#debukefarmhold

"Ah, but will you take me with you?" he coaxes.

A look at him, "You hitting on me again, old timer?"

He chuckles. "If I am, I fear I would need to be braver, unspoken for, and at least ten years younger." He ends with a wistful sigh. "But surely you will not spend Beltaine alone?"

"It'll be with family" She says "Cadman's off on a quest"

The boggan tsks. "A noble task, I am sure.... but still...."

"Still.. " She says "Not like we were exclusive" A mmph

"Then there is nothing to stop you accepting companionship worthy of the holiday, is there?" Reasonably "After all, the leader is the land, hm?"

"You are trouble, sir" A snort "Frankly, the hold is nnot happy about me being unseelie so close to Beltaine. Rubbing their faces in it isn't going to help"

"Ah, yes, well... keeping the peace -is- important."

"Sad to say"

"I'm sure the Farm will thrive. No matter."

"Oh, it will... we have taken steps" A snort

"Have you? I am intrigued....?"

"And nosey" A smile "Seems I have a lot of curious folk in my life"

"That is the mark of havi mg a life worth living, in the eyes of some. Do you think the steps you have taken might be of benefit to the folk of Lotusland? If they did the same, that is."

"Not without sharing more of our resources than I'm ready for. They'll get our help, but I don't loan blind"

"Beautiful, powerful, -and- canny...." a heartfelt sigh.

"And you are savvy, duplictious, and underestimated."

"Not useless traits" She concedes "though I prefer straight forward"

"Chief Clem you will turn my head...."coyly.

"You hungry?" She asks

"I would be delighted. Your Hearth is blessed with great talent and devotion!"

"That she is... come on" And she guides him in for a robust meal

He does get a chance to watch the interaction. Agnes, a responsible hearth, is efficent annd provides great food, but she can't hide her concern for Clem's 'position' from Emerson. Clem in turn is aware of it, but is ready to snarl a bit if challenged

Emerson is complimentary, genial, and smoothes the rough edges.

It seems to work.

Agnes says "And what are your plans for Belttaine, Mr. Stodgepoole?"

"Oh, celebrating with Callidora." he says blushingly.

"Oh sounds right sweet" she says

"I hope to make it so, every year." earnestly.

"Well, here, somethinng for your lady" Annd she prepares a pie

"Hearth Agnes, no need to go to such trouble!" Emerson protests "You have been so welcoming and open to her on behalf of Caesar's children.... that means so much to her."

"Well we're nnot going to keep a grandmother from her grand kids" A hurmph "And it's no trouble"

"Callidora will be overcome, Hearth. Thank you, so much."

"Oh hardly, it's just a pie, but she's welcome and so are you"

"You are too kind." he murmurs.

"Mmmph" the old woman says and sets it down, "Clem, you doen with those ribs?"

Clem puts the plate over "Am. thank you"

"Good." The woman takes the plate and moves back into the kitchen

Emerson sits back with a soft groan of pleasure, and laces his fingers over a full stomach.

"Chief Clem.... thank you."

"Like we'd send you home hungry" Clem snorts "I migght be chief, but even I won't tangle with the Hearth on that. You are family, or at least close enough to it that we stopped splittinng hairs"

An eyebrow.

A brow back

"That... is a hairy subject. Familial relationships."

"It is. " She says "Don't worry, your Mister Stodgepole, not Pop Pop, no matter how hard Caesar tries"

"Mmm."

"Thank you for that."

"And for the pie." with a twinkle.

Soon the pie is brought in, repared and in a case that's easy to carry