#debukefarmhold

"It's..broken," Clem says "It won't hold but half powder like that, it'll spill ain't no good to anyone. You sure you want it, Zara?" She's not teasing. Trolls are DREADFULLY utilitarian at times

"So? It's pretty."

"Well, it's yours, as anything else in that box you want then. I need to clear space. We got a population boost"

Earl's looking at it, "mr. Gluminski would love some of this stuff"

"If there is a proper story, mayhaps."

"Well, those you'd have to ask Aunt Agnes about... but they are yours if you wish" clem says

Earl pulls up the neckace of tarnished silver malformed diamond disk, and the gems plucked out "mm this might also be.." he eyes his girlfriend's throat envisioning how it might look

Zara, however, is poking at the portrait-locket - THERE seems a story...

(Minus the diamonds obvs 🙂 )

"oh, yeah, Spinster Florence" Clem nods

Clem says "Broken clasp, scratch.. mmm Well, at this rate maybe I should just hand the whole box over to Earl and have him carry it for you "

"Spinster Florence?"

"Had she never a love - or, mayhaps, a love lost?"

"Both... only one man she ever was willing to marry, but he died, and that was that.. according to the story, her words to her mother and father were 'no other man shall I cleave to, and no child shall I bear that cannot bring me a chance of seeing his eyes again'. They were furious, for she was still young... but all suiting attempts were sent away, repeater offenders with scorn and warnings of her curse upon them... and ... she died childless, and without a husband, which ..especially back in the day, was considered a tragedy tripple"

"In grief, Rebels maybe born," earl mutters

Zara clasps the locket to her heart. "How romantic."

"I was thinking the word was sad" Clem says

"Oh Clem," Earl looks at his favorite cousin "you just don't get it"

"I get it," Clem says "I just don't think it's healthy"

"Oh, it is sad, too."

"But... I wonder, if their souls found each other again?"

"That part of the story is beyond my kind. For all I know, Florence is reborn among one of my cousins... maybe even one of the 7 children just arrived. "

"Hm."

"Was she a troll?"

"I don't know, before my time. Maybe she was a kinian and moved on as human souls do"

"Well, human souls have many fates..."

"Make your own story then, Zara. Seems to keep the Eshu happy" A smile

Sniff.

"Or ask Aunt Agnes, she might know the facts" Clem says

"I shall."

Earl smiles "Thanks, Clem. "

"You're thanking me, but I believe you just lost your lady's focus for a few hours"

Clem almost sounds apologetic.

She murmurs to the locket. "Tell me your secrets..."

"Oh, that's normal ...just give her a book, " he smiles "But it's okay.. watching her focused and happy makes ME happy"

Then he blushes

And the locket's picture seems to animate, ready to answer questions

"Hello, Florence."

A quiet dignified nod

"Could you tell me of your lost love?"

"He was a gentle man put into rough times, the soldier uniform was ill fiting on him because of that gentleness, but he did not run from what he saw as his duty, and he died. I loved him more than parched earth loves rain"

"Did you ever find him again?"

"Alas, the soul that once wore me is beyond my ken, I have memories.. I do not know if the search succeded it or not. It maybe she found him... and left her sorrow behind in me. It maybe she searches still, but if she has not, she strives still. Love with will"

"Love shall conquer."

The image seems to nod, and awaits another question if another there be.

"What happened to the other picture?"

"Lost...in a fire ....meant to make her forget"

A frown. "Someone else set the fire?"

"So she might marry again. Yes"