#elsewhere

"No?"

"The rest?"

"Gawain woke me up in the middle of the night saying that he saw Santa's reindeer out front. I told him to return to sleep... but in the morning, this was under the tree. So were gifts for Wain - a new winter coat, books, games - Mother and Father almost had a fit arguing with each other until they checked their online ledgers and verified that neither was the culprit. They think perhaps it was a relative, but no one is owning up, and Gawain steadfastly claimed it was Saint Nicholas."

"You... I mean, dude, we're at a magic house and there's a fairy on your ear."

"Maybe it was Santa?"

"Everyone knows that..." He swats at his ear, only half-heartedly though. "Shoo. Everyone knows that Saint Nicholas's gifts are clearly delineated by the economic status of the parents." He says, but sounds uncertain now.

"Well, I dunno how it works with chimerical Santa. Real Santa? Maybe a boggan?"

"Whatever, you deserved something nice. So does Wain."

"The only ones I know here are Miss Marigold, and Dolph.. And the latter has been quite consumed with shenanigans for Rochallor as of late, and helping his daughter find a place in town.... but... maybe, you could be correct. I cannot say who else would have been so generous."

".... the Baron?"

"He has the funds, but from what I hear, and this is not a knock on him at all, mind you, but he has to be reminded that it even IS Yule. His Lady, perhaps? Or... perhaps it WAS Saint Nicholas. Stranger things have happened. WE are stranger things, for that matter."

"We are, exactly."

"Though you're more Tolkein-elf, and I'm, at best, a shoemaker-type."

"So, how's the stinker-thing working out?" Remembering her telling him about the plan earlier.

"Well, I think I'm getting there on making a reliable spriggan-stink. And I worked on the sniffers..." She nods at the Nose-pots. "What I'm not sure of for next steps is how to get a Sniffer to talk to a remote receiver."

"Gonna make one to watch Wain, though, for sure."

"Do you truly think whoever that was would be foolish enough to test the Baron's patience twice? I mean, they're just mortals... but they are our mortals."

"I dunno. My first idea was for going after the bounty... but, well, if the Sniffer works...."

"The bounty would be nice." He admits, "Though I'd just as well not have that sort of character lurking around at all. What goes in the... cup portion?"

"A solution of Never-nasal-excretion."

"I've had them sniffing pepper and sneezing... takes a while to collect..."

"How did you...." He starts to ask, then nods. "That sounds like quite a task. But I suppose if you set it up like a game, they could be enticed."

She nods. "For a while. Got to try different set-ups. Had a good run when they decided to have a contest."

"But, anyways, the Nevers really don't like the bad guys, far as I can tell. So... the Never-Nasal-Solution gets agitated at the smell of a Spriggan, right? And the agitation sets off a little float..." She takes her sketchbook, pointing out the design. "blah blah.... reverse the polarity.... jargon!...and then, it goes ping when there's stuff!"

"Ping! I'm surprised it doesn't make a 'chime' sound."

"Oh, that'd be appropriate." She smiles.

"Then again, how would you pick it out if it did?" Amusedly noticing the cloud of Nevers.

Snort.

"I thought maybe we could break in this new Telescope together, if the night is clear."

"I'm at a good stopping point." She nods. "Maybe if we went out in one of the paddocks? Big open sky..."

"Yeah! Should we take something warm to drink? I am certain Miss Marigold would oblige."

"We never did try to read the stars like we planned. It's been one thing after another."

"Maybe we can try that?" She straightens up a little. "And... cocoa, you think? Or cider..."

"I wonder if the two would taste good mixed. I'll ask Marigold while you finish up in here."

"I... I would trust Marigold's opinion on that, Art."

By the time Thistle joins Art, he has not only thermoses of hot drinks, but a basket over an arm as well. "Some of these treats came from that farm that Briar slaughters pigs at. They don't smell like pork, though."

Sipping a glass of water, "It was an experiment I would not repeat. We have both Cider and Cocoa, but I do not recommend mixing them."

Thistle shucks her apron and paint-stained denim shirt, leaving them draped over a bench to air out. She takes a moment to finger-comb her hair and put on a 'nice' hoodie.

"But both are good with whipped cream! Hi Marigold."

No matter how vile Thistle has left aprons and smocks, they always seem to be fresh and clean by her next visit! Marigold is setting up a fan to blow into the workshop and out into the night. "Hello, Thistle! Don't mind me. You two have fun, now. Stay warm out there, there's a blanket in the basket to keep away some of the chill from the ground."

"Wheeeee!" A Never chimes as the fan blows him end over end out the door. Immediately others are clamoring to try.

"Thanks, Marigold." Oh, furk, why is she blushing?

Well, just ignore it, it's fine.

Art, bless him, is juggling the telescope bag and the basket and hasn't noticed.

"Art, let me help..."

"Oh, thanks! Can you get the thermoses?"

"Sure. On it!"

Thistle also makes sure to hold the door, since Art is juggling a lot.

He thanks her as they head out, Marigold beaming behind them. "Have a nice Niiii-iiiight!" Humming to herself as they head out, "Look at the skies, They have stars in their eyes, On this lovely Belle Notte.."

"You know, I don't know what she actually settled on..." Thistle takes an experimental sip as they walk.

Soon they are trotting along towards the paddocks. It's dark, but the moon is half full, and their pathway is lit by Nevers who dart around, playing tag and games of their own devices as they flit through the air.