#anywhere

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Vashti sighs, "you brought this on yourself, thou knowest, my golden love"

A mumbled reply.

"None of thy sweet talk, for such crimes, men have been hung, and do not smirk, there is not of windows and being in them here" She scowls as the cage slowly lowers into the bubbiling pool below.

The man within, bound and gagged, looks apologetic as he closes in on the brew. his eyes expressive.

"Thou knewest what I am, thou knowest what I do!" She glares, "And still you violated my most sacred trust"

The man in black and silver lowers his head ashamed.

"Aye..." she lowers the cage a bit more, "What am I to do? Allow such selfishness in a lover? Such crass lack of class? Thou art a fool but one of the Highest Court! This action was beneath you! To defile the sacred!"

A mumbled reply mmph

"I see." Moth pauses, "thou deeply regret this the breaking of the most important commandment?"

A nod.

"I believe you" she drops the cage into the bubbling cauldron of....the hot Tub!

Splosh. Almost instantly, the soluble twinings about his wrists come loose, and Shalimar can more easily (As it was nearly steamed off just hanging there) remove the tape over his mouth and open the unlocked cage to swim forward "Truly, I am the most chastised of all paramours that ever where... join me in the tub?"

Vashti wrinkles her nose "Aye, but what did we learn to day, Brown Charlie?"

"To never start a land war in Asia, and never, ever, use thy clothing sheers to cut paper" He says

"Exactly" She says, and retracts the cage to make room so she can have room to share the hot tub and he can make it up to her.

.............

A text to Dagmar- “hey. in the hood. u around?”

"Yeah. At Barn. Sup?"

“wanna hang out for a bit? needed fresh air. can’t go to lodge- not supposed to be out and they might tell AM i was by.”

“am out down that trail where D tried to eat a tree” (roll eyes emoji, laughing emoji)

"Out out or my room?"

“or i can sneak up if your dad won’t murder. or just come by. he a snitch?”

"He's not a snitch. He's at work for another hour."

"He doesn't like me going all over the woods when he's gone even with bug guy gone."

(thumbsup emoji) “omw. stupid cold out.”

"Use kitchen door."

Shortly thereafter, a faint rap at the appropriate door.

Dag opens the door. "Hey! Do you like cocoa?"

"It's cold. We have lipton, too. I don't know if I've ever seen you drink tea but Frank says that's a sluagh thing?"

He slips in, dropping something to the floor with a grunt. Some long, heavy item, and wrapped in a black garbage bag. “Uh. Teas okay, it’s more of the... kinda, the tradition of it. The act more than the drink itself, y’know. But it sounds good now, if it’s no trouble.”

“Easier than cocoa and then you don’t have to ruin your milk.” A faint grin.

"I got a kettle on. I was just gonna make the powdered cocoa, not Kerri's fancy kind."

"What's that?" A nod at the heavy thing.

“I’ll put some in my tea. Chocolate tea is a thing, y’know.” A flick of a glance down. “Oh. It’s an arm. The bag is to keep it from leaking. Can you help me find a place to bury it where the cops won’t find it?”

"No shit!"

His mouth quirks a bit, though he tries to hold the somber expression.

"I mean, sure - I guess we got some time - but how did you wind up with an arm?"

He relents and grins over at her. “Okay, it’s cool to know you’d bury bodies with me. I’m saving that for future knowledge. Nah, it’s a branch from that tree you picked up. See, I thought, maybe Tove would want it. Cuz wood’s kinda her thing.”

"Oh yeah! She's an artist. She has a website now and everything." The kettle threatens to whistle, but Dag catches it in time. Two clunky blue mugs are filled, lipton bag in one, and a packet of swiss miss in the other.

“Did you have something in mind for Yule gifts?” He slides into a chair, wrapping fingers around the mug. “We don’t really celebrate. I mean, we might now, with Ann Marie, but it wasn’t a thing growing up, really. I just get some money usually.” A shrug. “Not that I mind that...”

“I don’t know Tove that well, so thought maybe if you wanted, you could give her this branch. Since you saved the tree and all. It’s pretty much yours.” A small nudge with his toes at the branch. “Chieftain said it’s got worm trails in it, but that’s a good thing? Like, it makes a cool pattern to work with.”

"Um. I made some stuff for Jaymes and Tove in shop, but I don't know about the Squad. Like - how much is okay to spend? I have been saving my allowance. Jaymes gives me money for chores."

He fidgets uncomfortably. “Ha. I was hoping you’d know. Like... I have some cash from selling those minis at pennons, but I never really, uh. Bothered to buy anyone presents before.”

"I never had anybody to buy for." She sighs.

"Maybe we should all just agree - like, five bucks?"

He pauses a moment, then admits, “Yeah, me either. I mean, crazy right? Mr. popularity here.” A nod. “That sounds good... or we could do a white elephant or secret Santa and only have to buy for one person.”

"I have twenty bucks! Man, you could get a lot..."

"I mean, knowing the Lodge crew, Siv & Sylvi are probably making some crazy pinterest-worthy craft..."

“You do NOT want to see Anne Marie’s workroom. At least I was able to convince her that glitter bothered my asthma... “ a shudder. “There’s so. much. yarn. EVERYWHERE.”