#bergen_county

Connor is trying to be quiet, but there may be a bit of a clatter as he gathers up Dagmar's armour pieces from her room.

"Head, and shoulder, knees and toes, knees and toes..." He repeats in a murmur, making sure he has all the pieces!

"Gorgeous, Sallys, Cauldrons... and the gravies for the legs..." The pooka knows what the pieces ARE. But the names are easier to remember when he gives them their own names.

Tunk, tunk, tunk, wrapped and into a sack he has for this purpose.

"What'cha doing?" Jack says peeking up

Connor perks up and shows Jack his fingers held up in a 'Square' shape. "Working! This is my second job. I guess it's my real job now, and Buddy at the store is moonlighting. But during the day? And only when not at school."

"So.. you have secret identity?" Totally friend envy "Cool"

"It's not a secret! Unless it's the Shadow Paw. But I try not to do secrets any more." He ducks his head a bit. "Boss Chief is still mad at me from last time."

"I just wear lots of hats."

"You need help? " He offers "You only got one head so maybe I should carry a hat?"

"You can wear a hat, your horns aren't sharp yet so you don't poke holes in em!" He looks over the pieces of an armor set for a lass much larger than himself. "Maaaaybe just one hand." Offering Jack the breastplate, that alone is an armful.

The helmet he perches over his own head - it falls down with a tink and covers his view. Tilting his head back, he can just see out the visor! And the rest into a heavy sack. Not TOO heavy, though. Squires have to be strong and MIGHTY.

Jack takes it "Woof. Yes. " he looks at the inside "Why's it got these dips here?"

"nevermind" he says "Ready?"

"I think those are for storing snacks. Battles need energy!"

"Oh! " that totally makes sense to him and he nods

"Ready!" A rattle as he shoulders the heavy sack, stumbles a little, but bears up and trots down the stairs! "A hupping we will go..."

"Hup. Hup. Hup" Following

Whispered hup hup hup down on the main floor, and the clannks muffled. No need to wake the family.

Hups go quieter

The door way is cracked - freedom, did they make it out without rousing the Wild Parentobeasts?

It seems they have... Twobit is eying them. To bark or not to bark?

A.... snausage! Wait no... TWO SNAUSAGE. Bribery!

Twobit is loyal, twobit will not sell her..wait, two? Okay. Deal ...munch munch wag wag

"Dogibolical" Jack Says in his best Burt Ward as Robin voice

A muffled giggle, and they're on their way to the lodge!

Meanwhile, Connor asks Jack, "Have you written to Santa yet? We started letters yesterday. Sir Vali is delivering personally."

"Ooo wish I knew. I sent mine last week, AND three days ago when I reealized the stuff I forgot to ask for.. I want some seeds, and a new trowel, and a guitar, and a flower toy that dances in sunlight... and maybe a puppy but I don't want Racer OR you jealous"

He grins. "No one can be jealous of a puppy because there's a PUPPY! I have CJ to play with, he's the best puppy." Nodding. "I asked... " a pause. "Is it like birthday candles? Or can I tell?"

"You can tell for yule and Christmas, but you can't be mad if you don't get it, because Santa has a MASTER PLAN... " A sigh "That's what Mom tells me"

"Well. I don't want then, cuz they're SILLY and probably cost all the dollars, but... I saw this kid one time, and he had sneakers and they made FLASHY lights when he walked...." Trotting along. "But mostly I just want snacks and for people to be there with snacks. And I need to make a new thing for Dagmar because I broke her present."

"But that was like to save the day, right?"

"Yeaaaaaaah, but she wasn't there so it doesn't count!"

"If I said I was gonna bake you cookies, and then I gave them away, you would be happy that someone got cookies, but then your tummy is still empty...." He tries to explain.

"True, but I bet she'd forgive you if the cookies saved the Count's life" Satyr Counterpoint

"I didn't care about the count's life. I mean, I DO, but... I was worried about Gerd more." He admits, a little sheepishly.

"Gerd's your sister, of course you worry about her. " A nod "Okay. New gift for Dagmar. Where are we goinna find another thunderstorm in a bottle?"

"I had an idea... but it might not work. I need to find a Good Witch." He nods.

"Or a Mighty Wizard. Do you know any?"

"Well, Gerd is a good witch, but said the bestest witch is in a library.. I think"

"I know where a library lives. Do they have any wizards on the farm? I'm allowed to go there easy-peasy." He ponders as they trot along. "Zane says he's a wizard but I've never seem him in a robe or with a pointy hat."

"He really is lacking in the pointy hat" Agreement "I think Mountain Emmit is a wizard. Like Dumbledore, if he worked out"

"Our mountain is a real mountain. Big and quiet, and I think he grows moss if he doesn't move for a while." A sage nod. "Can you meet me that Emmit sometime?"

"Sure.. you wanna go next time we're at farm school?"

"Ayup. I've been getting supplies so I'm ready." Rehefting the bag as they approach the lodge. "Now, shhh. Christmas surprises are like donuts, they... um. Can't have holes..." He blinks... "Don't tell Dagmar." He finishes, unable to complete the analogy and giving up a bit. "You like flowers right, Mums are the word!"

"Sure, flowers and herbs and stuff.. though the ground isn't really doing it now" he sighs "The hard hard winter ground"

"Fooey." And they drop off the armor to Dagmar... she can be on her way!

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