#debukefarmhold

"The DUST Devil? Is that what your'e dcalling..." And they're off. Clem's car seems just a bit more responsive to the nocker's touch than any trolls, and Ottumwa is not that far off.

Bix does call mom and dad with his really out of date cellphone and let them know

"Yeah! Maybe? it's a work in progress." She zooms along the freeway, windows down.

Ah, Ottumwa, the big city!

In fact, many of the grumps and wilders just refer to it as "the city" as it's the biggest city some of them have been in

Exciting! Being homeschooled on the farm means she doesn't get out here often.

"Remember to avoid the Video game mueseum area, that leads to the Baron's hold"

"Bix, there's a bookstore here, right?" She's walking around, taking in the 'new' look of the city - chimera walking by, glittering facades overlaying familiar buildings...

"Of course..." He says "more than one."

"Oh, $&@^# - look at that!" She points, and she's off.

"Maybe I should.. oh hell"

As magical as the farm is, Ottumwa has some things she's never seen before even fae side. On the farm, the Dreams are of the creatures of the land made mythical, some old myths like Wyverns, and winterwolves, and jackalopes and more

Here, there are other dreams... not as tied to the land. A wookie goes chasing after a gold medal with a colorful ribbon but he can't quite catch it.

"Ha!" She claps, grinning.

She also sees one chimera crossing the road, and getting flattened by cars. I'ts a frog! It gets squished... then un squishes and starts over

"Bix!"

Just where is that Video Game Museum? Mara seems to have lost the mission, just a bit, what with Chewie and Frogger around...

"A bit too close" he gestures towards the east "We'll want to go west I think."

"Too close? Oh, right... right.."

"Bix, did you see the frog?"

"Yup. I think it's based off some ancient video game. The baron set up shop in the 80s... heard the baron before him was mean, powerful mean, like tried to take over. This one? Likely the same. Most nobles are"

"I know, don't trust'm."

"Exactly" they make their way west and .. ah, there's a used book store.

"C'mon, it won't take long!" SIDETRACK.

Poor Bix - Mara is usually the follower, but it seems something has kicked a brake loose.

"I.." Yup, this will take some getting used to. As they enter in a place called the Folios and Flicks which sells used books and movies. The counter is in the open, the rest a bit more maze like with high wooden book cases in an irregular pattern

"Hey, you, with the hat? You have useful books? Not just, like, novels?"

The guy with the hat looks at her, "you mean like self help or?"

"Useful. Like... manuals? DIY stuff?"

"Oh, back corner that way" He points semi-helpfully

Bix nods "Much obliged" And starts that way

In the back corner, there are repair books on cars all right, and trucks, various years and models. There are non vehicle realted things too.. basics on plumbing, and..some text books from a vocational school

"Ohh, *&^%$..." She loads up her arms with books. Car stuff, sure, but here's one on welding.. one on wiring...

All the textbooks! The vo-tech is far, but maybe she could study these...

She lumbers up to the counter, juggling the lot.

"Sis, we can't spend too much on.." But by the time he starts explaining, his sister is at the counter

"They're used, how expensive can they be?" She gets her $20 of sock-money out.

It turns out to be a bit over 20 dollars. If she turns the book on welding back, she'll cover it... or maybe the one with wiring... or that vo tech one with the.. argh .WHich to give up?

All for the want of four lousy bucks! Stupid taxes!

Wait, her brother gets an allowance, right?

"Bix, you got four bucks?"

"I'll pay you back?"

"you're kidding me.. you really need all these?" He looks at her

Guy with hat checks his smart phone.

"Please? I'll pay you back furkin' five.."

He hands a five dollar bill over "Just take it, keep the change." Bix sighs

A grin at the cashier. "Here you go!"

"It's what i live for" Guy with hat says and returns her 92 cents.

The two head out... "Stop trying to read while you walk, you'll get run over in trafic or fall in a hole or something" Bix says

"Yeah, yeah, hey, lookit this!"