#elsewhere

Zara returns to Poughkeepsie, rather than Earth Runes.

"Where have you been?" Jacob fusses

"I saw Mama. I can go as I please." She scoops up Frisby to greet her.

Frisby's whiskers flicker happily

"How am I supposed to bug you when you're not here?"

"Oh, I'm sure you'll manage." She places the rat on Jacob's shoulder.

Frisby slips a nose into his hair.

"Fff well.. I hope you didn't have TOO much fun without me"

"Never, Jacob."

And the boy starts to text something

Eyebrow.

He smiles toothlessly "Thanks" And tries to hide whatever he is texting

Zara tries to spot it.

She sees the word Blackfeather on it

"Hey, no peeking," He says hypocritically

"Who is Blackfeather?"

"...Are you narcing on me?"

"NOOOOO..." he says

She steals the phone and reads.

'Hey" he whisper yells

It simply says "Blackfeather flies"

and she's not sure who the number is to.

She frowns.

And there is a thumping at a window

"I would not think my own brother would do such."

"It's not about you" He crosses his arms hurt

then looks to the window

"No? The timing says otherwise." She swoops to the window, checking.

There's Chaldea "Blackfeather, are you ready to.. oh, it's you"

The Eshu looks past her

Zara looks between the two, narrow eyed.

"Hey, Blackfeather," She tells Jacob "Ready to fly?"

"Hisss!" The boy says at her "codenames r secret"

Chaldea rolls her eyes "Sorry sorry. Why wouldn't you tell your sister?"

"Uhg." Eyeroll.

Jacob says "Because she eyerolls."

Jacob looks embarrassed by thsi

"Go. I'm making tea."

"Glorywinng and blackfeather... away" The Eshu says.

Jacob hisses but follows "Codenames, not superhero names... you don't blurt codenames..." And they go off

And...

TXT: goodmorning From Earl to Zara

Zara goes up to their apartment to make tea. TXT:You aren't home? Where did you sleep?

TXT: You ARE at the house? Be there in a sec..or an hour if I'm terrible

And he appears

Zara is steeping the tea. She checks the clock. "Ten minutes, respectable."

"Mmph" He says "I maybe losing my touch" And moves towards her "How's everyone in Scarsdale?"

"The Uncles are cantankerous, Mama and Papa are well."

"Ha, not surprised by the first, glad to hear the second"

"Jacob is out with his eshu friend."