Fiona will notice, before she makes it towards the front of the line that she's passing up Bilera and her party, the party includes Valerian...
((If I remember right, Valerian was stripped of his title as Chief Hoplite (with Alexei being voted to replace him) and joined the Inner Circle of Magvillus, I think? Bilera is the Prima of Guernicus, so it makes sense that she would be there...and, in a way, that he would be with her, although I'm surprised that he's high enough on the totem pole to be in her entourage. How big is her party, and how many of them are obvious/apparent magi?))
Isn't that interesting, Fiona thinks as she passes the prima's party and nods at Valerian.
Guessing maybe three or four, but what strikes Fiona is that at least one Prima is not involving herself in this dispute between the Primi Tytali, even though she looks rightly annoyed.
Looking ahead, does Fiona see other Primi up at the front with the Tytalus ones? (Depending on the topic of discussion, she would have been more surprised to see that the other Primi had gotten involved than if they hadn't.))
Fiona can only guess that, as she doesn't know them all by sight...
So, no one that she recognizes by sight as Primus, then. She'll do what she does.
Just as Fiona's about to speak, a redcap comes as if from nowhere and says, "Maga, do not interfere, for they will forget their contest and focus their bilious invective upon you."
Fiona looks down at the Redcap, then at the Tytalus primi. She leans down to whisper to the Redcap, [color=blue]"They do realize they're blocking the portal? Is there any way to have them move to one side?" She looks around, trying to see if there is any way around the two.
"Not sure they care, but when two Tytali, such as these, begin fighting, it is best to stay out of the way. They will turn the full force of their attention upon you. This should blow over soon, and everyone here is in the same situation you're in. You're beauty is such that I'd not want to have it snuffed out by ugliness such as theirs."
[color=blue]"Thank you, you are so sweet. I'm Fiona ex Miscellanea, Daughter of Circe. Are you going to be at the Grand Tribunal? If you are, look for me, we should get together sometime."
She then looks at the dueling Tytali, shrugs, and heads back to her party. She starts to pass Bilera's group, stops, backs up a step, and looks at Valerian as if she just recognized him.
[color=blue]"Valerian? It's Fiona! How have you been, sodalis? I haven't seen you since that unfortunate mishap last year in Normandy! How has Magvillus been treating you?" ((Com 2 + Guile (hiding true feelings) 3 + die roll of 3 = 8, to try to disguise the fact that part of her still wants to stop his head into a pulp for what he did.))
"Indeed, I will. Douglas is the name, and you must be Fiona. I should like to take the time to look you up." Now that they've spoken a bit, she can recognize the characteristic accent from a Loch Leglean native now speaking Latin.
Valerian grunts a reply to each question. Bilera smiles but stares daggers at Fiona. Everyone else present in the party wants to disappear.
Fiona smiles her winningest smile at the group (but mainly Valerian and Bilera). [color=blue]"It was nice to see you again. I can see you're in a bit of a hurry, so I won't keep you. I'll see you at Durenmar."
"Mmm" is all Valerian says.
On her way back, she's able to identify more people standing in line. In front of her are a gaggle of people that seem familiar, one more so than most. Ra'am, his daughter Elizabeth and Ulrich along with another magus of diminutive stature with wavy black hair. Elizabeth appears to spy and recognize Fiona at almost the same time as Ulrich. She whispers something to Ra'am, which Fiona guesses might be the fact that they know Fiona, "Hello, Fiona. It's pleasant to see you again. Can you believe this wait?"
((Thinking of bringing a version of Talia into this thread at some point, too. IS that my ego or her ego talking?))
Fiona hugs Ra'am and Elizabeth, and smiles politely at Ulrich (don't want him grabbing anything) [color=blue]"What a pleasant surprise! I didn't know you would be coming. Are you delegates, or guests? And the wait is unbelievable. I hope the primi can either come to an accord or move aside before our spells all expire."
