[center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/316071861521874946/377989214773706772/coollogo_com-278371558.png[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/ehwnPZQ.png[/img][/center] [hr] [b]Time: Afternoon - Day after leaving Salem[/b] [b]Location: Central Park/Adirondack Park- NY[/b] Deep within Adirondack Park, at the edges of a forest glade that had not seen much disturbance for many years, a small and withered spruce tree's trunk seemed to fly apart with a mighty crack. With dust and splinters sprayed backwards into the forest, the tree fell into the glade. Birds would have fled the area on hurried wings if they hadn't fled already. [color=LightPink]"Yes! Nailed it!"[/color] Mandate cheered, enthusiastically squeezing her hand into a fist and pulverizing the stone she'd been about to throw. A polite clap came from Mara behind her as she shook the fragments off of her hand, bending down to scoop up another stone from the impressive pile she'd made. She'd been launching stones into the forest for an hour now, attempting to hit trees at the edge of the sunny glade they'd chosen to wait within. It was just something to do to pass the time until the portal came, but it made Mandate happy to test her sloppy marksmanship against the defenseless flora. Tilting her head back, Mandate stared up into the lazy afternoon sun. It was clear in the sky above them, not yet dipping into the evening, and no longer obscured by the dense trees in the clearing they'd chosen for their wait. The rock tumbled idly in her hand as her thoughts reached back to her dear companion. She liked to think that feeling could reach the Ambassador somehow, perhaps riding the sunlight that glinted off of her freshly-cleaned mercury surface, but she knew it was unlikely. It didn't matter, though, did it? [color=LightPink]"When are they gonna get here, miss Mara?"[/color] she called back, head tilted for her cyclopean eye to catch the goblin's expression. The little woman in question had sat very clear from Mandate's escapades, but watched with a tired smile. A strange little pocket watch sat open in her lap, beside the remnants of an improvised lunch. "Won't be long now, Mandate. You'll know when it comes." [color=LightPink]"I know I'll know."[/color] Mandate whined, impatient despite her amusing distraction. The rock disappeared from her hand, faster than the average speed of her throw would suggest; it was a curious property of her strength, from what she could tell by observing others that were 'strong'- by their own measure, anyway. Maybe there was more that could be learned from it. The golem frowned at the echoing crack of it impacting a distant tree, as none of the spruces at the edge of the glade shattered. Huffing, she bent down for another projectile. [i]Maybe I'll hit a pine next.[/i] All she could do was wait restlessly, and hopefully release some of her anticipatory energy with some reckless destruction. Inside the width of a minute little stones inside Mara’s pocket began to glow warming against the goblin’s leg, signalling The Ambassador’s call. A handful of minutes passed and slowly forming from the ground up near Mara a sliver of light seemingly split the air before them. Forming from within the light, slowly a familiar door began to form, rosy wood panelling followed by bright golden hinges - light escaping through the seams around the frame. Finishing off with a polished golden knob. It twisted and swung inward, appearing in the door frame was none other than The Ambassador herself. She stepped through past the threshold leaving it open behind her. “[color=thistle]Bonjour, Mara.[/color]” She greeted the goblin, turning knowingly to Mandate nearby she genuinely had a big smile for the mercurial golem removing her sunglasses and placing them on the brim of her hat. “[color=thistle]Mandate, my friend.[/color]” Eyes crinkling, moving to close the space between them. Mandate was frozen in place, the stone clenched in her hand in preparation to throw as the door had arisen from the earth, her singular eye fixated upon it. And then, just as she had been anticipating, out from the door came her dearest friend. Though the separation had only lasted a few days, the golem felt her nonexistent heart swell, the knot of nervous anticipation giving way to joy. Finally! It hadn’t even been that long, she knew. Perhaps she was a bit dependent. [color=LightPink]”Miss Ambassador!”[/color] she all but chirped, her harmonic voice high with delight as she tossed the stone gently over her shoulder, into the distant trees. She didn’t wait for the ambassador to reach her; rather, the construct came bounding up towards the ambassador herself, delighted and eager. Her arms spread wide as she stooped down, mindful of her power as she invited her friend into a hug. [color=LightPink]”Hello!”[/color] she announced belatedly, joyful and fidgeting with anticipation. She’d missed hugging her friend, but she didn’t want to accidentally squeeze her too hard. Soft things were so fragile. So, she patiently waited for her hug. [i]Then[/i] she would squeeze! Odette’s smile grew wider as she hopped a little to wrap her arms around Mandate’s head, “[color=thistle]Bonjour my friend. I have missed you.