The Lodge of Petrichor has many visitors for the first public play-day of Dame Tom's litter of Stoats after the turn of Spring. While at first they were all gathered together, they've slowly broken off in their own directions as hopefuls from the spectators step forward to try to win themselves a companion. These young stoats are free creatures, and while they're more used to people than typical stoats, it is on the people present to earn their companionship.

One of those who have made an effort to win the heart of a stoat is Anisha, and the stoatlet upon which she has set her eye is distinct from the rest in personality. Where so many others are caught up displaying the energy typical of the furry creatures, this one is particularly relaxed. Chill, even. They lounge in the grass, taking in the situation of humans and stoats around them without any sign of being perturbed.

Anisha has been rather chill herself, draping herself at the deck with the food, and occasionally tossing out crumbs. She's even tried to recruit Evensong to her aid, but of course, she does -not- have Dame Leola's affinity for animals, so rather than bring crumbs closer to the creature, Evensong ate it, and has now perched on Anisha's head to chirp happily. Anisha lets out a small sigh, but rises. And with a wine glass in one hand and a half-eaten piece of pie in the other, she slowly saunters towards the chillest of tots.

Jules has been largely focused on drawing his own stoatlet to himself but the flair of Evensong onto Anisha's head does draw his attention away from the focus he presently has and gives a laugh, "Dear me!" He interjects with enthusiasm and actually draws his attention briefly away from his hoppy little stoat to focus on Anisha's efforts.

Mack, a sable Northern Shepherd, 4 House Crovane Guards, Elsabey, a Crovane equestrian, Bunny, a clever Northern Husky arrive, following Fianna.

Anisha checked composure + empathy at difficulty 15, rolling 37 higher.

Sparte GM Roll checked composure(2) + perception(2) at difficulty 10, rolling 15 higher.

Anisha's stoat of choice, who we'll just call The Chill One, continues to lounge in the field and not bother to get up or move anywhere. It does notice Anisha's similar calm on approach, little beady stoat eyes sizing her up as she approaches without any sense of alarm. When she gets close, The Chill One makes a brief little chitter noise of acknowledgement with a tiny accompanying up nod of their stoatly head. Anisha has been deigned worthy of notice and attention, though the bird of her head is not afforded the same respect. The Chill One must not consider birds suitably chill.

The human (Sparte) attempting to manage this whole affair is the companion to Dame Tom, matriarch of the little army, and he opts to speak up towards Anisha. "Set your eye on that one, then? That is the only one in the group to already visit Arx. Hid in one of my bags and had a nap." Sparte gives Anisha a small grin as he eyes Evensong. "You already seem used to having animals ride along."

Fianna Crovane walks along the pathway that leads to the Lodge building with her two dogs flanking her. When she spots some movement across the grounds, she slows her gait to observe and then recognizes familiar faces. The Duchess veers in their direction and then gives both dogs the command to sit and stay where they are as she approaches the folks who are present. While the dogs are not at all aggressive, they keep a lengthy distance between themselves and the stoats across the way. Fianna approaches quietly with a polite nod and a smile to follow. "Hello. I hope I'm not interrupting." She then halts, curious. "May I watch?"

Anisha checked composure + seduction at difficulty 15, rolling 20 higher.

Damien Pierce - A Charming Assistant, 1 Redreef Warden, Vagari The Cinder Cat, 1 Order of the Firebird, 4 Byrne Mountain Men, 2 House Crovane Guards, Nephelae Ebonwood - A Nursemaid arrive, following Mikani.

Jules is presently attempting has pie filling on his fingers that are extended out but he's not looking where his arm is extended but rather his eyes are over watching Anisha with an amused smile on his face.

Evensong titters more, studying the stoat with suspicion. But she has wings, and is atop an Anisha, so presumably she's safe for now.

