Rena
**Ginevra Cohen
Road to the Sea, Astoria**

As the man spoke, Ginevra allowed her eyes to sweep over Allistair freely, using the cover of friendly conversation for more detailed scrutiny. From the cleanliness of his hands, his posture in the rocking carriage, the set of his mouth between the words he spoke; all these minute observations were done in the amount of time it took her dark lashes to sweep the pale lines of her face. 

When he was done, she merely nodded her head, returning his introduction with a clipped one of her own. "Ginevra Cohen." Glancing him up and down again, she returned her attention to the window, letting the landscape fly by them another mile before piping up again. When she spoke this time, she neglected to address him directly, letting the lack of eye contact allow him to evade or retreat as he would. Her tones were calm; measured to the brink of disinterest. "You do not seem to be excited about this trip. Have you travelled much? They say people who have been everywhere like nothing more than their own hearth and bed."
Karen
**Alistair Provost**
**Road to the Sea, Astoria**

After looking him over, Ginerva saw that Alistair was a very well kempt man, his posture correct and his hands and uniform were very tidy and clean. His bleach blond hair seemed to glow when sun hit it and his deep blue eyes contrasted well against his hair. 

He put a finger to his chin, trying to carefully word his answer. "To tell you the truth, Miss Cohen, this council..." He paused, formulating his thoughts "It has me rather worried. These people coming for the council... One can say that they are the most powerful people in Marin." His voice however, did not accurately reflect his feelings. It remained level, as if he was talking in a gala, direct and calm.

He clasped his hands together and looked out the window, watching the scenery flow by for a moment before turning back to Ginerva, taking the time to quickly study her. "The tensions will be extremely high. Each person who will be going into that chamber will be looking to gain something. Land, power, slaves... It doesn't matter, they want something, and all I can do is sit by and watch as Her Higness has to weave her way through the intrigue. Can a solution even be reached when there are so many motives going into it? Or will they just be at an impasse, and nothing will be done?"
Rena
**Ginevra Cohen
Road to the Sea, Astoria**

Taking in his words, she ruminated a few moments. Both processing what was said, and laying out a way to proceed. Finally, she turned to face him directly, her dark eyes unflinching as she addressed Allistair. The tone of her voice was keeping with the tight, dark environment of the carriage, but her words held an undertone of searching inquiry. "If the council lays out beyond its stated scope, does that not bode well? I think it strange to be apprehensive of opportunity..."Letting the end of the sentence hang between them. Ginevra's expressions drifted from polite conversation to a sharper, more hawkish sort of observation.

"Unless you suggest that somehow our mistress is outmatched. Are we travelling as sovereigns now, and slaves upon our return? Do you see such a doomed fate as that when we arrive, Mister Provrost?" The note of impertinence in the question was unmissable, as was the spark of mischief that found its way to the corner of her smile.
Karen
**Alistair Provost**
**Road to the sea, Astoria**

Alistair allowed for a brief smirk, his own voice taking an amused tone "I suggest no such thing. Do you question my loyalty, Miss Cohen? I do not doubt the negotiating experience of Her Highness. She is fully capable of handling herself, I'm sure."

He crossed his arms and leaned back, becoming serious once again "What I *Do* Doubt, however, is the ability of said council to come to any sort of agreement. It is surely impossible for parties of such varied ideologies and nations to all be fully satisfied with any solution they may come up with. The council may yet drag on, while the plague continues to consume the land"
Rena
**Ginevra Cohen
Road to the Sea, Astoria**


Prudently, Ginevra turned her attention to whatever was fascinating outside the window once more. "Oh... I don't know, Mister Provrost, people are willing to bend quite a bit for what they want. If you give them the right motivation." Allowing her words to spool out between them like a fallen thread, lazy and seemingly haphazard.

"What would it take, for those most powerful, those most wealthy... To compromise? Every single being under the sun wants something, after all." Ginevra muses, sliding a gloved hand along the rough wood of the carriage door languidly. Allowing her mind to wander, before addressing Allistair again. "Everyone wants something. You just have to be prepared to give it."
Karen
**Alistair Provost**
**Road to the Sea, Astoria**

"I suppose it culminates in just how much these Kingsbloods are willing to sacrifice to save us Shitbloods" He very bluntly says, adjusting to a more comfortable position within the cramped carriage. "Very few Kingsbloods would actually do anything for those at the bottom of society..." He paused for a second then continued "Her majesty excluded of course... The types from say... The north. I'd bet they would not give two copper to the Shitbloods, they're most likely fancying for better land claims, but what do I know?" 

He said disdainfully, once again watching the countryside roll by, the mix of greens from the flora of Astoria. He saw a loose chord on his well kempt uniform and lightly pulled it off, as if he was bored.