#odyssey

"Gotta come up for air for that."

("they're too into each other")

"Yeah."

"Think I'm gonna call Vali, too."

"Kay." A voice behind, "Your mom says to remember to dress warm depending on where you go"

"Thanks Ann-Marie. Yeah, I got my coat."

A chuckle, and they hang up

Vali is next!

Vali picks up "Hey. Glad you were able to call"

then a beat "you two okay? Lolly can wreck you"

Grunt. "You suck, you know that, right?"

"This whole thing better be seriously important."

"What happened to 'no we're bored, let us do it'?"

"Yeah, that's done after that clown."

"If you want to call it quits. I understand. Just come on home and give me the piece you have and I can take it from there" he offers

"I'm saying, this shit better be for something important."

"Important, and why ain't you doin' this yourself?"

"I'm doing other things.. the map's just one part of it.. " he says "And it is important"

"Worth going through that important?"

"Dagmar" A beat "ARE you okay? "

"M'fine." Vali is not a Gwydion. But then, he might not need to be.

"You're fighting for the good, and it is important." he says "And... I'm sorry for whatever you went through."

"Just.. just sayin'. Like. This better be real. For something real that matters."

"That's all."

"If you'r worried this issome elaborate joke, it's not. I may enjoy poking fun, but ther'es nothing FUN about Dr. Lolly"

"No. There ain't."

"What did he make you see, Dags?" a tone an uncle might use

"It wasn't real. It was lies."

"What lie did he show you then?"

"Just... just stuff..."

"I bet there's more than that. I met him once and he made me think I had killed everyoen in the lodge with my hubris"

"Trying to get me to react. Yeah. Um. Stuff like that."

"Ever see Silence of the Lambs? Old thriller movie so I understand if you haven't"

"Nuh-uh."

"Ask Symon about Hannibal Lecter... brilliant character. Played head games with people. Lolly's like that, but not as classy and not a canabal"

"That clown's an asshole."

"He is" one can almost hear the nod over the phone

"So." She clears her throat. "So, um. We figured it'd be easier to go on from here next. To part two."

"Okay. You guys need me to wire you some more money or go there to drop off more dross?"

"Firnost i mean, before you go"

"We're okay on cash I think... down a cookie, but I got two left."

"Okay. I'll bring a few more cookies by later to give to the gauntlets at the bar. You need more on your return trip, just ask for the cookies vali left ifi t has them it'll hand them over"

"Okay." She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. "So. Where's next?"

"Let's just say it's a good thing Symon speaks Korean"

"No shit?"

"No shit. Mind you, it's not Korea either.But the language will earn trust. you're going to the Baltimore Washintong DC area.. a Little Korea area over there, third largest Korean American location In Concordia by the way"

"Didn't know that." A pause. "Should probably get a baseball bat or a knife."

"What, to smash Korean Americans? That sounds a liiiittle racist"

"No, in case we run into bad people. Mortals. Flyswatter's no good against them."

"Fair point. Check the firnost supply closet... you might find a wrench or a pipe. Just remember to return it"