#dreaming

"Would we get to choose the person?"

Sylvi looks serious.

"Ah, at last, a haggling that does not just insult the Baker's goods" Madame Sly says

"Well?"

"yes. You make pick the person, plus the dross..and all twelve are yours"

Symon is quiet, thoughtful. "Explain what you mean by 'pride'.

"What would you do with it, with the love that we could sell?"

Dirk mutters to Dagmar "Can't we just grab it and run?"

"Sylvi..."

"To tell you secrets might be seen as lowering the price" The Madame says to the questions "What, don't wilders just trust anymore?"

"That's the childlings" Gerd says archly

"You don't need to be specific. But...could it be used to hurt us? Or the person who is loved?"

"Sylvi, if she wants these so bad, she should have given you more. Don't pay something you can't get back."

"Would the loss of love hurt anyone? Answer that, and you have your answer" Sly says

"Exactly. It does. Don't have to be a Fiona to know that."

"Dagmar, she's giving us ALL the rest for that price. I have other things to trade, but...this may be better than losing those...." She looks troubled, but resolute.

Zane says "Wait.. what about Colton? I mean.. you're crazy about him . You just want that gone? For cookies? that's nuts"

"Yeah? What love would you give up? Your mom? Colton? Think, Sylvi!"

"Their ignorant asses getting a lesson ain't worth that."

"Dross you got gets us five, yeah? We have some dross between us, could probably get another few."

She glares at Zane.

"Cookies come by the dozen. If C-...she wanted one for everybody, we might as well keep going to find this Baker chick directly and explain the humanitarian circumstances."

Symon, a sluagh, is used to getting ignored. But he still looks thoughtful.

She steps up closer to the counter. "The love I hold for the person of my choice, plus the dross already paid, for all twelve of the kith-shifting cookies from The Baker. That's the deal?"

"Oh so quick to offer" Madame Sly beams... rat eyes a glow with pleasure and she holds out her hand "Yes. I even throw in something extra" She offers her hand

"Sylvi, come on..."

Sylvi shakes her head. "Nothing extra. Only what I said."

"Just what you said" The woman says

And offers her hand, again

Gerd says "Sylvi... Are you sure about this?"

Grunt. (I don't like this)

Symon narrows his eyes and watches.

Zane studies Sylvi's face.. trying to read her brain

"Nope," she says to Gerd. "Not sure, but it's my quest, so...." She takes Madame Sly's hand. "I offer the love I have for you yourself, Madame Sly." And if the shopkeep doesn't like it, too late, the deal is struck.

And a smirk, he has thought she was clever enough to guess that might work.

There's a tension in the air, like the barometer dropping ! And the sound of a key click

"But you love me not at all!" The woman yanks her hand back... but then stares at the hand as if it has betrayed her. Slowly she rises

"I do not,"

"Guess you just gave us the cookies for cheap then" Dirk laughs "Oh geez, Sylvi. To think I didn't used to like you"

Sylvi agrees.

Dagmar frowns, watching Sly.

"I might love you a little after that con." Symon snickers.

Sly turns, and begins fetching cookies, bound by the bargain

She withdraws her hand, then opens her pack, pulling out some things. She shakes her head at the others. "I don't want it to be a con...but I brought nothing to trade that you would want yourself, Madame Sly."

The Madame says "Clever girl. " almost.. admiring?

"What does the medusa compact do?" He can't resist asking.

"I don't want you to feel cheated outright...so please take these. Perhaps you can make a good trade with someone else with them." And she pushes a pair of cheerleader pompoms across the counter.

A frown, as she gives up stuff for free, and a shake of his head at her foolishness.

"Turns the user into a statue, it is a trap" then Madame Sly looks at Sylvi "You.. do not love me, do not like me, and yet you offer me this why?"

A blink. "I would not have you as an enemy, Madame Sly."