#bergen_county

Sylvi pauses another moment, and she can't quite resist -- she emits a little squeee! of happiness on their behalf. Then she's following her mother. A few moments later, the engine roars, and they're off.

"Alright, Sy, you know how to hold on... sorry, the spare helmet is Connor's, he may have licked it."

Amused. "How is the little mutt?" As he accepts the helmet and puts it on.

"I miss him, but he's doing good. Up at Silverwolf, learning to ride."

She mounts the bike and waits for Symon to take pillion.

"Huh." Thoughtful. He climbs on, and Lovecraft curls up without asking. She digs her claws into his legs, but other than a small wince, he doesn't complain. "Good for him. Don't let him spend too much time away though. He's your squire, after all. He'll get all sorts of odd ideas from those northerners."

"Yeah, bit too traditionalist for my tastes. Plus, he's a fun kid and I like having him around. Is Lovecraft good?"

He checks and nods. "All good. Oh, wait." Fishing through pockets until he finds a set of ear plugs, he tucks them in, then gives her a thumbs up.

And the bike roars to life!

And off they go! There are still many things they need to speak about, lots of catching up on life, but that is for another day.

(Scene)

The Lee House is a very nice house, not some McMansion, but upkept and quality. Indeed, only some sections of it have enough rot and decay to really make it sluagh ideal.

It's later in the evening, and Symon heads for the back door. He said that he should talk to his mother, not that he wanted to or even intended to.... and he does his best to slip in unnoticed.

Forgetting, perhaps, in his worn out state that his bedroom in the basement is now occupied by a new adoptee, a little boggan girl.

He stares at the kid in the bed where his bed used to be, and his brain somewhat bluescreens, confused.

She yawns in hre sleep.

Cleo is not such a bad kid, and her NEATFreakness has toned down.

But it is still so clean in here.

He frowns, and heads up the stairs, trying not to make any noise to disturb the horrible little creature.

Rough as his night has been, he's still a slaugh and he moves as quietly as a ...

He almost doesn't notice the wilder Piskey, not that she's stealthy but... she's like part of the background.

She's also not anyone he knows

He blinks at the stranger in HIS kitchen. For a moment, he wonders if he should take her out quietly as a potential intruder, maybe string her up in a spiderweb in the yard. Then, he sighs audibly, and moves into the light.

"Another one of Anne Marie's strays?"

She scare jumps "Dirk?" Afraid of the strange boy out nowhere "Dirk." Ah, not calling HIM dirk, calling FOR Dirk, but why would dirk...

Tromping up the stares like a locomotive, and about as sublte, dirk chargees up then... stops "Symon, bro! You're back?"

He scowls at Dirk, but that's not an unusual greeting. "Did Mom take in another stray cat?" Glancing pointedly at the piskie.

"NOW I believe your brothers" The Piskey, who now that Symon is focused on, he realizes is quite pretty, says at the 'stray cat' comment.

'NAH, The OTHER Kings are stuck with her," Dirk says "Mom's in her office doing some late night work to get her protection from her online control freak parents. She's a Fledge. Popped on july 4th."

"Stuck with her?" Serenity glowers a bit, then says "I'm Serenity, and Dame Anne Marie is being very nice to me. Thank goodness some people are."

"Yes, stuck with you. No one's going to throw you out, there's rules about that. Nor are they going to insist on you mortgaging away your life or soul in return, too damn Seelie for that. But yes, stuck with you. No one will say boo about it, but yeah, a new fledge is..." He considers his words. "An honor, trolls would probably say, they're like that, but also an imposition. You're taking up time, space, resources."

He sniffs the air, "At least you're seelie, or enough that you should understand "repay all debts". Don't make yourself a hassle on them, okay? The Kings are good people."

Serenity BRISTLES "I'll pay my way, just you see."

Dirk says "She gets like this" Almost apologetically to his brother

He shrugs. "Don't get all sticky with me, I don't know you from anyone else off the streets. Just looking out for my own."

"Did mo- did Anne Marie feed you? Did she stop to eat?"

The sluagh might be making Serenity uncomfortable without even trying, as he lurks in her personal space, close enough that she can hear his whispers. Dirk, now, he can boom from across the room, but Symon needs to be up close.

He smells like smoke, and mildew, and... cocoa? Odd.

She almost refuses to squirm out of PRIDE. SHe's been told of Sluagh, but this iss the first one she's met. They're as... well, they're what folks said. Only ruder. hurumph "Well, if you're not up to the challenge of caring for others, then I guess it's understandible to stay in the kiddy pool of morality"

Dirk ROLLS his eyes "She's been fed, though not recently"

"Don't be putting words in my mouth. And I'm no troll, you can't prickle me with the idea of a challenge, or morality. I'm bottom of the barrel."

He digs through the fridge, pulling out containers. One tupperware is dropped, but it doesn't hit the floor - Symon catches it in his toes (ugh!) and reaches a leg back nimbly to set it on the counter even as he closes the fridge, hands also full.

"There's some japchae - that's noodles with beef... rice... could do cheese and crackers if you don't like that... need to do a grocery run. Don't open the one with the green lid. It's mine."

"You really really don't want to open the one with the green lid" Dirk nods to her "Seriously, you do that, you get what you deserve"

Serenity was ready to retort, but the offer of the Japchee catchs her off guard, "Ah, thank you? I ... " A bit embarrassed now "I seem to have a gift for reading other kiihain unfairly at first. I'll work on it."

"Why don't you got heat it up in the microwave ddown stairs" Dirk tells her, "Me and Bro need to talk."

Serenity mmphs, but nods "Fine. Ni... interesting meeting you, Symon." And she goes to the kitchen

Dirk shakes his head "DAGMAR was supposed to be her protector because some wandering 'Humble' Eshu asked or something. Then she goes to the lodge cause Dagmar's got shit to do, THEN the lodge elders get busy, and suddenly Peacemaker Dirk gets the job... I swear, Trolls will take you along their duty trips at the drop of a hat if you let em. "

He gives a little... smile? "Yeah, they do that." He watches Serenity go down the stairs with her dish, then pushes a loaded plate to Dirk before starting in on his own container, not bothering to heat it up. The slimy noodles and moldy kimchi are better cold, after all.

"What's up?"

"Try to make it fast. I'm tired."

"What's up? What's up with YOU? You're sneaking into your own home... okay, that's actually one of the first normal things you've done in awhile... you've been gone, even when you're near you're gone, sappng after that Redhead Clurchaun... " A Deep breath, "Bro. I try to stay out of your biz because you stay out of mine, but.. I can't take it anymore. I gotta tell you, Cairrean is milking you like a jersey cow. She don't love you dude, and even if you do have feelings for her, it can't be one sided. She won't ever love you if you act liek youv'e been acting because she won't ever respect you . It sucks, but you got to cut this loose. If you're scared of being alone, that's so STUPID. I don't know WHAT The hell you and Dagmar have, but you DO have it, unless you're STUPID enough to let it wither while some gold digging tramp plays you like a fool when she can barely stand you." A nod "There, I said it. Make with insults or wwhatevs but gawdaman it, it's over due"

“Okay.” Symon says, and takes another bite.

“You’re right. I won’t see Cairrean any more.” Politely agreeing.

"I KNOW You're smitten, but you gotta hear the truth..." Dirk continues, ready for the fight that is sure to... "Wait, what?" A blink " Just like that?"

“When you’re right, you’re right. Even I can admit that. Thanks, Dirk.”

"Uhm.. sure" He says surprised