#elsewhere

Earl looks amused as Zara's feet leave trails in the water.

He focuses on his painting, but chuckles as she plays with the fog it can generate "Are you ever coming down?"

"Never!" Laughter.

The whisper is loud and clear, and so much easier to announce here than it would be in the further dreaming. Earl grins with wolf fangs "I shall have to fly myself and become a hunter on the wing I see"

"A merry chase it shall be."

Hannah's apple cake is in a tupperware by the bank - two tupperwares, actually, one purple, one blue.

The blue one is notably fresher.

He looks up from his painting "I dont' know which is the greater tease. Your mother's cooking or you"

"Thank you for fetching them."

"Mayhaps we could go home tomorrow to celebrate with them?"

"Miriam might come."

"of course" he says without missing a beat "Though I may have to make sure to skip a meal before hand. Your mother seems to think I'm too skinny for a troll."

"Aye, she does."

"But she has Jacob to feed now, too."

"AND Miriam."

"So everyone is too skinny."

"So you're saying it doesn't matter the kith, she has an excuse to feed them?" Amusement

"Correct."

"Yup. Skipping a meal that day before we go over" he says almost done painting

She makes lazy circles on the broom, laying in a nice blanket of fog.

"I remember this was expensive, but oh..."

"it was " he says "But worth it. Though I still don't want you to use it around mortals. You know how dangerous the unenchanted can be"

"I know, I know. But this shall be wonderful on the trod..."

"mm you'll be able to fly up high enough for me to kiss you on the lips without my bending down" He nods

"Oh, we should test..."

Zip-zip, steal a kiss.

And he savors the theft

And she notices now what he's painting. A super ADORABLE version of Zara riding on her broom side by side with the Headless horseman and giving him a finger waggle , the Headless horseman has no head so has no expression, but the Jack o Lantern Her carries has a "What the heck?' look of almost cartoonish surprise as does the horse

A little chuff.

And HE steals a kiss back

Rattle-rasp laughter.

She does eventually settle, to nibble on some year-old cake.

And he joins her "I thought the joy of you was too wonderful not to paint in one form or antoher" He settles near her

"Tis a silly painting."

"Tis" He confesses

"Thou intends to share it, or no?"

"I thought of it, but figured you might want a vote"

"It.. well.."

"It is not your usual fare."

"mmm I probably won't sell it no," An admission "Dont' want to alarm my patrons that I've changed my style or any. But ... maybe I could put it up somewhere for childlings to admire? Or ...would you prefer it a particular place?"

"As much as my family might like it... your garret? Or my room?"

"I want it for us."

"Then for us it is. And I leave it to you whether it is in your room or my garret" He strokes her face "Either way, no others will see it unless you decide they should be admited to see it."

"Dignity must be preserved."

"Yes, darling" His eyes shine with affection, adoration, love.. and a touch of amusement. JUST a touch

She nestles against him, content.

And he holds her gently. Happy for good food, and the lady who he loves being happy.

Tomorrow, a visit to the family.

All is well.

Very well indeed