#darkgatefortress

"Be right back," she says, heading for the Ladies room. "Kenny, please go wash your hands, 'kay?" A pointed look to Sullivan to put him in charge of making sure this happens.

In relative privacy, after she washes her hands she texts Colton: Situation. Local childling with banal parents. Not immediate danger, but seems neglected.

TXT: We don't haave much to offer childlings.

TXT: But of course if he needs the fire we'll offer it to him

A pause, and she texts back: Well, there's a gap that needs fixing.

TXT: Evil forces , nightmare chimera.. it's not the most safe place for kids to nnose around

TXT: Sure, but a resource is important. Talk more later. ❤️

TXT: I'll alert the Hearth. he can be pompous but you know no one starves around him

TXT: Already getting him a burger. Don't tell Marseilles. 😉

TXT: ❤️

She rejoins the others at the table.

Sullivan is using his burger as a puppet, moving the bun like a mouth and saying "Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious supper for our son of New York"

"Hoo-boy," Sylvi says with a grin as she reclaims her seat. "So...it's a hamburger. I get it."

Kennny is laughing "You're not supposed to p-p-play with your food!"

"Looks like the food's in a play, instead," Sylvi quips, hopefully beating the pooka to the joke.

"How's your meal, Kenny?" She starts on her own sandwich.

The pooka grins

"SO Good" He says.. and takes a fry from Sullivan while eatinng his burgger. His salad is being a touch neglected

She sighs. Well, pick your battles. She steals a bit of his salad.

"Kenny, you said your folks are cold. You're still living at home, though?"

"NOPE" He manages

"I told you," Sullivan says to her

which by pooka speak could mean ..argh

She gives Sullivan a bit of an annoyed pout, but she doesn't particularly mean it. She kenns Kenny, to check on his glamour levels. "How old are you?" she asks the boy.

Kenny says "Uhm.. I think 9?"

"Annnnd, I'm guessing school hasn't been a thing?"

"I'd lik-kk kk to plead the fifth ammend -d- d.. I plead the fifth!" he says alarmed

Sylvi grins. "Sorry, not trying to be a cop. Just...I need to know what your situation is so I know what I'm getting into." He's kenning with strong glamour?

He's less than half a tank. Good thing he's a childling. They tend to be richer in glamour

She sighs. "Okay, so...you're going to come back to the Fortress after this."

And the boy ducks under the table

Sullivan sighs "Second verse, same as the first"

A blink. "Ohhhh-kay...?"

"Well, okay, let's talk about it at least. But if you stay under there, I'm stealing the rest of your burger. It looks good."

"You wouldn't!" The boy's voice protests

"Try me."

And she walks her fingers along the table towards his burger.

"Sully.." The boy says

"Oh don't think I'll be help, Kenny" the vulture pooka says "I'm just kicking myself for not thinking of it first.. also I'm hoping to eat the leavings behind."

"Split it with you," Sylvi offers Sullivan, completely undermining the boy's resources.

"nnoo.." And Kenny pops back up and puts both hands on the burger "I donn't want to go to sck.. sk.. ool is all. And . I donn't know the Dark-k.. hold trolls. They're scary tall!"

"Like me?"

Snapping her fingers in disappointment as the burger is reclaimed.

He looks at her, "Well, k-kinnda? B-- b- they're t-t-t.. you're smaller"

"Not by a whole lot. But I promise, even if they're tough and stern, they're good people. The Fortress isn't the friendliest place in the world, but it does have a balefire, and you have need of that." She keeps her voice low to avoid the mortals overhearing.

As if on cue, Breeze returns "How is everything?"

"Really good!" Sylvi smiles. "Hey, am I right that you make the dessert taste extra good for kids to take at least one bite of salad?"

Breeze smiles "it's how mom got me to eat MY salads"

"Right, so...Kenny, one bite of salad, and I buy you a dessert that I choose. Three bites of salad -- good bites -- and I buy you a dessert that you choose."

HE STUFFS the salad in his mouth once twice three times