#debukefarmhold

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And so it is , that Clem, and indeed over a dozen DeBukes are gone to their various tasks and risks

Vashti paces back and forth, wings fluttering as if she were in a sunroom and couldn't find the window

"Sister? Thou seemest distressed."

"if they die, I shall earn the name Vasthi the Giant slayer... a true source of pride" A frown "Sister... what game do these friends of yours play? What..they gain new trolls yes? I suppose that must be it. Yet I feel even if it were pooka they would charge forward with horns blaring and banners streaming.. and who dost that?"

She sits down on the floor and shrugs. "Seelie."

She paces again "such a wise way to live to die for strangers all because of a code."

"It... it isn't wisdom. It's hope. Hope is always foolish. A thing with feathers. Delicate, aye?"

"But hope is also the fuel of dreams. Without hope, there is no magic. No us."

"Feathers" She scoffs "overdone, now a hardy pair of moth wings, that can withstand even regret" Pace pace

"Regret is beautiful, too. It hurts, aye... but..." She shrugs.

"mmph" She says. then a sigh "We cannot even follow most of them into the dreaming depths"

She no doubt means with tattle tale

"No. I have managed, a'times, to peer so far... but it is difficult."

"Ack... thy mastery of of the Faeriie Kingdom. I am close but the object is no closer than it appears"

"Well, I am not yet a master of soothsay, for all I work at it."

"I was promised mastery would be easy...Mountain DeBuke said I would go from Clueless to Atlas with only 20 easy payments of 19.95"

"Well, in truth... 20 months, aye, much progress could be made..."

A look out the window.

"You did not compel them to act, Vashti. You gave them information, and they have chosen this path."

"maybe I'll for for a walk... I'm very sure I won't get lost....whoops"

"Wouldst thou wish company? I could introduce you to 1122's lady fair..."

"Does she bite?"

"I imagine so, if one lacks respect..."

"ah, well... is she poisonous?"

"Mmm... I am uncertain. But 1122 is a gentleman, and she vouch for thee."

"It's just, if she were poisonous AND bit ones who knew nothing of respect, I thought she might need to meet Paler" Wry

A soft rasp of Zara's not-laugh and a flash of black gums in a rare grin. "Aye!"

Vasthi sighs then "Show me around I..can pretend i'm not trapped in my skin then"

She reaches out to touch Vashti's arm. "Aye. A haven can stifle. When this is done, we will work with Emmit. Make thee a charm so he mayn't spy upon thee."

"Mountain Emmit is kind, were he but a century younger, I would make a mountain out of him" Scandalous aside

"Vashti!" Oh, pink!

"Tsk...our hearts are faithful, but our blood wonders.. why, I would not put the bullshorns on..." Her face falls "Oh. AH, so lead on"

"I could bring him here. I could!"

"NAY" She turns pale, scared "Father ...no."

"Shhh, shh... aye, you wish to protect him."

"Aye" her wing were a bristle as if ready to launch but they smooth "I...tis silly. I broke up with him. I decared it done. It is done. I care not a wit because I choose not to. I shall dance and dally with a dozen deBukes and feel no guilt"

"And yet the heart insists, as it will."

"have thee a sharp knife and a bottle of hard cider?" Arched brow after glaring down at her traitorous breast where that heart resides

"Well, cider a least."

"We could be irishmen, and maudlin in our cups..."

"Or clurichauns"

"Oh, potato potato."

that does make her smile

She does, however, clasp her sisters hand to pull her along to the 'pretty' things - a dead tree, the spider webs, a shadowy creek...

And moth does admire and like... the dead tree she strokes, "Ah, we should make a coffin of humans and bury you with dignity"

"Twould be a lovely ceremony..."

"Ash trees to Ash trees, Dust to Dust" She nods. The web she eyes looking for holes "Mmmph, not enough escape hatches" but she smiles at 1122 and at the lady anyway. 1122 seems happy to see her ,and Zara suspects 1122 has been looking after Vasthi even without being asked. The shadowy creek, she gazes at "Sister, this looks like of the very hand in which you must have once lured the foolish and cruel to their story's end"

"Mmm.. similar. I have dreams of a great river, one deeper and colder than this... but the play of light? Aye. Tis the same."

" finger of the hand" she repeats but ponders "I wonder if my past was always mothy? Mayhaps in some other life I was a puppy?" A pause "yuck"