#baronyofthesilverwolf

"I don't know how to fix that, though."

Elaborate eyebrow choreography. "I think the solution might be alchemical rather than mechanical."

"Mmm some sort of steroid?"

"Well, that's the mundane solution."

"Some sort of Steroid that turns her into a hulking green monster with unbridled rage for those that wear white shoes after labor day?"

"Let's not create a Hulk Marigold."

"Marigold MASH potatoes" He says "Sorry, trying to think less mundane. SO Alchemy eh? Way out of my lore base"

"Oh, alchemy is fascinating."

"Because, you see, chimerically? You have to throw traditional chemistry out the window. It's why you don't see much by way of electricity or modern tech in chimerical objects."

"You just don't DO internal combustion."

He tilts his head, in trigued

"So you need Dreaming-friendly alternatives for power, and it can't all be dross - that gets real expensive, real fast, for stuff that doesn't actually require it..."

"Like Yeast causing things to rise?"

"I wonder if Yeast COULD be used for a power source in the Dreaming? " He muses "Probably not medicinal though"

"Probably..."

"Neverdust is surprisingly powerful."

"Well, hell, YOU are the expert on that stuff" he says with a nod of respect, before double checking the stew

Citrine chimes, and Thistle fusses back. "I won't steal from you."

"Normally that's MY line" He jokes

The stew is smelling... it doesn't smell the same as Marigold's, there is no rich rosemary and herbs... but it does smell GOOD.

He follows the instructions, sniffs a bit, and says "Might be time for a taste test"

a sample, "Not bad, not bad at all"

The sound of sniffing, and a door pushes open. "Something smells fantastic." Art says. "The smell came all the way down into library annex C!"

"Do you need any taste testers?" Hopefully - and then he straightens and pushes a hand through his mussed hair. "Thistle!" His tone glad as he sees her around the edge of the door and comes in.

"Hey, Art" Madern says "Venison stew, but with a nunehi reciepe"

"Really? Where did you find one of those?"

"Art! I saved you a cookie, but there's stew and I have a thing to show you!"

He blinks, and a bit nervously asks, "What kind of cookie?"

"Oatmeal raisin."

"But... will I, um." He gives a wiggly finger gesture. "I mean, I would try it if you wanted, but what if I turn into a centaur and trample the books I just spent three hours reorganizing? Fornax might never forgive me."

"Not that kind of cookie" He assures and offers the others a sample of the stew for food tasting

"I had one, and am still me." She holds out the innocent-looking cookie.

He grins in relief and accepts a cookie. "Mother says that these count as a vegetable." Taking a bite, "But she buys the ones that have cream in the middle, and are individually wrapped in cellophane."

"Mm! These are better!"

He leans in and, a little awkwardly, gives her a quick kiss on the temple! Right at the spot where one of her brows ends and that little curl of hair she can't get to swoop with the main part falls. "Thank you for thinking of me."

His ears turn a bit red as he remembers Madern is in the room too.

Oh, she lights up! Pink cheeks and the coral spirals that only seem to come out for Art.

"Plus, I have a cool book to try and translate." She holds it up. It has glamour!

Madern pretends he didn't notice "Thanks for praising the cookie. Gladiola did NOT like them"

Gladiola enters in "That's because it was a betrayal most foul" She sniffs the air

"Oatmeal Raisin is a superior cookie."

"Can I have hers?" He grins, and moves over to look at the pot. "What are those... floating ... bits?"

He finds a spoon and dips up a scoop. And promptly burns his tongue. "Ahhh hosh ish hosh ish hosh!"

Citrine nearly falls off Thistle's shoulder laughing.

A snerk - fond, mind!

"Hominy" he answers

"You maybe a genius in art, but you speak heresy if you think Raisin cookies are better than Chocolate Chip" Gwen goes over "Okay that smells GREAT"

"Here, have a sample" Glad to appease the she troll, Madern offers some to her, and she does try.

Art offers Gwen a spoon even as he grabs a cup of cold water to wash away the scalding stew.