#scarsdale

"Focus was August, he was the one who was really..." He notices the LOOK.. and for some reason feels like he might be in trouble " really hurt badly. "

"And I'm fine, now Hannah, but thank you"

"...when?"

"Klay hit hard... got me in that choke hold, also laid a punch in my ribs with those steel nuckles. Nothing broken, just... bruised"

"Oh good heavens, Earl, you numbskull...." Hannah fusses. "Let's see." She stands up, expecting him to do the same.

"Numskull I..." A bit of a smile then a look at Zara "I think that's a sign I'm accepted?"

Alarmed. "Oh, furkin' mists..."

"Ladies. It's okay... it's been four days, some in..." A blush "You can't expect me to lift my shirt?"

"You want I should do it?" She seems completely ready to.

"Don't argue with Mama. She'll win."

"Okay okay" Cowed, he lifts the shirt, "It's a lot better now... as long as I don't bend to the side..."

Hannah circles around to inspect him.

"Zara, get the ice packs." She peers upclose. "Lucky you didn't crack a rib, mister!"

"I checked ot make sure I didn't..." earl says "Honest, it's much better than it was, deep breaths dont' even hurt as much"

As if this should settle and assure

"Hmph." She gets some frozen peas from the fridge.

"Look, August's face was a jigsaw puzzle in purple and black... I was not the priority and I can tend to myself... kinda"

"... and the duct tape." She adds.

"Duct...Tape?" A nervous look "Let's not go full tilt Misery here ala Stephen King"

She tuts.

"You going to be a good boy and lay down on the couch or do I need to strap this on you?" She motions with the bag of peas.

"You know... I think I'll lay down on the couch" He says as if coming to this conclusion himself, And he moves to the couch

Hannah bustles over with him and starts putting bags of frozen vegetables on him, muttering. "Zara, you have to watch this one."

"He's stubborn."

She lurks near Earl, fingertips touching his scarred temple.

"That's cold" He states the obvious

"That's how you know it's working."

Sounds at the front door.

"Maybe it could work a little less?" A suggestion not likely to be heeded

"Zara, go let your uncles in...."

"You! Hush!"

Zara nods and crosses to open the door.

Earl tenses a bit... as Zara goes out of sight. There are still wards here. She should be fine. Paler is gone and she should be fine

Hirim and Ratchet bicker their way into the living room.

"Hello, Uncles."

A brief thinning of her lips, line between eyebrows. "I shall fetch coffee, aye."

Never been so relieved to hear Hirim in his life

"Good girl, Zara." Ratchet past her and both nockers freeze at the sight on the sofa. "Hannah, what's this?"

"I'm being placed in hibernation"

Hannah moves the bags and shows them.

"Honestly, I'll be fine... it was so much worse earlier" Earl assures

"Feh, you think that's bad? Here, I show you my scar from the war...." Hirim starts to make good on that.

"It wasn't a real war!" Ratchet interjects. "You started a fight after you sat in wet paint!"

Zara returns, carefully carrying two mugs. "He's seen your scar, you showed it off last Purim."

"It was SHELLAC!!"

"You were drunk." She holds out the mugs - one with the secret sugar for Hehe.

"I was sober as a judge, what do you know, it was twenty years before you were born!" He takes the mug.

"Well, if we're comparing PAINT injuries..." Earl says

"Shellac! My good suit! It was -war-!!"

"It was your own damn shellac and it was pooka." Ratchet squashes him. "Hannah, you called us over here for what?"