#debukefarmhold

The Doe Pooka snicker as the corn whiskey is replaced with slurpy burpy cola.

Belches cascade through the kinian who turned to drinking to deal with this

.....

"And that is how we can establish peace in the middle East to everyone's satisfaction" The tractor explains

Sylvi has been going a bit nuts. She's battled so many hang ups here! DeBuke Kinian feeling like they're not AS good as the trolls so should have less say. A bias against her youth... too young to be chief they mutter. Insecurity, narrowness of vision, adherence to traditions too tightly. But with her natural people skills, she's got them listening

and organized somewhat. Telling them how to placate pooka!

How to let the satyrs enjoy themselves within reason

Let the redcaps beat shit up and be ready with the healing

and giving the slaugh their space.

so much more

There's something to be said for breadth of experience. But also, she's not just telling them the do's and don'ts. She's doing what a DeBuke should do -- digging in on the chores at the same time as she's helping to sort out the problems.

And that proves to be another thing she might want. yes, she COULD just do the 'Ugh me troll, you troll bloods, do what me say' but if she can get them to see what they're worth on their own? Maybe better.

When questions arise about what to do, she defers to the kinain first, because "You know how this works, what do you think we should do?"

And soon suggestions fly. Sally Mae seems to conserve her weight, or just focus on the Hearth aspects... and Sylvi suspects that this is kind of a challenge set by the older wilder girl... as much as necessity.

Suggestions probably breed disagreements, too, but Sylvi tries to guide those and remind them that they do know how to work together. "And I know some DeBuke folks would skin me for this, but...do you have any ideas for how to improve the way things are done without totally upending meaningful tradition? Because if so, this is the time to field those ideas, and I'm willing to listen."

Mara and Bix have ideas about Automation!

The two nockers are asked to KINDLY not bring anything else to sentience

"Automation is tricky because it takes away the good work that people enjoy doing with their hands. Is there a job that nobody wants to do? Or one that's really too dangerous? That would be a good place for automation."

A blink, then Bix looks at Mara "Chicken shit removal?"

"Oh, maybe we could harvest it and turn it into fuel.. self-sustaining-shit-shovelling!"

Sylvi looks to the kinain. "What do you think?"

"Oh.. we might want our eggs something other than scrambled"

"Could get explosive"

worried sounds

"Do you agree that it's a job you all hate, though? I mean, is there any value to it other than keeping the chickens healthy?"

They all agree "Nobody likes chicken shit.. can be good fertilzier but otherwise"

"Scramble the cows one furkin' time..."

"And we had cottage cheese for weeks!"

"Not everyone LIKES cottage cheese" Someone says

"Okay, so...figure out a way to clear the shit without disturbing the chickens or the eggs. Work on what to do with it later."

"Probably one of you...." she nods to the group of kinain "...should work with them in a...um...advisory capacity."

"Wait until you see what WE can do, this meshuggah mauler by my side!" She gives Bix a noogie.

"I believe it, but...uh...don't test it out on any live chickens or in the coop until you have a successful test run, okay?"

"Hey, I got less maul muscle, more maul brains so don't schmutz the skull"

"That's my brother!"

Sylvi shoos the two nockers and their kinain collaborator off to work.

And there are only a few (small) explosions in the following hours.

"Where the hell is my wife?" Herb scowls

The kinain looks about for Eloise

"Ooo...she probably is temporarily changed. When did you see her last?"

"Kinain.. We aint' changed" A frown From Herb as he looks for his wife

"Oh! Well, still....where did you see her?"

"Not sure"

And that's when Sylvi sees a sluagh's hand mottion from around a corner

"Well, okay...everybody...." She's about to set up a search party when she sees the motion. "Hang on." And she goes to where the sluagh waves.

ANd that's when she finds Emmit DeBuke.. all sluaghfied.

"young lady, prithee, a most unfortunate... ah , scandal is about to occur. I've done my best to fuddle ... " THe Mountain says

A blink and she STARES at Emmit for a moment...and then clears her throat and nods. "Um, okay, can you explain?"

"verily... but in trust? Not all marriages, not even on the farm, are as strong as they should be. Mr. DeVere and Eloise have had an affair.. for many years. On and off going " the sluagh seems to wince "Good lord loving a duck it feels wrong to share secrets so casually but I'm in a bind here. Long story short? DeVere was a sluagh, good fellow... Eloise is not a bad woman. Earl... well.. take a guess on his background. But Herb if he found out would be liable to have hre kicked off the farm as his right...by custom. UNfortunately, DeVere has turned into a troll.. and suddenly honor means a different thing... "

"Oh....oh! Oh, geez...where is he?"