#baronyofthesilverwolf

Citrine buzzes into Thistle's face, hands on tiny hips, complaining!

"Ah shucks" Madern says "I have to say the promotion was an ego boost"

"What, dingbat?"

"Oh... getting big for your britches there, Ernie?" Gwen looms "Think you could just replace my mom anytime?"

A point at her mouth! And to the marshmallows!

FUSS!

"And?" Smirk.

Maderns' eyes widen "oh no I ... " Why is it so dark? oh shadow over him "I would never.. I've got so much to learn .I was a just bailing buckets out of the boat to speak? The promotion wasn't even MY idea and..."

Gladiola grins "Okay, Briar's right. Making folks nearly freak out CAN be fun." then she puts a hand on the Piskie "Thank you for helping everyonee, but my mom most of all"

She lobs a marshmallow at Citrine, and offers one to Art.

Madern exhales with relief

Citrine catches hers in midair... and Art stumbles, fumbles, almost drops it, then pops it into his mouth!

"I should go check in with my parents. I'm not sure if they noticed I was gone..."

"They might have fuddled them to not worry. Someone took care of my mom."

"You need to go check in, too?"

Marigold offers, "We can always fetch you back tonight before the celebration. You still have presents to open, dear."

"Some of them are cool. I looked" Madern admits

"I do have presents to open!"

A sigh. "Art, I'm gonna have to owe you."

Gladiola is already helping in the kitchen as if she never left "if you guys need me for anything, let me know . Oh mom, Thistle got her Maker's mark with the Bes Din"

"By the skin of my teeth, but still!" She shows off her copy (pink sheet) or the form - the box features a line drawing of a thistle flower, of course.

"I don't mind. That just means that whatever you make for me, it will have your seal on it, right?"

"She's got a tablet too" A nod "She won it with Citrine and her sculpture and...well, probably by out stuborning everyone in the room"

Marigold admires it, even with her hands to the elbows in a bowl of some or another mixture. "Does that mean my next pot will have that pretty little design on it? I'll look forward to it!"

"Exactly! A Genuine, Sealed, Fulcanelli Original!"

Though the boggan's appraising glance at Citrine shows a little doubt.

"I figure I can make some stamps for pottery..."

"What about your little flutterbudget? Does she need that mark added?"

Gladiola glows a bit at some memory that brings her great joy even as she basks in a return to home

Art considers, "Maybe on her key? Citrine is her own being. But the work is Thistle's, and that's part of her."

"Unless you can do an infinitesimal tattoo?" He grins.

"Well, she needs to want it, but I also don't want her stolen again..."

"You filed her patent paperwork, though. So no one will try that trick again, at least not at the Bes Din."

"True."

"Maybe on her dress?"

"Sooner or later, folk will realize that they can't steal from Thistlethwaite S. Fulcanelli." Art says, giving the ST a LOOK.

"Hey, you're the boss! I'll see you in a few hours. I want to check in at home." He smiles, and heads out.

Marigold says, "Go check with your mama, too, Thistle. We laid a little switchy-trick on her, nothing big, but she'll want to know how 'Art Camp' went."

"Right, I'll go take care of that."

Gwen waves "later guys. I gotta check the dogs"

********

A knock on the worskhop door

"Willy, it's D'Lorean... the quarentine is lifted. You can come out now!"

From inside come the sounds of clanging metal, hissing heat, and the sink of tortured ore and change.

"Honestly, I'm all better. We all are."

A pause "Egg and Rainbow brite are back with Arty!"

Something inside sounds like it shatters. Then there's a SPROING!!! noise, and a whistle like a tea kettle starts to climb.

"Willy? Blowing up the shop to kill the virus isn't the answer. We're better now"

Something heavy hits the door from the inside, and it shudders in the frame.

Okay, THAT gets her worried

"Coming in" She pushes to open the door or pulls or whatever it takes here

The whistle inside climbs higher and higher....