There would only be one other time that day a trickster came to the shop. Barrel came by later to top off some grocery shopping, though he didn't do more than exchange the usual pleasantries with Aggie before purchasing and heading back out again.

Lock offered to give Barrel's clothes a quick clean while he took a bath. He insisted effort in his little brother's appearance would help seal the apology to Agatha. The next day, Lock waited for Shock and Carver to head to the sewers. Fortunately, Medusa was a more nocturnal creature, and he knew the girls would be occupied for at least a few hours. Then he checked in on Barrel, who was hard at work preparing dinner. The youngest trickster simply wore his pants and a clean shirt under his apron to keep his hoodie clean. Lock sidled in and stole a spider to crunch on while Barrel finished up the stuffed toadstools.

"I hope this works," Barrel said, as he moved the toadstools from the sheet to a plate.

Lock glanced around the kitchen, and was admittedly a bit jealous that he wouldn't be around for dinner tonight. Stuffed toadstools, scorpion scampi, and rotten apple dumplings for dessert. Still, he came up to his brother to be supportive, and to secure the "date".

"You've got this," Lock said as he finished chewing on the spider. "Do you remember what to say, or do I need to make flashcards?"

Barrel elbowed him hard, but kept working.

"Just tell her sorry for the swamp smoke and the hoodie thing," he said.

Lock reached up to pat his shoulder.

"Good boy," he said.

He dodged Barrel's incoming elbow. Lock laughed, then headed out of the kitchen. He swiped one of the toadstools with his tail while his little brother was still focused on pushing him aside.

"Have fun!" Lock said.

Barrel turned around, and noticed a toadstool missing.

"Hey!"

But Lock was already gone.

Barrel grumbled under his breath. At least he had the foresight to make some extra in case Agatha wanted more. Barrel glanced up at the kitchen clock. He had just enough time to let things cool a bit while he recovered his hoodie, did a once-over on his appearance, and set the table.

Then all he had to do was wait for her to arrive.