#anywhere

Thistle rasps away at the shoes, dimmed.

"You what?" a soft growl.

Shrug. "Ain't, I guess."

"Okay then."

"Look, it's up to you. Make or don't, or make sometimes some stuff you like... it's your Dream, your energy. Up to you, see?"

"Just a heads up, though.... you -are- a nocker, so you -will- make stuff. You got a choice about what you make, now. You worried about how you got to be a nocker, what kinda blood you got in your family? If it's nocker stuff, -they- gonna make too. You want to honor that? MAKE. Don't matter what."

"But it ain't like I just gotta make one thing..."

"Nope. Ain't no where in the rules like that."

"So, just because clay is... hard... doesn't mean I can't do other stuff. Don't have to make art. I can make useful things."

"The test pot, though - the flowers change color when you bake it. S'posed to, at least."

"Does it?"

"Change colors, I mean."

"The marigolds do, but the bluebells were meant to go purple and they just stay blue."

"Gotta mess with the formula, I think. Purple's a lie, anyways. You know that? Your brain sees red light and blue light and makes up purple."

"Then again, aren't the Nevers imaginary, too?"

"Don't think too hard on that." a touch sharply "Just go with the magic."

"Are the Nevers real to -you-?"

"Yeah. They're idiots, but real. My family doesn't seem to see what they do - like, when the one got a piece of popcorn and was zipping around with it."

"Nope, 'danes don't generally see Chimera. If they do, that's pretty rare. Sometimes dangerous to 'em, too."

"But I figure they're real the same way purple is real?" She shrugs. "Can they effect muggles? I wouldn't want my fam to get hurt..."

"Chimera can, sometimes, if the mortal can see 'em." gentle taps on the metal, almost chiming herself "If they can see 'em, might could be they can be effected by 'em."

"Gotcha. But most people can't see them. Is... is that, what, kinain?"

"Is my mom kinain?"

"Dunno. Is she?"

"Some kinain can see 'em, some standard mortals can.... random."

"She doesn't see. I mean, think she woulda SAID something..."

"I half wish I could show Frankie this. But I know, right of ignorance..."

"Yeah. Cain't risk it. Not for them, and not for us."

"Well, I know for sure who ain't kinain."

"Yeah?"

"Mr. Blaine, the art teacher. The Nevers won't even go into the school."

"You can FEEL him, like, a hallway away. Gladiola said he's a.. uh... fall guy? Autumn guy?"

"Yeah, stay away from him. Like death, that guy."

"You ever touch something so cold it burns? He's like that."

"I don't take art classes anymore."

She hesitates. "When I try to make pots... I... " A scowl, and she focuses on polishing the metal.

"Yeah?"

Scowl. Sand-sand-sand. "Ain't nuthin. Just. Like. When I do it, I can always hear him. When I do stuff that's like that."

"Fixing stuff, that's easier. I like fixing stuff."

"You need a quest. Sometime."

"A quest?" She lifts an eyebrow.

"Yeah, after you get Sained. Sort this Autumn guy's shit out."

"Well, that's forever yet."

"Feels that way." with a needle-sharp grin.

A little smile back. "You went through it too, yeah?"

"Everyone does!"

"Yaahhhhrgh. I know, but I furkin' want to see the Dreaming, and I want to learn magic, and I want to do stuff!"

"Gotta -learn- stuff first."

"I am!"