#anywhere

"She's at the party."

"Yeah. Okay." He shrugs, and doesn't push it.

"You earned a good crash though, from what I understand. Computer stuff."

"Yeah, it's not like.. you know, like a real fight? But it's still exhausting, and nerve wracking. Like being a surgeon, I guess... or like when you're painting just the very tiny edge of a pewter fig and if you mess up just a bit then all your work is ruined. Not like I'm gonna get stabbed if I mess up, like in a fight. But still, I do what I can?"

"Still important."

He nods. "We all did our part."

A smirtk. "I hear May headbutted a vampire."

"And Connor yeeted it. Truly, a squire of mine."

A huff of amusement. “He’s something, alright.”

"He's a good kid."

"I worry about him, but he's a good kid."

“He’s tough. I know you’ll worry no matter what, but. You know, he’s a good kid. He practically worships the ground you walk on.”

Blush shrug. "He shouldn't."

“There are worse role models.”

Mutter-shrug. "Well, I just try my best with him"

“Look at it this way, he’s gonna be an impressionable kid for a long time, so if you fuck it up, you have plenty of time to Fix him.”

"Heh. Point."

The game merrily beeps away triumphant music as Green Plumber brings down a flag.

“Hey, you got an extra guy. One more level? It’s a dungeon one.”

"Sure!"

Dun-na-dun-na-da da, goes the game.

A couple more levels, until Symon loses a few times in a row due to sleepy blinks.

"Ok, yeah, time for you to head home."

“Yeah, I guess. Oh, Mom wants you to come over for dinner next week. She’s making yukgaejang.”

"Yucky gang! Sweet!"

A thumbs up, and he heads out.

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