((Considering I was planning on having Fiona treat this like a stereotypical salesman's convention and totally slutting it up while she was there, I don't think anyone would get any sleep if Talia showed up too. I can almost see Talia making a contest out of it. "I bet I can do more magi than you can by the end of closing ceremonies" 
))
"Is Tranquillina with you, by any chance?" Ra'am asks expectantly. "I was wondering if she has seen Tria recently. She's been ignoring us, which is unusual." Ra'am appears concerned. The redcap with Fiona looks on expectantly, and perhaps a bit too eagerly, "But she's done that before, I suppose. Anyway, I'm sure we can talk later." While giving the Redcap a disapproving look. Of course, the Redcap is eyeing his daughter and Fiona in relatively equal measure, and a father's protective stare doesn't seem to be doing too much to dissuade Douglas.
[color=blue]"No, she isn't," Fiona says. [color=blue]"I seem to recall her mentioning something about running into Tria a few months ago, but she didn't say anything about Tria taking a sabbatical or anything."
She glances at Ulrich before turning back to Ra'am. [color=blue]"I would love to talk, we have so much to catch up on."
About 6 hours later the Primi Tytali have exhausted themselves and their audience. Maybe it was less, no one is sure, though. They have publicly hashed out how they will represent the House. But by this time no one cares.
Fiona and Gerulf arrive at Durenmar about an hour later. And of course the porters are completely overwhelmed... But Douglas never seemed to wander far from Fiona, maybe he can help?
If Douglas is around, Fiona will flirt with him as long as she doesn't detract him from his duties.
Once the brouhaha is over, and it looks like the line is starting to move again, Fiona will nod Douglas over as she gets to her feet. She leans over and whispers in Gaelic (since, presumably, he speaks the language), [color=blue]"I don't suppose there's any way you can help a tired fellow Scot with her luggage, is there? Maybe pull one or two of the porters this way? I would be rather grateful. And the sooner I get settled in the sooner I can start to enjoy my stay," she says with a wink. And she doesn't care that the cut of her robes and her posture gives him an eyeful.
"I'd be happy to, me darlin'." He proceeds to pull something out of his satchel and unrolls it. He speaks a word and it becomes rigid, and lengthens and widens to be as wide as two (normal) people walking astride, which is the size of the Mercere Portal. "Let's put the luggage on here." He helps get trunks and what not on it and then speaks another word, where it lifts off the ground. "I'm afraid it's not very fast, we'll move to the side so others can pass us, and then merge back into line as we approach the Mercere portal." That easily leaves time enough for Sheelagh[1] to escort the grogs back to the Mons Electi Portal, and return.
Once everyone is back together, they merge back into line and head through the portal to Durenmar. Durenmar is sometimes unimpressive to first time visitors, because there are only a few towers, constructed from Conjuring the Mystic Tower, and the Forum of Hermes. Behind the Forum, there is a collection of housing that looks very much like housing provided at the Normandy Tribunal of 1221. Utilitarian, stone structures designed more with a military focus than any sense of comfort. Douglas escorts Fiona and her group to their designated house, which, if Gerulf doesn't mind hot bunking with someone could accomodate him. The grogs have bedrolls on the floor, and there are only two single beds. "Maybe I'll come by late tonight?" Douglas offers expectantly.
[1]For continuity and story purposes, it's likely that Sheelagh would not know the password, as she has minimal resistance to Mentem magics, only that afforded by her knowledge of the Form, which is probably 0, the password could be easily lifted from her mind. And while it would be a Hermetic Crime, it's also a security issue that Fiona and the council would be aware of and enforce vigorously. Gerulf is probably the one who needs to be doing the running, unless there is a strenuous objection, or you want me to get into Mons Electi really easily from the portal.
Fiona glances at Gerulf quickly to see if it looks like he minds ((Per 0 + Folk Ken (Magi) 2 + die roll of 7 = 9.)) Assuming that he doesn't mind or she can't tell, Fiona smiles at the redcap. [color=blue]"Or early...it's been a long day, and I'd like to get to bed early."
Works for me.