[/color]” She said, sweetly. “[color=thistle]I have so much to tell you, I have been rather busy the past few days. I am so pleased we could reunite.[/color]” Squeezing what she could against the hard surface that Mandate was, no give but Odette hoped a little pressure could be felt in her affection. “[color=thistle]You were always in my thoughts.[/color]” Mandate giggled delightedly, pleased with the Ambassador’s hug and kind words. With a moment’s thought, her massive arms were around the human, one of them lowering to wrap under her legs as the golem straightened to her full height. She took the ambassador with her, seated neatly upon her arm and supported by a gentle hand on her back. [color=LightPink]”I missed you too, miss Ambassador! You were in mine [i]all[/i] the time!”[/color] she replied giddily before her thoughts interrupted her moment. Oh, right, her self-imposed task. For a moment, Mandate visibly sank, shoulders hunching and her ‘v’ of a smiling mouth inverting. [color=LightPink]”I didn’t really find what I needed.”[/color] she confessed, admittedly pouting more than anything. It was hard to be truly sad with the ambassador on her arm. And that was right, the ambassador! Perking up a bit more, the golem gave her friend a small squeeze and delighted in the feeling of her, careful though she was. Alive and well, and as happy to embrace her as ever. [color=LightPink]”But it’s okay! I’m really glad you’ve got something to tell me, because it means you did, right?”[/color] she continued, sincere and curious as her wide singular eye looked down upon her companion. Her smile had returned quickly, as it often did in the ambassador’s presence. Odette nodded, one hand bracing on Mandate’s shoulder - at ease. “[color=thistle]Perhaps I can help find what you need when you are ready to. You do me a service by being my vigilant protector.[/color]” She said with a level of seriousness, watching Mandate’s body language. “[color=thistle]It would not be a favour but a gesture of goodwill.[/color]” “[color=thistle]Only when you are ready to.[/color]” She promised. While the pair spoke, Bach watched on as well, leaning on the door frame of the portal. His face neutral as he watched, he looked to Mara then back. He spoke in Common Fey, addressing her, “[color=darkseagreen][i]Nothing at all, huh? No rock left unturned, no cavern left unexplored. Really, I am not surprised.[/i][/color]” “[color=darkseagreen][i]How are you, Mara?[/i][/color]” Mara watched the ongoing reunion with a lazy air from the ground beside the door. Mandate had returned to squeezing the ambassador in a hug, cooing about the ambassador’s pleasant sentiment. Apparently, the promise from the human meant a lot to the massive golem and seemed to reinvigorate her. That seemed strange to the goblin, with how powerful Mandate herself was, but someone with greater potency would probably be a better help than her. Sighing, Mara’s eyes drifted to Bach, seemingly massive from behind her large glasses. The Common Fey tongue flowed easily from her as she looked her fellow fey up and down. He remained as… Well, Bach, as ever. [i]”Nothing. It’s a large world, Bach. Hard to find what you’re looking for, sometimes.”[/i] the fey dialect flowed more easily from her than human dialects, and she found sophistication a bit easier within their own tongue. She did not bother naming what Mandate had been searching for; that was between the two of them. Talking was better than sitting in silence, though. [i]”I’m well. The woodland isn’t my dwelling of choice, but I can manage.”[/i] Avoiding the humans sprinkled throughout the Park had been harder than thriving in it, certainly. Mandate was self-sufficient, in that she required nothing at all from the environment anyway. That left Mara with only some minor concerns, and she wouldn’t have considered herself a proper goblin if she couldn’t scrounge and scavenge. [i]”It’ll be good to get back to Paris.”[/i] she confessed wistfully, leaning back against the door. “[color=darkseagreen][i]I imagine so for you. We certainly won’t trouble you for your chaperoning services again very soon. I understand dealing with the intellectual equivalent of a toddler is a burden. Believe me, I know.[/i][/color]” He flashed a grin at the goblin. “[color=darkseagreen][i]At any rate, you’ll be paid well for your services as always.[/i][/color]” He pushed off from the frame going through the portal leaving them to their reunion, not waiting for Mara’s reply either. Mara, perturbed, had simply returned Bach’s smile with an awkward, toothy smile of her own as she watched him retreat through the portal, feeling somewhat insulted by proxy. The implications of her fellow fey’s words were plainly obvious, but had he also meant what she believed he meant? Mara glanced nervously towards the ambassador, puffing out a sigh and adjusting her glasses. She busied herself with sitting up and organizing her pack, and decided not to think about it. Bach’s business was none of her own, and the ambassador’s business was only hers for as long as she was compensated by the sly human. It was better to just not think about it, wasn’t it? Mandate, humming happily, turned her dimly glowing eye towards the portal as she caught Bach’s movement. [color=LightPink]”I’m really excited to hear about what you’ve been up to, but where are we going now, miss Ambassador? I’m ready for whatever you need!”