The Edge of Shadow || Original RP || IC Thread

[Diandra Moon]

Aine Aiyana

Location: Amick District (Armand Manor)
Speaking with: Maximus Argentum

Aine had been enjoying the chat with her nephew and family when a guard came and whispered in her ear about a visitor from Cavandia. Usually, she wouldn’t see anyone after she had sat down to dinner, but with a Cavandian, she was a bit more lenient. She stood and smiled. “I have a guest. It seems to be a day for them. I trust you all can find your beds.”

She followed the guard to the front hall and raised a brow at the man who stood waiting. Aine dressed in a similar fashion as she had nearly twenty years ago. Suede pants, blouse, and vest, though with her dark silver hair, she looked more like a slightly eccentric older person than a wild child. Though she was blessed that few lines creased her face. She’d take silver hair over wrinkles any day for as long as the gods willed it.

“Hello. I am Lady Aine Armand-Viridian. I am told you are Maximus Argentum of Cavandia. Please, come, sit.” She gestured to a door to the side, a small parlor. She had no idea what the man’s business was, and she really didn’t feel like walking to her office. “Can I get you anything to eat or drink? We were just finishing up dinner, so there is plenty for you to choose from. Stew and the like. We have tea and wine, or something stronger if you prefer.”

She took a seat with a smile and gestured for him to do the same. It was a polite smile, on that didn’t quite reach her eyes. She at least was making an effort, most everyone else got that cold stare that made them uneasy. “What can I do for you Master Argentum?”

[Hack Thornias]

Current Location: Amick
Speaking With: Aine

“Thank you for seeing me Lady Armand-Viridian, and grape juice perhaps?" A servant came to him with a simple cup of grape juice which he accepted and thanked the man sincerely for. After taking a sip he continued, "I have come because I would like to expand my business into Drathia and was wondering how to go about doing that. I would also like to offer my services to help with the continued efforts of rebuilding Amick, LaMarche, and the Port if this proves possible. When I arrived I assumed you were the best place to start in forming this business relationship. Hence, my presence here today.”

Technically all true, but his real reason was to feel out the Families, see if they could see through his mask that he had created. He already had a foothold in Amick, he really hadn’t left Drathia after all. He was just here, in a completely new face. With also completely new methods and businesses to work with.

“In Cavandia I am a man of business, all legal and completely open to the public to go over my books. I have done my best to ensure that, the last large businessman to come to Cavandia is still leaving a bad taste in all of our mouths…” He grimaced slightly at the thought of Vorlander, while inwardly rolling his eyes. He had had no choice but to run a massive smear campaign against himself, and to publically denounce Vorlander and the businesses he ran.

But of course Argentum wasn’t exactly pure either, he had dirt on many important people in Cavandia. All of which he used to make sure the markets did what he wanted, and that the Councils were filled with people he controlled. It was all a simple business to him, he had upwards of forty years of practice now. There would be no evidence against him though, all the information was heavily encoded and his informants were bound to him by soul-binding deals. Anyone who tried to betray him would lose their soul...

[Hack Thornias]

Current Location: LaMarche
Speaking With: Angeline

“I never dreamed that I’d have three beautiful children with the woman I love, and another on the way.” He loved being with her, even if she was stubborn sometimes, but then the same could be said of him. They’d been together nineteen years though, and with all that time, they had learned to work with each other in everything. Sex was still incredible though, and for couples their age, they were way beyond the norm. But then again people their age had to worry about their health, not so with these two. Angeline and Victor could live on a diet of cakes and candies for the rest of their lives and not gain a pound if Angeline wanted it.

While she was still curled into him a thought did occur to him, “Angeline, have you seen Valerio today? He and I had a fight this morning and he stormed off. I feel guilty about it and I want to talk to him, I just think he doesn’t want to see me at the moment.” He felt guilty because he was being a hypocrite about fighting.

He was saying no to his son about the Chantry and the world when Victor was already trying to do the same thing. He and his son were far too alike, both of them had ideas of grandeur and honor, something that even the war couldn’t kill in Victor. After all the experiences, he was still an optimist, a man who tried to see the best in people regardless of their station. He admitted that there were some men that were beyond hope, beyond redemption, but he believed in peace, and would fight for it.

