#bergen_county

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"You're going on a quest?" Connor gazes up at her in awe. "A quest of five quests?! That's... that's SO MANY." Clearly impressed.

"Right? Dunno, I will see after the first how they go. But while I am gone, I need my squire to do some important jobs."

His expression was trouble for a bit. She's going on a quest and leaving him behind. But, he is a Squire now, and squires are brave. He muscles up his WP and nods. "Of course." He says as though there was no question. "SOMEONE has to keep Spark in line, and make sure that the horses get apples and not just Snow, and run patrols, and sweep, and do the horse duty, and...." He pauses, and wrinkles up his nose.

"I don't gotta do your homework, do I?" His look of sufferance says he WILL, but...

"Not homework, but SOMEBODY needs to play with CJ and taste-test for Tove..."

"Maybe we can invent a new flavor. Oh. OH! Is that where you are going? Sailing the East Indies? We learnt in school about the British Colonizers. My history teacher says they were adventurers, but also jerks, a'cuz they didn't really find new stuff, they just found stuff that other people had and then pretended it was new. And we should get rid of Columbo Day. If you find a new spice, can you name it after me?" He grins!

"Well, sure. If I find a new one, I can do that."

He holds up a finger. "But only if it's REALLY new, and no one else had known about it before. Oh! You need a flag! Where's the construction paper? You can't claim ANYTHING without a flag."

"I don't have a flag, no... I think there's construction paper in the hutch..."

Into the dining room to hunt for art supplies, it seems.

As he looks for the proper green and gold, he glances back up at her, and mentions. "My watch can get pictures, you know. They're REAL teeny-tiny, but you can still see them. Does your phone take pictures?"

There are supplies.

"It does take pictures... I have a smart one, now. So you can text me on your watch, while I'm gone."

"I guess... but you already know what stuff looks like here. And it's safe, here." He gives her a look, ears flopping, as if willing her to understand.

"But.. you might not know what stuff looks like, there?"

"And.. I could send you pictures?"

A brilliant smile. "And then I know you're not eaten."

"Unless there's a picture from the belly of a monster. You could use the flash." He ponders this.

"It's probably REAL dark in a belly. Unless you ate a light meal." a Grin!

"Oh, pun."

"That way though, you can send me updates, until you get back. So you know I won't forget about you."

"Important, yes."

"I can do that."

He smiles. "And I'll make sure that everything is tip-top shape when you get back."

"I know you will. You're my best squire."

"I'm your ONLY Squire." Thoughtful. "Unless you count Brown Dog."

"You are a better squire than Brown Dog."

He grins. "So you admit it! You gotta make him a tabard too now!"

"Maybe a vest?"

"No, that's mine." He grins. "But I'll give him treats while you're away."

"Thank you. And be nice to Odin. He likes the catnip temptations."

"Mrow"

"But they taste GREEN." He makes a face.

"Maybe Jack can grow some cat plants in his garden next year? He said Miz Myrtle Anne is going to set aside a whole spot just for him."

"Well, Odin likes them."

"Maybe? Odin doesn't go outside too much..."

"I bet he WOULD if there was a garden of catnip to roll in." He grins.

"Rolling in fresh grass IS fun. Just ask Star. Not that there's any good grass left now. She doesn't like rolling in leaves like I do, they get in her mane."

There ARE a few bits of dry autumn leaves stuck in Connor's scruffy hair. But he doesn't mine in the slightest.

"Oh, she'll roll in dirt just fine..." Sigh.