#scarsdale

"I haven't lost all my feathers, mayhaps."

"So flight might yet be possible," He nods, "Hey, would it be okay if I dropped by here now and then more often? Not...so much you feel crowded, but just now and then? I mean, Firnost is okay, but it's rarely just us there."

"Here is okay. Yes. And with how things are.... I know, I've not been out as much. Mama likes you, I think."

"Your mom's cool," Then he adds, "But she does seem to think I'm starving myself because I'm more slender than most trolls. Anytime I met her she's putting a plate in front of me, not that I complain-it's great food, but I'm gonna gain forty pounds if I'm not careful." Humor

"I think she just likes feeding people. Ask your cousin - did the same to Clem. My... particular tastes, well..."

"You have rarefied tastes," He says politely

Her cheeks flush, and she shrugs. "She's very accommodating. I'm lucky."

"We both are," He says, "Doesn't mean our families always understand us and don't drive us crazy, but yeah, they're good people."

"Maybe it is written somewhere - a footnote on the grand tapestry. Family must needs cause frustration to balance the love."

A chuckle, then an admission, "That...would explain...so very much," Another chuckle

"Or maybe they frustrate so much because they are so important."

"The strongest ties must needs bind," A concession, "They twitch, and we feel like they're choking us off. They ease too much, we feel like we're slipping away. "

"I feel lost at sea. I don't know if I am coming or going these days..."

"I think our elders are sometimes as lost as we are, they're just better at staying cool under fire," He finally says, "But... cheesy as it sounds, if you ever feel really lost... I'd try to be your lighthouse."

A soft laugh, reaching up to tap his nose. "Tall enough."

That gets a warm soft laugh, "Yeah. If I were green instead of blue I could try for a statue of liberty pose."

"I think you're pretty okay as you are." Her cheeks flush.

He flushes back, "You too." And he does take her hand gently, and give it a very soft very brief kiss, "Thank you, Zara. You make me feel better about a lot of things. Guilt and insecurities and... well, stuff I don't think Grumps remember as clearly as they claim they do."

Her hand curls around his, lingering in the hold. "No, I don't think they do."

He holds her hand for a long time gently, staring into her eyes, and not so much losing track of time, but being happy to let it slip by.

She manages to meet his eyes for a bit, before the blush creeps up and she averts.

"I should probably go," He says very reluctantly, "Your mom may like me, but she'll fuss if I keep you up talking to me all night."

Her hand, however, stays - cool to the touch, as always. A squeeze, and she nods. "Probably. 'Oh, Bubbelah, a boy at this hour?' "

"Did he bang his head that he needs to sit down so long?" Enjoying the contact, wanting to stretch it out just a bit so he plays along, "Maybe he should go home and lay down there you think?"

"Well, it is late... couch?"

An amused look, "You realize the idea it might raise eyebrows of your family members is part of the appeal of me saying yes, right?"

"So. Let me be a rebellious teenager."

"Couch," He rises, "is great, thank you." Another soft kiss to her hand before letting it go, "Good night, Rebel. I know where the couch is."

"Good night... " a wistful sigh, and she takes the time to wash out the glasses before seeking her own bed. Rebel!

And in the morning, some lucky grump will find Earl on the coach, snoozing contentedly

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