#anywhere

"They're just... if anybody wants them, not..." She shrugs.

"That's for the Baron." She blurts.

"It's beautiful" Blossom says

"I bet Thistle could make you one too", Art pipes up. "Maybe with your own tail hair, to make it extra special. And colors you pick!"

"I was thinking the pink one, maybe, you might like, but it... I mean, you don't have to take it..."

"The one with a crown on it?" He grins and pushes it closer to where Blossom can see.

"I love the pink one" Blossom looks over at Thistle "Thistle, why didnn't tell me you could do cool sttuff?"

Julius steps in from the main room, carrying a bunch of presents that look like they were wrapped in newspaper and duct tape.

"I have to move these in here, the cats were gnawing at them..." He dumps them onto a table. A suspicious sniff, "They smell like... jerky?"

"Hey Julius..."

"Hey, Trina! Did you make those? I've been seeing that kiln chugging away."

"I.. yeah, I made them."

He picks up the one for Aiden, and whistles low. "Impressive. I never made it past pinch-pots when I was looking for my passion. Oh, and an ugly ashtray I gave my mom. She doesn't even smoke..."

Art grins at Blossom, "She doesn't think these are as cool as we do, for some reason. Oh, here..." He offers a packet to Blossom.

"That's nice of you."

Blossom takes it

"If I had your talent, I'd have had to stick with it." Julius grins, and his eye is drawn to... "Is that an amphora??"

"Can I open it ?" She asks

"Almost - it's a kantharos? So the standing base is built in, almost like a goblet?"

"That's really something else! Is it for sale?"

"Dionysus carries them a lot, they are for wine... um.. it's.. I mean, if you want it? For Yule?"

A nail art set!

"Um, I guess the toenail separators are somewhat useless... but I asked my sister, and when I told her about you, she suggested a nail art kit? See, it has little sparkly decal... things?"

"Oooo, I love it. thank you, Art!"

Feeling bold, Thistle takes the little ceramic bird to offer to Marigold. It is brightly painted, covered in orange and gold flowers.

"Oh, what a lovely little pie bird! You'll have to tell me what to make with it, oh, let's see - dutch apple, or mincemeat, or brambleberry, or maybe pecan-caramel...." She cradles it in her hands and her face is DELIGHTED.

"It should work with whatever..."

She holds it to her mouth and does a quick test puff to see if the air goes through.

🎶 4-and-twen-ty-black-BIRDS! 🎶

Marigold startles! "I was just... well I'll BE!" She laughs! "What a gift! I shan't have to sing for my supper if the dessert sings for me!"

Thistle finds herself wrapped in a warm hug!

She blushes, shy but glowing.

"I'll have to watch out that it doesn't get accidently eaten. I lost an antique pie pan that way, once..."

"Briar does get hungry, yeah."

Another squeeze from Marigold, and she gets back to the oven - only to find a new set of oven mitts that look like Reindeer heads hanging on the hooks. "Now, who are these from?" Art just grins.

Linnea pops into the kitchen, and is a bit surprised. "So this is where the party is at. Hello all. Marigold, hate to bother you, but..."

"Oh, yes, your basket for Dark Gate. I'd not dream of forgetting it. Now, you keep up your side of the bargain?" Marigold says as she brings the basket to Linnea.

"Yes, I'll make sure that Marseillus tries your Gingerbread." "See that you do!"

"Linnea, wait?" Blossom comes up "I got you a gift" She offers her package

Inside, a collection of larger sized combs and brushes , larger handles for trolll hands, but still fine for detailed work at the ends "I got it for you so you could go out prettier and I know you girl trolls have man hands. This should help!" Beaming, for she has solved a problem