#scarsdale

It really -is- cold air...

"S'fine. I'm good." A hug, yes.

Miriam snuffles.

She touches the necklace before pulling away. "Glad you like it..." A burst of a giddy smile, and the turns to go check on the Uncles.

Miriam tags along. The Uncles have swept up a broken coffee pot, turned off the oven and removed the toasted cookies (a recent delivery from Hannah), and Ratchet is fanning smoke out the door with a cookie sheet while Hirim is running his hand under cold water.

"Oy vey.... " A sigh. "Ooo." She plucks up an overly-brown cookie.

"Yeah, made those for you, Zara." Hirim mutters. "And there's tea."

"Any coffee?" Miriam asks with a shark-like grin.

"TEA." Hirim repeats.

"....could see if that french press works, nu?" Gently.

"I'll put the kettle on."

"Yeah, I'll go get it." Miriam stomps out, returning quickly. The other two nockers finish putting the kitchen back together, Miriam makes the coffee.

Zara makes tea. Her bottle of creamer CLEARLY MARKED and stored in the furthest corner of the fridge...

"Are you two finished trashing the kitchen" Miriam asks.

Both the other nockers immediately and vociferously begin blaming the other for the state of things.

She tsks softly. "Tea. Sit."

Her whisper, perhaps unsurprisingly, as the desired effect and both nockers do as told."

Zara fusses - setting up cups and plats of cookies, making sure all is "just so."

Miriam makes and steeps the coffee, pouring it "... over here because you two would manage to spill it if you get your hands on it and I ain't losin' my new coffee maker."

All three nockers grumble as everyone sits at the kitchen table.

Zara is quiet, but also radiant. She watches Miriam with a satisfied smile. Burnt cookies are soaked in tea to reach a gummable texture.

Miriam grins back over at Zara occasionally, and the Uncles glower at each other.

Eventually.... "So, Zara, you an' that troll still a thing?" she asks.

Hirim huffs.

"Oh, yes! Earl's been wonderful. He came over for candles a few times...."

"Yeah? Cool. He gonna convert?"

"HA!" Hirim loses a few cookie crumbs on that one.

"He's... he's learning Hebrew.... Yiddish, too."

"He's gonna convert." She says with surety.

"He might, if I asked. I don't know if I'd ask him to. I think he's a Methodist."

"You're both too young, anyway." Hirim mutters.

"Exactly. That's why we agreed it's too early to think about oaths." Sip.

Hirim harrumphs, but Miriam tips Zara a wink.

"We went on a quest! Deep, too, so a lot of it is fuzzy..."

"Yeah? Lookin' for what?" Miriam tastes her coffee.

"Oh, August had a mission." A gentle wave. "I wanted to help, but mostly have an adventure, nu?"

"It was good to get away for a few days. And you remember things in the Dreaming."

Miriam nods. "Yep." She looks the Uncles over, then Zara. "You remember anything good?"

"Past lives. Magic. I... I think I used to have an art mastered, so I've been trying to make it work, here."

"Yeah? That's pretty good, kiddo. Which one?"

"It's all very exciting, actually - if you study the lay of da'an, there's been a re-emergence of lost arts, or new strength in old ones. Wild unleashings, ability to touch subjects previously beyond training..."

"From my research, it is seasonal. An art of the fall."

The nockers all nod. "Yeah, lotsa reports of that. Firlichs and stuff all over the place." OOC Sp?

"OH! I'll have to show you the bookwyrm egg... it is a library dragon! Earl and I, we made a nest from books to let it brood..."

"Aw, that sounds neat! I'd love ta see it."

"Bookwrym egg?" Frowns Hirim.

"Aye, wild storms. Fascinating to watch when scrying... you'll have to come over, yes. It might hatch while you're home!"

"Aye. I met one, once. The egg is truly Earl's, but it is in my room for the nonce..."

"Feh." Hirim.

"Why feh?"

"Oh, you should see the chair Hehe made for Earl...."

"Ffft." Hirim gets up and limps over for more coffee. Ratchet watches him go sourly.