#bergen_county

It's a name that belongs to a sluagh, one Symon hasn't met often. A reporter of a dead medium, newspapers- he still gets the scoop, and, on behalf of a grand dame, Jozef has come to check on Symon.

"so you're sharing a room with your adopted brother" Jozef sips the tea as he gawks around the basement, "While his room has been taken by the redcap girl... but then they.. have congress a lot... and you can hear it through the walls? You, young man, maybe in a special level of hell"

Symon sulks over his own cup of tea. "I can't really complain. She's extra security around here."

"Ironic, given her original purpose" Greely takes another sip "Your tea making skills have improved," High praise "But then I suppose there are more up swings than down in your life. Congratulations on one less Varich in Bergen"

"Yeah, I got this stuff - I mean, this tea was sourced by a friend of mine named Gerd. For a troll, she's not half bad at tea." Unspoken that for a sluagh, Symon isn't that great... but he's trying! It's not even in bags this time.

And he looks up halfway through a sip. "We only HAD one that I know of."

"Gerd continues her witch pursuits. Interesting" He sips "Well at least in Rivervale barony you only had one" He speaks past tense "I imagine zero will be a more comfortable number" A brow lift "Wait, you didn't know? I thought somehow you might have arranged it. Curious"

He simply raises a brow, waiting politely for the information rather than asking questions that might further betray his ignorance. Perhaps too long around trolls.

"As a reporter, the death of ten mortals, two of them locals, catches my attention. The Browns. Unlike some reporters, I actually keep tabs on news after its done being clickbait" He pulls out a newspaper slice, local section , it's a strip cut raggedly from that

It advertises a house, the Brown's house, for sale

"I wonder if he's technically a serial killer or just a mass murderer. I suppose the latter unless he'd hit other mortals." Symon contemplates this for a moment broodily.

"I'd be tempted to say I didn't care, if my Dad hadn't also been on his list. He could have easily have been one of the ten if we hadn't been more attentive." And he scowls at this. "Don't quote me on that. All I need is for - for folk at Rivervale to start thinking the Browns are THEIR fault."

Leaning in, he examines the ad. "She's selling the house... makes sense. A four bedroom ranch for one person - having the cash on hand to live on would be more sensible. You think she's leaving, though?"

"Almost certain of it" He says "I got a look at her laptop, the old fashioned way. I didn't get a chance to see much for long, her little dog.. but there were real estage searches.. in New York State

"

He contemplates this for a while. Tea is handy for that... something to hold and sip while deciding on the next action. A bit indignant for a moment - this guy was looking at Nadeen's laptop? Rude - but then again, why would Symon care? Why indeed, he has to wonder for a moment.

"Dark Gate is allied with Rivervale, and Sylvi is headed up to take on her new responsibility as 'Bridge'." A slight shrug at the unfamiliar role. "She could be helping Sylvi look for a place. Then again, Nadeen could be playing for the big score up there. It's no secret that she's wanted to play house with her own little hold and common pawns of her very own, practically from day one."

"Yes, hardly unique among sidhe of either gender , I suppose it could be on young Sylvi's behalf but the selling at the same time? Seems suspicious. I lean towards the playing house theory."

"Better there than here."

"Hence congratulations"

He nods. "I suppose so, though I can't take credit for it. I just hope it's not one of those 'nature abhors a vacuum' situations. Like, one Varich moves out, another slides in. As they go, Nadeen is... tolerable."

"Truly?" He seems surprised "I suppose the trolls kept her in line. I hope she doesn't revert to type in a non lodge" he makes a face, "And yes, there's always the chance you'll end up with a new sidhe who is of a different house yet worse. They're not all bad, sidhe, I mean, they do keep things lively and pay well for information, but far too many of them micromanage"

"I don't know that many. More experience with Trolls, round here. But they grow on you. Solid, predictable." A nod.

