#debukefarmhold

Zara of course, gets informed of who among the kithain and kinain are resenting Sally mae's 'betrayal' the most, and who among those, thinks this is Clem's fault for her new fangled ideas..and how it should be better!

It's more people than she'd like.

She also has a chance, of course, to approach either Earl, who they are wearing to exhaustion in his flicker flashing family hither and yon, or Emmit, who has gone into some omens

She fusses at Earl and forces him to nap before seeking Emmit.

"But I've got a lot more people to get, and supplies..." He says in a kind of sulky tone that only proves that she, as usual, is right, and he needs a nap!

But Zara insists, and, Earl sees reason and sense (IE her point of view) and goes to take a short nap. This allows her to slip into Emmit's workshop

The old Mountain looks tired. Normally Emmit is one of those souls that has a youthful kind of shine in his eyes despite the wrinkles around them.

But now, as he casts runes down in lazy seeming patterns, that shine is fogged over with worry and his years

Zara settles down to sit beside him - silent, but not 'hiding.'

And he cast a few more , the portents from her glance, don't look good. Nothing that surprises her, but still not good . Strife, instability, and aggression.

A small frown.

His own features reflect that frown, enlarged.

"Damn it." he says

He doesn't yell it, it's quite quiet, but the feeling is there

"Yet seeing the fault in the stone... can we not shore up the foundation?"

"But in which direction?" He says

"Towards kindness, sir."

"This will be powerful cruel regardless to one or the other" The old troll frowns "Some folks have bent so much, they're fit to breaking"

"Mayhaps."

"But to be so rigid will kill them. And kill this place."

"My dear apprentice, you may have some biases. " A brow

"I do."

"But truly, do you see a path without Clementine in which the Farm thrives?"

He moves along the runes, touching one with a thumb only to do so "Thriving is a term that could also be disagreed on. I see one where a noble lord sidhe takes over, and makes much of this farm, but it loses its trollish nature"

"And that is not desirable."

"It is not" A nod

"Forgive, but.. but... I was born to a tribe that has struggled, many times, to remember who they are, to keep their identity in a world in which they have been persecuted, harassed - killed, aye?"

"For how they are born. For the blood in their veins. I understand how important it is to keep what makes one special alive. To celebrate it, to pass it on. To not simply blend in and assimilate."

"Yes, I suppose compared to your tribe, we must seem like teenagers on a rant" A nod "But yes, you understand. There are risks in Clem's path too. I can see that even without magic"

"Aye, there are."

"The Farm is a treasure. But hatred can destroy as much from within as intolerance without."

"And such anger, such bitterness.. over love?" Zara shakes her head.

A frown "Agnes herself gave up on love once for our sake, some would say twice. In those times, it was a matter of survival"

"And yet... look at the fruit of that sacrifice, aye?"

A scratch of his chin

"Nay, I am yet to see a path where choosing love brings more harm. Sally Mae loves this place, and loves her family, even though they bring her pain."

An odd look, as she considers something - an echo, perhaps, of her own mix of love and pain.

A brow at that, "mmm"

"It is a choice, then - to love and embrace her, born on these green hills, the child who was the delight of every auntie and the woman who has done naught but work hard.. and who has asked, what? To love one who is kind to her?"

"Who even now is standing next to an oven in August heat, making biscuits for those who would spit at her."

"The choice is to love her, and wish her happiness - or to condemn her finding love the wrong way."

"You call me the Great Corrupter - must I argue so for love? I shall, summer sets on my soul and I shall."

A troubled look, deeply troubled, he seems to muse over the words, then says "It's really not that hilly"

"Forgive. I am a city girl."

"Not your fault" he pats her hand, then says 'Thank you"

A smile.

"I know what you want me to do, and what you think I should do, " Emmit says "But I am Mountain, and I must try to teach and keep our ways. You have pointed out something to me though, that I cannot look at the entire forest and neglect the trees that make it up. I need to talk to Sally Mae, not about the farm ,but about her."

"And - forgive - there is not always the best track record with the dogwoods and birches amidst the oaks."

"Aye, Mara and Earl.... and Ariel" A sigh "But I can only do so much in this regard. Sad thing is, Earl has every right to be in the running for Mountain, in fact he would be if not for my short sighted ness"

"I do not think all would accept him, for he has seen the world outside of Iowa and treads naturally in it."