#odyssey

Her cheeks are pink again and she watches when he can't notice!

He did not pack a brush, it seems, and is tugging his hand through tangles. Then again, they almost slide loose without effort, because OF COURSE THEY DO.

They were all a bit underpacked...

A wince as he tugs at a stubborn one, and mutters, "Come loose!" with a hint of command - and then the hair smooths down with a quiver as if obeying him!

Showering sounds from the bathroom

She quickly looks away when Art lifts his head.

"I'm sorry that we have to go back so soon. I know you could probably spend a month at Goblin Town and not even scratch the surface."

"Probably! But I'm sained now - we're sained."

"We can go again."

"WE are sained! What did you think of that Troll, Sir Vali?"

"Did you learn a lot from the troll? If he's a Rivervale, that's just a trod away. So you can get house lessons."

"...And they accept Beaumayn there, even though it is a Gwydion holding."

"They do..." She falters, frowning.

"I mean, just in case. Like you said, it's only a rod away!"

"It is. Right. And only a few hours drive."

And the axe nearby almost beckons to Citrine..it's got buttons

Shiny buttons!

CANDY-LIKE BUTTONS!

"Do you think you can help me tie my hair back? I don't know when it got so long."

"It looks nice. Elvish. You want braids?"

"Oh, could you?" He perks up!

He offers her a small box, it has a nocker mark on it. "I actually got these for you..." His cheeks color a bit.

"Sure! You know the other books better, only dark haired one I can think of is Elrond..."

A flush of coral. "Oh!"

"Well, I didn't really get you a Saining gift, you know?"

"I need to get you a saining gift. I... I didn't buy one, I was gonna make something..."

It is a collection of colorful hair charms, with both gold and silver twisted wire! "I figured, if you didn't like them, maybe Citrine could play with them..."

?

"Oh, fun!"

She sorts through, picking out some black and purple ones.

There is a purplish hue, like a shimmery oil slick, to the black of his hair that she never noticed before.

It looks like it may come in more towards the ends, not visible when it was shorter! Hair shouldn't WORK that way, but...

But... sidhe.

Thistle's gnarled, knobby hands are also deft - skillfully separating the damp locks into sections.

"You like them? They made me think of you. I mean, I'm sure you could make things like that yourself, better even..."

"But I like them!"

"And it's nice to get things from other artists." She braids the first charm into his hair.

He feels a bit of weight and tries to turn to look. "Hey, no, those are for you..."

"Yup! And I'm using them."

Small dutch braids from his temples, joining in the back to form a larger central braid.... some of his hair left to hang free, contained by a "net" of braids...

His ear tips are red again as her hands work through his hair, even though she can't see his expression.

"See, I can look and appreciate them. "

"Um. If you say so. I'd offer to do the same for your hair, but I'd just muss it into tangles I'm sure."

"Well, I'm not sure about that. You can be hard on yourself."

"I suppose I could order the strands into place. Even if I am but a Squire, maybe I can be a squire of a Salon." Amused.

"Nothing wrong with being a squire, unless, I guess, you don't want to be one." A few tugs as she ties off the ends. "There. Go look!"

He steps over to the decorative mirror that hangs over the desk of the suite, and twists to look. The charms shine in the light, and Citrine... wait, wheree was Citrine...

/roll coin