#baronyofthesilverwolf

Gwen frowns

Marigold pauses delicately, and then answers, "Our Baron and Baroness would never take a happy, healthy, well-cared for child from his home. Frankie is perfectly fine right where he is."

"It's as she says" Gwen nods "In fact, Rochalor has found some mortals who may yet fully adopt him. We helped with that."

"The Baron and Baroness are really nice."

Gwen nods at Thistle's comment

This lets Janice relax a bit. Though she still looks worried, she manages a few bites of breakfast. A smile even peeks through as Frankie laughs at something.

"...They got me a kiln."

That makes Janice pause in surprise. "I thought you didn't do your pottery any more. That's what you told your father, at least..."

A nockerish scowl and she pokes at her pancakes.

"I mean, I guess I don't."

"I dunno."

"but, I mean..."

"I mean, nockers make stuff."

"So the Baron's very supportive."

"Mom, show her what Thistle made for you maybe?"

"I made the Sniffer - it's how we knew the Spriggan was there."

"Don't show that! Janice doesn't wanna see some... it.. I had to see if the kiln, like, furkin' worked, since the Baron put all that money and effort in to have it installed..."

"I put that out in the Garden for now." Marigold sniffs a bit. "No offense, and it worked a treat, Thistle dear, but the smell... it was enough to almost put Briar off her dinner. But look here...." A series of items set out on the breakfast table in front of Janice! A bean pot, a lovely pie bird, several coffee mugs kept here...

Thistle fidgets nervously - embarrassed?

"How pretty! You painted these?" Marigold corrects her, "No ma'am, she made them."

"She made... Katrina? You made these? They're marvelous!"

Janice delicately fingers the crystal affixed to the handle of a star-spangled mug, clearly impressed.

"No. Look... see how fercacta the lip here is? It's not even at all, and that marigold's only got six petals when the rest of them have seven and..." Quickly turning and tapping to show the flaws.

"They're lovely!" Gwen admires them not for the first time.

"A lady in my yoga circle keeps going on about her Etsy shop... but nothing she makes even compares to these. You don't want to know how much she charges, either. You have a real gift."

She blushes, and frowns, and shrugs, and looks away.

Gwen could hug Janice right now

Janice carefully examines each one. "The flaws... they are not flaws. They are... how would you say. A calling card, a trademark. No one else could make something exactly like this. It's unique, and special. Katrina, I may not be your mother - and I would never try to be, that spot in your heart is taken, and rightly so. But if I might say... I'm so proud to see what you have made."

Thistle wraps her arms tightly around herself.

Janice notices. "I'm sorry." She draws her hands away from the mug.

"...No. Don't.." She bites her lip.

"Sorry."

"Janice, it's not you, or Thistle. Katrina had a... bad enountter before she fledged. " Gwen stands up "I'm working on it"

Marigold frowns at this.

Janice glances around the room, and looks uncomfortable. "Did someone hurt you? How can I help?"

"You can't" Gwen says "It's an autumn person, and very dangerous. Too much time arounnd him would turn you banal too and make you a danger to Katrina and I know you don't want that."

She blinks, and frowns. "I am at no danger from one. I have no fae soul to call my own, I am destined to forget. Is there something I can do?"

"I'm not.." She frowns.

Gladiola's eyes narrow for a moment and she explains more slowly, "I met one mortal girl, a senior, who was around this person. She was on the cusp of becoming an autumn person, or at least rather banal herself. Your fae soul makes no neverminnd, he would turn you banal."

"I'm not broken."

"No." Gwen says "Despite that Autumn Person's best efforts" then a breath she looks att Janice "I don't think you can help, and Thistle wouldn't forgive me if I endangered you by innvolving you."

"You're just a wilder yourself! You shouldn't be endangering yourself... Trina, you could switch schools, I'm certain we could enroll you in Watertown..."

"Janice, you don't mean to, but you keep skirting the edge of insulting those of this hold," A chin lift

the troll seems to have putt her own doubts annd shames to the side for a moment as she meets the shorter former selkie's gaze

Her gaze drops. "I should go, then."

"I said skirting, I didn't say you had succeded. " A nod "I'm Daireann, you're a guest. I don't know if you know what that means, but let's just say I would not harm you, and indeed am obliged to shield you. I mean to take this Autumn Person's hateful words to many and display them with his name on it. I'm goin to expose him to his mortal peers. See where it leads."

"And I won' even have to get close to do it" Damn, the older house tendency to blab does slip

"I don't WANT to go to Watertown!"

Janice withdraws further, as Marigold tries to soothe. Frankie looks concerned as his sister yells, despite Bluebell doing her best to distract him.

"sorry"

Shoulder-huddle, frown.

Gladiola moves to Janice and puts a hand on her shoulder, gently "You care about trina, and you're a good person. I am so sorry what happened to you, and if I caused you pain letting you see this world again, I am sorry even if I think it is good you got to know us. But trust us to look after our own. I will fight to the death for every changeling here. I will"