"Trolls can be slow to adapt but once they realize half the horrible things folks say about our kith isn't true , they're good joes," He agrees "Sometimes you have to work around them, what they don't know might save them, but otherwise. Decent" He sips the tea "Not to be crude, but have you some information to share over tea in exchange? I seem to have inadvertantly tipped you off. I would have anyway, but.." A shrug "Customs"

Symon ponders on this. "You seem to be very familiar with the events on my doorstep already. Were you aware of Miss Davidson's new posting before I brought that up?" He sips his tea, offering the reporter a refill. "The vacuum theory holds merit - even as two of our wilders leave, another rises, I hear that Thane Tiffany's nocker ward is verging on her togail. She has an... explosive personality, as well as destructive creative bent. It may be a good time to leave a berth around that home. And of course, there is the new childling at the lodge." Watching for signs of recognition as he trails these lines in the water for a bite.

THAT raises a brow "I did not knnow about the new childling. I confess."

"Another sluagh?" Hopeful

"No, though we could use one. I hope that Lilly will return from Earthrunes on a more permanent basic." He smiles thinly, recognizing that he has a bit of juicy gossip. "It may be a big ask to one reknowed as a reporter, but this is something I would need to ask you to keep private. At least, until it becomes common knowledge. But you would be one of the first to know of a most unusual occurrence." Not that sluagh need to be asked to keep secrets, usually, but when speaking to a reporter it can't hurt to be cautious.

"I always maintain the right of ignorance, and really, outting kids is a bit gauche " he says intrigued nonetheless "You want this secret even from other sluagh?"

"Sluagh, certainly, can be trusted. But when dealing with a new kith, I doubt that the Chieftain would welcome a slew of gawkers, even if it wasn't a childling who as such should be protected."

He is enjoying the rare (to him) experience of HAVING the info rather than fishing for it.

"New kith?" His eyes light up "are you ttelling me a Rusalka is in Rivervale?"

A bit of a sad sigh. "Unfortunately not, though I'd hope our rivers are welcoming. I'd like to meet one. No, Miss Layne is a centaur."

"Centaur?" He raises a brow "young man, are you pulling my leg?"

He gives Mr. Greely a dead-pan look. "I already have a rep for being rude, you think I'd start buckin' for one as a liar as well? To other sluagh?" Somewhat amused.

And a small wince. "That was not an intended pun."

"My apologies" but a smile "And to show I trust your word ,I will believe that was NOT intended as you say" a raspy chuckle "A centaur. How amazing."

He tells the reporter what he knows about Layne - which isn't much. And then shares what he knows about centaurs - which is a bit more, though, he admits, "this is from a gaming context, not a mythological, though it assuredly shares roots. But who knows, maybe the returned version has more in common with the Forgotten Worlds creature with +2d4 to agility, than the Greek myths, these days."

"That might be to our benefit if it does, Greek myth often had them substitute for Barbarians. Then again, the greek mortals were pretentious snots who thought they had the monopoly on civilization"

"And they also thought their gods lived on a mountain just around the corner, yet never bothered to go look." Amused. "Then again, that's probably a smart thing."

"Oh in the stories some tried. Never went well for the mortals..." Amused "then again, sluagh are a mix of Slavic roots, celtic touches, and Victorian flavor... and their gods weren't pleasant either"

"I'm fond of the elder gods myself. Best if you avoid their direct attention."

"Ah, yes, Lovecraft, the writer, not your cat, I'd like to shake the hand of whatever sluagh mused him," A chuckle "I'll hold back on sharing too much about centaurs. I had heard rumors but I confess, I thought it boggan talk."

"If you'd like to meet her, I can speak with the Chieftain. It might be better to have a statement released then random rumors. Then she has more control over the situation."

A thin smile. "An exclusive, as it were.."

"And you would arrange this, well played" the fellow says "I'll consider the offer. "

"And I'll see what I can do." Inclining his head.

"My thanks, for that, and the tea" Jozef rises and tips his hat

“Here...” he offers over a small jar. “It’s my mother's Kim chi. It’s good. Even ‘fresh’ it’s been fermented for at least 6 months.”

"How kind. I shall try it. Thank you again" he ttakes it "It can be hard to find variety in our diet after a time"

“Let me know what you think? I’ve been encouraging her to sell it at some of the events.”

"Ah, an untapped market. Shrewd" He salutes the lad with it, and slips out