#bergen_county

Dagmar Hammerstrike has returned, which means that Dogmar the Just must hang up his faithful Bugsquisher and return to the life of a lowly squire. Still, it's not all that bad! Watching over an entire lodge AND CJ AND Spark was more than a full-time job. Now it's time to relax... and get down to business.

To start, he is over at the barn, sorting through their recyclables! Paper, plastic, glass and aluminum? This last he is especially interested in. The Dr. Pepper cans are set aside, he is sorting for something more specific. Neatly, though - not making a mess like a raccoon rummaging through the trash (No offense, Rikki).

Jaymes grunts

("You've worked hard")

A smile up at Jaymes. A vague shrug. ("It's what you do!") As he seeks to see what other cans are there, among the detritus.

Jaymes helps and says "Dogmar is nice. I am glad Connor is back"

"I am glad Dagmar is back." His tail wags. Dr. Pepper, Dr. Pepper... she sure works through those. But it was a long few days on quest and without!

"You know, I give Dagmar an allowance"

"That's important! She should be allowed to do lots of things. She's a Knight." A grin, and ah - his eyes light up! He picks up a can that once held a lager. Slightly dented, empty, but he cradles it like a delicate flower. "Ooooooh. This can is pretty." It IS an awfully nice design. These craft beers go all out these days for fun can art.

"Maybe. You're building stuff out of this?" He reaches into his wallet

"I am trying to build a thing. A special thing. For Yule. But it needs a lot of parts. Mr. Jaymes boss, can I have this please?? I'll do extra chores and help out alla time." His tail wags hopefully, as though this can comprises a holy grail most precious.

"I already owe you money" He hands over a ten "This is your allowance for all you've done while Dagmar was away. It's yours, not dagmar's, you did the work. And yes,. you can have the cans"

He looks... confused! "But.... pork chops! And sleepovers. And I got to give CJ a bath. I should pay for the fun, it was like sleepaway camp." He stares at the bill, a bit in awe.

"You also cleaned dishes, swept floors, babysat CJ a little, and mroe"

"This is Alexander Hambone." He points to the picture on the bill. "I learnt about him. He can do all sorts of things... like buy Yule presents." A beaming smile up to Jaymes. "Thank you!"

"Tove tells me he was also into musicals. I prefer 1776" Stubbornly loyal to John Adams in that film

"That's a lot of musicals." In awe at the number. "I only know a few, and mostly the ones with the dancing princesses. Those are good too, though."

"They're all right" He nods

Carefully tucking the beer can away in to his backpack, and the cash is reverently folded with care, and slid into his pocket. "I will earn my Hambones! I will work harder than ever! Except, I have to go on a collectin' quest. Can I help finish later? I promise I'll be back. EVEN if it's after dinner time." A great snackrifice.

"Of course. YOu stay in touch if you need to"

"Aye sir boss sir!" A salute!

And, despite his previous statement, the recyclables are all sorted and finished before he trots gleefully away... off to his next adventure.

Jaymes watches him, and smiles. He hopes CJ is a bit like that when he's older.

He goes in search of.... Jack!

His bestest boy-friend!

Jack is glaring at the gardens

"mister winter stop making the ground so HARD" He looks about angry

Connor trots up. "Ahoy, Shadowpaw!" He waves.

"How am I supposed to plant... Oh!" He turns "Hey Connor" He's got dressed up by his new mom. Bundled ... wool hat, ear muffs, mittens.. and of course coat.

"Do you want to go questing with me? Not QUEST quest. More... hunting. But not HUNTING hunting. More... scavenging? I have a LIST, and only the bravest of kids can help out."

"Hey, I'm a kid" he says "And I'm a boy so I have to be brave" He hwispers "Girls are allowed to run and cry. They're so lucky. " A cough "Ready to go"

He drifts over, and leans in, a hand cupped around his mouth to muffle. "Wanna hear a secret?"

"Sure"

"Boys are allowed to cry too." A solemn nod. "We can be manly about it, and keep our dognity."

"Well good" he says "Because I'm a satyr.. and I don't have an off switch" Self aware there

"We traded it with the Girl Lobby in exchange for pants and climbing trees."

"Oh man, they can follow us in trees now?" He sighs "Oh well, a deal's a deal"

"And they get to wear blue, and we can wear pink, which is good because sometimes Miss Sylvi will let me play with her nail paints and I like the pretty colors."

He eyes Jack's hooves speculatively.

"Dad Torin says that pink or rose was a valued color by ancient vikings, that they would raid for dyes when folks wouldn't trade" he says , then looks down at his hooves "NOOO. "

"We could paint a ROON on 'em. I'm jelly, no one gets to see my feet. Except in summer."

Admiring the tough little hooves.

"Wait wait. Raiding for dyes is okay?"

He griiiiiins. "Vikings strike on Sylvi's lair later!"

"Yarrr!"

"Weeeelll... I think Vikings were cool, but they... "A grin "Okay"

He was going to try to be mature, but if kids were meant to be mature, maturity would be more fun

"I have to find something. I'm not sure what. Something... silver, maybe?" He looks over the cold, sleeping earth. "Maybe we can go through the Warm Door and you can see some plants. Our friends might help there!"

"SURE.. something silver? You can't carry a trod back in, Connor." He ponders "Is this about gifts?"

He nods. "Something silver, or silvery, or..." He looks unsure. "I just gotta find something close!

"Well she loves superheroes and Xena.. " He ponders