Includes "Fetch me a drink, would you?"

LordDiomedes
LordObi
PrincessDeirdre

---

Diomedes watches Dina beeline toward Gerard and reacts by getting off his chair. "I think I need a drink after all." he says, giving interrogatory looks at any nearby cousins before heading toward the bar.

Obi nods agreement to Diomedes as he watches the run for the folder. When Diomedes returns, he smiles his thanks. "So, there's more happening than just a search for the Argent Fleece," he observes after a taste of his drink.

"Why now, do you think?"

"A couple of reasons come to mind." Diomedes begins, sipping at his own mixed drink. "I have some theories, ranging from bad to worse, depending on the combined honesty of this family."

"Even Uncle Gerard's straightforwardness can be drowned out." Diomedes says, with a slight glum tone, and he takes another sip.

"What do you think? You know the family about five times as well as I." Diomedes says.

"Five times as long doesn't equate with five times as well, not in this family," Obi replies. "I'd start speculating with Bleys' missing invitation. That sounds like the beginnings of a power play."

"Nature... and politics... abhor a vaccuum."

"The five years of Grandfather's absence." Diomedes agrees, taking a sip of his drink. "I think we've reached a breaking point of some sort, or a line in the sand. A turning point in the Matter."

"You'll note who didn't show up at this meeting." Diomedes continues. "If they were even invited."

The Uzoman nods. "Seems your side of the family, if we discount you and Rosalind. Odd in one extreme, but not so much in the other if this is a wild goose chase to keep us from being underfoot."

"Of course I've never had problems with redhair," he chuckles. "It's why I wear my feather, imitation is the highest form of flattery, you know."

Diomedes smiles and nods.

"But the chance that Corwin is alive, well..." Obi spreads his hands wide, suggesting the possibilities that it presents.

"It would upset the gameboard if he were to return. Do our Elders really want him back for that reason? It suggests." Diomedes continues "that if this isn't a wild goose chase, our parents see something ahead that the return of Corwin will throw a monkey wrench in. An X-factor."

At this point, if they haven't noticed before, Diomedes and Obi will see Deirdre and Eric's little exchange and then Eric's exit. Deirdre heads over to join Diomedes and Obi.

As she arrives next to her son, she will say to both of them, "Would one of you be so kind as to fetch me a drink?"

She is positioned so she can make conversation with her son and Diomedes but also keep abreast of what is happening between Gerard and the others gathered round him.

"I will, Aunt Deirdre." Diomedes says with a smile. He waits a moment for Deirdre to specify what she would like, and any desires from Obi for a refill, before moving to the bar and getting the drinks, including a refill of his own.

"Just wine," she smiles at Diomedes.

Obi shakes his head, one's enough for the moment, he's decided. "So, do you hold out hope, Mother? It's been over a century, and while I admire Uncle Gerard's passion on the subject, and I'll admit, the fact that he's cast shadows give lie to him survivng for some time, but..." He trails off, this time finishing his drink.

"Trumps fail, but some Shadows do that. Searches failed, but finding a person isn't like finding a Shadow. What if he's just decided that he wants to be left alone?" Obi speculates.

Deirdre nods and starts to answer Obi, when she hears Gerard's reply to Dina. She places a graceful hand on her son's shoulder, "Bide..." she says. Diomedes arrives back with her wine in hand and she takes it from him murmuring her thanks as she slowly turns her attention to Dina.

Diomedes takes a sip of his drink, and turns to watch the knot of cousins and Elders around the folder, especially Dina.

Obi watches Dina's exit and then leans over to kiss his mother on the cheek. "We'll talk later?" he says, as much a statement of intent as a question.

He rises and with first a nod to Diomedes, and then parting smiles for Miho, Drake and Gerard, follows Dina from the room.

---

All - EnsembleUnitedFront

LordObi - AndTheChaseIsOn
LordDiomedes - TheFolder