#earthrunes

"I'm pretty free tonight. What do you want to try?" He asks

"There's usually lots to do around here. Gotta kinda be carefully outside the Freehold area 'cause of protests and COVID but there's a, like, confidence course in the garden, and a make-out maze, and I'm pretty sure we could find some other, like, wilders and stuff and have a good time?"

"Make out maze? Wow"

"Well, if we meet someone. SomeoneS."

"Ha. I like the way you think" He says

"Of course!" Cocky.

"Well if your'e going to the maze I think that's enough beer" Jack says "Don't want you two lost"

"Oh, we're not going. I mean, not yet. I mean, not just us. Maybe if Alanza could have stuck around....."

"I hear you" Jack says

"Could we have another while we decide what to do?" with a smile.

"Hah. SMooth. Well, you're not driving anywhere so..." A third glass is given

Adam grins. "Thank you, Mr. Jack."

And the boys turn to a conversation of plans and dreams.

Jack says you're welcome..

and the guys get to plot , scheme, and oh yeah dream

(End scene)

Autumn is trying to kiss the garden, colors shifting

"Man, in Bergen we already have the colors blooming" He says

"Upstate falls are beautiful." A little nostalgically.

"Hey, you can still visit, man. " Zane assures

A shrug. "Maybe. Probably not though."

"What? You['re not banished, dude." A pat on his shoulder

"I know. And I'm glad I can go back, I just..... it's awkward."

"Because of...?"

"Ex girlfriends. "

"You can't assume every bridge you ever crossed was set on fire and burned.. or is still burning. It's just.. a bridge"

Zane says "Give them a little credit. Heck, do you know how hard Siv pushed for you to get your shot here?"

"Mind you, she's not your ex... but she wasn't your biggest fan but she still did the right thing. Same for any of them up there"

"Thought it was the Chief that arranged this."

"Well, ,yeah, but the Chief isn't against you either."

"And both she and the baroness here wanted to make sure it was the right move for you"

"I know."

"And yeah, I get that. A lot of talk about the right fit."

"Okay, so don't be afraid to visit Bergen." A grin "I need some cool people to visit me now and then"

"I'm not afraid! Maybe it's them, I don't know, but -I- don't really want to see -them-."

"Ah..." A shrug "Shame, but the point is, It's more a you see ME thing, no one is asking you to visit all of them"

"You want me to come see you?"

Zane says "Man, you're my friend. Yeah! Of course. What I have to come here all the time?"

"I can really take tries by myself....."

Zane looks at him "Not sure I understood that?"

(Trods)

"Oh trods. I thought that's what the magic shoes were for?"

"They work, yeah, but.... like my folks can't take them yet? But after they're Rained they can. But not me."

"I can get on the trods with them but it isn't safe."

"Oh.. yeah. The rents" He nods "Yeah. Though with help they might be okay. THe ROver. and all." Hmm "But you shouldn't have to babysit your parents"

"Even if I could."

"Well, I don't see them around so I guess they're staying out of your way mostly?" He says

"Yeah. Weird. I thought they'd be back in Bergen by now."

"I think they're splitting attention... one here, the other in Bergen.. for Lily's sake"