[DEL3R1OUS_MYTH19]

He listened as his sister explained how everything was in this vision, and his eyes watched the ripples in the water frowning as he mentally pictured each as its own factor in the situation he was about to throw himself into. Raven had no problem with the King or the other nobles but he was accutely aware of how most of them reacted to his family. It wasn't so much a look of resentment or contempt but pity... which was far worse in his mind, and Raven while well tempered most of the time often found himself with his mother's attitude around them. He would be able to work through this and hopefully help the king but he wasn't entirely sure how he would do any good... time would tell he supposed.

When Rain made the comment about the 'Peasant House' he grimaced, knowing good and well what they really called them all but b*****d was NEVER a part of their family's vocabulary so they simply kept to the Peasant and moved on with their lives. It still irked him that with all they had done even with the death of their father [or maybe even BECAUSE of his death] they were looked at in that fashion. Regardless, this attempt at diplomacy would hopefully help with that and Raven would give it his all to bring some pride and respectability back to his household name.

Raven took hold of his sister's shoulders to make sure that she remained upright when the exhaustion passed through her features. He wasn't a Prophet like Rain but he could read people better than most, and he could see just how tired she really was no matter how much of a facade she put up. Blue eyes looked into hers and a soft almost paternal smile greeted her, his voice calm and soothing " Don't worry, I'll go to see the king. I've learned to take heed to your words the first time you say them. I don't readily question your advice"

Once she was looking a little less tired he let her go with another smile " You'll have to let me know when those ripples start to work themselves out... And you'll have to keep an eye out for Rock, make sure he excercises SOME restraint." he chuckled and stepped away, giving her one last look to make sure she was okay. " You know you really should get some rest Rain... you're going to work yourself sick with all the running around you do." With a wave goodbye he went to take a walk of his own, his thoughts racing as he went through scenarios of how he would go about ingratiating himself to the King... What if he wanted nothing to do with him? What if he didn't listen?... What ifs swam through his brain so much to the point that he couldn't think.

Which meant it was time for Valencia... Yes it was cliche and juvenile to name your musical instrument but it made him smile to think of his violin as a her, and when they played together they made such sweet music. Hands went to pick her up gently, nestling her under his chin once again to play a sweet melody of his own creation. Raven had chosen one of the gardens rather than the room... the night outside was so perfect that being inside to play would be a sin. He closed his eyes and allowed himself to be swept up by the music, smiling to himself as all the doubt slipped away from him to allow himself a clear mind. The song was sweeping and while it had a tone of sadness to it, there was also a hint of hope that made it enjoyable to listen to.

Look where I am Armand-Viridian Manor
And Oh Goody, see who's here Rain

[kagutuchi]

Quivyre Marsh



Location :: Thornias' Library
With :: No one


Soon they had both left, but Quivyre didn't notice. She was too busy reading the book. After a few chapters, though, that too grew dull. She didn't know if the woman...Angeline...if her command that she not leave meant that Quivyre couldn't leave the library or the home in general. Perhaps she should have asked. It was too late now however. Quivyre stood up and wandered over to the magnificent glass window and looked outside. It was so nice out, she longed to just lay in the grass and let the sun warm her skin. But no, she was stuck in here. Her next course of action was to start cleaning up the library and put books away. She put away the book she had gotten out, but after that realized she didn't know where any of the other books were supposed to go.

"Great." She muttered, looking around. There was not much else to do. There was parchment, a quill, and ink, so she could write or draw, but she didn't think they would appreciate that very much. "If only I had brought my harp." Then she'd be amused for hours, strumming chords for songs. It was back in her room at the castle, though, wrapped safely in cloth.

Her next thought was that perhaps there was a secret tunnel out of the library. In the stories told to her when she was little, there were always secret passages leading from one part of a castle to another that no one knew about because the castle was so old. Quivyre didn't know if this place was old enough to have any forgotten passageways, but it was worth a shot. Besides, it was something to do. And so, Quivyre began to methodically go around the room, tapping on every stone in the walls and tile on the floor to see if any seemed hollow. An inspection of the bookshelves would follow.

[DEL3R1OUS_MYTH19]

Twenty years together and the two of them were still so hot for each other that it made Jarek's head spin. Their bodies interlocked so perfectly that every moment was mind blowing, and Xavin still found new ways to make Jarek's toes curls. Jarek for his part of course made sure to keep it spicy and new, and as evidence by the all night love making sessions that they had he wasn't doing a bad job.