"We seem to have matching personalities," Anisha offers to Sparte with a small smile. "I don't know that we've been formally introduced. I'm Anisha Whisper, a pleasure. And this is Evensong, my honorary Whisper apprentice, and companion. Dame Leola helped connect us," She explains. "So, yes, some training, you might say." She spots Jules and his amusement, she grins. "Careful that you don't lose track of your chosen one, Messere Jules," She calls out. Then offers a small curtsey to Fianna as she approaches. "Well met, my lady. Anisha Whisper, a pleasure. I do try to be at least a little appealing and intriguing at all times, so I don't mind an audience," She offers with a wink. Settling down next to the Chill One, she drapes herself in place, sips her wine, and idly (and entirely coincidentally) places her piece of pie equidistantly beween her and the stoatlet, picking off a small piece which she promptly pops in her mouth, as her pale gaze drifts to her new friend.

The Chill One doesn't /want/ to get up, but their nose twitches, hunger is present, and the environment is clearly welcoming. Stoats can't really roll their eyes, but there is that sense of a teenager going 'fiiiiine' as they get up and go to plop down in a new spot at the edge of the piece of pie. Crane neck, nibble, return to position of chill. Now that the whole hassle of moving themselves into position is sorted, there is a mild sound of satisfaction for being able to eat without being troubled... If that will last. The other stoatlets are fond of free meals, too.

Sparte's attention was off on another pair as Anisha spoke to him, so there is an unavoidable look of distraction and an apologetic smile as he attempts to process what she said. "Anisha Whisper, was it? Pleasure to meet you. Sparte Fa-" A pause. "Grayfellow, Sparte Grayfellow."

Jules had apparently missed the arrival of the duchess and blinks as Anisha points out his own lack of focus and he darts his attention back towards his stoat. Where did he go!? Ahh, Jules eyes lock onto the hoppiest stoat that ever hopped and squints at him, waddling forward a bit, unable to give the duchess attention that she ... WHOA! Jules flops over as someone whispers into his ear. He clears his throat and gets to his feet, bows quickly and then whispers something to Mikani as he proceeds to scan for his stoat. Upon spotting it, he squats down and wiggles his fingers at it.

Anisha checked composure + seduction at difficulty 25, rolling 45 higher.

Fianna folds her arms across her chest as she watches the interaction between Whisper and stoat. A grin curves her lips when she spots Jules and then she decides to make her way a little closer to Anisha and Sparte. "Fianna Crovane." she introduces herself with a polite nod. "Are these... Dame Tom's offspring?" She /assumes/ although she hasn't officially met Mama Stoat yet. Her tawny colored gaze sweeps about the area as if looking to see what other wildlife is present.

Anisha is fairly perceptive, so the rumblings on the edge of her hearing of other stoatlets becoming slowly aware of -FOOD- is not something that passes her by. She leaves Jules to his misadventures, and sets aside her wine - it will be a worthy sacrifice if this pays off.

Ever so carefully, she lays down her arm in a semi-cradling position, and with her other hand, she gently picks up the pie, raising it just a little too high for the Chill One to reach, but letting the small critter settle in her hand.

"They are, yes." She offers up to Fianna. "Fianna Crovane, you said? That would make you -Duchess- Fianna Crovane? I'm quite friendly with Lady Mikani and Lady Lenne," She offers brightly. Idly raising the arm with a stoat clinging to it to her chest, before offering the pie again, so the Chill One may feast at their leisure. "...I think they like me," She concludes.

Evensong looks over to Fianna from her perch, and gives a slightly indignant chirp to the Duchess.

Jules, fortunately, focuses in on his stoatlet with an intensity of a thousand burning suns or at least three cups of coffee, probably the later though. His eyes are squinting on his little stoat and he's hunched forward in his squatting waddle, "Come here baby," His voice soft but with that energy barely contained. His pie filling covered fingers still extended out and his mouth still stretched broadly with excitement.

The royal treatment! Elevated above their peers. At first the chill little stoatlet seems unsure about this whole 'picked up' thing that Anisha is doing, but once they see the food is also being picked up and kept available, well, what is there left to worry about? Contentedly they nibble while looking down upon their landlocked fellows with a distinctly snooty upturned snout. Hopefully the little thing doesn't develop a complex. While no stoat may be called tame, exactly, this one is about as close as can be imagined. Anisha has managed to win herself a new companion, or perhaps The Chill One has won themselves a companion human. It is hard to tell.

But what of the other five stoatlets, and the humans attempting to woo them? The rest of the field is not as quiet. How will the others fare?