#scarsdale

Zara might recognize the socks. She's possibly the one who gifted them

"Aye?"

"St. Purim's day don't cha know?" She'll mime an Irish accent, "Are you wearing green, or do I get to give you SUCH a pinch?"

Oh Eshu ARE Reckless to think to pinch Zara

Zara raises an eyebrow.

"Thou hast spent too much time in the company of pooka, methinks, t have adopted such madness."

She looks JUUUUUST a bit contrite "Well, Eshu do seek to make stories, the best stories have risk." But while they are not sisters by name, or even cousins, there is a heiarchy here, and Zara has taken the elder position, and her eyebrow is mighty, so the Eshu clearly won't try anything... for now. She confesses "I pinched Uncle Hiram earlier...wow, that was an experience. I shouldn't have worn my cellphone... it's STILL giving me shocks"

A soft rattle of laughter.

"Truth, I am surprised thou foundst mine uncle missing but one hue of the rainbow."

"Well," She looks mortified, "Rachet said Hiram was wearing green, just not on the outside. I... did not need to hear that"

Earl blinks "No one does"

Zara winces.

"Sorry" She hugs them both "Missed you both."

"Aye, and likewise. But how have your studies been? I hear Caspian swung by..."

"Oh Caspian's great! We went on a walkabout, that's an Australian term some Eshu borrow- and I skipped school for a week. It was fantastic" She beams

"Mm-hmm. And Mama was thrilled, I'm sure."

Earl winces. Imagining that Aaron and Hannah had OPINIONS

"Oh, they're wonderful but they just don't understand an Eshu's NEEDS some days... the longing of the road, the pull of the stars above so thick with milk you can taste them, the pull of chance and fate," A touch dramatic, Eshu. Then she admits "I might have gotten a short grounding after I got back"

"If thou needst more books to allow thy mind to wander when your feet are stuck, you need only ask."

"Oh Zara, sometimes books aren't enough," She follows up "And don't look at me that way, even you get the urge to travel or get in trouble now and then. I've heard stories from Caspian about you. How you wandered the catacombs of Paris, met strange figures in Prague, gone into Dreaming Deep with Dangers twisted and dark"

Earl mutters "Need to talk to my cousin about his choice of subject material"

"Oh, you will have SUCH adventures once you have learned your Name!"

"The Dreaming has vistas beyond even an eshu's imagination."

"Challenge accepted" She beams, then says "But I do, of course, love the books you send me. Particularly the ones set in far off lands"

Earl makes a mental note too much time with Tziporah might back fire and get Zara in the mood to wander soon, in the more sensible sluagh way. Find out what you want, don't let anyone stop you from sneaking and peeking, then head back

"Of course. Though, mm.. speaking of Australia, I have a friend there..."

"I've heard. George, right?" She smiles "A friend of the DeBukes, or at least Mountain Emmit" She ponders "You know, for a reclusive farm with a distrust of the outside world , your family gets around, Earl"

"The DeBuke spy network is unparrelled" earl says stoicly

So stoicly that Tizzy has to look at Zara and ask "he's joking.. .right?"

Zara looks uncannily like a cat.

Sphinx. Yeah. Sphinx.

"Feh" She throws her hand up "You two enjoy doing that to me" SHe eyes Earl, "From Zara I get it, but you having fun with me, Earl?"

"Trolls are allowed to have fun" Earl says "We checked the book of rules to verify" Still deadpan

A gummy grin.

Tzporah breaks out into a laugh, a soft one so not to hurt oh so sharp ears, "You two ...really. Oh, Speaking of the holiday I have a gifts for each of you. Food and such, right?"

"We made cookies! Fresh ones, even..."

"And I am grateful for that" She smiles "I got you... well, ever hear of Nattō? It's.. slimy"

"ooo.."

"Never heard of it" Earl admits

"Whole soybeans ...fermented" She says "There's a story, the great samurai and lord Minamoto no Yoshiie was on a campaign in northeastern Japan. One day, his troops were attacked while boiling soybeans for their horses. They hurriedly packed up the beans, and did not open the straw bags until a few days later, by which time the beans had fermented. The soldiers ate it anyway, and liked the taste, so they offered some to Yoshiie, who also liked the taste."

"They do sound intriguing."

Soon, Zara will be sat down. It turns out the dish has a distinctive odor, somewhat akin to a pungent aged cheese and yes stirring nattō produces many sticky strings.

"Like pizza!"

"Kosher as far as I can tell. Some folks love it on rice, so if you get a rice aged for sluagh temperment, put this on it... well, viola" A grin

Earl looks at Tizzy "Tizzy, this is wonderful, it's not just a nice treat, it could be a regular addition or at least tasty change for Zara and other sluagh"

"You must needs teach me the recipe, aye?"

"Oh yeah, I got more than one copy" She offers it up "But I can show you through the steps too. Hannah's let me go nuts in the kitchen now and then," Most Eshu aren't known for Cooking, but Hannah is sneaky, having encouraged some 'food from around the world' learning to keep Tizzy from roaming too far. Of course, Hannah might prefer the traditionals, but if it makes Tizzy happy to experiment and learn, AND Keeps her from cutting school again, so be it. Best thing is, Tizzy doesn't even realize she's been outfoxed by mama.

Zara won't tell.

Tizzy gets called away, things to do and fetch. And this buys Earl and Zara a few minutes before either Tizzy comes back, or Zara and he get pulled into service as well

Earl watches her go and smiles "She's happy, I think"