#elsewhere

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Thirteen candles are set up on the dining room table. Thirteen paper lanterns are festooned. Thirteen vases of black roses.

Why yes, it's an unbirthday!

Energy flows through the barony, whatever they believe about it, mortals are taking with the moment, fueling the dreaming

And Zara has treats for EVERY SINGLE black cat she may meet...

Black Cat Chimera in particular are thriving.... there's a clowder of them in the space between apartments

Food and a little glamour, as they are chimera.

The dust bunnies are kept safely inside.

"Where did we get these Dustbunnies anyway?" Earl says "I swear they look like the ones in Firnost. Are we a colony?"

"Mayhaps they followed us home?"

"I think they're driving Miriam nuts" He looks amused

"I think they're charming."

"Oh they're kind of sweet" he admits, "the little ones have nice smiles"

"And truth, how often does Miriam come upstairs?"

"Jacob has been spreading them around" he says

"He would."

"And, well, a sluagh childling needs a bit of dust in their life..."

"Well, a certain Eshu has been keeping him busy and out of the house a lot more" Not displeased "Seriously, helping that little girl has really benefited us"

"Good." She puts a finishing touch on a lacy swag.

"Oh wow, one of these black roses has exactly 13 petals"

"Lucky!"

"I thought you might have done that on purpose" He admits with a smile, "You didn't? It really is lucky"

She sniffs the rose and smiles. "My day, nu?"

He kisses the side of her throat with a happy peck, "Yes, It is."

"Me and King Friday, of course."

"Of course" The doorbell rings, fortunately not too loudly.

Earl goes down to get whatever, and then says "Hey, honey?" Coming up

"Aye?"

"We have a gift...from Gerd!"

"Gerd?"

"From RIvervale" he says "APparentl you helped her with tea? " He brings a small box up.

"Some, aye..."

"Well, apparently she remembers you. " He pulls out the box, its not large, but it has weight to it "What on earth? " He pulls it out. It's a wooden carving, a book end, in the shape of a man being crushed by stones with a defiant yell on his lips. Giles Corey, it's a Giles Corey book end!

"More weight! Oh, where did she find this?" She takes it and does a delighted little twirl. "We must needs place it, and I will make a thank you note on the good paper..."

"Says here on the card.. ah here it is" He reads "Blessings dark and delightful on this, the thirteenth (I hope it gets on time , it should), a time Freya is at her witchiest. I remember kindly your advice on tea, and when Siv found out I was thinking of giving you something , she wanted in. We chipped in and got a local carver to make a Giles Corey book end. I had to educate Siv on who that was, but don't hold it against her, once she learned she thought it was ideal. Your friends at Rivervale"

"Is there any lodge you don't plan on corrupting?" Earl smirks

"Nay. I shall touch them all."

She arranges the books, so they delightfully appear to be adding to the weight crushing the little wooden figure.

Bronte looks over it "Ooo"

The little bookwyrm checks it out "Doest though even lift, brah?"

BIG EYES.

"I don't know where she got that" He said

"Indeed."

Bronte grins mischievously "To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone.
Reba McEntire"

"...We need to watch her, don't we?"

"I have got to stop having Clem hand her Country singer autobiographies"

"Aye."

"I think a child lock on our laptops might be needed. I think she might be online searching at night" He says "1122 told us the tapping wasnt' him that other night"

"Oy vey."

Brontie looks to the laptop "PRecious?"