#bergen_county

Dirk grouses to Symon "SO now, I got to babysit this little nipper named Jodi"

Symon is a captive audience. At least until the washer completes it's cycle.

"Ain't the worst thing ever. Maybe. I mean, Lily doesn't suck."

"Lily's sained and you can always ditch her if you want to. I got a year and a day of this, and worse is, the way redcaps get taught, I don't need the Lodge trolls knowing about. When I learned how to be a Cap, I ended up trying to bully 6 people at once. Got the crap kicked out of me... and my mentor said 'this is why we travel in corbies'"

"So make her part of your crew for the time being. Teach her to do... whatever it is that you do." A shrug.

"You could be worse." He says, a backhanded compliment.

"I don't know man, I am starting to wonder if I shouldn't have gone to college. I mean Dad and mom are proud of you, even if dad thinks you're going foresenics to rebel or something, they're like oh symon will be great. Me? I'm starting to wonder if I should have tried for Poli Sci"

"Why?" He shrugs. "Are you happy doing what you're doing now? If so, do that. Don't do shit because you think you're supposed to. This will give me access to corpses. That's right up my alley."

A nod "Huh, it is at that" He considers "How ARE you doing there? "

"It's fine." He shrugs. "I'd prefer it if more of the classes were online, but with the pandemic officially "over", " He makes little air quotes at this, "They're making us attend lectures in person.

"Look on the brightside, maybe saps will start to die from another terrible variant and you'll get some space?"

"Heh. " He does look cheered. "Hey, how's mom doing? Still letting them overwork her?"

"STILL.... and frankly if it weren't for Jonas, and I don't even LIKE Jonas, she'd be hit worse than that. On top of all the old stuff, she's got Liam duties which kind of blend in." A shake of his head "I hope she goes unseelie soon so she might take a break"

"Tis the season." He says.

"Anyway, I been keeping your crappy basement pretty much how you like it. I know you told me I could use it, but why ruin it by cleaning?"

"I probably won't be back there. Not permanently, that is. Maybe for summer break, if I don't take courses. If I graduate or flunk out, I can find a nice dank garden unit that seeps when it rains, and I'll be good. Those get pretty cheap."

"mmm you better show up for thanksgiving, I am NOT having mom mope"

"Ugh. I hate that holiday. Sitting around with all that food."

"...I might stop in later in the day."

"Oh just show up, you know mom will have some of that five week old stuff"

"Yeah, but I don't like eating with people. It's... whatever. I might."

"Okay. Okay huh let's see. Who else you wanna know about?"

He considers. "Dad I don't need any update on. He texts me daily asking about what I've learned."

A bit of an eye roll.

"yeah, guy should have been a redcap" Kind of proud "Bullies like the best"

"I figure if anyone else was really doing anything interesting, I'd have heard of it."

A scratch of his chin "You're a piller of the mountain aren't yoU?"

"I guess?" He rubs his arm where the bracelet would sit, if he was wearing it. "That mountain stepped down. And I moved. Not sure it really matters any more."

"Yeah well, Tiffany's about ready to divorce Vali." He says going into gossip mode "Might be an exageration, but she's pissed at him"

He snorts. "She wouldn't leave him. She might murder whoever is giving him work, or kidnap him away from it, but she's too goddamn loyal."

"Maybe they need new Pillars. Someone who actually lives in the city."

"Don't look at me, that lore stuff puts me to sleep"

He shrugs. "Dagmar is in a funk. Not sure how to snap her out. Might be better to just wait until after Samhain to try."

"Who would have thought trolls were so high fucking maintenance. I know she's your friend, but sometimes change IS good. Even for her"

"Maybe we can find something for her to punch."

"That always makes me feel better" He admits "She doesn't like bullies. She's stopped MY fun before. Maybe be on the look out? or ask some sluagh around there for info?"

"Ain't met any yet. Haven't looked though." He admits.

"Well, look ... Sluagh always say they do better knowledge trade than Boggans, but at least the boggans do it quick" He smirks

"Hmph. Can't hurt to see if there's anyone civilized on campus, I guess."

At that moment, DIrk Burps

"...right."

A grin

Then more seriously "Oh speaking of Lily... Lovecraft and she are up to something. "

A snicker. "Good. It's good for her." Which her? He's not saying. "Though if you picked it up, they're not being very stealthy about it."

"Hey...' then a pause "Fair. Huh, now i wonder if I just got used to pass it onto you on purpose"

Symon considers. "Then I will check in on them."

"Kids." A snort

"Good luck with your new fledge."

"GAH" A snort "Fine. I'm gonna get in trouble because of my training methods. I can tell"

He snickers. "If anyone complains, just tell them to shove it because they don't understand redcap politics."