The Barracks of the Iron Guard. Essentially a fortress that nobody was feeling like making fancy. Sparte is in the barracks inviting in outsiders today, not for Iron Guard business. Well, not exactly. There is a nursing stoat with a litter of babies in his bunk, very much having made it clear she claimed it from the guardsman. While not quite at the age to be independent yet, the guardsman is trying to sort a solution to this before he suddenly has a dozen baby stoats trying to hunt in the barracks.

Madeleine heard about cute baby animals. And who doesn't love watching stoats at play on their gardens? Padding on bare feet, the plump Archlector makes her way into the barracks to admire fuzzy cuteness.

The farhaven princess was pretty newly arrived in the city. It was no small bit of fortune that she stumbled upon the Iron Guardsman's posting. Merrily making her way inside the barracks she explains the reason for her visitation and hopes they'll let her through. Of course, she does manage to be quite polite and very cooperative. Going so far as to disarm for them if asked to do so and once she has gained entry Astraea peers around the bunks until she spots Sparte. Offering him a cheery wave as she approaches, the armor clad woman with striking snow white hair gives him a polite bow. "Princess Astraea Redrain, I came to see...the stoats. If that's alright with you Messere? If it isn't then I can see myself out, and you have my apologies in advance for barging in here unannounced."

Bianca seems to be in the same boat as Madeleine, following in the wake of the fellow Archlector and immediately brushing back her cowl once free of the autumn chill. The albino woman was quiet, stilling at Madeleine's side. It had been a day of babies! Valardin, Velenosa and now little fuzzy ones. A smile was offered to Sparte. "Guardsman, I was also hoping to catch a glance at the brood if that is alright."

Stoats. Weasels. -Ermine-. Alarie is coming in with others, the very petite seamstressmaking her way into the barracks with only a few furtive looks to the others present that to be fair, she's never met in her whole life at all. "oh. They're tiny."

Sparte glances around, nodding to people as they approach. He pulls a quill out, making some notes on a nearby table of who has shown up. Bianca causes him to get a concerned expression, though he manages to not freeze up. He is too stressed to panic. "Well, stoats I have. Baby stoats, still nursing for another few weeks by my reckoning. Once they're starting to learn to hunt they'll be too much for me to domesticate, I need to get homes ready for them or ship the lot to the countryside and hope for the best. I don't rightly know where Tiny Tom found a male stoat to even have a litter in Arx, the options, well..." He frowns. "There wern't many options. But if any take after their mother, they'll be adorable little bullies and thieves. Stoats don't domesticate fully, not that I've ever seen. They'll always be a bit wild and independent. So know what you're signing up for."

The thing about stoats is that while they may be tiny now, even the tiniest of stoats has a way about them. Of course the bigger the stoat, the grander the way, so perhaps it is no surprise when a stoat scampers into the barracks wearing a sash. A sash? He scampers up to the small litter and stands on two stoatly legs. His sash is purple, from shoulder to hip, with the symbol of Petrichor on it. And as he stands, he brushes his whiskers with one paw and adjusts a tiny golden monocle. Sir Matthew Stoatingly has come to call.

All warm smiles for the new visitors, Astraea tries her best not to look too giddy as she inches from foot to foot. "Archlectors, such a blessed day to see you both in the same place and you twice in one day Archscholar." A sweeping bow is offered them before she offers a smile to Alarie,"Charmed my Lady. Might I inquire into your name?" She begrudgingly looks away from the other young woman to stare at the baby stoats. That is until the knightliest stoat she'd ever seen arrived and shocked her senses. "Why...I...." Was about all the armor clad princess could manage, then she grinned from ear to ear. "Why hello there."

Bianca inhaled a breath, "Truth be told, I've just come to see them. I don't get much opportunity for such moments with fuzzy little things. Though of course I'm happy to spread word to potential adopters. I /would/, but I fear my Archimedes may view them as... well, as lunch if I am to be blunt." And then there was Sir Matthew Stoatingly. The Archscholar's eyes widened a touch, she may pass out from the cute. Bianca was /barely/ able to maintain her cool demeanor, seeking a reply to Astraea, "Princess, I'm happy to cross paths again. I had meant to make formal introduction earlier. I am glad my failing can be rectified now." She looked to the woman briefly... but I mean. It was a weasel with a monocle.

Bianca checked composure + etiquette at difficulty 15, rolling 14 higher.

