#debukefarmhold

"Which for someone of your years may feel like a decade" The tin has the cream 'seasoned' the way she likes.

A smile as she rejoins him. "Aye. Impatient youth."

And he sits down, "now, DeVere gave me some tips, but seemed amused when I told him I got this. mmmph" A sip, "And yes, impatience of youth. Earl is champing at the bit to move into that house with you. Says you're being unreasonable about a piece of furniture?"

"Pfft. That is not furniture."

"No? how is it disqualified?" A sip

"Furniture must have some level of form. It needn't be art, no matter what Hirim says, but we must needs have standards..."

"It has form, it's round..ish"

"Nay. Tis a formless lump."

"A tumor, painted in garish colors."

"He may keep it in his room."

Amusement "Colorful metaphors. But he tells me you agreed he could put up something that said 'hawkeyes' on it in the main living area. And it has that.. on half, and the other half a concession of METS"

"And he may certainly put up something! But we had already discussed the bean-bag."

"So he's cheating?" A sip

"We shall settle it."

"No doubt." A sip "Sounds like you feel about Beanbags the way he feels about Mark Rothko's work"

"There is more merit to Rothko than he grants, but I will not invite one into our shared living room."

"He thinks that they're nice enough splotches of color, but over rated, over priced and over emulated to the determinnt of the visual arts. Gets irked about it. Mighty nice of you to keep it out of the living area though. He'd be very relieved" amusement in her mentor's eyes "Possibly grateful"

"And I found this lovely woodburnt wall hanging on Etsy.... I was hoping to surprise him, and then... foof. Beanbag."

"Keep it handy. He'll need it when the bean bag either goes to his room or suffers from a terrible stitch tearing bean spewing accidental calamity"

A sip

"Well, I am giving him the chance to resolve this."

"I know, and it's good you're being so patient" He says

"At least I do not move there until August."

"Oh, he a room mate?"

"The month, sir, not the sidhe."

"August will be living with his trueheart."

"More comfortable for all around that way" Sagely

She nods.

"how's the tea?" He says

"Lovely. A gracious serving."

"Thank you, work in progress, of course. As for the beanbag, may I pose a theory?"

An eyebrow. "I am listening."

"I believe Earl is putting up a bit of a fight about something that doesn't matter to him because, one, he knows you won't want him backing down on everything, and two, also because he suspects the making up will be even better than the scuff even if or when he loses."

"When." She considers. "I can see that. I can be... opinionated.."

"Mmm " Amused "Now, Earl, Da'an bless the boy, is new to this, so go easy on him if he takes it too far not realizing how he has, but I bet you that's what this. He'd come by it honestly"

"He's a mensch."

"Mmm yes, pinch his cheek. You've been good for him. Thank you for that. Not a day goes by I don't wish I had done things right by him. Clem warned me. And I didn't listen." He sips his tea. "He'll come when the farm has an emergency, but it will never be... as much a part of him as it could have been if we'd seen and given some slack"

"Well... I rather selfishly am glad to have him."

"Appreciate you keeping an eye on him. Let him feel like he's guarding you now and then. He's not to fuss over it, but it's a part of it. I notice he already walks to the street side of the side walk side with you when you're arm in arm. Keeps the chances of a car splashing you slim. Did you notice that?"

Zara nods, a tiny smile lurking at the corners of her eyes and mouth. "He is a perfect gentleman."

"I'm proud of him" He admits to her, as he never could to Earl himself.

"He deserves that."

"He does" A nod "Now, I know the library is on your mind, but let me know when you're ready on another lesson on the warding circles. "

"Oh, aye... I had some questions...." And so, tea and academic inquiry. What could be finer?

Indeed! (End scene)