#darkgatefortress

He gives her a look like she's insane, and it might be contagious. "...and then what?"

"I give the stolen memories back to who they belong, even if it means letting what thinks she's Dahlia have a new home..."

"Uh huh."

He isn't outright dismissing it, he's thinking, but... unconvinced.

"So that's it? You just hand yourself over to a would-be poltergeist?"

"It's not like I'm succeding in THIS life is it? HOlds falling from the sky... and I can't get them. I have one where there's a man who I could seducde then depose.. or at least rule as the power behind the throne... but I had to fall in love with him. If I beat this thing, I will be happy, if it beats me? Maybe Aiden will be happy to have most of Dahlia back and his memories. At this point? I'm thinking.. as long as Calanthe doesn't win"

He eyes her, and then shrugs. "Who am I to deny anyone a pyrrhic victory?" Symon carefully finishes reassembling her watch, offering it back - he even polished off the greasy finger-smudges with the edge of his sleeve.

"Thank you" A pause "Now as regards to your payment..."

she also takes the glass back, of course

Of course

She then reaches into something and hands him a scroll "This is your payment to open when you like"

He accepts it, running fingers over it. Kenning... any glamour within, or just paper?

Chimerical paper..no mortal can read it. Otherwise ordinary

He slides it away, disappearing up a sleeve. "Serves me right for not setting a price in advance. Well, anything else? I can't imagine you're aching to prolong my company."

"I thought of giving you a plea to take care of Dagmar, but... you'll do that anyway, and not for my sake." A fond smile "I just wanted to enjoy the feeling of this for a moment"

Wary. "Of... what?"

She walks to the wards and touches them "It's petty, and a bit bitchy of me and I owe you too much to exult in it." She lowers the wards "I'll keep my word, of course. You are..."A look back "Thank you.. we may never be friends but you've been... a frenemy?"

He considers, and nods. "You could say that."

"Sorry, though."

"For what? " She steps through the wards, which don't affect her, and for a moment he is ..stuck on that side. Then she snaps her fingers and it pops

He smirks. "Turns out you didn't need to talk to a slug at all. So you just got the pleasure of my company."

The expression fades, and he gives her a glance. "Good luck. I have the feeling you'll need it."

"A sluagh getting a Varichs's gratitude, a varich getting a sluagh's wish for good fortune. If irony were glamour, we could each build a freehold. Be well, Symon. I DO hope I see you again, something that surprises me" And off she walks

He watches her go, and waits a little longer, before heading out himself... only to turn around, and head back to the main entrance.

And to the main entrance he goes

He requests of whoever he encounters first, "I need a place to crash for a 3-day. I might have some business in town."

Well, this is a hold and NO one is going to deny one of it's heroes. Marsellies the Hearth shrugs "FIne by me.. sit down, I have some rancid steak cut very fine you'll love."

He doesn't object, though over the meal, if Marseillies has the stomach to stick around, Symon points out the flaws in their security. Though, to give him credit, he doesn't name names (or descriptions) or say which gate and time. He's not a snitch.

A nod and the man promises to pass it on to the others. Symon is rewarded with 'those aren't raisins, those are flies' pudding if he likes... whether they are or not, no one would want to eat this unless they were a slugh

He enjoys it, especially if he can slurp down a bite and make anyone else lose their appetite!

(scene! ...for now)