#odyssey

“Fight, barter, or steal?”

"I'm thinking Steal."

He gives Dagmar a look over the edge of the phone, judging her reaction

"Well, Symon is gonna be more useful than I am."

"Honestly, he's gotten both of them so far."

"I bet there was at least one fight he was glad you were around for"

He laughs, a faint breath. “And then I’d have gotten boiled alive or shock fried without you.”

Shrug.

"Well, after this one there are two more... and trust me, at least one of them is going to require fighting and it won't be optional"

"Fair enough. So. Get in the club, I can be a distraction and Symon can be sneaky?"

"However you guys want to do it"

And he gives the address.. "If you need a place to hole up while in New Orleans, there's a puny commonr mews called Sweet Sorrow. . The flame is so weak a hard breath might knock it out but they're good people"

"Can we get there from here?"

"I can get you close." he says

"That'd be a big help."

And he gives directions

He notes the directions. “Any last words?”

"I regret I have but two wilders to sacrifice for my needs?" A pause "Try not to lose any body parts near these guys"

“Great.” Hanging up. To Dagmar, “he’s generally on the straight and narrow, isn’t he? So if he said to steal, it’s worth stealing? Like, cosmic karma-y.”

"I think so. He hasn't lied?"

“Can you tell over the phone?” Curious. “You’re still cool with the mission, right?”

"I am! Not sure how much help I am in a sneaky situation... that's all, y'know?"

“Cool. You can be my moral support. It’s kinda weird feeling, being at the front?”

"Well, you're meant to be in the shadows."

"I mean, that's what makes you happiest?"

"I think?"

"I know you don't like me braggin' on you. So."

He gives her a reassuring smile. Well, intended. looks a bit sickly. “This was your quest first though, I don’t want to tread all over it.”

"You aren't!"

He nods. “Just making sure. You know how I love stealing hubris.”

"Well, we're fed, let's go?"

And out they go... pushed out the door by necessity (And perhaps darker forces behind the 4th wall). The Driver waits for them patiently, unaware (Maybe) that they have new instructions

Dag gives directions, via Vali.

She nods and drives them to the trod, not AT new Agengard but rather next to a record store that sells Jazz. "I'm afraid I can't drive you through a trod."

"I understand. Thanks for all your help, though."

"Just doing as the Heir demanded" She says "here, a bit of dross if you need it." She holds out a small clay scarab "Given on her behalf"

"Send her our thanks, please."

"I shall" She says "Good fortune on your quest"

He nods, “thanks to Lady Adelaide, too.”

Another nod

Checking out the record store. “Something here your mom might like? Music stuff?”

"I dunno... she doesn't do a lot of Jazz."

“Maybe she’d like it then. Something new? Can look at least, make it a legit reason to visit.”

"True. But we should find the way, first..."

Looking for a shimmer that says "trod"

And there it is...

He follows her gaze...

"Looks right, don't it?"

a bit of graffiti reads 'Vali was here'

A snort!