The night went by quickly and yet they ******** for what seemed like days, only stopping because they'd passed out together. Of course in the morning they were up again and ready to go again before breakfast. The younger of the two smiled dopily as he tried to sit up after being ******** so hard he'd hit his head on the headboard, and still kept going. Eyes focused on the form of his naked husband smirking at the question about their son's little dinner date" I thought she was charming... I'm no matchmaker but I think she's got some definite potential."

Jarek had sent orders through his network to find out about this girl. Hopefully she checked out because he wanted his boy to be happy and Xanther hadn't really taken to many others the way he had to her. "So... are we butting in or are we letting him take care of this one? You know I can have her here for dinner tonight if you want." There was a mischievous smile... he was TOTALLY a matchmaker.

Location: Serith
Current Company: In Bed with Hubby

[thiswasdeletedyo]

xxx

Lilian hopped pretty to stand straight, hands at her sides, in front of her Uncle as she listened attentively to his every word like it was a very important law. A cute nod of the head and he left. She rolled her eyes. "No more Nazar? Nothing sounds better than Lilian Nazar! Which is what I will be, forever," she said to her reflection, tapping on the window pane. She smiled and spun around, sticking out her behind. "Or, Lilian Applebottom!" That started a very long hour of repeating her name to every last name she could think of that sounded pretty to it.

"Lili Gaetan, Lili Comtois, Lili Verrrrr-neigh! Lili... Daegon," she snorted, laying back across Vorlander's chair. She stuck her slippered feet on his desk, playing with the ties of her cloak. "Meeee-Ster... ling. Lilian Desjardins! Oh, so beautiful!" She put a hand to her forehead and feigned a swoon. The last name was thought on for the entire voyage, even up to the point she was escorted to Vorlander's little hidey-home-hole. Which had been by a bakery. Lilian forced the men to stop and take her inside for some dough. They were given the well-done slip by the expertess of slipperiness. ******** did that to her...

She knew what Amick was. The city her father had completely destroyed, the city her Uncle absolutely abhorred because of a certain white-dragon-faced family. Slade had been a dragon, too. Lilian was a tigress. She growled at the city guard. He seemed to be startled to a more wide-awake face until she gave him the wink. She disappeared back into the colorful marketplace from their view as just another pretty civilian wandering that day. Uncle Vorlander wasn't going to be walking around like she was. His business had to be underground. Or way up in the sky!

The sky that was darkening and she was lost now... not really, but Lilian didn't care. She was skipping out of the center of Amick into the more wider roads. A few larger mansions... and she was on her way to the manor of the b*****d House! Gossip had reached her ears as it always did. She was going to see the most beloved Lady of Amick since her Lord was dead as a doorknob from something or other. Adding years to it made him ********. Poor Lady. She imagined there were more guards and protections around such a place so she wasn't going to risk walking off the proper paths to run into something nasty in the dark.

She only ran into a guard or two, and they really liked her. A bat of the lashes, a smile, and their brains melted while their bodies swelled. She got one of them to show her the gardens!

Her eye twitched the moment she picked up the faint sound of it, and she couldn't help trying to find the source, so her path was a quick straight-shot on over to it. Lilian loved music, stringed instruments especially. She wanted to see who played a violin in Amick! Her hand held up gently to guide magic to silence the noise she would have made looking for the person. She let go of it once she got near enough, listening to the melody. The guard was whispering to himself on his little tour and he eventually turned around to see her gone, too far away to find her again, perhaps she had been a ghost? He was going to crap himself.

She never heard such a thing played on a violin before, and she was no ghost as she stepped out to the musician. "You play her beautifully," she told him when he finished, stepping closer with her hands in front of her. She glanced down, taking another step. She moved to see him better and to allow him a look at her, a young lady who happened upon his solo. "Can I be your audience? Or... no?" Lilian asked softly, she seemed as if she would be hurt at a 'no'.

Really, she didn't give a damn and would order him to play more, but Uncle had said there was to be no Nazar.

location;; Armand-Viridian Manor
company;; a violinist

[DEL3R1OUS_MYTH19]

The sound of a voice pulled him from his reverie, rather the voice pulled him the rest of the way out of his reverie... His sensory magic had picked her up a few steps away so he'd been completely prepared to throw a protective spell back at whatever or WHOever was coming to him. Usually it was his brother playing tricks on him, so the look of surprise on his face was genuine as he was greeted with the sight of a beautiful young lady standing before him. A woman he'd never seen before... Usually strangers were met with a wary distrust but she was past his defenses without even trying.

