#bergen_county

"He does have some quirks - they all have, like, nicknames."

"Mm?" Dubious look

"They're all flower-names, since he likes them."

"Mmm " A frown "Don't like that myself. You would never see Chieftain telling folks what their NAMES are. "

"Seems like a sidhe thing?"

"Like, y'know, how they're sort of... different?"

"Hemlock doesn't do it" A frown

"Hemlock's seelie."

"Mmm nadeen? Has she insisted you answer to Azalia or something?"

"Well, if I was still oathed to her?"

"then she might abuse it. Whatever the reasons though, I don't care for it and i think it speaks of turning people into pets or objects"

"I don't much care for him. But, like, the people there seem okay."

"They don't seem abused."

"Like, I think they could leave if they wanted."

A pause. "Not sure if I trust the chancellor too much, though."

"Mmm " A nod then "We good? "

"...yeah?"

"Just... just... yeah, I guess maybe it's... scary, sort of, when you wall off like that."

"I..." He seems surprised "it's how I ... i didn't want to be trouble" He admits "So I ..." A sigh "Your mother calls it turtling" A sigh ("She robs me of her dignity when she does that") but he seems resigned

She rubs the back of her neck and shrugs.

"So. Yeah."

I'm sorry I did that now" true "I don't like yo useeing me weak" True . A pause "I love you very much and will try not to close you off again" true

"Well, you aren't trying to upset me. I can be... weird, too sensitive, y'know?"

"No, sometimes you're right" He says defending her "Very uncool of me to drive you right up front " and..was that a bit of a smile in his eyes

A chuckle.

And he hugs her

Blush, but she allows it.

This touching moment is interrupted by Star snorting.

She never got that carrot.

And then...footsteps

"Oh, carrot!"

Jaymes lets her go "Carrot" Nod

Dagmar retrieves two, bringing the first to the mare.

Gerd calls out "HI, Dagmar.. Mr. King "

Carrot! Star crunches.

"Hey Gerd, hey Connor. Connor, can you do me a favor?"

He was gathering his courage to speak up, but then exhales his breath in a whuff. "Huh?"

"Could you please give Stormwake this carrot?"

"Oh, yes!" He takes it and climbs up the paddock fence, leaning over to offer it out. "Stormy, do you want a carrot?"

She pats Star's neck.

"If you're not quick, Star will crunch your munches." She IS eyeing it.

Stormwake takes the carrot... munching

then stops.. leaving the third between his teeth and he extends his neck and head towards her to let her have the last of it

"awww" Gerd says surprised

"Stormwake spoils his lady-love."

Her ears perk, and she takes the carrot, her ears twitching happily as she crunches. Oh dear. She may expect a tithe of every carrot now.

Connor comments, "I see how she got so big."

"Connor" An alarmed look from Gerd

Dagmar laughs.

"She has a buschel sack of carrots in her belly, and she's gonna have an orange foal with an apple for a head and sugar-cube eyes."