#odyssey

The elderly Vittorio squints at Janice, and then looks at Omario. He speaks up in a quavery voice, "You know, I don't see no criminals here. I see a Grandmama and her family. What exactly are you so scared about?"

Omario sputters.

Slowly, the crowd comes in again, away from Omario, and over to the side of Thistle, and her family.

Little Louis breaks the silence. "So y'all gwan agree t'at Thistle won? Pay up!"

Gwen steps back , in order to let the family huddle, then looks at Louis with a smile "Kid, you're amazing"

"Frankie, this is your Grandma Saoirse - and, well, a lot of Aunties and Uncles and cousins...."

Janice moves over, towards Saoirse, but she stops at Thistle's side, wrapping her arms around her and Frankie in a quick, fierce hug. "Thank you." She whispers, then straightens.

"Mama - Chieftess Saoirse. You have met my eldest daughter - I share her with another mother, but claim her all the same. My son, Frankie. And my youngest daughter... I have yet to meet." A pleading in her voice.

Art has made his way to Gwen's side and nudges her. "I hope I didn't miss much?" He whispers.

"Oh, the Mer showed something perfect but heartless, and then Thistle beat it with something flawed but from the heart...which made it twice as beautiful. Then you had to steal the show you crazy keebler by bringing real family here. I could shake you... good job" And she gives him a side hug, then whispers "Eyes on Omario, this is where he mgiht try something evil and desperate" she whispers the last

"I didn't mean to!" He insists. "I hoped they'd arrive before the unveiling, but their flight was delayed in Antigua!"

Thistle is still drawn a bit tense, waiting....

Saoirse steps back, away.

...and takes the baby from Judge. She holds her, a quick embrace, then steps forward, opening her arms to Janice.

Citrine is happy to see Thistle's family, at least, chiming softly and buzzing around. Did Janice see Baby? Yes? Chime?

Gwen is watching for Omario, taking her own advice to Arthur

Thistle takes a breath, steadying, before - "Janice, meet Muirghein Brighid. Gift of the sea, and the goddess of fire and craft."

"....And healing."

The crowd murmurs the name! "Muirghein!" A childling shortens it to "M... Miri-Bri!"

"A goddess's name!"

"A name of the sea"

"An old name."
"A good name!"

Janice takes the child, and clutches her close for a moment, before passing her to Greg. THistle's father looks overwhelmed, jetlagged, and he is CLEARLY wearing a Hawaian shirt he must have bought at the airport - but he is crying too.

Omario, however.

Gwen walks towards Omario if she sees him.

The tall man has spun around, looking for someone he can vent his anger on - and the closest person, now that the selkie have crowded to see The Treasure, the drylanders, the family...

...is Lady Aerissa.

"This is YOUR fault! You said you would win! You FAILED me! You worthless, cold-blooded, dull-scaled, gill-faced-"

The Mer BRISTLES. "I. Think. NOT."

"And you spoke to her so prettily in the Cave cove to her, Omario. You promised her the Carribean, trilled the words of other islands like honey in her ears. Of course, if you hadnt lost to me, you wouldn't need to bring her to work. You promised her returned lands and conquest. I'd say she did you better service than you did her "

The Mer doesn't seem phaseds by Gwen'd knowledge, but nods, and adds - "And when I deliver, where is what I was promised? You turn on me with your poison tongue? You asked for my Art, I grant it to you now!"

Aerissa makes a sharp gesture, slashing with a barbed spine at the translucent fishing wire strands that suspend her ice star in midair to twinkle merrily. A turn, and she shoves it, letting it go crashing into the Selkie, the weight and momentum of many, many pounds of ice bearing down on his, and shattering.

Gladiola steps back as the monument shatters close to her, but she knows she was not the target

An inclination of her head to Gwen, as polite and decorous as any Sidhe lady. "I believe I am finished here. Please give the Challenger my regards. She has created a masterpiece." Stepping OVER Omario as though he were nothing, the Mer walks delicately back to the shore, and into the surf, and is gone.

"Lady Aerissa" A bow. Something cold in gwen, not banality, approves of how this all played out.

Janice presses the child into Greg's arms after a long embrace, and turns back to Thistle, and to Saoirse. "We... must talk."

Her part in the revenge was small, but it was ...gratifying. she moves to move the fallen sculputre, and whipsers to Omario, whether he's alive or not "Never ever fuck with Silverwolf's children again, in this life or the next"

"Like seven furkin' years of talking, probably."

Aoife comes to Gwen's side, accompanied by a couple other Selkie. She kneels, and checks his pulse - he is unconscious, but still breathing. "We all heard. Come, lads, heave him up. He can warm up inland, behind locked doors."

"Glad you all did, Aoife. We need witnesses"

A look at the outcold but alive (Aaww shucks) Omario

"I have tried to be a good guest, but that man doesn't deserve his skin"

Saoirse nods, her face hasn't stopped running with tears. Perhaps it's a selkie ability, her eyes never seem to run dry.

"Thistle - Thistlethwaite S. Fulcanelli. You have won the Challenge of the Redfin. We did not welcome you, not make it easy. You were thus wronged, and after your family was wronged. I made a judgement, years ago - and perhaps I was wrong all this time."

"Doesn't mean it can't be fixed now."

"If I was wrong then, and wrong now, am I fit to lead my people?" Saoirse says, in a quiet voice - perhaps asking Thistle, or herself.

"Only if you refuse to change. Perfection is impossible."

"So we have to strive for better."

Art has managed to make his way back to the others, but he hangs back as Thistle talks to the chief.

"We have survived this long by refusing to change, to compromise."

Gladiola comes back a bit late, but sees she has come in at a time of import.

She shakes her head. "You have changed, and the world around you has, too. That's not bad. It's just what is. No shame in adjusting something - doesn't make the whole kit and kaboodle worthless, just because y'need to tweak it."

"Imagine running a car with the same oil for forty years! It'd burn up!"

"Mama, I'm sorry that I left the way I did. I could not leave Greg, nor could I ask him to leave his daughter. Mostly, I am sorry that I left - and gave up, and did not fight for things to change." Janice says. "I didn't have the strength or courage. That is why I failed."

"Okay, so we are agreed that I am right, and we can absolutely hammer out a situation where everyone, save Omari-zero, wins?"

Saoirse looks around. "He left?"

Oblivious to the side drama.

"Because tonight, we have a victory, a Saining and a very belated birthday to celebrate."

Gladiola says "You should ask Aofie and others about Omaria , Chief Redfin"

Dismissive wave. "Sore loser, I'm sure you'll get the deets."