Madeleine blinks. And blinks again. "What a fine sash," the Archlector says primly. She tears her attention away from precious little ones to the... proud father? "Ah, yes. Hello," she replies to Astraea in distraction.

Sparte just sort of stares at the newly shown up stoat for a few long moments before sighing and writing down Sir Matthew Stoatingly's name in the list of arrivals to see the litter. "And this is Sir Matthew Stoatingly, of Petrichor's order of the..." Sparte winces as he speaks, as though uttering this halting sentence is causing him existential pain. "Fuzzy bottoms. Here to see Dame Tomellisa Thistlefur. The, uh... Father, I guess."

Tiny Tom makes a little purring sound at the arrival of Sir Matthew, clearly a happy noise. Sparte gives a suffering look to the others. "I can make sure archimedes understands the stoat isn't bird food. Please take one. Please." It is almost as if he dreads what'll happen if he is left with the full litter.

"I'll take two" this from the quiet Seamstress standing near the back, looking at the stoat that makes it's way in with sash and.. really? She's frowning. "I'll take two for sure. Matching colours please."

The stoat turns as Sparte introduces him, and his little eyes narrow and he shakes his head side to side. Definitely not. Turning around, he makes some show of fluffing his little tail before pointing at it. Then he turns to each of the ladies who has greeted him. He bows first to Bianca, pulling his little monocle forward as though to look through it and see her better. Then he bows to Astraea, and Alarie, and then last he goves over to Madeleine, Archlector of Mangata and holds his paw out as though asking for her hand.

Bianca stared a moment and then slowly inclined a bow to the little creature as well, her head tilting slightly. Uuuugh, so cute.

Madeleine checked charm at difficulty 15, rolling 13 higher.

Oh the fair Northern princess just about died when he bowed. "Gods give me strength..." She uttered beneath her breath as she beamed, Astraea looks between the stoat and Archlector Madeleine expectantly.

Madeleine has no formal etiquette but she can smile warmth like the summer sun itself. She makes a polite bow before taking a knee to be at the knights level. "A pleasure to meet one of Petrichor's chosen," she replies brightly as she extends her hand. "Archlector Madeleine, in Mangata's service."

Sparte has visible relief at being told Sir Matthew isn't the father. "Sorry, my mistake." Sparte glances to the Seamstress, making a small nod to her as he jots down some notes. "They're stoats, Miss Culler." As if that was all that needed be said to the coloration request. "I appreciate you offering them a home. "

"Harall." Alarie replies. "I'm not a culler. I'm from Darkwater. Therefore, not a culler. Harall." of harall Creations. But she doesn't seem offended. "But really. Matching please." Why, she's not saying but she's watching the antics of the stoat with sash and monocle with furrowed brow and frown, arms crossed.

The knightly stoat takes her hand - her finger, really. Even a full-grown stoat isn't all that big. And then he bows over it, in the most stoatly manner possible before straightening and brushing his whiskers again. Now he steps over to Dame Thistlefur and starts to chitter to her, before speaking with each of her little children in turn. He seems quite intent on the conversation.

Astraea can only really stare, though she gives Alarie a curious look before turning to Madeleine. "Oh I think he likes you, he's so charming...do you think the Dame is his sister?" There was curious look in her eye as she shifted again, this time a little bit closer to Sparte and the baby stoats. "What do you think they're talking about? I...don't want to ask for one because that feels weird but if you can't find them good homes. I'd love to help messere."

Madeleine can't get over how charming he is. "A shame they're not his. With such a dignified father they would all grow up to be the finest of stoats. It I'd love to get one to play in the shrine. It's not as if I can keep pet fish with me everywhere," she laughs as she stands back up and grins at Bianca. "Have you met him before," she asks her fellow Archlector.

"I have not." Bianca chuckled, transfixed on the little grouping of animals. "Though I definitely now am inclined toward making a greater effort to visit Petrichor's lodge. I had no idea they had such a fine ambassador."

Sparte looks over at Alarie, giving her a one over before looking to the name he wrote down in the book. "Oh, well. I guess we all make mistakes." He scratches something out there, rewriting it. The name, presumably. "And as I said before, they're stoats. Their colors are seasonal." Sparte looks over at Astraea. "If I could speak Stoat, I'd have a sash of petrichor on as well."

