#rutgers

It hisses again, and zips off in a flash - literally, alarming speed, and the swirled-spiral-colored monstrosity is out of sight.

Symon is by her side, and looking at her hand. "No bandaid." He whispers. "Not a mortal scratch. It should fade soon. You alright?"

"I feel fine. I mean, I've gotten scratches from Odin."

"Should go wash my hands, though."

“Yeah…” Symon glares at a girl giving them a look, who quickly turns back to her latte and novel. “Bathroom sign’s over there.”

Sam nods, and heads off to give the cuts a quick scrub.

The women's bathroom is clean. And plenty of soap

Quick wash, and back out! But man, she feels... up. A change, after a few weeks of feeling the opposite.

Well, she's fine.

Got some pep in the step

Symon has snagged a corner table!

He’s squinting up at a shelf of books.

"Looks like they have a library of board games, too, did you see?"

Some of the board games have... chimerical aspects that mortals can't see. At least not sober ones

Risk! says one and in Chimerical lettering parenthesis (and Reward)

“Hey, that game’s been out of print for like, 20 years! I’ve only played the digital version…”

Then looking at the other game with chimerical title, he snorts.

Clue says nother plus (And suggestions how to get away with it_

“Sure, let’s play. We’re already here anyway. You pick.”

"We could try... um... " Her hand hovers.

One of the girls at the table that was playing a game is talking to the others.

Sam doesn’t make it out, but Symon reddens a little and glares down at the table.

Some do appear almost normal

"Would you care for another?" Brock inquires

She takes the box for "Battleship" and holds it up to show to Symon.

“Huh?” He looks up, then shrugs. “I dunno. We sticking around? Most of these games need like 4 people…”

Then he Laughs! A muted thing, but genuine. “Oh. You’re going DOWN.”

"Oh good choice. I prefer my books, but it's a classic " A grin from MR. Reade "So, another round?"

"Hey, I can be tactical!"

She snags her Dr. Pepper with her free hand. "It's a classic."

Symon nods and accepts another mug of tea. “Gonna murder your battleship.”

"You think!" That gets a little smile - an expression that's been rare, of late.

But, well, Sam has been busy.

Nimble fingers pluck out the tiny pieces and pegs to set up the board!

And they get space to destroy each other

Sam contemplates.

As they gaze at the gameboard, the 'board' does have a wave like overlay.

“Huh.” He Kens it idly.

Snickering as he realizes that he could use Autumn eyes to seek out Dagmar’s weaknesses on the board.

A look of concentration as she sets out her fleet.

Symon thinks it's not so much magic in the games, but part of the magic cast on the shelves they're stored in.

Hm. He shoots a curious look the way of the proprietor.

Symon Carefully organizes his own. Dagmar is going down. Well, at least as far as he can hope in a game that is largely based on luck.

Some like, some strategy!

"We had this in one of the group homes I was in. This, and a, like, combination chess-checkers-backgammon set."

"...Nobody knew how to play backgammon."

"But Battleship? It was the cool one. Until this kid ate one of the boats."

“Ha! I’d ask if it was a redcap, but kids are dumb.” A pause as he adjusts his side.

“I ate bugs at school to gross out the other kids. At least until the second time they called my dad out during a shift. He was ticked. At me for causing trouble, and at the teacher for not knowing which bugs are or aren’t poisonous.” A snicker.

"You would." A pause. "How old? When you..."

“…Fourteen. Ann Marie saw something lurking, managed to hook me up with some proper folk before I popped. Didn’t trust her for a really long time after that.”

She nods.

"So not that long before me."

He shifts his weight a bit, uncomfortable in the recollection. “Thought she was just sticking with Dad to keep an eye on me, poor motherless brat.”

He shrugs a bit, repeating, “Kids are dumb.”