[/color] [i]Home[/i] would be ideal, but adventure by the ambassador’s side had been exciting every time. … Although, [color=LightPink]”Will I be breaking anything for you? That’s a lot nicer than trying to search through a park that’s- uh- really huge!”[/color] Odette tapped her chin in thought, grinning, “[color=thistle]One can certainly hope, my dear. For now, we are returning to Central Park, New York. Where we first met to be precise.[/color]” She patted Mandate’s arm, signalling her time to return to her feet. Gracefully sliding off her arm and adjusting her dress. She beckoned for her to follow, heading to the portal. “[color=thistle]Very productive. Met with the White Witch, we travelled to her childhood home meeting her parents and learning her true identity. We found one Gwyneth’s items there, learning of the strange pact her parents had with Gwyneth herself. It’s truly fascinating Mandate, we have learned so much. Then we moved onto Salem meeting with the witch covens there gaining more clues on the former Summer Court Queen Mab.[/color]” She named them off, proudly noting the accomplishments. “[color=thistle]I convinced the White Witch, Marie, to trust me. I want you to be kind to her, Mandate. For me.[/color]” She asked, turning on her heel in the doorway reaching for Mandate’s hand. “[color=thistle]Marie no longer needs to be intimidated.[/color]” [color=LightPink]”Oooh. It sounds delightful, Miss Ambassador!”[/color] Mandate breathed wondrously, curious about the delightful adventures she had seemingly missed in her own fruitless pursuit. Miss Ambassador was, indeed, as productive as she’d ever been! She’d have to ask for more detail later, although definitely not from that jerk Bach. Following sedately after the ambassador, the golem hummed as she thought aloud about the request. She’d do it for the ambassador anyway, of course, but would she like it? [color=LightPink]”Hmmm. Well, I didn’t dislike miss Marie when we met! She seemed nice, and I’d like to know more about her and her magic and this miss Gwyneth… Of course, I’ll do it, miss Ambassador!” [/color] she affirmed, reaching out. Her silvery hand slowly and gently engulfed the human’s own. [color=LightPink]”For you!”[/color] she added, giggling. She smiled nodding. “[color=thistle]Oh [i]merci[/i], Mandate. Gwyneth… is an increasing mystery to both of us. The more we learn the more questions we ask.[/color]” She said with a hum stepping through the portal arriving at the other side holding the door open for Mandate to squeeze through. “[color=thistle]One thing is for sure is her connection to the former faerie Queen Mab. Whom I fully intend to meet with, we believe she is a powerful ally that can only be found in the forbidden kingdom of Tir na nOg.[/color]” Odette glanced to Mara seeing the goblin, no doubt hearing what she had said she raised a finger to her lips, “[color=thistle]Plans that will remain only those present to know. Can I count on your ability to keep a secret Mara? Keeping [i]my[/i] secrets in particular.[/color]” Mara didn’t even blink under the combined gazes of the ambassador and her golem friend. What was one more secret to a pile? Smiling tiredly, the goblin raised a spindly finger to her lips, standing up from her seat against the door. “Consider ‘em kept. All I heard was the wind, y’see.” she promised slyly, burying the awkward feeling that Bach’s words had left. Yes, she was good at keeping her mouth very shut. Giggling, Mandate squeezed the ambassador’s hand. [color=LightPink]”A forbidden kingdom? I like breaking rules that should be broken!”[/color] she noted happily, recalling the event in which she had punched a great construct of stone until it was a great pile of debris. [color=LightPink]”You’re good at figuring things out, miss Ambassador. I’m sure she won’t be a mystery for too long.”[/color] Bach added, “[color=darkseagreen]Remember we can always match the price for information and double it, Mara.[/color]” He nodded, unnecessary addition to their understanding but a reminder couldn’t hurt as far as he was concerned. No faerie in Paris could deny the Ambassador’s resources. “[color=darkseagreen]Yes the forbidden kingdom of Tir na nOg, where our gods and ancestors dwell. Only the most privileged and highest ranks of nobility may enter. It will be a first in a long time for mortal humans to enter.[/color]” Mandate gasped delightedly as the little goblin gave an awkward nod to her fellow fey, noting the twitch of a grimace. Perhaps Mara didn’t like her word being called into question? Well, more importantly, [color=LightPink]”Congratulations then, miss Ambassador!”[/color] It was a given to her that the human [i]would[/i] be able to enter. How couldn’t she, with her resources and wit? Then, yet another important thought struck the golem. Cupping her own chin with her free hand, the construct hummed. [color=LightPink]”Has there ever been a golem whose entered?”[/color] she wondered. The question caught Odette, she really never heard of a golem entering Tir na nOg. Letting out a giggle herself, hiding it behind a hand, “[color=thistle]No, not that I can remember. You will be a first as you have always been.[/color]” Odette was pleased, allies at her back and a plan. Whatever Puck conjured stood no chance.