#ccsemberclub

"This is a really nice meal, Mister Stodgepoole" The little girl looks up from the bits of rotting meat that are soft enough you don't need teeth, and the spoiled veggies and moldy bread on the side.

"I'm very glad you enjoyed it my dear."

THIS boggan has no concerns, not even a flinch, at serving sluagh-food.

"You sure you don't mind? Lots of folks think sluagh diets are gross. " Proud look "I once made Jack puke by gargling two week old chicken noodle soup with an open mouth"

He -chuckles- "Quite certain. Some of my closest associates have been sluagh."

"Yes," the little girl says, "That's right" A curious look at him "You haven't been near Ithica recently have you, sir?"

"Oh my, all the way in Apples? No. No, at my age I'm more a homebody. Why?"

"not important" A sip of her cup "This is excellent tea" Lily observes "Mr. Stodgepoole? Why are you and Miss CC being so nice to my mom and dad? You barely know us"

"I believe what has been done to your family is a heinous crime, perpetrated by those who will never be held accountable for it." simply.

"You know that my Kith has difficulty turning a blind eye to those in need.... well...."

She observes the patch "Oh, is that what happened? you didn't turn the other eye fast enough?"

A thin smile. "Exactly so."

"Huh..." A look, then "I was wondering if you were trying to turn them unseelie .. mom worries she'll ignore me if she becomes unseelie"

"And is that a concern of -yours-?" he asks, pouring another cuppa.

"not really, it bothered others more..." SHe shrugs "She's my mom, I love her. Dad too. But again I'd wonder why. You're a very curious man, Mister Stodgepole. Boggans always help those in need, but they also get to pick the hows they do it. And Miss CC is..." Her face scrunches "I like her, but she's like Turkish delight"

"You know, from the story? It's all you want... and yet you end up going , how did I end up working against Aslan again?"

He stirs the sugar into his tea with a chuckle. "You feel Miss CC might tempt you onto the straight and narrow?""

A brow, "I didn't say straight and narrow ,sir"

"My mistake."

"And Adam had his own problems. It's not all on the nobles, no matter what mom thinks. " She nods "But.. he's happier now I think. A quest after love. It's all very sentimental"

"To be sure." sip "I suppose, having lost others, I can sympathize with your parents."

"Never a child, of course, but."

"You never had a child of your own?" A curious look "But you're so old... you should have like, grand kids. Maybe great grand kids" She speculates "Perhaps even great great grand kids "

"Thank you, my dear." Dryly "No, no children of my own. Children of others, perhaps. Never had the desire."

"We do have pets."

"Easier to handle, children are annoying" says the child "but one must have friends. "

"Yes, and one can hand the children back to those friends when one is finished with them."

"you may have just sold me on spinster hood," The little girl admits

"Ah, well. Give yourself permission to change your mind; that is the right of ladies everywhere."

" I will" she assures then she looks at him "It goes without saying, if you get my mother or father hurt by your 'help' I shall be most put out" a prim little nod

"Of course. Your warning is well taken in the spirit it is offered." he says respectfully "May I ask a question?"

"You may, but I may choose not to understand. I am, after all, just a childling" Also respectfully, but a bit of mischief in those eyes

"Mmm." with answering amusement "You have spoken of your concerns. What do you think would -help- your family?"

"Adam is a ghost now, maybe one day he'll return from the dead by way of the Dreaming, maybe he won't, but you let ghosts fade, or they turn sour on you, even dangerous. Even a braindead Varich knows that"

"Mm." A sip "You think it would help them to forget your brothers? Would it help you to do so?"

"Not forget, fade. " she says as if this is very important "They can't dwell only on rage. It's not what their kiths are for."

Mr. Stodgepole lifts a finger "Both trolls and satyrs rage very well indeed; when insult, injustice, and passion meet it is a powerful combination indeed." he raises a point of order.

her brow knits "But mom's a satyr , she should let it go"

"They shouldn.. they feel strong but it passes. But hers' wont. I worry" The child is clever, insightful but still a child

Sip. "She feels still, because the .... the hole where your brother was is still there. My guess."

"He's still there, I wish others understood about loss like slaugh do" A sigh

Stodgepole makes a gesture that's not quite a shrug "Perhaps your unique viewpoint is the true one and our lack of perception blinds us, but we are nevertheless condemned to stagger blindly through. The blindness is -our- true viewpoint."

"I'd wager our mother would take issue with anyone, even you, saying your brother is still with you."

"I suppose she might" the little girl sips "Mothers can be be terribly" She searches for that word she's heard "truculent at times, aren't they? Maybe if mother had a hobby"

"Perhaps. Although I beggers my imagination as to what would work, you know her better and might have an idea?"

"I don't.. she likes poetry? She taught for awhile... at the farm. I guess poetry?"

"She doesn't teach now?"

"She writes... mostly angry dwon with the man stuff" A worried look

Wait, Brenda writes anti authoritarian poetry? Well well

He stirs his tea. "It might be that the poetry allows her to express her anger, instead of..... rash actions."