#goldfinchfreehold

"Your kid is good, I mean yeah it's a kazoo but she's either had lessons or a lot of starting talent," Etsie says, then looks to Amity "Means you appreciate the classical and the meme. Good on you."

She flashes a thumbs-up.

"She also can do ALL four Dances on the Bluey Cartoon," Her dad says proudly "Bandit's ,Chilli's, Bingos, and of course Blueys."

"Heh, never seen it," Etsie admits "But sounds impressive."

"If you have childlings, you will see it," He says , then adds "And see it... and see it." His eyes wide as if he's.. he's been through some shit, then he smiles as he pulls back out of his repeated DVD induced faux trauma.

"Like, you never sing any of the songs, huh Dad?"

"Never ever," he lies, and without the official Pooka guild authority! Fathers have no shame some days.

She blows a raspberry at him.

"Heh, I take it there's a discussion about historical revisionism in your future, Karel," A grin from Etsie, "Okay, well, let me get the log and I'll sign in you checked the Kazoo out. Oh, down stairs is for kithain and kinian only, it's where the balefire is. There's also a vending machine but honestly that thing is eratic so caveat emptor or whatever."

"Ooooo?" More intrigued warble than word.

"Come on down, we'll show you both" Etsy gets the log but also shows the Vending Machine, "You rarely get what you tried to select. Honestly it seems to stock itself so that's fair I guess."

Her dad puts some coins in , selects a twinkie, and out falls.. Dr. Pepper tic tacs? Huh.

Amity cups her hands and makes puppy dog eyes.

"You want to try it?" he offers coins to her, but also offers the tic tacs. Indulgent dad that he is, he can spoil a little.

And she CAN take both!

BOTH.

For science, she ALSO selects the twinkie.

There's a clatter and clank, but she gets neither twinkie, NOR more Dr. Peppter tic tacs....

Instead, she gets jelly beans of some sort.

What flavor? Well, it's not on the label.

There's only one way to find out!

A quiet "Science!" is uttered before she tastes one.

It tastes of pumpkin spice! Defiantly out of season!

If you like Pumpkin spice, it's REALLY good. If you are so so, it's still pretty good. If you hate it, well... there's a garbage can to hock into.

Or give it to dad perhaps.

She plunks the jelly beans in her dad's hands and steal the tic tacs.

"Fair trade," he says and takes one, "mm pumpkin spice."

"Yeah, be glad you didn't get a rock," Etsie admits, "It's a contrary thing some days."

"My wife would probably love to take a look at it," Mr. Novak admits, "I mean, she's probably try to take it apart but..."

at THAT mention, the vending machine drops a second set of Tic Tacs! As if paying a protection racket!

Ope!

Into one of many pockets.

"Oh dear, I think I scared it," her dad looks apologeticly to the Vice President/ "Yeah, no tinkering with the gear without Sylvi or my oversight, please," Etsie looks more amused, and leads them down to the balefire. Unlike the balefire of Rivervale's lodge, it's smaller, and does not project that sense of protective calm. No, this one is smaller but dances with a mix of welcome and defiance! Here you can be yourself! Here you can live to the beat of your own drum! Let's all be individuals together!

The old satyress looks just a bit younger as she holds out her hand for it, "Rock on."

A grin on Mr. Novak's face at this feisty little flame.

Amity goes a god exploration, poking around as she works through the box of tic tacs.

(She will likely regret the candy later)

(As might those around her)

The little finch chimera flies through the flame and back out again, trailing designs like a halo around the pooka's head. Mind you, Les would SNORT at the thought of his sister with a halo.

(QUACK! I mean, fade to Candy, FLame, and Kazoo!)