#rescuemiriam

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Having planted her pipe, Zara looks forward to the rest of the pranks in motion...a rooster crows

OOC: My plan is to keep Zara and Sylvi somewhat seperate on High Summer so they can have parallel stories without needting to retcon too much 🙂

((ok!))

It had been a long night, at that - several hours of silent creeping, festooning Murray's room in pink and lace.

A dawn conversation with the Mountain...

And now, time to see what chaos she and Earl hath wrought

Earl rejoins her on cue, "Hey, you got the pipe?" he says in a whisper, a true whisper, not what trolls think is a whisper. He's learned a bit.

She nods, eyes sparkling. "Is Clem awake yet?"

"Yeah, she's...well, listen for yourself." He shuts up so he does't drown the sounds out... she hears "Good morning , Hearth" "Uhm, good morning Roland. Did I sleep that rough? " "Morning, Hearth Clem" Giggles from childlings. "Good morning, Elders.." She rejoins... it would appear many in the farm are in on it already for breakfast

Zara stretches up to give Earl a quick peck on the cheek - before, of course, there's a chance for witnesses. "I'm going to check the kitchen to see if there is aught I may eat."

"Purple tupperware," He smiles at the kiss, "I asked the Hearth to store some ..ah, vintage food for you."

"How thoughtful! I shall meet thee in the dining hall? I have practiced my innocent face for the occasion."

"Absolutely," A smile, "Don't worry about me. I had a granola bar this morning when I got up. "

"Smart." A wink of a grin, and she slips ahead.

there are some first things in the morning chores before a break for breakfest, prepping equipment, minor chores.. .so she gets to the kitchen first. It's odd to see it and the dining area devoid of the Hearth and Hearth help. So quiet. A clunky white fridge with rounded edges awaits her , and when she opens it, she finds a purple tupper ware bowl that no doubt has decayed kosher food. Someone has put a label on it that says 'Zara's'

A private little smile - did Earl remember the purple? Maybe it is a coincidence... still. She plates up some old oatmeal and honey - not even objectionable! - and carts it out to the other room.

She finds a choice spot, only a few others meander in at first. A few snicker, in on the joke. She hopes they can keep better poker faces than that. "why, where is the Hearth?" One asks.

Zara does her best to fly low under the radar, and eats when nobody is looking at her directly. She does save a seat for Earl.

Earl joins her after a 'reasonable' time.

He gets a shy smile, and a fleeting, gentle touch on the back of his hand. Not wanting to make an unseemly display with so much company.

Earl respects that, and does not make a gushy display in return, but SHE can see his eyes sparkle a bit more.

"Lovely morning" He whispers

"Aye. Though a pink dawn - I suspect today will be eventful."

The other trolls come in, bit by bit...there's no bell, so it's not the rush it could be. If there are meant to be shifts, no one has been told. The system is already ....breaking down!

As Zara works on her oatmeal, she glances around - is she the only one with a breakfast at all?

It looks like...no hearth, either the Hearth herself, nor those under the Hearth means...confusion on how this all works. So when Clem walks in folks turn on her, "Hearth!" //Clem pauses, "That's just who I was looking for, has anyone seen the Chief?" /"Nope. Hearth Clem. Uhm, Breakfast?"- "What?" Clem blinks.

A whisper to Earl. "If they start chanting 'Bacon, bacon', I might cry from laughing..."

"Hearth Clem, the kids are kind of hungry..." "THey ain't alone." /Clem blinks,a nd puts hands on her hipss, "Okay, now where did this... hold on." She darts into the kitchen, then a moment ...then she sticks her head out "Okay, Where are ANY of those under the Hearth?"

Earl whispers, "Wait for it."

"Food." Someone says.

Then someone else joins in "Food."

Some of the childlings , ever eager to join in, jjoin in, 'Food!"

She taps the heel of her spoon on the table, marking a rhythm.

That soft tap seems to be the final crack in the dam and soon a chant of a half dozen voices "Food Food Food!" Breaks out in that rhythm

Clem gives them a hard look, "You all know I cannot coo..." //"FOOD FOOD FOOD!" /"Oh for pete's sake!" She darts back in the kitchen

A rattly noise from Earl's side - yes, the sluagh is laughing, hard. Not that it rises above the rasp of sandpaper.

Earl offers her earplugs

But his belly is shaking quietly as he does so

A grin, a flash of black gums, and she takes the offered ear protection.

Good idea, for the other trolls tend to forget delicate sluagh ears, and the chanting gets louder and louder, but thanks to the plugs, Zara handles it just fine and the hardest part is keeping a straight face or joining in.

Clem comes outa moment later and speaks, but drowed out by the chants, her eyes narrow and she waits, but the chant continues, finally finds a gap in the pattern and yells, 'PIPE DOWN IF YOU WANT FOOD!"

Z collapses against Earl's side - nope, the straight face has lost. Luckily, in the sea of VERY TALL blue people, she's hidden from Clem's line of sight.

Earl will shield her even if she can feel him shaking himself.

The chant does die down at that and Clem turns to... the childlings, "Kids, follow me. " surprised looks, and they go into the kitchen area. Zara doesn't know what's going on in there

Once she manages to rein herself in, she demurely returns to her oatmeal... the only breakfast in the room. It certainly looks like normal food...

..And earplugs out, to catch what she may hear.

"but poptarts are special treats, the hearth said so.." A girl's voice chimes in. /"Right, but I'm acting hearth now, so everyone gets poptarts and the like... did you get that microwave from my room, Spencer." "Yes ma'am...but the Chief NEVEr uses Microwaves."//" Well, Never say never... start up the grits..."

"Nevertheless, she persisted. Good ol' Clem."

Earl looks at her, "She's actually handling it? how?" Curious