#debukefarmhold

"Oh you exaggerate, child. And flatter. No no, i am on the decline, a rolling stone that gathers decriptitude"

"You just dodged questions about chimerical friends, dad" earl reminds

"Did I? Hard to remember," he says and sips then "Seems so long ago"

A soft chuff.

"And gained one of mine. So - aye, I write. A little."

"I suppose it is only fair to exchange, one musn't forget the properties just because one has the advantage of a holiday celebrating dead pater familias. YOu both know, of course, the mother and father's day were meant to honor deceased parents. The living honorifics are pleasant, but not the original purpose. Still, Miss Zara, share me your pen name and I'll answer two questions of your choosing if they do not break oath"

"My father, the one who matters, is alive."

"I will not honor the dead one."

"Rightly so, the dead one was never a father I would say. He cared not for any save himself, he saw his off spring as tools and weapons. This is not a father, " A huff from DEvere "This is one who would be a slaver and gloss it over with enough varnish that he might admire his reflection. And we sluagh are slaves to none"

"We do not kneel." Firm.

"Hear Hear" earl says quietly and sips

"But on paper... well.. Miss Talia Amur spins stories, silly romances. Not great literature."

"Let the dreamers decide what is great, Miss Zara, " A finger raised from Mr. DeVere, "Talia Amur, a most excellent pen name. Most refined sounding. I shall seek the books out- covertly as please you. Now, i owe you two answers to any question you like"

"Tell us, please, of your chimerical friends?"

"It is hard, and perhaps unsavory, to pick a favorite" He begins, "So I shall not rank them. First though, I should mention what great use wrigglesworth is to me. He's a great worm, not w-y-r-m, but a gigantic Earth worm. He can shrink too, so he is both excellent spy, and transport. He was how I found my way to the Hollow Earth"

"Ah!" Delighted.

"Holow Earth? I thought only nockers went there?" Earl says "or that it was clsoed?"

"Nockers are the true expert explorers there, but they are not the only kithain to be found in that part of the Dreaming. Wrigglesworth is one of the few beings able to go there with ease. Oh it is quite amazing, if a bit loud. I confess I do like the victorian aspects"

"Nocker aesthetics would be charming if not for the garish colors."

"And loud whistles" A sigh "But many parts of the hOllow world are more sedate if you know where to find them," he sips, "Now, where was I? Oh yes, other chimerical allies," A pondering "Well, Of course, I have a spider ally, a black widow named 'Lady Grief', she is a reclusive one, but quite lovely."

"Poetic name" earl comments

"it is, isn't it?" His father smiles

"Indeed."

"Let not 1122 meet her..." A sigh.

"Oh dear" the older man slowly considers "I had not realized that"

A pause, and Zara looks for the little metallic spider.

Fortunately, he appears to be nosing about elsewhere!

"Another chimera I know takes not the form of an animal, but of a hovering talking skull. I believe he was inspired by the Dresden novels, for he is, like a certain character there, quite the leacher I fear... Most interested in lurid occurrences as if living out vicariously. That said, he has knowledge and power"

"Charming. I imagine he is a most droll companion."

"Atimes, if one shares some tawdry bit of information with him, he can tell you such things as where you were in a past life so you might find a lost trinket," A sip

Earl raises a brow at that "he reads the past lives of others?"

"He read mine," Mr. DeVere shrugs elegantly

"Of course, the chimera one never manages to befriend are tame can be the most intriguing." a sigh "Once, near your own scarsdale area, I saw something I never expected. The headless horse."

"You mean the headless horseman, right?" Earl inquires

"No lad, I mean I saw a chimerical horse, trotting about without a head. It seemed to know where everything was, had full senses somehow without a head, and it was ...supremely macabre"

"Now that would be a sight... the horsemen are common there, it is their home."

"But a headless horse? Aye, something special."

"Indeed, I do not know who dreamed her up, she goes entirely invisible in shadows though" He ponders "Ah, but I suppose in my long winded way, pray forgive, I have answered your first question. Or was that two in one?"

"The first."

"Ah, then ask another as it please you" A sip