very elegant, here. I came by a few times, after the... well, after. Your gardener chased me off with a rake once, for peeking in the window. <Catreenia> ::looks rueful:: I do seem to be one for letting all the momentous events happen off-stage, don't I? ::looks around, herself, with a shy smile:: This was part of my betrothal gift. He wanted to be certain, even if anything ever happened to him, or his fortunes took a poor turn, I would have a roof over my head and be cared for. ::pulls a face:: The gardener *is* a bit mad, though. I can't fire him, he comes with the property, alas. <Prinda> ::sniffs:: Well, I hope he grows nice begonias. He looks so wicked... If I were you, I'd turn his pockets out once in a while. Quite a thiefly air about him. <Catreenia> ::grins:: Remember how I once said, I didn't want to be duchess for more than a day, because I didn't want the responsibility? ::looks rueful:: *All* nobility's like that, I'm afraid. On the up side, the majordomo keeps the staff well in hand. ::looks around:: It's been awhile since I've been here, honestly. I needed to... get away from things, after. I've been out seeing how the other half lives. ::smiles:: * Bienca makes a slightly strangled noise behind Cat's chair. * Prinda leans forward slightly. "So... tell me. Is it fabulous, being so wealthy? Do you have many new gowns?" <Catreenia> ::wrinkles her nose:: I don't see as much of it as one would think-- investments and such... but... well, it certainly helps one get things done. ::grins:: And the shopping sprees are fun, I must admit. My wardrobe is... *quite* different than it used to be, that's for certain. <Catreenia> ::pours out the tea:: It's true, though... that there are things money can't buy. <Prinda> ::takes her cup of tea:: Really? Name three. * Catreenia looks sidelong at Prinda, and offers her the plate of dainties, responding matter-of-factly. "True love, happiness, and an honest man." <Catreenia> But come now, I know you're curious enough about me, but you must know the feeling's mutual. What have *you* been up to? Do you still keep in touch with anyone from school? ::grins sidelong:: Why didn't I get an invitation to *your* wedding? * Prinda looks down at her wedding band as if she's forgotten about it. "Oh, that." She rolls her eyes. "Well, being rich might not give you everything, but there's nothing so great about being poor, either. My parents, you know... " She sighs. "I didn't think you'd want to come. You and your ideals. Not that it wouldn't have been nice." <Catreenia> ::eyes widening in concern:: No, I don't know... please, what's happened? Did they... ::following Prin's eyes to her wedding band:: Was it someone they, er... didn't approve of? <Prinda> Oh, no, dearie... Frederick is all proper and approved of. A little dull, but I suppose he can't help that. <Catreenia> ::covers her mouth on a giggle:: Not if he's "all proper and approved of" he can't. <Prinda> ::shrugs:: What cannot be cured must be endured... and while he's not so fabulously rich as your Lord Hooke, we're quite comfortable. And respectable. You wouldn't have thought it while we were in school together, would you have? <Catreenia> ::eyes widening in mock-horror:: You, Prin? Respectable? Say it's not so! <Catreenia> But... ::biting her lip a little:: Why didn't you think I'd want to come to your wedding? * Prinda colors slightly. "You and your true love... following your feelings and not giving a damn what anyone else said... I didn't think you'd want to see me marry someone nearly as old as my father." <Catreenia> oh. ::lowering her eyes:: I... know not everyone can. Life... just doesn't work that way sometimes, I know that now. Not everyone gets what they deserve... ::she trails off a moment, apparently pursuing that thought further on her own before shaking her head:: But I wish I'd been there to wish you happy, at least. ::braves a hot teapot and much chinaware to reach across the table and squeeze Prin's hand:: <Prinda> Well, dear, it's not so bad as all that... there are compensations. ::she averts her eyes slightly, color flaring in her cheeks:: But you asked about our old friends... Roni's teaching at the school now, you know. And some of the old crowd have taken jobs here in town. There was, you know, a big thing, after the war. <Catreenia> ::blinks:: Big thing? I know there was quite a mess... and I heard about the siege on the school, and Master Bluestar's shield... <Prinda> ::nods eagerly, apparently desirous of changing the subject:: Well, you know Vallel, right? He was apparently very involved - orchestrated, you might say - the release of the hostages. Lord Scoril came down and gave out awards and medals and there's all sorts of new laws for our protection. <Catreenia> ::eyes widening:: Oh, my. ::smiles:: Well, that's one bit of good news from the war, at least. But-- Oh! Jobs! ::sitting up as a thought strikes her:: That's right, I meant to ask you about it, if I remembered... I saw Tanmim Rockbreaker the other day, in the company of a bunch of Dragons. I know *he* wasn't the sort to be getting into trouble... have the Dragons started hiring psionics, then? ::sounds amazed at the proposition:: <Prinda> Oh, no... well, sort of. ::she takes another sip of tea:: He's in that guild that... well, I don't suppose you'd know her. She came in and Mistress Quel'shu ran her through an accelerated program. Already knew her stuff mostly, did Vella. <Catreenia> ::blinks, cocking her head and thinking:: Vella... no, that isn't ringing any bells. Not that I knew the freshmen very well... well, except some of the boys... ::blushes:: <Prinda> Oh, well... she came to the school, but really, she didn't need to. She's brilliant, absolutely. You'd have hated her. What classes she took, she totally skewed the curve. But she and a few of the older students put together a guild - you know, a group where people can come, if they need a psionic to do something, and write out a contract and such. <Catreenia> Oh! ::nods:: I know that's... well, sort of what Mistress Nightst-- Quel'shu seemed to be heading towards, with making us