#the_ice_cave

666 follows Thirteen into the vent pausing for a moment to wave a leg at 1122, then both are gone, swiftly, and near silently.

"I wonder if enough blood would revive the spiders."

"Might be. But how can they drink it? Didn't try winding them up, either." (He swings the chair, scowling at the dust on his clothes) "What do you think? Go riding, hit the cemetary?"

She shakes her head, closing her eyes. "I'm tired, and it's cold."

"Can bring hand warmers, dress warm." (A huff of a sigh) "Just figure, staying here, he's going to figure it out. Don't want all the worried-Dad crap to deal with. At least, you know, your parents, don't want to know where you are every damn day."

"If he wanted, he'd see you. He's a soothsayer. Better than me, by far."

"Crap, you're right." (groans) "But if he thinks we're in the Dreaming? Maybe he won't try. Whatever. At least don't have to tell the nockers, nu?"

"Captain Marvel underoos."

"So, she likes you."

(He shakes his head) "You know, that was what made me think, you know, the whole thing about a date wasn't a joke."

"Told her already, wasn't going to, mind hasn't changed." (A scowl at Zara) "Guess I shouldn't avoid it, but." (He shrugs, flicking eyes away)

"I understand avoiding things."

"Yeah. Have to work with her, easier if she's not pissed off, don't LIKE pissing off nockers. Well, not ones I have to deal with every day." (A rolling shrug) "Not going to think about it now." (He flicks eyes over) "You okay? Don't see you, you know, getting all Zen one-with-the-bed too often."

She shrugs. "Fine. It's done, right?"

"Not going to go see her?"

"No."

"Don't get it." (Bluntly, staring over. He is frosted grey with dust, patchy where he's slapped some of it off)

"My obligation's done. Not that I did aught. Hirim has her."

"Thought we kind of figured, it wasn't HIM this was all for. You said she wanted to see YOU, in your..." (He lifts hand, waggles fingers at her, in a 'woo woo' gesture)

She shrugs, eyes still closed. "She doesn't know me."

"Yeah. Dria don't know me, either." (He shrugs) "So I know."

"She's trying."

"Yeah. So, like, you don't think if you go see her, she might not try? Miriam?"

"Hirim figures, she probably already knows you're a slug," (Bluntly) "So maybe she won't be TOO squicked out."

"He say that?"

"Yeah. Said he thought, maybe Miriam knew, at least as much as she needed to know. Probably why -- I think --" (He squints) "Why she -- I kind of think somebody ran from the caravan, like, towards us? You remember that?"

"Or did I make that shit up?"

She shakes her head. "We couldn't get the caravan. Couldn't get close."

"Okay, maybe I made that up, then. Thought somebody tried to get away."

(He shrugs, dismissing it)

"Anyhow, he said he thought she kind of got some of the woo woo back, when you did it."

"Mayhaps."

"She knows... knew... Hirim. Was his apprentice for years."

"Yeah, so?"

"So?"

"What's your point?"

"No point, I guess."

"So, maybe, you keep nagging me to give Dria a chance, you not going to do the same?"

(He swings the chair back and forth in a semi-circle, lazily)

"Maybe when she's better."

"What was wrong with her?"

She shrugs.

"Huh." (He shuts his eyes, and leans his head back, continuing to swing the chair)

"I have to give Pynki her treasure back."

"You want I should leave, you two can girl-talk? Maybe tell her I went on a tour of the Dreaming, sightseeing, while you came back?"

"Funny thing, lying to a pooka is hard, if they're wanting to know. "

"Yeah, but I seen you, Ghost, you're good at keeping your mouth shut when people poke you." (A quick, hard grin) "I tried it, remember?"

"Pooka are good at it."

"You're better."

Another shrug. "Just not ready to see her yet."