#debukefarmhold

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"I'm telling you, I didn't eat the damned cookies," Les glares as Hearth Kourtney interrogates him.

"Les, are you in trouble?"

Kourney says "Okay, now, Les, you've eaten farm equipment..." / "OLD farm stuff," Les points out/ "A couple of eggs.." Kourtney continues. /"Only numbers 14 to 20" He mutters then sees his sister, "Nah, Sis. It's.. well, okay. Somehow I'm in trouble." A shrug from her brother.

Kourtney sees the childling come in and says "Don't worry about it, Amity, wer'e just trying to suss out a mystery is all."

"Wait, no - actually in trouble?" The first question was teasing, but now she wrinkles with worry.

Les looks at his sister "I'll be fine," then he looks over at Kourtney "Look, Hearth I know you're like a... Steward ruler or something, but let me ask this, what makes you think it was me?" It's hard to respect this lady she' what, 5 years older than him?

"Cookies are for eating though. Redcaps don't eat cookies." Helping!

Kourtney is troll enough not to bristle at the lack of respect because of her age, first she looks at Amity "Trouble is too strong a word beyond a talking to at this point and maybe a few chores ,dear." Then she looks at Les, "We have Willow Whisper and a bit of drool over crumb that rolled awaay... the whisper said that it was a redcap.. we asked for a clue and the whisper was 'Ever Hungry, Frightening guise, Night Mare Born guest did dine.' Now sluagh don't eat fresh cookies and there are only so many night mare kith," Kourtney points out.

Les arches a brow, that DOES sound definitive.

"Well?" Kourtney says "You tell me what I'm supposed to think?"

"A horse, clearly."

"This sounds kithist. Is my brother the ONLY redcap?"

"Maybe the farm was invaded by a mongol horde and Genghis Cap was feeling peckish."

"Maybe my sister lead the horde," Les joins in, "She's raided three countries just last week."

"OR what if nightmare born means they've got a sluagh mom?"

"Four, Les!"

Les says "Show off."

A sunny grin.

Kourtney sighs "Only other redcaps around here are a pig farmer who went to market so I know he's not here, and maybe Briar if she were visting which to be fair she might... She's a little redcap kid."

"Betcha pigs like cookies."

"Nah, Cops like donuts," Les declares.

"AHEM," Kourtney says "We have some family ON the Force in Ottumwa, thank you." They also have some that run illegal liquor but that is not the point.

"My condolences," Les says rather than apologies, "So find this Kid and put her through the thumb nails."

Les grins at his sister "Thumb nails hurt a LOT, the DeBukes got like four sets."

Kourtney puts her hands on her hips "We do not."

Les flashes his sister upraised fingers for 'five'

Snerk.

"Maybe I'm a nightmare. Les sure thought so after I caught him k-i-s-s-i-n-g Sally McDermott behind th'cafeteria."

"I was trying to eat her face," Les says defensively!

Kourtney wonders if Hearth Anges ever had these moments, she rubs at her forehead, "Fine. We will look into it to see if maybe it was Briar. If it is, we'll tell her liege. She'll probably get banned for a week from here or sent to another hold for a bit... wouldn't be the first time she's caused trouble though we do try to get easier on childlings"

"ALRIGHT, " Les says, then looks at his sister, "See sis, this Briar girl could be the culprit and I'm off scott free why she takes the fall . Never just confess."

Her feathers flatten and her eyes go wide.

"Itwasme."

"What was that?" Kourtney was distracted so did not quite make it out. / Les.. Les does, and a look passes over his face. This is importrant to his sis or she wouldnt... "She said it was me but she lies... because you know, Pooka." This despite his sister's strain and success for once in telling the truth. He sighs, "You got me, Hearth. I ate the cookies. I ate em all, and tried to frame this briar bitch on top of it. Am I banished for a week or you got me working one something or..."

Her eyes go wide again, wings curling around her shoulders.

"...but..." She looks between the troll and her brother, uncertain.

Now if you were Kourtney, and you are not, but if you were, you would certainly believe a pooka is lying, even if they weren't ESPECIALLY if one of their own family assured you it was just pooka lies.. you might just assume a wilder were to blame after all and yes, was going to frame a kid. Les IS a redcap after all. Kourtney takes a deep breath "No, you are not banished. You do have stable duty for two days. TWO cleanings each, morning and evening. IF you skimp or do a poor job, you will get fed... but not as much I normally fed redcaps. Which as you know, is a double helping. And SHAME on you for blaming a little kid. You had me thinking Briar had... " A Huff From Kourtney as she actually wonder if her eyes were darkening for a second there "Just.. go to it. Your folks would not be proud of you I don't think. Go. And be glad you've got a sister trying to take the fall for you."

Les can't manage contrite without sarcasm,, "I praise the SPahghetti monster ever damned day." He pulls his sister along , "Lets go, sis. I got shit to shovel. Later, Hearth."

"...but..."

The Hearth feature's soften a bit at the girl's distress, but then Les yanks his sister, the big brute, out the door, not hurting her, but she can't do much about it.

She stumbles after Les, stubby wings flapping to little effect.

And once they're out he says, "Don't be pissed at the Hearth and don't be pissed at yourself." he says "Or even this Briar girl. Regrets are stupid. And you can't let them ruin a good thing. THREE whole trays of cookies? Damn that's amazing, sis."

"Briar's awful mean."

"Cool, good cap then," he says, "Well that is if that wasn't reverse speak."

"Swears in three languages. And she can spit a lougie near half a mile."

"A half mile?" He mimes crossing his heart but with a sphaghetti design. To honor the Sphaghetti monster. Drives his mom nuts... who often tells him to stop going into places of worship when he does that.

"Maybe it was near the half mile marker? She was all "HUAAWWWK-tooee!"

"She manage to hit a hawk on top of it? Damn that is impressive," He walks along towards the stables . He sees a DeBuke kinian with a shovel, grabs it from him by surprise, says "MINE." And moves on past to the stable. / The troll kinain was startled, even spooked but when he sees the Redcap get to work he just decides to leave it be. That crazy Cap wants to shovel horse shit? have at.

Pidge patters after Les. "Bet she'd eat a hawk if she caught one.*