#odyssey

"FIgure it out? THe internet? Sure"

“Everything!”

"Everything."

Gwen's brow knits "I get the feeling I missed something While I packed. Look over your bags make sure I got it all"

"Oh, hey! Thanks, Gwen."

"I gotta say goodbye before we go, though."

"I hear you" Gwen nods

Thistle goes looking for her father, Janice, and siblings.

Dad is holding Miri-Bri in a sling wrap, and Frankie is running wild on a sugar high. Janice stands by, smiling softly.

"...Gwen says we gotta go before the storm, or we'll get stuck. And, you know, Mom, and the Baron, and school..."

Janice reaches out and gestures for Thistle to come closer. “Frankie, come here as well.” He complains only a moment before dashing up, soaked wet to the butt in his shorts.

"You're gonna be back for a while before you're gone for the winter, right?" Trying so very hard to sound casual and not like a plea.

"I mean, I painted the nursery.... you didn't see it, but.. like, it could get used once?"

“Of course!” Greg says in a reassuring tone. “I can’t get a lick of work done here.” He sounds… Not to bothered by That. “I’m owed a vacation, too… but that’s the thing about vacations, they’re special because they don’t last. We’ll be home before you know it.”

It does occur to Thistle that she could incur any delays she wants to keep them up north.

"Right." A sharp smile. Those teeth might be a touch disconcerting for the mortal, but, well - she's also still his Kit-Kat.

“Let’s all take a family picture before Trina goes home.” Janice smiles and opens her arm for Thistle to join into the group shot, next to Frankie, in front of her and Greg and the babe.

She steps into the offered embrace, without hesitation or rolling of eyes.

Pictures are taken! Many! Because Greg wouldn’t stop making silly faces, then Frankie was too, then the baby spits up- but there is laughter through it all.

It's... pretty good, isn't it?

"I'll see you guys soon."

"And we'll make sure Miri-Bri's paperwork and everything is good to go when you get home. Gwen seems sure the Baron has those resources."

Gwen is hugging Aofie and then turning to Little Louis "The boat is yours but at a price. Shall we haggle?"

His eyes go wide! “You almost left, I thought you was gin’ haul it on the plane with you!” Accusatory! But excited.

"Now, I'm thinking, that in the mainland, that boat would go for FIFTY Dollars"

She waits with a hidden

smile

His eyes go wide, and he looks to be mentally calculating. Then, a sly look. “Well, if it go for $50 on the mainlin’ that’s because drylanders don’t know what to pay! Like you’n that shirt.” He grins big, a flash of white teeth.

“It sure is a pretty thing though, so I could see fittin to give you..”

He pulls his stash out of a hidden pocket, and carefully lays down each hard earned bill. Nearly $30! A fortune.

“Chieftess would have me keelhauled if I fleeced a guest… so I could give you this, and… owe the rest? Once I get her fixed up and out to sea, I’ll have all I owe and then some!”

she can't help it, she laughs and hugs the boy "I'll give it to you for ten, but you must turn it over if the owner somehow survived and shows up for it. Also, you look out for Thistle and her family whenever they're here, especially thistle. Deal?"

She understands he may haggle for the next 6 trips they return instead or less

He gives her a big grin. “I’ll do it!” No more haggling, just an honest handshake offered.

She shakes his hand "Done and done" A pause "But first the tenner?"

A wink

He laughs and hands it over. “No foolin you, you might be a dry lander but you got your feet wet at least!”

"Thanks to your teaching in no small part" A nod "I still don't regret the shirt"

“It looks good.” Little Louis is all smiles. He notices Thistle and says, “you best come back soon, make sure MY boat is running.”

"Your boat?"

"I just sold it to him." She admits

"You can be mad at me later," to thistle "But i figured you'd be okay with it "

She quickly hides a grin.

"I suppose I shall recover."

"Stout fella" A smile

The Chieftess approaches Thistle, looking over the trio and their luggage. “Thistle, a moment.”

Brows lift.

"Yeah?"

Gwen steps back a step to give more privacy if needed

Saoirse steps a few paces away, speaking to Thistle directly, but without taking her away from her friends.

“Thistlethwaite. I know that you claim the family of Smith, and of your mothers people, the McCready’s, and the fellowship of Silverwolf Barony. I would offer to you another family name you may claim. As blood relation to Frankie and Miri-Bri, who may one day bear skins of their own, and as one who I owe much for returning my family to me- you may claim kinship to the Redfin now, as well.”

”…if you so wish.”

Her spirals flush a happy crimson and she smiles. "I... I would, yeah."

“Do you wish to bear our mark?” She has seen the swirl of red wave on other Redfin. “Tattoo or chimerical dye, is the normal means. Some scar or brand, though generally that is warriors trying to prove their bravery. You have naught to prove. If you prefer, there may be a token, though such may be lose or stolen.”