#scarsdale

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They walk pathetically through the streets near Scarsdale, nightmares gone wrong. Chimera that wouldn't scare anyone. The figure with a cup of coffee for a head... Joe o Lantern. The clean shaven fellow on the horse.... his orientation somehow known by everyone.... the Beardless horseman. The staggering fellow whose thin frame does not inspire, but rather explains why he can't hold his liquor- the Benderman.

A feathery sigh from the Schwartz porch, the cup of tea cradled in her hands doing little to offset the sight.

The poor creatures try to manefiest and scare young dreamers... it's..pathetic really.

One fellow sniffs the air and gets hismelf some coffee when Joe O Lantern tries to be seen

The Benderman is puking in the bushes......again

She shakes her head and takes a sip of chamomile.

The Beardless horseman tries to scare someone, but alas, it comes off as some early 90s trying too hard and still making sterotypes broadway tune.

And worse, the choreography is off.

She holds up a card - "0.5" Ouch!

The beardless one moans "i'm trying down here" He stamps his foot then realizes "Oh I'm a damn cliche. This is wrong on levels I can't even..."

A 'what can ya do' shrug.

"I think you did beautiful... I think everything is beautifujl" Benderman assures folks

another figure, fae, allows himself to be seen, a doff of a hat, not to the chimera, who he merely sighs at, but rather towards Zara. Earl's father!

She smiles back, baring black gums.

A motion, no words needed, might he meet her?

A nod, and she waves him over.

He's not so crass as to make a fuss, going either to that table outside, or the house (and likely eventually parlor) itself if she allows

Zara greets him, and escorts him inside. "Devere, sir! Such greetings!"

"it is good to see you, miss zara. you are as young and vibrant as ever," a smile "but fear not, i know that when your time comes you shall be the most fierce of crones"

"You are kind, sir. I have chamomile in the pot, but I could brew something fresh if it pleased." She guides him to the parlor and draws a chair. He is, after all, an elder.

He takes the seat, "Chamomile would be most welcome. i thank you," he took of his hat when he entered and puts it to the side now, "i...came here on other matters, but those poor chimera quite distracted me. maybe i can see if they'd be interested in letting emmit reweave them? "

"Mmm... I think there is a place for them. Sometimes we do not know where we may fit, but it is not a light thing to be re-written." She retrieves a dainty china cup - artistically painted, by a brush that may well be familiar to DeVere.

"you show a wisdom beyond your years, where as i am a very role model for a life of poor choices, though, at least one of the consequences you know well and i will not regret him" a sip "da'an will take it's path when we step" he gives a slight smile at the cup 's working "no, i shall never regret that consequence. Ah, forgive, do you perchance have a copy of Moby Dick in your keeping? some find it a bit dry, but..." he reaches for his vest to pull out a book, "i thought perhaps your dragon might enjoy a story of obsession this time of year?"

"Oh, I have been meaning to read it - I've heard good things, truth. And aye, Bronte hoards. It is nearly a year now since we got her egg..."

"my word, her scales are so much more detailed. i remember when she was naught but a crumbled little wad of a wyrmling, now she's turning sleek as a finally bound librim. do not wake her for my account" he hands the book over to zara and admires the snoozing bookwyrm is using call of the wild as a tent.

Zara takes the book, idly flipping through and skimming a bit. "Thank you, again. I am sure she will be delighted. She is a greedy beast, but I cannot help but indulge her."

"if a greed for books is a sin, then let me sup with sinners rather than watch television with the saints. " a nod, "i hope your family here is well?"

"Aye. Quite well. And you? How are the caves?"

"comforting, dreary, lonely, just how I like it, though the boy aids me greatly"

"Excellent. I am glad to hear it." She sips her own tea.

"i have been wondering about earl, he is firmly ensconced in his winter garb, and this suits him fine, but he has been trying to get information out of me...me , not clumsily, but, though i care for him, he is stil lveryh trollish?"

"He is a troll." A gentle shrug. "A dear one, beloved and loving, but... he is a troll. What has he been seeking?"

"knowledge on house balor," a worried look "this is no small house to pry into"

A soft hiss. "I am aware."

"And he... bless, he would not tell you why, because he is a troll and would see it as... duty? Protection?"

"perhaps, i have known trolls for many decades now it feels, and they can be... charmingly vexing" he says tactfully " i assume you know better than i his whys and whyfores in this matter. but answer me this, would it be troublesome for you and his relationship were i to inquire further?"

She considers, expression shuttering for a moment. "No. I will confess, sluagh to sluagh - he sought you for my sake. I am the one who has drawn the eye of a Balor. You know, yes, that it was the Tower which stole my mother from me, so many years ago?"