#ccsemberclub

The day after Carnivale, the two were quite delighted. They'd messed with many lives, sometimes kindly, sometimes wickedly

AND planted seeds for future fun

And the two sleep in late, though Emerson wakes up to smelling ... oh breakfast

His first instinct is to check her side of the bed.

Empty, still a bit warm but no doubt she's the one cooking

He rolls out, stretches (carefully) and puts on his robe and slippers (again) before shuffling down to find her.

She's humming happily as she makes eggs just the way he likes them

Then she stares outside the window "oh no"

"What?" he comes to look, too.

Through the kitchen window he sees a local boy, some neighbor's kid from about a block away. Hardly the first time they've seen him. Only he's trailing glamour... and clearly is a pooka, with rabbit ears

"There was a dream dance while we were out and about... "

She looks at him, "I want it for the record, this is NOT my fault"

His expression is mystified "Why ever would I think it was, Dearest?"

"Because you think I'm trying to adopt every time I start to coo over a kid. " She says "Or that I draw 'right of rescue' for new dreamlings like bees to honey... not my fault this time, and I'm mostly cured of nesting instincts thanks to being a grandmother"

He tuts. "I suppose we -should- intercept him, if only to keep him out of noble hands and safe from Chimera. If you think it best?"

"Of course I think it best, look at him with the wiggly little nose and ears all up. And leaking glamour trails. He's thallian bait right now"

He gives her a dour look, but tightens his robe's belt. "Best set the table for three, then." with some resignation, and he heads for the door to intercept the boy.

(Perception plus alertness)

/roll 7

Oh he can't miss the boy, who is bounding along gawking at world that was before so plain and dull. But Emerson's one good eye also notices something sinister sneaking closer to the kid. A goblin, not an unseelie nocker, an actual goblin thallian.. who is preparing some kind of net

"Boy! Over here." he calls, beckoning with a gesture..... even as he glares at the goblin.

The goblin, spotted, looks tempted to fire the net, grab the kid, and run, but there must be something Emerson's glare that makes him reconsdier so the thallian backs away

The boy, obligingly, comes over, though he stays out of arm's reach?

Yes, just barely

"Please, won't you come in? We should talk I think. And Miss CC has made breakfast; she's a very good cook." he pats his belly; proof, as it were, of the pudding.

"Are you an X-Man?" The boy inquires. What was his name again? he lives about a block away. Has a mother who raises him alone.

"For the sake of what we'll call a conversation, let's say I am." He steps to the side so the boy can come in.

"Miss CC, say hello to our little friend....."

"Cyclops said I should come in" The boy says following, when he sees CC then confidentally "he's an X-Man"

CC smiles "is that so? Well, hello there. I'm Miss CC, this is Mister Emerson. Welcome to our world"

"Take a seat, boy." 'Emerson' tells him, and goes about setting a plate in front of him.

"You're not the boss of me" the boy points out, and sits

Then the boy says "Uhm... Emma Frost, Cyclops? How come my Oz got wizard? It's like I left Kansas and got color"

"Because you're not in Kansas anymore, boy, and with luck you never will be again. Some surge of creativity or inspiration struck you .... a few hours ago, from the look of it.... and awoke within you the being you have always been. Fae. One of the Changelings."

"MIss CC and I are both as you are; Changelings, albeit slightly more rich in experience and of different types. You are a pooka. I, a boggan. And Miss CC is, delightfully, a satyr."

"Let me tell you a bit about who you were, Hm?"

The boy blinks "You mean to say I'm a mutant too?"

"Yes."

"Clearly he likes superheroes" CC notes "Yes, you're special dear one"

"The truth, the bare truth without adornment or glitter.... so unsatisfying, isn't it?"

"You've always felt that way. Even when you are strictly enjoyed to speak only the bare facts, somehow, a little embelishment sneaks in, yes? Even when you get in trouble and punished for it?"

The boy nods "It's like peas without cheese..." His ears go down "I've never ever been punished for embellwishing"

FOod is being prepared for the boy, possibly the breakfast meant for Emerson

"That was your true nature... your mutant power, if you will.... sneaking out."

"I've never snuck out, never ever" the boy assures "Not even when the window was open and the butterflies were tempting me"

THen he adds "But sometimes, I wanted to tell a story that wasn't so ... that .. the box? " Whatever he is trying to say it is giving him trouble

"Yes. Don't strain yourself, please. You will find it -very- difficult to speak the unshaded, unvarnished truth from now on. Happily, you will find yourself more quick-witted as well."

"And, we understand."

"Some very fine people are pooka" CC nods assuringly