#debukefarmhold

"Come, let us find our gentlemen... savor some peace."

They move on and step out. Zara feels a working has been done in the area, but she canot be sure of details.

Earl and Shalimar are dressed as well, clean, and in a style that compliments

Her nose twitches. "Oh, I missed a casting..."

"Mm yet look what you've reeled in" Her sister says gesturing to the two men dressed ala Bronte

"Oh, what handsome fish!"

Shalimar makes mock chocking sounds as he pretends to yank at his neckwear

Zara reaches for Earl. "My love."

"It's not that bad," earl fusses at the jester, "And.." then his eyes fall on Zara "Beautiful"

And the troll is gone in happy admiration. She sees in him a tension gone, that he had carried so long she had perhaps forgotten it was present in him also. Or perhaps she did, despite his efforts to hide it.

"yes I am lovely but..." Shalimar gazes upn Vashti "Oh my almost worth the noose"

Vasthi looks away primly then, with subtle lift of hand at hip, lifts her dress hem so some ankle is revealed.

"Completely worth the guillotine" Shalimar assures and rushes to his lady

Zara twines against Earl's side, a tight embrace.

Earl bends down and kisses her softly, then says "I love you so much and I am so happy you're free. I want to dance with you in paris sewers, paint you on gothic ruins, and just watch you read in dusty libraries that few have ever seen. "

"Thou mayn't paint in the libraries. Sketch, aye, but no oils on the books." A kiss on the cheek.

"As long as you are happy" He says

"Then I'm happy" A sigh of release

"I am. Oh, Miriam should be.. yes..."

"Miriam and Jacob and...oh well. Everyone"

"Mama and Papa and the Uncles..."

"Aye. Were I a bard, nu?"

"A bard may yet be employed" Earl says "At least some troubadours. Though if Shalimar is the oene who tells them there might be some exager.. wait, who am I kidding? We left as it was being beseiged. Who is going to believe us?"

Vashti and Shalimar are doing a tango... despite the fact there is no music

"Well, does it matter?"

"Remember, I am a simple mouse. A librarian." A soft smile.

"A mouse that roars in her way, a whisper that shakes foundations" Earl says gazing at her eyes filled with admiration, desire, and yes love. "My hind"

That word for a time was tained by Paler. . and his tricks

his deceptions

and his madness

But now, when Earl says 'my hind' , well...

"My hunter." She kisses his knuckles, closing her eyes and savoring the moment.

"I feel like I could rest with you in my arms for a hundred years" he says

footsteps..perhaps breaking the moment

"Perhaps... but I would rather adventure with thee, see secret places... " She pauses, and looks towards the sound.

"Fair and..oh" he hears it too

Clem walks up "Sorry to intrude on..." She looks at one couple dancing, the other just holding hands but looking like they are the only ones on the farm "y'all know there's no music right?"

Vasthi sniffs "Trolls"

"They have less sensitive hearing, aye. Trust, Clementine - music there is."

"Well. I trust. And.. I have good news. We checked in on Karen. I think we can save her. Though the method is..unorthodox."

"Oh?"

"We make Karen a Selkie" Clem says "A fae sould touches her damaged mmortal one... it will heal it by allowing her mind to accept everything you see?"

"That... could work. It's unorthodox, but..."

"Oh The Mountain is sure he can make the gloves taint free. I'd rather do it sooner than later if all are okay? " A look to Earl

"Well, sure.. if it won't taint anyone I guess one more NICE Kithain in the world is good" he says

"Karen... was she from UKMC or the community college?"

"A selkie cannot tolerate the midwest."

"Not sure, she might have to move but it's better than being a vegtable" Clem says "Or a doll that smiles"

"Agreed..."

yes a look of quick relief from Clem