#anywhere

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The House has had some work put in, quite a lot, but it's not done yet.

Sylvi pauses to pet Edelweiss for being a good girl and not chasing the other dog...and they're closing in on the other house. One-and-a-half miles...and it's nearly 2 am.

"Now where is..." Colton says "Sy?"

"He said he'd be here...."

“Yeah?” He is reclined on the porch, hands on his knees, catching breath.

Colton blinks "Geez. Didn't even see you.. sorry, you okay?"

Sylvi brings the cart over to the porch.

He gives a sharp nod. A faint wheeze to his voice, but his expression is closed. "Yes... fuh...fine."

"What...what happened? Something hit you?"

"Dude, do you need your inhaler?"

A scowl at Colton, angry. But then he shakes his head. "No. I'm fine." Slowly exhaling. "It doesn't help much anyways. I'm just... nevermind, okay?" A sharp glance to Sylvi. "And don't go saying anything to any of -them-." Jerking his head back the way they came.

"Sorry, didn't mean to piss you off" Colton shrugs

"Say...what? I still don't understand what happened?"

A pause, and he catches his breath again, settling. "Word back to Ann Marie and suddenly the fresh air is bad for me, and I can't come out anymore."

"I got the wheezes. Weak lungs to go with my weak-ass everything else." A shrug.

"Oh...oh, wow." She frowns, concerned.

"It's not a big deal, I just have to... to catch my breath a little more."

"Maybe I got muscle,but you're the one the ninja clan would recruit" Colton says to him.

"They'd be after Gerd. Strong and can jump like a mofo. I can just sneak, but Ninjas gotta run. And fight. I'm just the spy. Lookout, maybe - except I can't call an alarm. Maybe hit an alarm button."

"You can see things we can't, so...there's that."

"Yeah. Let's drop this stuff off and get back, see if there's anyone left awake."

They drop stuff off, it's just the three of them after all. No one else here

Sylvi yawns largely, and nods. Should we put it in her room, or...maybe in that little guest room office thing?"

Colton looks to Sy to see what he thinks

"Uh. I guess just wherever. Let her pick if she wants it in her space." Gazing up the stairs thoughtfully.

Sylvi shrugs and sets the cart to the side of the livingroom area, then follows his gaze up the stairs. "What are you thinking?"

"Nothing... just thinking." He pulls out his phone and taps for a few moments. "Better get back before there's no one left to put their hands in warm water, or whatever else you had in mind."

"Okay...you coming back with us, or...?"

He frowns at his phone. "Wondering if Dags fell asleep. Wonder if we'll make it back before anyone else gets to her."

"She normally answers." A shrug, standing up.

"Dags is off limits" Colton says "Siv asked

He blinks. "No one told me." A thought, and he taps again, and the faint sound of a ring tone. "Better wake her up in case no one else got the message."

"I think everybody in the Lodge knew...but yeah, sorry, forgot you didn't."

"Doesn't make much difference now. But it would have been fun to see what she thought of waking up with worms in her hair." A touch wistfully.

"Gah, remind me not to fall aslseep near you" Colton says

"Right?" Sylvi grins. "Come on...she said she planned to sleep here as a backup. Let's let her be."

A gleeful grin, flash of greyish gums, and he opens his backpack, holding it out towards the troll. "Trolls are supposed to be brave. Colton, dare ya to grab a big handful. There's nothing in there that will bite.... probably?"

Sylvi rolls her eyes, but grins.

"Long, thin slimy ones... short fat juicy ones..." He rasps to the familiar children's tune. The dark inside of the bag almost seems to squirm, twisting like shadowy bugs crawling over each other...

"Fine" He grabs it, with his glass hand. The worms have trouble finding purchase there

Well puts his hand in. p to the wrist no further

And..... nothing. Nothing is moving. There is something in there, vaguely worm-shaped, if he grasps a handful?

He does , cautiously

"What the heck?"

"Careful.... they're dangerously sour." Innocence, fooling no one. A worm plucked away and tucked into his cheek to suck on.

He rolls his eyes "Okay, okay, you got me"

"I'm a slug, not an asshole." He snickers. "And Jaymes would probably kick my ass if I did real ones. No, Dagmar would. He'd have to wait in line."

Sylvi laughs. "Can I have one?"

He offers one to her, "Sure, and yeah, that's probably true, Sy, but cool of you anyway"