#scarsdale

Her eyes are agog, and she runs her fingers along the glass, "oh at least as profane as ten nockers in a backfire, so cursed it is. does your amour realize the bunks alone that... oh, probably not. he did it only to please thee, which makes it all the more priceless amid the treasure of india"

"He is a romantic. And aye, knew it would please me. He is a good gift-giver... say - when is thy birthday?"

Startled, indeed, had Zara , a sluagh, let loose a scream, the pooka would not look more startled, then, cautiously, "Why doest thou ask?"

"Well, I knew you not for Hanukkah..."

"Perhaps today is my birthday?"

"Oh! Then I shall be belated!" She carefully sets the case back. "I have not socks ready-made..."

"Or, perhaps, lace gloves with spangles, to shimmer like a wing's scales..."

The pooka smiles at that, "sister, in truth, it has been centuries since i bothered with a celebratory anniversary of womb egress"

"Perhaps an unbirthday, then? Thou art a pooka, perhaps that is more fitting."

"Mister Carroll would agree I think, he was a pooka himself thou knowest?"

"I did not, but I could believe thus! Alas, Poe was no sluagh. He should have been, but that is neither here nor there..."

She does look surprised at that, as would any who had read his works only to learn so,"not even a smidge?"

"So I have been told. Alas."

"Alack' she agrees, "And thus is his greatest tragedy."

"Aye!"

Sounds from downstairs, talk of dinner soon perhaps

"Oh, I think it may be near dinner. Come down? We can help Mama..."

She nods, "Indeed I shan't" And rises to follow, double checking her hair, and smoothing her gown, for she does so wish to make a good impression

"Mama, Ginny is coming for dinner!"

A call up in both agreement, and a reminder that they'll need another plate pulled out then. The 'help' Zara knew might be of use

Zara shows Ginny the china cupboard, and talks her through aiding in setting the table. "The flatware, aye, that drawer.... four sets, no Uncles tonight..."

Ginny nearly has sluagh level grace, and a respect for fine plates. She moves deftly to the task.

"Be warned, Mama will insist on seconds and may try for thirds...."

"then the family dog dines well if need be" a wink

"She may concede to a doggy bag..."

"o." A look around "why did i expect a.. " blush "well, if it shan't send her ire to the heavens should i inquire for one?"

"We have a cat!"

"...She.. hm..." Zara pauses, quietly searching.

A smile at that

"She would be a wonderful sluagh. I think she may be in her fort beneath the couch..."

"oh, poor thing, here I am a tartar at her peaceful polish town"

"After dinner, if you are still, she may come out to sniff thee."

A thought "does she like mints? the smell ?"

"Pluto? Mint?"

The pooka reaches into her folds and pulls out a small bag of clinking vials. a few look, dubious, but one or two look like mint essences.

"Ohhhh.... what are these?"

"they fell off a flying truck" she says with big eyes

She does offer one mint, "This is peppery so might make one sneeze" The pepper mint clearly.

She takes, unstoppering it for a sniff.

Best done from a distance with her keen senses, but aye.

"What do you use these for?"

"odds and bodkins, and watchdogs"

"Oh, a dog would be well muddied by that..." Curious, opening others if allowed.

She blushes as Zara overlooks one with glamour of a pink hue,seems more practical about the one that, is that essence of deadly night shade?

There is also spearmint.

She wasn't kidding about the mints

"Mayhaps I should call thee Rappaccini's daughter, this is a veritable garden..."

"I tried to write a song about my garden of evil, but no one could make out the lyrics." She says putting them away.

"Well, poison is an art. Not mine, but I know those of my kith who are experts. Poisons and potions and elixirs... the same draught can heal or kill, nu?"

"too much of too good a thing"