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[ Caer Scima had not been a place Ariadne had wanted to return to after the previous month. But when searching for the feathers and feather thief pointed the trail in that direction, Ariadne had returned both her mare and her bandersnatch to her manor. Bentley the imp would look after them, and with the offerings (offerings, of all things) being left at the gate, she doubted finding others to employ would be as difficult as she'd feared. She uses her ability to move through shadows again for the first time, and combined with the fairy ring, she is soon back at Caer Scima.

For the best, she supposes; she has to pick up Ser Pounce-a-lot anyway.

As she opens the locket, Ariadne twirls a blue feather in her fingers; another one she'll have to give back to the imps, though she wonders if perhaps she ought to see if she can turn into something decent at tracking. Catching thieves is hardly her strong suit. ]

I have a confession to make, [ she starts, forcing herself to look at the locket. The twirling of the feather is a nervous gesture. ] Last month, some of you encountered a large shadow creature -- horned, with giant claws. Some of you were injured by it.

[ Some saw others killed by it. ]

The creature attacked the Station, Caer Scima, and Caer Glaem. It was at Caer Glaem that it was brought down and returned to its true state.

[ She takes a breath. ]

Me. And I'd like to apologize for what I did as the creature; I didn't have any control over it, any conscious thought at all.

[ She would not, at least, have attacked the Station or Caer Scima or her friends. Caer Glaem... well, she had been there before because she had been ordered to. ]

I have already been punished for it; I was in the dungeons of Caer Glaem, and I'm sure I'd still be there now if things were different. [ If Razul of the Larks had not been sent for her. ] I just thought that I should explain.

So. Now you know.

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I'm fine. It would take more than a huge scary shadow monster to do me in.

...though I did come seriously close to crapping my pants.

Helped by the fact that I didn't have eyelids.

[ Ow, by the way. Though she's glad that he was able to use it to his advantage. ]

Sorry.

Yes, that was extremely fortunate. [For him, he means. And no, he's not going to apologize for using it to his advantage.]

Don't worry about it. You weren't in control. Besides, you didn't break any of my stuff--or me--so we're good.

Glad to hear it.

[ She offers him a slight smile. ]

Is it still- uh, pretty damaged?

It's seen better days. [Sorry, Ariadne, but he's not the guy who's going to lie to make you feel better. And really, he's kind of impressed at the amount of damage you managed to do.]

It's just stone and wood and plaster anyway. It can be fixed. The important thing is you didn't kill anyone.

...you didn't, did you?

No one's tried any repairs yet?

[ That's okay; she doesn't want to be lied to. ]

... I'm pretty sure I did.

They're working on it. It's not what you'd call an organized effort but it'll get done. Eventually.

[He's going to need a moment to process that.]

But it wasn't anyone who mattered, right?

[He processed. He just didn't process compassionately.]

It was't anyone I knew, at least.

[ "Who mattered". She's sure they mattered to someone. ]

Well, that's something, I guess. [The someone they mattered to is not him, so any caring is purely a theoretical exercise.] It's not like it was actually you doing it. I mean, there was no intent so you're not responsible.

Is that how it works?

[ She knows it is. It just... doesn't feel that way. ]

Legally, yes. [Of course that was back in a world that made sense to him. In fairy land, who knows. There is a war going on though, so the rules probably get thrown out the window.]

From a personal moral point of view, I'm guessing it's not that cut and dried.

You might've missed the part where I got thrown in a dungeon over this. [ Well, not really; Greg pays attention to the details. Still. ]

Nothing ever is.

No, I didn't miss that. What I didn't catch is why they tossed you in the dungeon. Was it actually punishment or were they just trying to contain you? Or was it simply because you're from the enemy court?

That's why I don't bother with personal morality. [He does, of course. He simply has somewhat different ideas about what's moral and what isn't.]

They didn't tell me. They didn't talk to me at all.

[ Your guess is as good as hers, Greg. ]

Well, it's over now and you're safe...ish. [Let's face it--no one is ever really safe in fairy land.]

So, Madam Architect, are you going to come back to the station and design some improvements? I mean, what better time to upgrade than when the place is being repaired? [He's pulling for a bowling alley.]

I'm not sure yet. I only have so many people on my team.

[ And they need to be paid. ]

Guess we'll just have to get used to the distressed chic look then. [Honestly, he doesn't care. His room is intact. Everyone else can fend for themselves.]

You are going to be coming back sometime, though, aren't you?

'Distressed' is one word for it.

[ She blinks. ]

Yes, of course.

Ruin would be another word but distressed sounds less...distressing.

[Cool. Not that he was concerned or anything.]

Guess I'll see you...sometime.

You're really just planning on staying there?

Why not? It's as good a place as any for a home base. At least they have technology here, not to mention a notable lack of a creepy queen and her zombie husband.

Well, it is broken. And neutral territory... that doesn't actually mean much, you know?

Broken suits me. [And yes, he's well aware no place is safe, but the Station is the most like home. He feels most normal there.]

Besides, it's not like I'm here all the time. It's just a place to call home...ish...y.

Well. As long as you come visit too, okay?

Like I'd miss an opportunity to freeload off you.

...except I don't actually know where your little mansion is.

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