#odyssey

"Wouldn't dream of it." He whispers in earnest.

"Oh now, he's a good one" Says an Eshu woman who must have been a child herself at that time

"I can't pun on the fly like that." She assures.

"But she can swat on the run." He groans. "Sorry. I knew I was feeling sick. He's influenced us."

The food is fantastic. And soon a sandwich is on the way

Snerk.

"You got some bad mojo, in you" The Freeholder fusses over him "You got to be careful what you take into yourself, skinny boy" A fuss

"Well, lord only knows what funky vampire magic happened..."

The old troll grump says "You younguns should stay away from Children of Lilith"

"I thought I used it all up. " A faint grumble groan.

The Freeholder boggan gives them each a hug "Oh you poor wilders. Getting tangled in the forces of darkness?"

"We will. There's one less around now thanks to Dagmar Hammerstrike."

And she's just.. it's like hugging a warm marshmellow pillow combo

He.... allows it for a moment. Feels a bit like Ann Marie. Before itching to get away, like he touched pink insulation.

"Oof." She gets hugged, and doesn't fight it.

Symon's hug is brief. The woman knows sluagh well enough not top press it.

Dagmar gets a longer one "now you stay seating, rest up. If you need three days you got it. We'll get out there and see if we can muse some dreamers gentle like .. if we manage to get some glamour, we'll bring it back. That's how things work around here."

Soft nods

"We shouldn't... no, we can make it home, I think. Don't wanna take more than we need."

"Rest till morning. No prodigal gonna find you here.. and if they do.." She nods to the Redcap and troll.

"Thanks. I think the wolf is still tracking the stink."

The troll grunts, but the grunt means sthe same thing as the Redcap's open "We'll ash em"

"Wolf?" Some surprised looks.

"Twisted Tail. Nasty looking thing. Didn't look right."

The freeholder shakes herh ead "You two offend one more prodigal in the same night and you'll tie Vali's old record"

"I'm good. That was plenty."

"There's this... bar? Maybe four blocks away?"

"I just caught a glimpse." He looks to the Freeholder, and gums a lip, before describing the corpse-like vampire. "This guy... not saying he's on the level, but he dealt fair. If you can avoid his path, I don't think he'll seek you out for trouble. Don't quote me, but... I think so."

She nods. "He got the wolf off me."

"Voodoo club" the Eshu says "But it's twisted the river "

"Twisted the river?"

"A translation of voudon.. what you call Voodoo... but it isnt' meant to be as sinister as folks think. It's a religion born of Africian culture, catholic touches, and a cry for freedom... the Loa aren't evil, they've just got character"

"Like..." Oh, more purple. "Sorry. But yeah, okay. Bad magic versus good magic. I don't do magic much, Sy's the warlock."

A yawn and stretch - food and fire will do that. "I hit things hard."

"Bet you do, Grande petite... Guile and Might, two sides of the hero coin. Now you rest..." A look to the others "keep the music mellow boys. Invite the sandman"

He's blinking too. Symon looks for the scrawny boy from earlier...

"Sy, remind me t'get Mom that Jazz record. S'nice music."

He nods... chin touching his chest, then he jerks it up again.

Dag dozes off in the chair.

The scrawny boy whispers "Sleep wel... " A pause "Symon the Denier. your deeds pay for much mroe than this... sleep" A pause "or I'll drug you"

"Remind me tomorrow to tell you news from our cousins..." And he drifts off before he can deny the nickname further.

...Dagmar snores. Quietly, for such big lungs. It verges on cute.

And soon, Symon sleeps. Lovecraft, now aware he will not see her weaken, settles on his chest and claims him Good night , Symon. Rest well.. most likely steal your breath before the morning And glares at any who would approach him save to help

And the jazz, soft and mellow, plays on

(TO BE CONTINUED)