Bianca grew suddenly distracted from the chittering, attention swerving to Alarie. "Oh, Mistress Harall. I have been meaning to ask you, did you design that red dress with the golden roses for Lady Eirene?"

The look from Astrea is returned, bold as can be, little care or regard for who might be who despite that some are introducing themselves. "When are they good to be seperated?" She asks of Sparte but Bianca is asking her something and she looks over, confused. "Maybe?" She comments. "I... would have to see it honestly. I make... a lot of dresses..."

Bianca dipped her head, "Either way, you were recommended to me. Are you taking commissions by chance?"

Sir Matthew continues to chat with the mother stoat, and then seems to be focused on one baby in particular. They chitter back and forth, and he looks between the baby and the mother, and nods at last. With an imperious look to Sparte, he waits until he catches the man's attention. Then he points to that specific baby, and then to his sash, and then back to the baby and back to the sash. Then he waits, staring at Sparte before pointing imperiously at the book.

"He's taking a squire, oh Gods be good," Madeline interprets with an awww of cuteness unparalleled.

"Is Mangata a woman?" Alarie replies back to Bianca.

The antics of the stoat and then the declaration of intent announced by Madeline was almost too much to bear. She laughed out loud and covered her mouth so as to not startle the babies. After she gets herself together Astraea smiles to Bianca. "When you're not wearing the Archlector's robes...do you wear dresses? That might be a silly question but I've been curious if there's like...restricted clothing for the Faith?" Alarie's question earns another curious glance.

Sparte seems hesitant at first, before sighing and nodding to Sir Matthew. "Right, I get it. I'll talk to Leola about it later." He takes a bit of ink on the end of his pen, reaching out and marking a black spot on fur of the stoat in question. "Nothing permanent, just so I keep the babies straight." He glances over to Astrea. "They're about a week old now, so three weeks at most? Seems about right, three weeks. If I show up in a panic in the dead of night either the Silence is back or I got it wrong."

Bianca's lips curled to a faint smirk at the reply. "Then if you could add me to your client list, I would much appreciate it. Do you prefer messenger or face to face interactions when discussing specifics?" Distracted by the antics of the most distinguished of stoats, if not for Madeleine's comment and Astraea's question she would have been hypnotized. "Hm? Oh, I personally tend to refrain from wearing robes outside of those of the Faith, but that is my personal preference. The Dominus granted me my personal design for Vellichor and I am attached to it as well as due to my particular station I like to maintain a more formal presence. That's not appropriate for all the Archlectors, though. In this case, I am actually seeking a night dress since I don't really... well as I said, I tend to just wear these."

Madeleine glances from the display to the armored princess. "Have you ever seen anything quite so unique," she asks with a sunny smile.

"Oh Elysia no. In all my lucky days I have never seen something quite this special." Astraea placed a hand on her chest and sighs. "I know it might be selfish to say, but I think today has been one of my absolute favorites." The redrain chevalier straightens up and looks to Bianca. "Well I can understand needing a night dress. I brought a trunk of my clothes in the city and they got destroyed in transport. Perhaps we could do some shopping together? At...Mistress Harall's?" The exuberant princess looked to Sparte and flashed a cheeky grin. "Thank you for...letting us experience this."

Sparte counts the stoats, counts the requests, and nods slowly. "That leaves two that havn't been claimed. Or, uh... Squired." He jots a few things down. "I think I can survive two more stoats. Maybe."

"Come into the shop, I will get you squared away." Alarie offers to Bianca when she understands the answer. But her order is placed for stoats and with a dip of her head to everyone - if you construe it as a dip of her head - and starts to move for the door.

Sir Matthew watches with a critical eye as Sparte marks the one he pointed out and then he nods once, apparently satisfied. And then he bows again to those remaining, straightens his sash, and scampers for the door.

Madeleine says, "Wasn't that precious?" With him gone she can gush. "And how exciting for momma, to have a knight in her family's tree." She clasps her hands together over her bosom. "Petrichor be praised."

Bianca murmured in conjuction, "Petrichor be praised indeed." She smiled toward Madeleine, though dipped a nod to Alarie in confirmation.

Olenna arrives, delivering a message to Madeleine before departing.

"Petrichor be praised. I bet the Archlector will be delighted when she hears about this." Astraea's smile fades a little bit and her brow furrows. "Unless...she was already made aware. That stoat was very organized, I wonder if they can write and send missives? Cute...little stationary and parchment. Gods save me now."