Words eluded him as he stared, he was trying not to but there really was no other word for the action he was taking part in that very moment. She was the type of beautiful they wrote songs about and if he had the chance he would write an epic to rival the greats. Raven cleared his throat dislodge the nervousness that kept his words from forming, a slightly embarrassed smile on his handsome face as he stammered out a response. " Uhh, ummm... yes, no please...stay. Would you like me to start over? Or I could play a new song... or uhh." He chuckled nervously, taking a deep breath to try and pull himself together his voice evening out as he tried to speak again "Ahemmm, apologies I'm not usually this inarticulate... I'll just play a different song."

He set Valencia to his chin again and started in on another song of his, this one far happier, and for a good while his eyes were on the woman in front of him until finally he was once again wrapped up in the music. Despite his previous nervousness, once he was playing he was fine. All apprehension fell away and he played without hesitation the notes. He finishes strong drawing heavenly notes from his darling Violin to the very last, a proud smile on his face when he's done.

He lets out a deep breath and looks to his audience bowing politely and gingerly setting his Valencia back into her case. " I hope the performance was to your liking milady... My name is Raven Castiel Armand-Viridian. And you are?"

Look where I am Armand-Viridian Manor
And Oh Goody, see who's here A Beautiful Stranger

[thiswasdeletedyo]

xxx

She waited as patiently as she could with a small smile on her lips. He was staring. It became wide enough to reach her eyes when he stumbled over himself. He got over it and played her another song. "Excellent," she used her father's favorite word with a laugh, giving him his proper applause once it was finished. I have no idea who you are supposed to be exactly, she thought and smiled with her curtsey. She gave a slight incline of the head. So far, she knew him to be of noble birth, part of a family of power, and a very interesting name. "My name is Lili Chaput. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Raven Castiel Armand-Viridian."

Lilian felt like she had just spoken to four different people. That would have to be fixed. "Your name is exceedingly pretty. Sounds... courageous, wise. A good name for a leader. It holds a proper amount of mystery, too, if it wished. I am jealous of such a name," she said, lacing her hands behind her back. "May I simply call you Raven? It is my favorite part." The black birds. She was told they had a sense when an animal was dying, and often hung around a dying animal, waiting for its demise before tearing into the carcass for a good meal. Well deserved, if they had such patience to wait for someone to kick the bucket before eating them and lords knew it took a while for some people to die.

That wasn't why she liked it. She loved the way it sounded, and his looks... it absolutely suited him. "Thank you for playing for me. I'm sorry to sneak up on you. I know trespassing is a little bad, but I hope you'll forgive." Lilian giggled, taking a step back as she glanced up at the sky and the garden they were standing in.

location;; Armand-Viridian Manor
company;; Raven Castiel Armand-Viridian

[DEL3R1OUS_MYTH19]

Raven blushed and smiled as she praised his name, looking away as he tried to retain some semblance of calm around the woman. But she was so breathtaking that he found himself losing his train of thought often... He willed himself to focus, once again zoning back into the conversation to hear her comment him about the qualities of his name. A deeper blush crept to his cheeks and he shook his head. " I'm no leader... at least not yet. And believe me my name holds nothing to be jealous of..." This last statement didn't quite ring true in his mind. Every name in the line held some high esteem to their family, and while being his father's namesake felt lik a burden at times he nevertheless was proud to be the one to do so.

He stepped closer, eyes taking her in more carefully now that he could see her fully. Her hair was dark and fell in soft waves down to her shoulders, and contrasted perfectly with her lily white skin. He looked into her dark eyes as they reflected the light from the moon, and his view trailed down to her lips that seemed so kissable at that very moment. Her voice was soft and sweet, an entrancing quality about it that left him damn near speechless.

With a gentlemanly bow Raven took her hand in his, kissing it lightly and looking up at her with those bright blue eyes of his " Its a very good honor to me you Miss Lili Chaput, and you may call me whatever you wish." He chuckled and let her hand go, sighing contentedly as they stood there together in the garden. He gave another bow as she thanked him for the show, and he closed the case to Valencia before returning his attention back to the woman. " As I said it was my pleasure. I don't get very many eager listeners so it was nice to have an audience for once. And as far as the trespassing goes..." He pondered it for a moment, tapping his lips with a finger exaggeratedly before looking to her out of the corner of his eye with a wicked smile " Have a bit of dessert with me and we'll consider the offense non existant, deal?"

