#elsewhere

"Oh.... well, yeah, if you want to. And there are any. Or anything you want, really. I'd like that."

"Wonderful. We'll watch a game of some sport or another" Bondraste says "The three of us, I'm sure they're all the same"

Adam frowns but doesn't say anything.

Brenda says "Oh please, Darcy tell me you're joking?"

"What about moving stuff in from the Freehold?"

"Well, more mundane activities are required. Shopping. Moving things. New is good , less attachment" She says "Besides you'll want to spend SOME time at the hold too"

"Yeah. Yeah, sure. Do I get to keep my room there too?" he blinks "Oh wait. Nab. I can't leave Nab."

"You have to leave nab" Bondraste says "Adam, this is a place for banal boring mortal situations. Nab is pure dream. "

"And yes you get to keep your room there" She says

"She lived in our house in New Jersey!"

"Yes, Adam but this House is for a purpose" Bondraste says "it's okay. You won't spend all or even most your time here"

"But......"

"Adam, Bedlam is no joke" She says

"GrandDame, I'm not saying it is, but Nab's, like... I love her. I don't want to be apart."

"Oh, that's lovely darling. So we let you call her" A nod

"Not the same...." with a sigh.

"Of course not, but it builds the fire of desire"

"Yeah..... I guess......"

"I gotta at least go back and tell her, make sure she's ok."

"Okay. You can use my car" she says "Oh, and if you like, when among mortals call me Grandma Darcy"

"Oh but first, dinner. I'm starving" Darcy says

"Grandma Darcy?" A tender smile. "I'd like that. Grandma. That works."

"Thanks.And I will need a nickname for you. Something midly embarrassing." She ponders "Addy? Dim Dims? "

He groans. "You -need- one??"

"We used to call him bouncy butt when he wouldn't hold still" His mother chimes in "he was so adorable in that high chair"

"Bouncy Butt?" Darcy beams "Oh how precious"

"No no no no........"

"Adam is just two syllables! It's easy!"

"That's what SHE said" His mom says bringing all the great jokes of yesteryear

"But I love Bouncy Butt so much" Grandma Darcy says, then sees his look "Fine. Maybe I'll stick with sweetie now and then and save Bouncy Butt for the big event"

"Big event?" Adam looks long suffering.

"I speak nebulously." She explains

SIGH.

"Ok, well..... I'll go find Nab and talk to her, explain, and grab a couple things. I mean, are we staying here tonight?"

"You're having dinner here before you go anywayhere. Your mom worked hard on it" Bondraste insists

"I can grab something there."

His mother sighs

"Adam, you're doing it again. Being very unkind" His 'grandmother' says

"Sorry, Grandma. Ok, I'll stay."

"For dinner, I mean."

"Good" And they set up for dinner

Adam knows how to set the table, even if it's moving-in paperware.

He gets Grandma Darcy's chair, helps put things on the table.

And eventually they sit to eat.

Adam gets a slightly disapproving look at some point from his 'Grandma darcy'

"What?"

"It's customary to thank people for the food they work hard on" brow

His mtoher on the other hand says "it's quite okay, I don't ..."

"Sorry. Thank you for dinner." He says politely to his mother.

"I'm glad you like" His mom says "So, how was today?"