#bergen_county

Early in the morning, just before even the sun had risen from bed, something is stirring. A shadow on the darkness outside of a balcony window- though perhaps, keen-eye Odin may see him as the sluagh approaches.

The one eye stares at the shadow.

Two eyes, beady and black, stare back. And flick to the slumbering form upon the bed. Slender fingers test the latch delicately, seeking to avoid any noise- is the window locked? Latched against the growing chill?

Dagmar does not lock her window. And she snores.

The sluagh would also recognize the norse-themed quilt - Anne-Marie's work!

He presses the window open a crack, and ponders for a moment. Inhaling. No stench of a sick room here, honeyed teas and bitter-fake flavored syrups?

Just Dagmar. Sweat and hay and... motorcycle grease?

"Mrrow?" Odin ask.

A she-cat blinks green eyes at him, and opens her inky maw in a yawn of disdain at the mere mortal cat. She knows he sees her , though, as she licks a paw. Cats always see what others miss.

Odin fluffs a bit at another feline.

Lovecraft, not to be beaten, doesn’t just fluff up, but lengthens, tall, taller, like a shadow stretched.
Black sluagh eyes roll. And he digs into his bag, and covers his face with a mask... not a COVID one, but a sports mask, hockey?

He checks the lighting ensuring that the setting moon gives just enough illumination to be seen from within, and leans into the window, giving it a sharp rap!

Grunt?

Dag sits up, blinking and groggy.

Fingernails scrape and the latch in the window rattles!

She lumbers out of bed... snagging Flyswatter.

"mrow"

"What is it, Odin? Sounds like a storm..."

“Eeeeeoooooow.” An eerie mrow in response, drawing attention to the window.

Where a hockey mask wearing figure looms!

She shuffles over to check the window, and... "Jesus!" Symon earns a flinch! That counts!

He’ll take it. He pulls off the mask and checks his grip before she can fling him off in a sleepy reaction. “Lemme in?” He mouths.

She opens the window. "What the fuh, Sy? It's, like... 2 am?"

THAT, the cat seems to say

“It’s like 4am.” He responds, as though that makes it ok. “And YOU’ve been ditching. What gives?” Sliding in through the window but remaining perched in the sill.

Grunt.

"I'm doing computer classes right now. I'm sick of sour-face just being there all the time."

“You didn’t say anything.”

She steps back, giving the sluagh room to enter.

"And have everybody get on my case about it?"

Twobit snuffles outside the door

"Don't wanna make trouble. Kinda did."

“Is that what you think?” He swings his feel down to the floor, frowning down at his sneakers. “I guess I’m on your case NOW. But that’s because you vanished. I thought we were a team. Even if I sometimes suck at being around... if we both vanish, then it ruins the dynamic.”

"Sorry."

"I got the whole speech about how I need to set an example. And another one about how I'm letting him have "power over me." And how, you know, this will be good for him, even though he's being a little shit to all the teachers."

“You could have talked to me. Or the other kids. Even her. We know what he’s like and won’t take his side. I’m your best friend... if you don’t tell me, how can I help?” He frowns and mutters, “a better friend maybe wouldn’t have needed to be told. I should have seen it.”

She sits down on the bed and shrugs.

"Dunno. Maybe I'm not a very good friend."

“Listen. I’m not ragging’ on you for quitting farmschool. Or for feeling the way that made you want to quit. I get it, and even if I didn’t, no one gets to tell you how to feel. If I had a dollar for every guidance counselor that used to tell me to cheer up.... The only thing that’s got my goat is that you didn’t tell me. Right? Even if I couldn’t help, I can at least, y’know, listen. ....or leave a pig intestine in someone’s lunchbox.”

A soft chuff, almost a laugh. "Yeah, well."

"I liked having school with fae, and in person. But, like, I miss real school. Who thought that'd happen?"

He thinks about that for a moment. “You had friends there. I guess you’re more outgoing than me. It’s like, I already HAVE a friend. Anyone else is just.... scenery while I waited for class to end.”

“The best part about online was how easy it is to fool the cameras and tweak the grades.”

"And basketball, and shop - I like shop class a lot... I dunno." A pause. "I'm real sorry about Nadeen at Pennons."

He looks thoughtful for a long moment. “You know.... don’t be. I thought about it, and it’s like - if she was nice to me? All Buddy Buddy? That would be bullshit and fake, because we KNOW she doesn’t like me. But when she was fuckin’ around at pennons? It felt more... real? Like, when I give Dirk sone bullshit just to rile him up. We can dislike each other, that’s ok. But its somehow better when she’s honest about it.”

And he rasps a laugh. “Honesty lessons to a Gwyd from a slug.”

"I... guess? But I don't like it when she's mean."

“Yea. I guess. I’m mean too, but I save it for where it won’t bug others?” A shrug. “I guess that’s for you two to talk about.” He perks up. “Unless she needs a pig intestine in her lunchbox, because I know a guy...”

Snort.

"Yeah, let's not."

"I dunno. I don't know what I want. Like.. no, I know what I want, but I can't get that."