[He doesn’t take his time, but the storm gets worse and it makes Billy itch. He can see the vines moving; twitching to life and sending signal after signal. He can feel a call, too. Some old connection that never really severed.

He ignores it. Prowls his way home, skin a little dusted with ash, and his adrenaline spiking.

Something is happening out there. Distantly. He hopes it passes them by. Still, he’s alert when he crosses back over the threshhold, baby in hand and - ah. Jason.] Morning, sunshine.

[His grin is still mean as he sits back down at the edge of the bed, holding the guitar flat across his lap.] Gotta clean the strings, killer. One of those things was using it. [It’s a softer murmur for Eddie.

Eddie, Eddie, Eddie, who seems real fucking alive now.] But she’s here, as promised.

[He can feel Jason’s eyes on him. Confused. Afraid. Hateful. Good, he thinks. He’d hate to be predictable.

The guitar he puts down against the dresser - within Eddie’s reach, if he wants it. It frees his hands up to shrug his jacket off. ] Geez, Carver, you keep staring at us like that and a guy might think you have a crush.

[Jason flinches. ]