Look where I am Armand-Viridian Manor
And Oh Goody, see who's here A Beautiful Stranger

[thiswasdeletedyo]

xxx

Lilian had never encountered such a thing. He was bashful, that was the word. When the young man came toward her, she wanted to touch his eyebrows. She held his gaze long enough to see it lower to her lips. A slight smirk played on them at the thought of him thinking to kiss her. Her turn to feel a flush of the cheeks as he paid her that kiss to the hand. Such attention! He soon invited her to a dessert. Well, offered it in exchange for clearing up any offense. "Not afraid I'll stuff you in a closet and steal your valuables?" she joked, grinned, momentarily moving on her toes to fall back on her heels with a click. "I have a harp and the only one who listens to me is my pet, so I would be quite... sympathetic." Her pet, which would be her brother or a demon, he could have his pick of whatever it was she meant.

"Should I be afraid that your girlfriend would get a little upset, Raven?" Lilian raised a brow, keeping a playful smile on. She turned to face him a little more, taking out her arms back from beneath her cloak. "If I haven't a fear, I'll gladly take the deal. To have one, I would ask you put me in chains right now for my wicked crime!" She put her wrists together and held them out to him. Lilian would love to be in chains! In theory. She imagined a dungeon without a soul to keep her company and unbearably warm would be disappointing.

The beads of her bracelets were rubbed together as she pulled her arms back to her body, a step forward as she waited for Raven's reply. She was hopeful for a delicious dessert. Also, rest, and she would get it soon. Walking all day after the voyage by ship, she was a little tired, but a dessert with the handsome Raven would be an excellent way to end the day before she stole back to Vorlander's little hut.

location;; Armand-Viridian Manor
company;; Raven

[thiswasdeletedyo]

k r e s i m i r

in Rishi with Gleneva

Kresimir made a noise in the back of his throat. He really didn't want to.... he slouched down in his chair. "I'll be fine," he mumbled. Paden would be using their mother and he would be alright, so long as he stayed away from the hornet's nest. And he would be having pomegranate soup later, he decided, crossing his ankles. In peace, and quiet.

The next thing he knew, Gleneva came into his study. He jumped in his chair at the knock and blinked his tired eyes at her as she spoke. His back was killing him. He had just fallen asleep in his chair. "Good, good," he groaned, standing. That wasn't an answer to her question, he seemed to realize that. "I don't... there?" He gestured to the corner it had been in earlier and turned to widen the sweep of the arm to the patio. Honestly, he had forgotten all about the creature. Ge wouldn't be too pleased with him breaking his promise of watching Shadow, but the panther laid out fine in the sun, and he wouldn't be telling her about forgetting.

He turned back to his cousin. He would be telling Ge about what had happened. "Fine," he said and took a step forward, to only pull his foot back with a scrunch of the face. He had tried to hold it in that time. Kresimir looked Eva up and down, then about the room. It was at times that sensory would come in handy, but he wouldn't need it regardless.

"No. I have to go." Strange behavior was leaving the place he called his own home and that was what he was doing. Without another word to Eva, he turned on his heel and walked by the panther, then out through the archway to the other door. Shadow behind him. He went to the shore. The beach. The sands that would be stained with blood.

[DEL3R1OUS_MYTH19]

And she was clever too.

Everything about the girl so far had Raven very interested, and she seemed to be liking him back so that was good. It brought a smile to his face that made him look very much like the handsome prince in fairy tales. There was a flash of seriousness at the statement about the closet but she seemed to have said the rest so he let it slide, passing it off as his own deep seeded paranoia. He laughed to cover his momentary slip and shook his head at her statement. The thought of her being tied up was appealling but he was a gentleman and would never suggest that on the first encounter... perhaps he should have taken a page from Rock's book.

" I can assure you, you have nothing to fear. There is no girlfriend whose scorn you would spur... I'm not the kind to be unfaithful." There was a confident assurance in his look and in his tone, he knew how it felt to be cheated on so he'd vowed to never be the one to do that to someone else. With another gracious bow he took her by the hand and led her into the estate maneuvering quickly to the kitchen to grab a bit of the dessert to share with his lady friend. There didn't seem to be a lot of activity which Raven was happy about, that way he didn't have to stop and talk to anyone... he could get straight to his continued one on one time with Lili.

