#odyssey

“If you would like?”

"We would like for you to be happy and Named. We're your friends, y'numpty."

He laughs. “The sooner it's done, the sooner you can stop watching me worry, is that it?”

"No - you said it, you don't feel right, right now. Yeah? It's something you need. It's something we'll make sure happens."

"You can't wait another year, that'll hurt you." With stubborn certainty. "I won't let that happen."

He leans on a hand and grins at Thistle. “Thanks for telling it like it is.”

Clearly cheered a bit.

"Well, we both know I'm utterly drek at sugar-coating anything." A smile.

"Oy!" She rolls her eyes with a smile. "Yes, we'll find you a treat. Ninny."

She ruffles Art's hair, "Nope. Even when I try to mess it up, it looks good. Come on"

"Sidhe! Always pretty!"

"I know right? I get rained on, my hair looks like someone slapped on dark pasta. He gets rained on, he looks Byronesque'

A blush behind her spirals. "Yeah, well."

"BUT... who is the best opener of pickle jars? This kith" She jerks a thumb at herself

Of course, Thistle might have a few ideas on how to open up a picklejar through the power of invention

"well..."

"Give me this, Brainy girl, trolls need to feel useful" a smile though

"You can also reach high shelves without a ladder."

She considers "Fair point. Okay. You too may open pickle jars" Magnamously

"Thank you." With full courtly formality.

A grin "Welcome" As they walk with Arthur who seems a bit lost in his own thoughts

A nervous frown at the back of his head.

She mouths 'He'll be okay. He's got us'

A curt nod, determined.

As Art gets ahead of them to ask where the namer might be find and Gwen says "Sounds like your mom might be here during the winters"

"Janice."

A short exhale. "Sorry. It's... Janice isn't my mom. She's..." A frown. "She's not Mom."

"Sorry, step mom." A frown "Slipped there. And she's not."

"YOUR mom is cool. She likes the new apartment?"

"But yeah. And Dad. And Frankie." She bites on her lip.

"I mean, it's... it is probably the best option."

"Janice deserves her family, and it'll be great for Frankie."

"You love Frankie, and you just met your new sister... nothing to keep you from staying in their lives regualrly" A pat on her shoulder

A grimace but she nods.

"I know this is better than just stealing Miri off to home."

"Being greedy cause I like seeing Frankie every week?"

"That's no reason to blow this up. Because it can't be perfect."

"Nothing is ever perfect. I can't... " Huff. "Can't get hung up on that."

"Maybe you'll still see them a lot. And you know, we hook up wifi you'll at least be able to wave over the com"

"Yeah, internet will help. I can get a temp solution, but I still wanna consult with Wudlig."

"He specializes in magical stealth, fer fugglesticks."

"You'll put his ass to work. If he gives you lip, just say 'Hey, if a Dougal can't do it' and look SO sad and disappointed"

She rolls her eyes.

"Dougal are overrated. He's a nocker, ain't he?"

"He is... but so are you so I'd dig on the Dougal side" A smirk, a thought "Wait, does that mean if I ever want to motivate you all I havee to say is 'hey, if a nocker can't Do it'? and look tsk tsk, or will that like only work once?"

She rolls her eyes and shakes her head.

"I'm just saying I am okay with the fact that I can't specialize in everything."

"Yeah," A nod "Just like I can't be the best Dog Trainer Warrior Guide Skycrafter"

"Exactly."