#bergen_county

Dagmar might be hiding from her parents

"This is the third day she's managed to avoid seeing these letters from the colleges" Tove says to Jaymes

Jaymes frowns "Coincidence? She WAS in a quest and chimera delivery"

"True, but this is ... I wonder if she doesn't trust us?" Tove says

He arches a brow

"What?" She asks

"You go at it that way she might point out trying to handle things on your own is a King trait"

"Damn that trip to Atlantic City" She curses

Jaymes ponders then says "She might use it to hide behind. We should perhaps talk to Symon?"

"Symon would never tell on her. And we'd lose respect with him if he did" She counters

"Not snitch, more.. seek his advice" Jaymes says

"He... might do that" Tove agrees "You or me?"

Jaymes considers then "I'll try"

"Thank you, honey" She says

*********

Symon stands outside the door to Dirk's room, looking baffled. Since when has his brother had a frilled lace edge quilt on his bed? And while Anne Marie DID manage to keep him keeping it from being a wasteland, it's NEVER been THIS clean.

Indeed, the cleaning has taken over whole parts of the hall way

A voice calls out "Well, it would make you look cuter is all... you didn't have to slice it in two"

A very pissed off Lovecraft darts out...

and a boggan childling carrying what WAS a pink ribbon bow and collar but now holds two halves of same (Divided by a cat) comes into view

Symon recoils a bit, and scowls. “Who are you, and why are you tormenting MY cat?”

"I'm Cleo" She says, pressing her glasses to her the bridge of her nose "I'm sorry. I didn't mean any harm. I just thought it would look nice on her."

“Lovecraft is a Shadowcat. She’s meant to look scary, ominous, evil. She is not “Nice”.”

"Well, maybe she'd like to branch out?" The boggan shrugs holding her own hands, "Peach didn't seem upset about the one I put on her. Though.. Dirk was"

“Where is Dirk?” He resists the urge to rub the bridge of his nose.

"He's in the She-shed.. I'm sorry, the He -hut outside? He was really nice and gave me his room"

"Are you Symon?" She asks.

“Dirk is also NOT NICE. He’s…” now he does shut his eyes, grimacing. “What is this Twilight zone bull?”

“Yes, I’m Symon, and you're in MY house.”

“Messing with MY brother, and MY cat. Who do you think you are?”

"Oh, well, uhm... you see, my family was in this... accident" She starts to wipe at the stair well banister despite the fact it's clean, "Just me survived. Doctor Lee didn't know I was a kithain because he wasn't enchanted, but Mrs. Lee found out I didn't have anywhere to go so I guess they took me in for right of rescue" Wipe wipe "And I'm very grateful because you knwo I could have died with them and it hurts that they're gone but I should be happy that I wasn't one of them and I... guess Da''ann has a plan....everything has a reason some folks say you know but I'm not sure WHY and I think I hate that phrase now and I...." She chokes a bit "I should get a cloth. This needs more attention"

He SCOWLS as she scuttles off, and moves out to the yard, looking for Dirk.

Music blares from the He Hut

Rude lyrics, probably upset the neighbors, blare

He looks for a rock or something, and tosses it to rattle the door without having to approach and brave the sound.

A rock found , a thump, and the music turns off "Who the fuck?" Dirk comes out, then sees Symon "Oh, you're back. You get whatever it was that needed done done?"

He slides over, hands shoved in his pockets. "Yeah... what's the deal with the midget?"

A chin jerk towards the house.

"Mom had a full blown boggan blue screen" he sighs "One car wreck and a pyschologically fucked up kid, and mom's heart melted and even dad who ought to know better wanted to help. So they're fostering her" A shake of his head "Dad tried to save her parents but it was too late"

WINCE. "So Dad is feeling like shit, and the little... boggan has survivor guilt. Great."

"I Know... I can't just eat her and make her go away. "

A sigh. "And I guess if she's already having nightmares and being guilted by the tormented spirits of her dead family, there's not much I could add to that." Grumpily.

A deep frown, thinking. Then suddenly, "Were you planning on going away to College? I know you've been talking to Vali about options."

"Vali's pushing for it. Jesus, the way he goes on you think he got a finder's fee" A snort "Not sure though. I mean, I got a C average overall. And not sure what my major would be. I like some political shit but I hear that's the new liberal arts and worthless"

"What about trade school? Like, swing a hammer and get paid, and you can probably bust up scab workers if you're in a union."

"Huh... bust up scabs sounds kind of cool" he admits "Yeah maybe. What about you?"

He shrugs. "I wasn't going to go. More to rebel against appah than anything. The old 'Asian son must be numba one docta' trope?" He hisses is a faux version of a Korean accent.

"But... Dagmar has me half convinced, you know. There's these classes over at Rutgers? And they have dorms you can live on, just a short drive away really. Or a bus ride. I think it might even still be in the Barony proper, though I'd have to consult the Chief or Mountain about where the lines are drawn."

"Huh" He says , "Frankly I always thought you looked more like Number two" A grin of deadly teeth, "But yeah, Doc's kind of old fashioned with you. Nothing saying you GOTTA go into medicine, mind you. You almost seem to prefer dead things to living bodies"

A thin, gummy smile. "Do you realize that Morticians and Forensics analysts all have medical doctorates? THAT kind of patient I could handle."