#anywhere

"But I'm not... I don't get shit on like Arty did, neither." A look at Al.

"She's a firebrand. Yeh try to mess with that, yeh get burnt. A thistle. They don't get eaten because they're sharp. Not worth the trouble. She's got guts. What've yeh got if they take away yer power, little lordling?"

Arty pushes up from the booth. "I'll not be spoken to like that." Eyes flashing angrily.

"Hey Al's just blunt"

The Redcap barks a laugh.

"HAW! Yeh got some fire in yer guts after all? Sit yer ass down. I ain't gonna waste time wipin' yeh off the floor. But listen to her. She's clearly smarter'n you."

Arty hesitates, but slides back into his seat. After all, half the burger is still there.

"So yeah - just have guts against your brothers."

He takes another bite of the burger before answering. "I'll try. But if someone bullies you, you have to let me know. That's only fair, right?"

"We'll stick together. There's power in that."

She nods. "Newbie squad, misfit squad, whatever."

He offers her a hand. "I don't know if I can swear an oath without knowing my true name. But, it is a promise."

She takes his hand with her callused one and gives it a firm shake. "Deal."

His hand is uncallused, but it has firm resolve under the softness. "Did you get enough to eat?"

Realizing that he inhaled his own meal.

The door opens the bell rings "Al, your milk shake brought me to the yard" Dee calls out, "Don't skimp on the chocolate"

"Dee!" A wave.

Al grunts, and turns to the kitchen. "Usual?"

Arty recognizes the Satyr. "We were just finishing up. Gotta go by the library before they close."

"Just the shake, I'm in training and.." She turns to see Thistle "Hey! How long have you two been under Al's spell? Nice to meet fellow victims"

"Years. I'm the native, remember?"

Katrina gets pocket cash from her Dad, and sometimes Mom gives her money when she's not going to be home for supper, now that she's old enough to stay alone.

Arty checks his memory. And then his wallet. Library card, School ID... hm. He sets the Silverwolf badge on the counter. "The Barony will cover our meal costs if you appeal at the Manor. I will coordinate repayment through them."

The whirring milkshake blender shuts off halfway through the blend of a pink swirl. Al turns, and his brow goes down in a scowl.

Thistle frowns. "Art, you can't just do that. Al, I got him. He's new."

"Rightt"

A grunt at Thistle, and he leans heavily on the counter, looming over Arty.

"I can make a deal if yeh ain't got the dosh, but I ain't toadying up to no Lordship to beg me coins. Yeh get that straight, or yeh don't walk in my door again."

Arty swallows. "I meant no offense. Uh. Sir."

"It's okay, Al, " Dee says "He's having to adjust"

Al chews this for a moment, then relents on the loom a bit. "Don't call me sir, I work fer a living. First fledge meal, on me. Next time, bring cash."

He nods to Katrina. "Sames for yeh, Sparkles."

To Dee, he says, "Better learn fast. This ain't Arcadia. He learns, or he gets eaten."

(It takes Arty a moment of cold sweat to realize that Al doesn't mean literally. Or at least, not by him.)

"Milkshake. Four dollars." It's the regular discount. Near as he can say 'no hard feelings'.

"Oh! Thanks."

"Everyone gets their year and a day to screw up," Dee pays her four bucks "May I say you're looking particularly masculine today?" Eyelash flutte

He takes the cash, and adds whipped cream and a cherry to the 'to go' cup. "Get goin', I got cleaning to do." A scowl, and he adds, "Get him fed up more, or folk'll think Silverwolf is breeding up starving chihuahuas this season."

"Catch you round, Al."

"Keep sweet!" A shark-toothed grin at the jest, and she drags Arthur out with her.

"Thanks, Al, you're a dish" And the saytyr goes out with the two newbies

A grumble, and he watches them go through narrowed eyes, then starts cleaning up.

He still finds a couple bucks tucked under Trina's plate.

Arty glances back over his shoulder. "We didn't get ripped apart or eaten, so I guess he's..." A pause, and he walks aways away from the door and earshot. Quieter, "Not that bad a guy."

"He's freaky though. Al's always been kinda surly, but seeing those teeth just... (*@&^9 *&^& furkin' collywobbles like a *&^^9ch."

"Oh Al could fillet anyone if he had a mind too.... but show respect, don't give him grief, andn you're good"

"I think he likes you." A frown. "Not a fan of Sidhe, is he? Or is it just me?"

"I dunno. I just know you and the Baron and Baroness."

"I kind of got that vibe, but it's also possiby just a style clash. Don't worry Art... you know Marigold will provide you food plenty? But if you really want, we could ask their lordships to give you a kind of allowance"

"That pasta wasn't bad. Gotta be a leg up on Tuna Helper."

The Nevers have emerged from hiding, and are buzzing about the trio.

"Honestly, I've never seen nevers swarm someone like tthey do you" Dee observes "But at least they'e smart enough o avoid redcaps"

"I think it's the teeth. Geeeez."

"You mean Nevers are unusual? Hunh."

"Not unusual... so much as they don't usually gather in these numbers that I've seen."

"They don't mind YOUR teeth." Arty observes.

"Nockers don't bite with their teeth, they bite with their sharp tongues" Dee smiles "Masters of trash talk"

She pokes at her teeth with her tongue. "You would think the scary guy would have the sharp teeth, wouldn't you?"

As they walk back to where Katrina parked her bike, they hear a HISS and something scrabbles behind it.