Their little journey ended with them on the roof of one of smaller buildings of the estate, looking out over the countryside under the light of the moon. Raven, helpless romantic that he was, had dreamt of bringing someone up here one day and so far it was turning out just as he had hoped. " So I don't think I said it, and I'm positive that I can't say it enough. But you are absolutely beautiful...

Look where I am Armand-Viridian Manor
And Oh Goody, see who's here Lili Chaput

[thiswasdeletedyo]

xxx

He had been so cute, she had wanted to rip his cheek off. She found the men she left behind and they found her. They had been looking. She was too precious to lose. Lilian, smug as a bug, walked with them to the home next to the bakery, now closing up shop. None of them had any idea where she had run off to. She had her very own secret.

"You're terrible at your jobs! I should keep quiet though, I like you," Lilian said to the men that had been her escorts. She couldn't escape them a second time, however, as the first they had just been unaware of who they were dealing with. Now that they knew, and they weren't poor guardsmen in the first place, she would have a tougher time of running off again. She grinned at them. "And wouldn't want my dear Uncle to murder you both for losing me..." The girl twirled into the room. "Guard me proper now! I'm going to get clean," she said, staring the two down until they moved to position. Lilian had been wearing a single outfit all day. She felt dirty and not in the good kind of way. Her attire had to be changed at least five times a day. Those days didn't include the ones Daegon was visiting.

She had a bath drawn, tossing her cloak over the dressing screen, then stripping down to nothing to slip into the warm water. "I'm bored! Uncle's so mean, keeping me locked up here with THE SMELLY BAKERY!" she yelled, chucking a ceramic little pot at the vanity. Everything broke and smashed satisfyingly, she heard one of the guards question, and she called out to him in a whiny voice that she had cut her hand and she was bleeding everywhere!

She was bleeding. Good news, she wasn't pregnant. Lilian ordered him to stay where he was. She didn't want him to see her without any clothes on. Well, she did, because then he would die, but that would be a bother for Daegon. He was going to a ball, after all... and she was sitting there with nothing to do. Lilian eventually dressed for bed and got someone to clean up the mess she had made. She could play with Raven, or get Uncle to make him come play with her later.

location;; Vorlander's Place
company;; no one, no one at all!!

[Diandra Moon]

Aine Aiyana

Location: Amick District (Armand Manor)
Speaking with: Maximus

A familiar buzzing began to fill her mind…This man held a Great Conduit. Aine knew there were several…Sunnifa held one, Victor held one, the woman Rohesia all those years ago had held one, even Vorlander had held one…Those were the Utilizers she had met in her life. It seemed there was another as well to add to that list.

Politely, she listened to why he had come. Even after all these years…Mention of Vorlander brought that strangely blank expression. She couldn’t help it. She and Kain had agreed Vorlander was one subject that they would not discuss with one another. Kain hated the man with a passion that could not be quenched…She had mixed feelings where the man was concerned…

She knew she couldn’t trust Vorlander…Not completely, and she had warned everyone who decided to have dealings with him. The fact that he had murdered Bethany and turned out to be Slade’s brother…Aine still felt that betrayal like a fresh wound…

However, Vorlander was the man who gave her mother aid in her exile and helped keep Aine a secret from the outside world…He helped bring Luca some semblance of peace…He was the one who sent Carey to the Forest of Elaine when she was a child and made sure she knew how to kill someone to stay alive…It was because of him the first rebuilding in Amick had gone so smoothly, and the things she had learned watching him like a hawk had come in handy as well with the second rebuilding.

None of that seemed to balance out the lies, betrayal, and deceit…It only served to make her emotional and she had fallen back on that comfortable numbness when emotions began to rise.

“Well, if you wish to conduct business in Drathia, you’ll have to seek permission from the Crown…As you said, the last highly successful businessman from Cavandia left a bad taste in everyone’s mouths.” And in more ways than one. “There is a lot going on right now, but an Audience will be held later this week. I can send him word that you would like to meet with him and his own people can investigate your businesses themselves. It would save a little time. Rather than just introduce yourself and then have the investigations done, he’ll have something to go on to begin speaking with you about what you would like to do from the get-go.”