#baronyofthesilverwolf

Her spirals are still glowing a contented orange. "That was cool, yeah."

"I'll still find a taser for you. Maybe one for Art as well. You CAN Wyrd that... whatever you wish to call your new treasure, once it's fully tested and operational, but it may cause unpleasant, annoying questions to explain."

"Hopefully I won't need it against people, just... monsters, yeah?"

She flexes her fingers. "Zelda was wrong about fire though. It's not just a tool. I can feel it, y'know?"

"Like... like remembering, but at the tip of your reach."

"Sometimes people are the monsters." She says, not unkindly.

"Mmph. Don't envy what you see in your job."

A low sigh. "No. However..." She rests a hand on Thistle's arm for a moment. "Somethings make it worth while. Being able to help people."

She moves away, gazing off down the street. "Cops are supposed to protect and serve. That got forgotten along the line for many. Too god-damned many." The Troll's hands ball into fists, practically creaking at the pressure - though after a moment, she loosens up again slightly. "I have to use the power I have to make up the difference, even if it's a drop in the bucket."

"That... yeah. That's good. Important."

"I am aware that I am not always approachable. I hope that you do come to me, if you have trouble."

She nods. "Thanks for taking me seriously. And helping me."

"Do not forget - you will sign up for a self defense course. I will give you options, but you must pick one. The problem with relying solely on a weapon, is that if you neglect to train other options, you can easily be made defenseless."

"Yeah, no, I get it. And I promised."

"Word." Fornax peeps, as though reiterating the same.

"Shall I take you home, or back to the manor? I can transport the small one if you're going back to your apartment."

The little draconet has been quiet, thoughtful perhaps. Or maybe just sleeping.

"My sketchbook is at the manor, I want to draw while my ideas are fresh..."

"I'll get us back there quickly, then."

One last trick up her sleeve, Danica takes the wheel - and sets a portable strobe light on top of the car. "Buckle up."

GRIN!

And thus Thistle gets to see what the lexus can do when REALLY cut loose on those county highways! She has to grab for Coral to prevent the Never from getting sucked out a cracked window and lost forever.

Fornax holds his head up, blissful as the wind through the crack whips past his face, dreams perhaps of flying in a high-speed gale.

Thistle? Her hair is a MESS! But they are back in record time!

Her sketchbook awaits...

(Scene)

"Find the treasure yet?" Ernie asks

"Not yet," Blossom huffs, and dusts another shelf.

"I found it" roch calls out, wiping another book case, then says "wait, wrong pronoun"

'well, keep dusting. Somewhere under one of these layers of dust is a rare flattened quarter...." he tells both kids, even as he does his share of the dusting and polishing

'And it was a bicentianal one, and people will be impressed?" Blossom keeps cleaning.

"Oh yeah, BIG thing with true patriots, historians, and folks who enjoy seeing what a load bearing train can do" the Piskie assures them

He figures he's got another five minutes of work from Blossom before she figures out she's being Tom Sawyered, but hey. Besides, he caught Marigold looking hurt up going up the steps because Flo had to take her son to a doctor's check up.

"Did someone say treasure?" Ernie had forgotten to account for a third childling. "Why do they get treasure and I dont?!"

Briar huffs, an intimidating 3'10.

"Ah... ' his brain stalls after a bit then "well, if you want to dust you can, but if you make a bigger mess than was there before yyou're disqualified"

He throws her a rag

"What's the treasure?" She catches the rag, and pokes curiously at a shelf, moving some dust around.

"Something that's been CRUSHED flat by tons and tons of fast moving steel. the kind of power and destruction few can imagine"

"Wicked!" She grins toothily and wipes with renewed vigor, if little experience.

Gosh, Blossom notices that Briar doesn't even know to move things to dust under them! She's just poking the dust around!

Blossom sighs, "you have to move things and dust under them too, then find them just the way you found them, Briar"

Sometimes it's hard being the smartest childling along with the prettiest and best

HUFF. Briar grits her teeth, imagining all sorts of terrible things that might befall a centaur filly, but moves a small box and gives a more energetic swipe. A dust bunny squeaks and flees!

"Hey, didya see that?!"

"Ew, a dust bunny" Blossom says, "Wait, our hold doesn't have dust bunnies, or never has before"

"It hasn't?" Ernie asks

"I didn't THINK so, but Flo cleans down here." Briar considers.

"Damn, you think she's a bleedin' heart dust hugger??"

"I don't know" ernie says "But let's clean it up, and see who wins that prize" Ernie ponders . He's not wanting to get Flo in trouble

In truth, there is a real 1976 flattened quarter to be found. He tried to put it in an area at the edges of their max work zone. Anyone's guess who gets it first. He's careful to work the center so he's out of the running

"Maybe we can find more bunnies!" A cackle, and Briar starts cleaning in earnest.

"Maybe, let's shoo em out" He says and focuses on finding them. They really don't need to be here

Briar snatches something up and shoves it in her mouth.

"Was that the quarter?" He asks

A strange look, she coughs, and spits. "Ugh! It tastes like dried up nothing and paperclips. It's like eating an old book!" The soggy dust bunny makes a break for it.

"Oh" He says