#scarsdale

Tziporah nods "THank you, Zara"

The sluagh slips away - the spiders remain. Tziporah may not have noticed them, but Fahdalia is canny.

And Octa bears a striking resemblance to Novem.

Fahdalia smiles at something, then turns to the girl and begins the tale

Zara delivers a tray bearing pots of spiced tea and honey, alongside fruit and cheese and macaroons. Good fuel for a long story. The sluagh, however, does not linger - she has eyes and ears in place, and there are lessons still to teach elsewhere.

Zara is thanked, and she catches enough of the story to know it is off to a good start and Tziporah is already engrossed.

And as for her?

Yes, lessons to teach

(End Scene)

"What are YOU Looking at ?!" Reginald snaps at the mailman "Just... just keep driving.."

The mail man blinks "All I did was hand you your mail, sir"

"Well, keep on going then.." Sleep deprevation does not good manners make. It's been days since he's really slept

Does one of the letters smell of... smoke?

Reginald sniffs the air then looks at the envelope

The return address is smudgy, but the letter is to him.

Reginald's hands shake... but... he opens it, the other envelopes forgotten, perhaps falling to the side

Ashes fall from the envelope, like confetti.

"Confession is good for the soul. No rest for you. Was it worth it?"

And.. he screams...and drops it...

"Why is this happening... " A gasp "I mean, it's done, it's over, they're not coming back..."

Eyes glint at him from the shrubs, from the trees...

"....cccooonnnnfffeeesssssssss....." a raspy whisper on the wind.

"I DON'T HAVE TO CONFESS TO ANYBODY! YOU CAN'T PROVE IT!"

now this is rude, being so loud

but also, screaming that sort of thing draws attention

and one man who was trimming hedges looks over at Regninald like he's nuts

"... connnnffeeesssssssss...."

Reginald smells... lighter fluid?

"You on drugs or something?" The man at the hedge asks

"No... drugs... no drugs.. but I could afford some.. good ones! The best.... can you? I bet not... " Reg snaps at him then rambles "yeah, drugs.. drugs are the answer.. something.. to help me sleep to... to make me stop seeing and hearing... yeah.." He races to his car

And he tries to start it, the play list clicks on.. not his usual...

Marzalla probably had fun picking those songs out

Zara, meanwhile, is escorting Symon and Lilly into the house....

Or rather, "Levi" and "Zeke"

Lily fights a titter

Symon fights the urge to shove his hair from his face, and wreck the carefully crafted glamour and ash markings.

And they prepare - liquid smoke spritzed in the corners, and crispy-charred pork placed in the air vents. It smells of fire and flesh.

A hazer full of fog juice is set up in the basement, to also take advantage of the vents. Really, terror is all about patience and prep.

Reginald peels away... despite the playlist about flames... leaving the house

"aww" Lily whispers with a fuss "We didn't get to scare him"

Marzalla enters in "You will.. he's gone to get drugs. Amazing"

"Aye. I think we can use his altered state to our advantage. Now, Lilly, have you practiced thy agonized moaning?"

Lily bobs her head up and down eagerly, "I tried to make my lungs sound rattling like Symon taught me..." And she gives a hollow rattle sound in her chest

"Oh, aye... try a little lower, as such..." Teaching childlings is an important responsibility, after all. Who wants a sub-par death rattle?

She tries again, this time as much from the belly as the lungs

"There we go. Well done."

She dimples happily

"Remember what we talked about - staying hidden until he is near the couch, and then reaching out to grasp his ankles...."

“Chill your hands. We’re already clammy, but the dissonance between fire hot and cold of death…”