#debukefarmhold

The DeBuke Farmhold has not changed too much, but it has changed somewhat. Crops rotate, and while Clem has been chieftain for awhile, her happiness as a mother seems to influence the Farm to almost a Charlotte's Web level, minus the death scenes. The animals seem to share in a giddiness as the chickens are provided feed, and a cow happily gives milk. Of course, even in winter crops can be collected if they are the right sort of crop.

If Zara wanted a touch of Iowa for Earl's side of thing, they'd be welcome

Regardless, Earl hasn't mentioned the House plans... yet to them, and is wondering if now might be the time.

"how's Chase?" Earl asks his cousin

"Wonderful" Clem smiles "Though Buck and I have half a dozen babysitters. The elders that have warmed to her get down right greedy with the childlings"

Earl grins "nice I..." Then part of that kicks in "That have warmed to her? THere are those that haven't?"

Clem frowns a bit "She ain't a troll or troll kin, and a few hidebound bluebutts are stand offish"

"MMPH" Earl grunts . He suspects he knows which ones are like that

"Even with the Oath?"

"Difference between tolerance and acceptance I suppose" Clem answers "Buck says Chase is adorable and will win everyone over in time. He's probably right. Her fellow childlings here like her fine and she's a tough little nugget so she can hang with trolls games."

"Sounds like she's doing better than I did at that age," Earl observes

"Feh."

"Hidebound bigots. Thou were not troll in the 'correct' way for them. Their own blood are treated as lesser if they are kin instead of kith, or worse, the 'wrong' kith."

"She ain't wrong" Clem tells Earl "But they are kin so I don't kick em out. Sides, I'm proud to say they're in the minority now" In truth she couldn't kick them out without more cause than that

Zara narrows her eyes. "Our children will be treated with every ounce of dignity they are owed, or my wroth shall be made quite clear."

Earl was about to wave off Clem and Zara's talk of his own challenges, but then Zara says THAT and his demeanor shifts "And you won't be alone."

"For I much doubt I shalt only issue tall, blue and corn-fed offspring."

"Some do prefer wheat" Clem says dead pan, then, more gently "And any son or daughter you two have is ALWAYS welcome here. You're kin. Sides, you two oathed, that makes your offspring DeBukes. Be they kith or kinain"

"And yet, Clem."

"And yet."

"And yet, it does sometimes happen, yes" Clem says "And you'll have every right to payback, the Seelie Code is clear on that.. long afore George RR Martin got writer's block, Repay all Debts had two meanings" Clem nods "As Chieftain I have to take it a bit more. You aren't held back, and if you want I'll spread that very warning to anyone who gives your future children grief"

Trolls know that Sluagh do not fight 'fair'. Worse, they know the sluagh aren't really going to feel guilty about it. Thus, wise trolls still know better than to ire them casually.

"Am I not the Corruptor?"

"And their zeyde - a sluagh - brings a new flame, free of sidhe, every Imbolc."

"Mr. DeVere IS family yes, as are you" She says "But you realize some of us are looking forward to getting your future kids hooked on football instead of baseball, and prefering rustic or craft style decor to gothic or even victorian?" A grin "We might even get them to love old reruns of Hee haw"

"As long as none of them become Yankee fans" Earl mutters

"....football?" Aghast.

"At least basketball is respectable and terribly midwestern, all a'time."

"Oh Emmit can't wait to start taking a future child of yours to watch a Cornhusker football game , All the way to Green Bay packers for Pro." She smiles "And our New Hearth says even if a daughter won't be allowed to play, she might dream of cheerleaderhood"

Clem's teeth are playfully wolfish in their smiles here. "Kind of reverse corruption"

"Oh. Oh, not allowed?"

"Feh. If mine future daughter wishes to engage in football, she shall."

"As if a Schwartz would find a barrier and not overcome it."

"Oh, she shall on the farm" Earl observes "Clem used to play Runningback "

"Was good at it too," Clem says proudly "As for barriers being broken in the mortal world, more power to her"

"Precisely."

"Now you two definitely having childling plans is wonderful." A beat "Do I need to secure you a bit of property on the farmhold?" She isn't dim, the two didn't talk so openly about their plans for kids here so much.

But she IS eyeing Zara's midsection as if wondering.

NOW she blushes. "Ah. Aye. It... not right away, no. But... but in a few years, we have discussed... trying..."

Earl nods

"Well, that's wonderful, you two will want a spot closer to the stream I suspect" Clem inquires

Zara shakes her head.

Earl ahems, then looks at Zara Sees her shake her head, then says "We will visit, of course. And the children, ANY children we have, will get to know the place and their family. But we're not settling here"

"Oh" Clem sighs but doesn't seem too surprised "Scarsdale does have nice school systems"

Zara shakes her head again.

She reaches for Earl's hand. "We have found a home. Built our place there together, nu? For some years now."

"My library, Earl's gallery... somehow, we've a whole life." A wry smile.

Earl squeezes Zara's hand back and nods

"Well I'll be damned" Clem says then smiles "Was a time you thought Coradel was a crimson strumpet leading innocent August down a shallow path"

"Seems even a soothsayer cannot know the entire future."