more accepted in the community. But... ::a little subdued:: I would have thought that Mistress Quel'shu would've been in charge of anything like that, honestly. Who is this Vella person, then, and why'd she come to the school at all if she was so brilliant? <Prinda> ::snitches a cookie, absently dunking it in her tea:: Well, some people have to just pick it up on their own, don't they? I mean, where'd Master Bluestar get *his* training? I think she wanted to see if there was anything else she could learn. <Catreenia> That's true. ::frowning in thought:: So... where's she from? And... ::hesitating delicately:: she didn't have any... problems, getting a guild of *psionics* approved? <Prinda> ::shrugs:: I think there's a few "observers" that answer to the city's council, who are overlooking things. <Prinda> I don't know her very well, but she seems pretty nice. Unlike most of the rest of us, her village and family didn't completely spaz about her abilities... <Catreenia> Hm. She was one of the lucky ones. I suppose there have to be some... and you said she was more experienced. She's older, then? Like Mistress Quel'shu? <Prinda> She's about thirty, or so. Maybe a little older than Roni, I guess. But she's human, and he's half... <Catreenia> ::with the carelessness of a 20-something:: Older, then. Where's she from? ::nibbles a cookie:: <Prinda> North, somewhere... she always complains about being too hot... You could always go meet her, if you wanted. You've got the grades to apply to the guild. I've got an application in... not for full time or anything, but the contracts pay fairly well. <Catreenia> Grades? ::cocks an eyebrow:: You don't just have to be psionic to get in? What... ::thinks:: How do they pick, if they don't take everyone, I mean? <Prinda> ::shrugs again:: I'm not sure... you have to have references and letters written from the professors and stuff. And there's a bunch of tests and questions to fill out. It's almost not worth it. ::she laughs:: But I hate paperwork. <Catreenia> ::grins evilly:: Yes-- I remember my stunning lack of success when I tried to use your history textbook to track you. <Prinda> ::waves a hand:: History is *boring*. <Catreenia> ::giggles:: I know *you* think so. So how many are in the guild now, do you think? And... Tan's a member, then? The Guild, what, subcontracts to the Dragons? ::sounds dubious:: <Prinda> I guess there's about two dozen? And they contract to anyone who wants a psionic... I know at least one who's on full-time contract with some of the noblesse. Telling fortunes, I think, poor girl. <Catreenia> ::looks apprehensive:: But... how do they keep people from... you know, abusing the privilege? Are there limits? I mean... just think of what some criminally-minded person could do with a psionic's talents... <Catreenia> ::cocks head:: Or-- you mentioned new laws, before.... ::shakes her head:: I think I'm woefully behind on the local news. <Prinda> ::shakes her head firmly:: Oh, nono... that's the idea... right now, it's just starting, but I think Vella eventually wants *all* the working psionics in the guild. To protect us as well as the people in the city... she's working on some ethics code. <Catreenia> ::dubiously:: It sounds like she wants people to trust *her* an awful lot. <Prinda> ::shrugs:: Well, trust has to start somewhere, I guess. The council doesn't, really. They've got their observers snooping around everywhere. <Catreenia> ::dryly:: Yes, but their observers aren't psionic, are they? <Prinda> ::raises an eyebrow:: No, but I think some of them are mages. Who have their own methods for snooping around. <Catreenia> ::rubs her arms:: Indeed. ::shivers:: Magic still makes me nervous, honestly. <Prinda> You're not the only one... ::she sighs:: It would be nice if - you know, as a group - we could be *trusted*. Like mages are... each judged individually. But we're not, and you know it. <Catreenia> ::soberly:: No, we're not. Which is why I worry a little when some stranger breezes into town and sets up shop and starts putting together a power base that could really frighten those people that *don't* trust us. ::nibbles on an almond tart, thoughtfully:: Still... the money's not so much an issue for me, but... it might be nice to be... useful, again. <Catreenia> ::looks at Prinda:: Who do you know is already *in* the guild? That, you know, might be willing to talk to me about what it's like, and whatnot? I just... I *trust* Mistress Quel'shu. I don't know this other person. <Prinda> ::sniffs:: This from the woman who's been missing in action for nearly three years. <Prinda> ::thinks:: Well, there's been a lot of interest. I know Tannin was in, early on. And Orich, you know... <Prinda> ::brightens:: Oh, I bet *Roni* could tell you all about them... he's the school's liaison to the guild. ::eyes Cat slyly:: I hear things are cooling rapidly with Mira... she's so stuck on being an "adventurer." <Catreenia> Oh... really? ::for all her attempt to sound casual, her cheeks redden slightly:: <Prinda> She wanders off for weeks at a time... you know, he never was one to like a cold bed... ::winks:: At least, that's what I *hear*. <Catreenia> ::the tips of her ears turn pink:: Yes, well, love can change a person, too.... <Prinda> ::rolls her eyes:: Perhaps... but I think a person can get awfully tired of banging their head against the same wall. She won't stay, he won't go. It's a hopeless case. <Catreenia> ::sighs:: Poor Roni. Well... ::bites her lip:: Maybe I'll have a talk with him sometime... <Catreenia> ::cocks her head again:: So, do they have a name for themselves? Or is it just "The Psionics Guild"? People will get the impression that we have no imagination... <Prinda> Oh, no... ::smiles:: I think it's sort of romantic, actually... Infinity Incorporated... doesn't that sound nice? <Catreenia> It has a certain ring to it... ::grins a little:: "We'll be around forever, get used to us"? <Prinda> ::snickers:: Well, won't we? ::she raises her tea cup:: * Catreenia grins and clinks her teacup against Prinda's in a toast. |
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