#debukefarmhold

"You damn idiot" Clem says

Earl says "Could you please just.. you know, heal it, then lecture?"

"No, then you might run away from the lecture. And you are an idiot." she says as she digs out the bullet., "Also, the healing has to wait till I get this out."

"I've seen you pop things out with heatherbalm before" he counters.

then he winces as she digs a little less gently.

"Did you do that on purpose?" he adds

"You'd deserve it if I did, don't come here telling me how to heatherbalm, particularly after you got shot grabbing a suitcase full of money.. you knnow how banal the pursuit of money can be?"

"It makes some dreams can be, and it's not even wrong or unethical this time" earl says "well, August might think so, but he's.. weird."

"Well, if there'sn othing wrong with it, then let's dial up zara and get her opinion." Clem reaches for her cell phone.

"Ahh don't.." He winces... to be fair, when the cellphone IS reached for, the bullet is out.

"Your girlfriend is a SLUAGH, Earl. What are the odds you hide this from her?"

He winces, and not from the pain of his wound "she'll be mad at me."

"I wonder why?" she says "I'll heather balm you, but she has to be told. You told me yourself you and she had an understanding, for every thing she trusts you with, you trust her with 3 and that's a good sluagh troll balance. Well, this would be one for her."

"Fine, as soon as it.s. IOOOOODINNNE " He yelps as the stinging medicine is splashed on his arm "Who even uses that anymore?"

Clem doesnt answer instead singing "And you just can't shoot them- men." the magic heals the wound in a mater of seconds.

"Now," she says, "You have the balls to steal from drug dealers, you darn well should have enough testicular fortitude to talk to your girlfriend. If you don't tell her- I will. She's my friend. You're my favorite cousin, and I will not have this build up to even greater blow out later."

He sighs "And thus the tyranny begins."

she taps where it's still soft, "It's never stopped, it's just official now. Sides, Hearth Agnes would agree with me if you want to drag her into this too."

"Okay.. Okay." And he texts, rather than calls. It's a small act of deiance.

BZZT to Zara you busy?

bzzt No?

Bzzt I got in a bit of a scuffle. Clem thinks I should tell you.

"A bit o a scuffle?" Clem says looking over his shoulder "Oh she's going to reign some serious Yiddish on you and you'll deserve it, that is when she finds out. Now give it to her staight"

bzzT Scuffle? Are you hurt? Were they snakes?

"rude much?" Earl looks at her covering his phone for a sec "It's how sluagh talk to folks. they're very understated."

He reads, then texts back BZZT : 'It was just mortals. I got hurt . I got healed.'

Clem rolls her eyes.

bzzt Why were you fighting with mortals?

Bzzt 'Ah, I might have taken something from them. they might have shot me. it's complicated'

Clem stares at him with disbelief.

a long pause

...bzzt Come again?

"He may NEVER again at this rate," Clem observes

"Do you Mmiiiiind?" He hisses at his cousin, then types.

Bzzt 'I took something from them. got shot. but i'm feeling better now'

"Oh, that'll reassure her" Clem snorts

bzzt Took WHAT? And WHY? Do I need to find Clem?

Earl winces, looks to Clem. "She wants to know the details, what do I ..."

"Oh now you want my help?" Clem says "Wel, don't confess to a federral crime over the phone...or at least not by text"

"it's not a crime to steal drug money.. I don't think..."

he texts Bzzt 'First, they were very bad people.... and they got what they got by bad things... so that makes taking things good, right?'

bzzt Are you fershlugina? I'll find Clem.

bzzt (Clem) I need to find your cousin

bzzt (Clem) And you!

Cleem texts on her phone Bzzt 'He's at the farm with me. I just healed him. You want me to send him to you or do you want to come to him?'

bzzt You were STEALING?

bzzt Clem You want I should come there?

bzzt Clem He is NOT coming here.

bzzt CLem ...Is he okay?

earl swallows "oh crap,she's being direct." Bzzt Yes? By stricteest defintion.