<div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">ooc</div><div class="spoiler_body">I'll try and avoid using yellow then, and yeah I figured it might be that but wasn't sure. I imagine it will always be possible to figure out what some sections say but not necessarily fun. I like using the black &amp; blue user interface so yellow hardly hides much but for the default, yeah its too light a colour by comparison. I apologise for how long this took, the last Saturday saw me 'volunteered' to be standing outside in the cold for around 6 hours and grumpy as heck afterwards. Figured since it was weekend it would be alright but still. I have noticed the quick update rate and I like it but at the same time I feel a bit awkward if I'm not able to put up a reply in turn soon. So, I apologise for taking this long, and hope you enjoy this latest reply.</div></div><br/>There was a nod of approval from Phoebe and Daria smiled as well as Tehr spoke about his reasoning, and the fact he pressed on not being about suspicions but concerns. The three of them listened quietly, while Jesanie shifted around on her seat but quieted down from a glance from the Matron, while Marie seemed to be frowning faintly at the time as the cousin in question was mentioned. It was evident the Matriarch winced at this, and that Jesanie shook her head slightly as well. The three elders seemed to note this but not comment on it, merely watching and listening to Tehr instead.<br/><br/><em><strong>"His mother is our current matron's sister, a woman who didn't take too kindly on her younger sister taking up the position she rightfully saw as hers. Unfortunately for her, we value merit and ability above the position in lineage. True, if they were equals in skills and merit she likely would have been picked, but the difference in skill alone was three to one, and by merits closer to twelve to one. Our local Matron has had a fair number of success and raised a very capable daughter in Karin, and smart one in Jesanie, and Marie's lessons are well under way as well. However the said cousin is family, and while her mother is not exactly most welcome at the compound after some rather harsh, violent and drunken accusations of favoritism, she and her child are not banned from the grounds either."</strong></em>Pausing here for a moment, Phoebe cast a look at Daria who seemed to note this, speaking up in turn.<br/><br/><strong><em>"We are trusting you as an ally to keep this knowledge with the trust it was shared with. We do not speak ill of our own or our allies too openly, but in a situation that requires a show of trust it seemed suitably minor inter-house matter to speak of to a trusted friend. Nonetheless, the said cousin, and the partially dishonored sister are still part of our House, albeit they have chosen to serve the House interests in other ways."</em></strong>Daria let out a short sigh at this point, while Phoebe took up speaking again in turn.<br/><br/><em><strong>"The reason for this annoyance is that while Matrons run individual complexes and projects, they are also the voting pool that elect the next Elder when a place has opened up. They are also the ones with the access to our house coffers. Each member of the house is supported by the house, yes, but larger acquisitions will all have to go through the matron."</strong></em>She paused at this, while Jesanie spoke up at this point.<br/><br/><strong>"The price to pay for the enchanting of a specialist blade. The acquisition of a new ocean faring vessel. The recruitment of a promising tutor or mercenary. The choice in making allies. Those are duties and responsibilities of a Matron."</strong>She paused momentarily while Marie spoke up.<strong>"Our house rarely throws a ball, but the one we did had the effect of lessening rumors spread about us and making people more relaxed with us again. It has also helped our image we've been conducting business with Londinium docks peacefully without incidents for a while now. Yet our aunt... her opinion would be to throw lavish parties often and to push for strengthening our House with very close ties with several houses, against traditions that call for more careful approach to that. We like you, we have come to know you, and we are willing to share this thought with you, but a lot of the 'fine upstanding gentlemen' of Londinium are just crooks in costly jackets and with more elaborate schemes."</strong>She paused a moment as she received a stern look from the Matron.<br/><br/><strong>"Regardless, to the topic of friendship, or more. I, Jesanie d'Saari and my sister, Marie d'Saari have chosen to approach this with the hope of closer relations with someone we find ourselves able to trust. Someone around whom we can lower our 'public' masks. Playing chess, that time long ago, already told more of your good sides than we found in total from some others."</strong>Her voice halted as Phoebe raised her hand, gazing over at the matron and the two others, before returning her gaze to Tehr.<br/><br/><em><strong>"While the sister Karin has refused the offer, the other two have their choice and they'd be willing to go along with things. We trust in some traditions but we also believe that the new age calls for learning from our mistakes and not to be blinded by traditions while being respectful of them at least and giving them a chance. As such, your counter-offer caught us a bit off guard admittably, but we can see you have thought this over and have suitably convincing reasons behind them. I believe we the Elders would be agreeable to a partnership in the company you are forming and opening things up to unchaperoned meetings between you and the two sisters in agreement. We'd be willing to wait for a year to find out if you are finding their company such that you'd consider them suitable people to become mothers as well, and that you'd have a strong enough relationship that you'd be able to at least remain friends if not more."</strong></em>At which point Daria glanced at Natalia and then over at Tehr again seriously.<br/><br/><em><strong>"Also, despite my personal close attachment to faith we do not see pleasure as sin as such, so any relations taking place with one or both sisters would certainly be seen as blessed ones if they lead to delighted afterglow to all companies involved."</strong></em>Why she seemed to decide that last little bit worth mentioning out loud at the end, she didn't really go out of her way to explain.