#baronyofthesilverwolf

When Art returns, it's with Fornax on his shoulder. The little bookwyrm hasn't grown much in size yet, but he has exploded in vocabulary as well as personality. Though his wings remain small and stunted, the wee lizard doesn't let that bother him, easily clambering with nimble grace wherever he needs to go. His eyes whirl with excitement as they approach Gwen and Thistle.

"Ally! Compatriot! Comrade! CHUM." Rubbing his snout on Art's cheek, which makes the teenager laugh. And then, in a mildly accusatory tone, "Absent, astray, decamped, disappeared, misplaced."

At that, Art winces. "I'm sorry, Fornax. I really did need to go. But I'm home now."

"Looking good, Squire"

He looks down at the outfit, and brushes a bit of dust off the tabard. "Thanks, Count Harner isn't at all stingy with outfitting those under his care."

Thistle raises a hand in a low-key greeting. Her spirals are glowing coral.

"Was I imagining things, or was Danica... particularly festive today?" He asks, trying to hide a grin.

"Ohhh, yeah, I think maybe I was a bit off on the proper solubility...."

Chime! Citrine is looking rather crimson, at the moment.

Art laughs. "Man, I've missed your inventions. Harner's County seat is FINE and all, but it's just been so boring without you around." A beaming look to Thistle, and then expanded to include Gwen as well.

"I mean, if you like baseball, maybe..."

"Oh right, big baseball thing there" A nod "not a bad sport. Bit slow for my tastes"

"Baseball's okay..."

"I learned how to play, but that doesn't mean I'm -good- at it. The Count insists that sports facilitates teamwork and... well, he has this whole speech about it."

"Frankie likes it, so I'll watch it. Way better in person than on tv, though. Helps to get the ice cream in the little plastic helmets."

"Well, it does help team work" THIS she agrees with

She laughs. "I'd love to see you play! Aw man, where'd you wind up?"

"How's Frankie doing? And Mirri-bri? She's gotta be big by now!"

"They're coming upstate soon! I went down over Christmas break."

"Frankie is being spoiled by about fifty uncles and aunties, but luckily he doesn't have a rotten bone in his body."

"Things going well with the Redfin? I heard you got their internet functioning! At least, I figured it out when I got that email from their Seer. Took me a while to figure out it wasn't spam... I think she was being mysterious on purpose. That seal could be an Eilunid in another life..."

"Oh man, yeah, it's trickier than you think - sharks, who knew? So, to start we..." And she's off!

There's broad hand gestures, peppery expletives, and a lot of technobabble.

Gladiola gets her friends their favorite drinks, thoiugh Art's might have changed. And one for herself so they can drink during 'the show'

Art listens intently, but is clearly lost... and not minding at all. A smile plays on his lips as he watches/listens to Thistle pontificate on her art.

"Linking the radio signals to buoys was a smart move." He nods, grasping onto one thing he can understand. "Better reception, AND easy to track where the lines run."

"How do you keep the seagulls off, though?"

"The seagulls are worse than cats... so far, they don't seem to be causing too much interference."

"Thanks, Gwen - Gladiola." Art accepts the soda. "So, I am sure everyone is asking - but what are your plans now?"

"Honestly? Thistle and I were talking about that and I just don't know, It's like the year zoomed by , snuck up on me"

"Seriously a blur."

Her spirals are leaning more gold than coral and she blurts. "Will you be staying?"

He blinks! And a shy smile as he asks, "Why, did you miss me?" Fornax nips at his ear, scoldingly. "Hey!" A laugh.

SIP.

He shuffles a bit and piles the little bookwyrm up onto Gwen's shoulder. "Here, you can bite HER all you want, just try not to chip your teeth."

Back to Thistle he says, "I may still be called on House business from time to time, if not by the Count, then by anyone else... I am pretty much bottom-barrel ranked so I'm at the beck and call of any senior who might need assistance. But not to stay, no. I wouldn't want to miss out on... well, all this!"

Pink!

"Yeah, well, good."

"Hey..." but good naturedly she strokes Fornax "Well, we've got work for you too, Art. You won't feel left out there. My days of coddling you two are over. No more playing it safe for you both. " Deadpan but her eyes sparkle just a bit

"So we can start working on that moon rocket now?"

"Just keep the launch pad away from the kennels" Then her eyes light up "oh Art, guess what!"

"Exactly!"

"What?!"

"Is it puppies?"

He guesses, with a grin.

"How'd you know? Oh right, Beaumayn. " She nods vigoriously, "Moonrise mated with Edelweiss of Rivervale. They're going to have the litter soon. Oh I thought I'd never wear Gerd Hornshield down but I finally did. This is going to be the carefully made next rung of the ladder to a new breed. "

Clearly Art guessing must because he's got prophetic gifts, and not because Gwen ALWAYS gets excited about dogs

"Count Harner was asking about a dog, too! He wanted a fae hound as a ball-dog for court baseball events. I'll have to temper Baron Aiden's response back. Politely, he is referring him to find a nice golden retriever instead." Art grins.

"I heard there's a fae retriever out west... Gwen, was it a Liam, you said?"

"How's that ragdoll puppet of yours?" Art inquires of Thistle. He holds a hand out to Citrine, to alight if she wishes.

Citrine settles like a queen upon a throne, gently jingling.

"Muppet? Oh, a royal pain in the ass."

"He just follows me, and makes these faces and wants attention..."

"Good thinking! Maybe Gwen can broker a trade with them through.. who was that friend of yours? The pale fellow."

Art admires Citrine, and chuckles at Thistle. "Sounds like my little brother."