#bergen_county

TXT: K. Then I'm gonna call Rikki off the hunt.

TXT: Keep me posted?

TXT: Tell him I say hi if that makes sense.

TXT: ok, can do

Symon returns… his phone in his hands, turning it over and over.

"Hey?" Curious, cautious, hopeful.

“Do you think… I should text her? She’s probably out of the service area.. else she would have texted ME already about the treasure.. that is, do you think she felt it, too? Treasures aren’t my expertise.”

"I. Um. I don't know? She might not know. If she didn't feel it..." She shrugs.

Fidget, but he slides the phone back in his pocket.

"You don't need to be a big seelie idiot."

Then, he perks up a bit.

Idea face!

"S'my job." Brow lift at his face. ('Sup?)

“I should let my mom know that we broke up. She’s kind enough to not press for details… but by the time C gets back, everyone will know- and letting Anne Marie spread the news prevents any OTHER rumors.”

"Point."

"Um. Can I... like.. we're dating now? Or... calling it something else?"

He returns to sit by her side and takes a hand. “What do you want to do? I figure.., we don’t owe anyone an explanation. As long as we know what it is. So.. whatever you are comfortable with. “

She bites on her lip. "Is it weird that dating sounds... less?"

"Maybe we can just say we're back together."

He shakes his head. “No, it sounds like… flavor of the week, to be honest.”

“Not to say that’s BAD…” he amends

"Yeah. You date somebody to get to know them."

Nod. Then a crooked gum smile. “You’re my moldy rum raisin.”

"You and your old-man ice creams."

A snicker, though he sobers a bit and, “if you don’t want people to know we are.., involved? I know there is a stigma… I had to pay C double her normal rates…”

He sounds a bit worried there, uncertain and putting on a brave face for a potential answer.

"Symon, you aren't some secret. When have I ever been ashamed of you?"

“It’s like they say, you hire a slug for dirty work, but you don’t take them home to mother.” It is true, it is said

"That she acted like that is part of why I hated her. And my Mom loves you."

"MOM, SYMON AND I ARE OFFICIALLY A COUPLE OKAY?"

From upstairs, "OK. Don't yell and hurt his ears"

"DAD ISN'T ALLOWED TO MAKE THE SHOVEL SPEECH. I HAVE MY OWN AXE."

"Ohhh, yeah. Sorry Sy."

Tove comes down enough to say "Your father and I have already talked about boundaries... for him, not you. " She assures "I'll handle your father, you handle symon. We each have our lanes"

"Thanks Mom."

"I'm going out now with CJ so you two can keep talking about things without feeling I'm hovering. Symon, you stay as long as you like. Some food in a green top for you in the kichen if you DO get hungry. If you two want to go outside or elsewhere together instead, have fun, but please text me the basics. " She smiles, gets CJ and goes out

Symon twitched a bit at the bellow, but mouthed a “thank you” to Tove as she passes through, his cheeks purple-grey up to his ears. Then, to Dagmar once alone.. “okay, I should have given you more credit. I forgot you had literally brought me with you to your mother today.”

A wry smile at Sy, shyly rubbing the back of her neck. "I might like 'official,' if that's okay. Like - we're us, just, you know, officially us."

“I like that, too.” Simply.

"And I can tell people?" Seeking permission, bubbling up in quiet excitement about the idea.

"Which I probably should have asked before shouting at Tove, but Mom was gonna find out either way."

“I still feel… weird. Like, my veins are fizzy and my heart is in my ears.., but o don’t know if that’s cantrip backlash, or…” he gives her a tiny smile.

“If you want to, sure.”

And well, Tove is gone, it is possible the cat (Not lovecraft) is out of the bag

Despite herself, a giddy smile breaks loose. "Yeah, I want to."

“You know what I want?”

"What?"

He leans back against her, curling his slender legs up onto the couch next to Dagmar in a slow cautious movement, in case she moves away. “Pass me that stale Mountain Dew? I think we might catch the end of the match.”

She stretches a long arm to grab the bottle, and passes it over.

"Works."

he reaches out and snags a Dr Pepper with his socked toes and passes it to her.

A snort, and she takes it. She hesitates just a second, before draping her free arm around his shoulders - checking that it's okay before she can quite relax.