#rutgers

"Oh yeah, and they do these loaded fries? Or onion rings, if you prefer."

"AND deep fried oreos."

".......I don't actually know if they have anything that ain't fried."

"It's kind of a delicious war crime" Gerd admits

"Tonight, I'm for it" Ever says

The cops HAD wanted to take Ever in for questioning. Anne Marie slams a PAUSE on that, and when the official counselor shows up, a nice lady who apparently once shopped with Anne Marie at this adorable ceramics shop where they talked about theirs sons and great bargains... well, let' just say the cops are happy to just put Conrad in cuffs and in the back of the car. The counselor talks briefly to Anne Marie AND Ever, and arranges for a free change of clothes and toothbrush, soap, and other toiletries as part of a policy!

"Oh, nice, swag!"

"Sweats are better than that stupid dress. I mean, I'm not ultra butch, but I am not down with the femme femme" Ever admits

"You want, I got scissors at home."

"YES" she says

"Well," Anne Marie says "I'm told she'll stay with you , Sam. And wants to. Excellent. Gerd and I can get home on our own but I'll be back to check on Ever. Here's my card, dear."

"They still have cards?" Ever takes the card

"I'm old fashioned' Anne Marie admits ""But it does have email as well as phone number to text on. " Anne MaRie says "Professor Garb, you've been wonderful. Have you ever considered social work?"

The professor shakes her head "Happy to help but I'll leave it to the experts. Now, Literature.. oh I can go on for days. Please tell Cornellius I said hello"

"I'm probably gonna check in with my friends - couch isn't the best long-term solution, but I'm sure Sylvi and Symon will be cool."

"I will" Anne Marie said "And if you need a hotel instead, Ever. Call me. I WILL arrange one for you, a secure one"

"Thanks, I mean, thanks all of you" Ever says, and her stomach growls. She rolls her eyes "Yeah, classy there"

Gerd grins "It's our fault. We said Chicken too many times"

"Yeah, like Beetle Juice" Ever admits

"Wings it is!"

Dagmar gets a text from Anne Marie TXT: keep me posted and let me know if she needs anything and is too proud /skittish to ask, please?

"Ah, Anne Marie? Can I.. uhm join them for the wings?" Gerd asks

Anne Marie tuts "Well as you are treating them, of course. Don't worry about me, dear. I have contacts to get where I need to be"

Grimace. "Sorry. Thank you so much."

Gerd waves that off "No no, wasn't trying to guilt you. You know I have that eating disorder, right? I mean, it's under control but I still need to t est myself. If I can eat this... if I can put stuff THAT unhealthy in my body and not flinch, THAT will be something. My mount everest!"

Ever smirks and says to Sam "Your friends all this eccentric?"

"Or weirder, sure."

Ever grins at that "Cool. Sound like you've got good taste in friends then. "

"There's lots of good people in the world. Bad ones, yeah, but enough good ones to make it worthwhile to keep trying."

"Want me to call an uber" the doctor offers "To get everyone to the appartment? I know your bike is built for two, Sam"

Ever says "I'll take whatever transport I can get" She admits

Gerd looks tempted, but you don't flicker flash dreamers who have been through trauma

"Um... okay, logistics... Gerd, you can get Ever to the place, I can get Doc home - Anne Marie, you're good, for sure?"

"I am quite sure" Anne Marie passed the Gwydion check

And soon enough, Ever is using the appartment shower while Gerd comes back with a bucket O wings, and Dagmar , having dropped the doc off, gets to play hostess. Fortunately she's had Kerri training

She's not sure to be relieved or cranky that Symon is out.

Sylvi at least left a note.

Ever comes out in the sweats that counselor gave her "Thanks for the shower.. Oh FOOD!"

Gerd says "Yup. Delicious devil's poultry"

Sam is in sweats, plopped in a chair cross-legged and working on her dozen!

"We got lots of different ones. There's red stickers on the spicy boxes."

"I Fear no fire made by hell or man" The Dreamer declares, and reaches for the red sticker box.

Gerd mutters "Great, now I'm the wimp" But she enjoys her tangy but milder brand

"Listen, those garlic parm ones are not hot, but they ARE flavorful. I'm not all my mother."

"Fair" Gerd smiles "Tove has her biases. Now she would eat fire"

"Your mom sounds pretty cool" Ever says tearing into one

"Tove will never eat bland again, long story" Gerd says "But yes, Sam's mom is cool. Geez what a voice"

Ever catches her reflection in a nearby surface, then sighs "Ugh. Speaking of bland. My hair. I so want to touch it up when I can. I used to have these blues and purples in rows.. now it's just ..brown"

"I could try, but Sylvi is the expert."

"Sylvi can set you up " Gerd nods "Though Siv keeps hers blue and looks pretty good." Gerd enjoys another "mm after this I really should get going"