#odyssey

"Okay, Thistle, " Between cakebites, she pulls her friend (or friends) aside "How much do we charge Little Louis for the boat we found? We have to charge something or he will lose all respect for mainlanders. I can't even wear that shirt I got from the tourist shop around him without him shaking his head and tut tutting like I need a keeper"

The cake is sweet, and good - for a cake. Nothing like Marigold's, of course, though Gwen might be biased. However, one might also argue that any cake is good cake, because at the end of the day, you DO have cake.

All cake is good cake!

Citrine has likely stuffed herself full.

"Mmph. Maybe see if he can find a pugmill pup. Kid's got enough initiative..."

"I'm normally all for pups, " A munch

Dayana is nearby trying to have a conversation with Grog. "No, I know it's colorful, but cake is not for you. It will gunk up your works, and I know YOU don't care, but I'm the one who will have to clean up after it all."

Grog snorts and drools, making eyes at the cake anyways.

Thistle overhears and drifts over. "Aw, poor guy." Ear-scritch.

"Dayana, I have some ideas about getting internet here - I have a friend who is even better than I am at this stuff, but, if it works... boom, college at your fingertips. Right?"

"Poor WHAT?" Dayana rolls her eyes, no sympathy. "He has it MADE. A warm bed by the kiln, a full bowl of scraps whenever he wants it..."

She stops on her light-hearted rant - "....really?"

"Ain't gonna promise, but yeah. I have ideas. And there has to be a solution, clearly. Ya'll just haven't had a nocker take a crack at it yet."

"But I am sure it CAN be done. And the Chieftess approves working on it, so if not me, somebody will figure it out."

"Really, it might be as simple as stickin' a tin can on a string."

"I mean, why mess with the Veil at all? That's complicated magic, no furkin' need to compromise its integrity when you can just circumvent it!"

"I read about how they got internet service from the US over to Eurasia by these massive underwater cables. Of course, sometimes signals get lost because of sharks biting them. Someone suggested it few years back, but the shark bit got it tossed out. "

"That's basically a tin can and a very long string. ...that attracts sharks."

"Nothing is perfect. And so yeah, you need to maintain anything. Nothing runs without repairs in perpetuity."

"So we add shark repellant." Nonchalant shrug.

"Shark repellant? Nothing noxious or chemical would stick, even if we were willing to take the risk of poisoning the seafloor..."

Dayana looks dubious.

"What are sharks scared of ? Maybe a fuddle?"

"oh sorry" Apologizes for butting in

"They are millennia-old killing machines. They fear nothing - they are not built for it." Aoife has joined the conversation, hearing the mention of sharks. "They can be deterred by promise of an easier meal, or if they are merely curious, but they do not fear."

"Right. Maybe there's a way to make the cable as boring as possible, since it's not food."

"Winter magics.. .the sort that dull interest and passion?"

"But just because there's challenges doesn't make it not worth doing. It just means finding solutions!" She glances over at Janice and Saoirse.

"Hidden, yes, that could work." Aoife nods. "A proper shark-fuddle is one of our earliest warrior trainings. Woe to the fledge who forgets to fuddle their scent."

To Gladiola, "We have those who know Kryos - not to that Mer sorcererss's expertise, though. If Omario hasn't completely offended her, we may barter for her help."

A nod "I should leave you lore heavy sorts to it. " A nod to Thistlewraithe

"There's LOTS of potential solutions. Increase durability, make it taste bad, camouflage it..."

"Run it through pipe, bury it, create a fish lure at a distance to attract easy food...'

"Magic is just one option, when we have Science!"

An older Selkie with the redfin tattoo on his knuckles joins in the conversation. "Sharks ain't for luring, missy. They're for avoiding. You ever take to the water bare against their teeth, you'll understand." But, he considers at the same time. "Not sure why they like them wires so much - maybe the electric in the cables lures them some."

Others are curious and join in the conversation. Some good ideas, some ludicrous...

"Paper, paper...." She mutters

There is a disposable tablecloth on the table just under the cake, and plenty of blank space...

Gwen looks for Janice

Janice is speaking to a few of the elders, off to one side. She has a serious look on her face.

Notes! Sketches!

Gwen waits quietly as she enjoys more cake , but waits for a moment to talk to her or greg

Janice seems deep in conversation, but Greg is approachable, watching over Frankie as he tastes everything on the table.

"Sir, do you have a moment? "

Respectful

He checks behind him to see if she is looking for someone else before turning back. "Me?" Wearing a colorful flower patterned shirt, and with a good dose of sunscreen smeared on his nose. He looks the picture of an affluent white tourist on vacation.

"Yes sir. " She says realizing this man is actually pretty cool. Upturned, enchanted, likely baffled, and yet he stands by his wife, "Well, at first I was going to ask when you thought we'd be heading back, when the plane flight was, but, now that I think of it, how are you doing?"

"I'm not too certain. I have some leeway, I can make my own schedule as I'm a partner, and I had booked paternity leave as well, but there are limits before it may become an issue. Jan, she's having some trouble. There are some that do not wish to see Jan leave, even now. Nothing is simple."

He gives her as smile though. "Having more options is better than none, though. Now, for Trina and you two? I have tickets ready and waiting whenever you're ready to head back. It's not a straight flight, you'll need to take a boat or island hopper over to Antigua, but you can fly direct to LaGuardia from there. First class."

"Thanks, our lieges will reimburse you for the trouble" A glance over at Thistle "In truth I'm not sure when Katrina will want to go back herself. She's in her element, not the island paradise, but the problem solving and crafting. What do you want?" she asks him " I mean, I don't know you well but you're not a 'my way or the highway' guy, but I hope you're not hiding your ... " A pause "Sometimes we kithan can walk all over a son of adam if they let us. I just want to make sure you have a voice? I know Janice would never do that, but still, do you want me to advocate one way or another on your behalf? " She thinks of Chuck , who Greg may not even know, and how those few times he was enchanted he was amazed, but also vulnerable

“Well, my father’s name was Craig, if that helps.” He chuckles, then apologizes, “Sorry, after the first couple kids, the dad jokes overrule anything else.”

He considers, looking at Janice. “I love Jan, I truly do. Were it not for Trina, I might have stayed with her way back then. But I told her then, I couldn’t break up my family. She’s older now… but she’s still my little girl. Even when she’s grown and gone, she’ll still be my Kit-Kat Trina-bean.”

“And family means nobody gets left behind, or forgotten. A wise alien once said that.”