- Laura and Salim's quest forces them outside of their comfort zones as they let go of their pasts.
- Laura and Salim's quest forces them outside of their comfort zones as they learn to let go of their pasts. Trapped in a perilous situation, Shadow is surprised by a new side of Wednesday, while Technical Boy attempts to escape the prison of his own mind.
- 1951
At the Peacock Inn Hotel, a man barges into a hotel and asks for help. He glances behind him, says that he did nothing wrong, and they're going to kill him. As police sirens approach, the clerk gives the man a key and tells him to lock himself into room 12.
Several officers come in, and the lead detective flashes his badge, and tells the clerk that they're pursuing a sexual pervert. The detective says that the fugitive consorts with other men to perform sodomy, and their undercover officer Jim O'Rourke tricked the fugitive into giving himself away. The clerk recognizes Jim asks if he remembers her. Toni says that she looks different and reminds him of homecoming.
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Jim remembers kissing a boy at Homecoming.
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Staring at the clerk, Jim wonders if it's Toni. Toni tells the detectives that nobody is there, and insists that she always tells the truth. Jim sides with Toni, and the detective leaves. Jim stares at Toni for a moment and then follows the others out.
The next day, Toni tells the fugitive that when she was born, everyone said she was a boy... and they were wrong. Toni says that she almost shut the place down a few weeks ago, but is glad she didn't. The fugitive, Tu, says that a hundred years ago in China, a young man fell in love with an inspector. The inspector had his lover beaten when his feelings were revealed, but later built a temple to the young man.
Tu says that he's been looking for a new temple since he came to America, and introduces himself as Tu Er Shen, the Rabbit God. In return for protecting him, Tu blesses Toni and the Peacock Inn with a long life, prosperity, and joy. He declares the inn a temple for themselves and all kindred spirits.
Later, Toni escorts Tu out and says that she figures he's an amazing storyteller. Tu breathes out a mass of butterflies, which soar out and make a peacock logo on the front of the hotel. Toni stares at the miracle in shock and surprise.
The years pass and the Peacock Inn stands. Laura and Salim come there and see a number of guests in costume. Laura tells Salim that they're nudes, and they come to an electronic screen with a leprechaun. At the desk, Toni asks if they're with the Jamboree. Laura says that they're not, and he's looking for Liam Doyle. Toni says that he's the bartender, and Toni and the other clerk say that only paying guests are allowed on the premises during the jamboree and they only have one room left.
Laura agrees to pay and says that she and Salim will stay in one room. Salim and a guest at the jamboree glance at each other, and the man--Kai-come over and offers to take Salim's bag. Salim refuses and goes off to check the room to go off, taking the box with Sweeney's ashes with him, and Laura goes to the bar to find Liam.
Tyr stops to get gas. Shadow tries to call Wednesday and gets no answer, and Tyr suggests that Wednesday is staying off the radar to avoid the new gods and will meet them at the Wolf's Den. When Shadow asks what that is, Tyr says that it's a road side attraction and a place of power. The pay phone Shadow as using rings, but when Shadow tries to go over, he realizes that Tyr drugged his coffee and collapses. When the attendant comes over to check on Shadow, Tyr rips his throat out.
Salim goes to the bedroom he and Laura have, and stares at the pink decorations in shock. He sits on the bed and remembers the Djinn, and the two of them together. He takes out the Djinn's sweater, holds it, and falls back on the bed. The vibrations start up, and Salim discovers that he can't turn it off.
Down in the bar, Laura finds Liam at the bar making drinks. She introduces herself and, recognizing her name, Liam tells her not to fuck with him. Laura asks why her name is a problem with him, and he says that he read her obituary and wonders how she's there. Laura asks why he read her obituary, and says that Wednesday hired him to kill Laura before Wednesday employed Sweeney. He refused to help an even worse scumbag than him, Wednesday destroyed his lucky coin, and Laura died anyway. Liam eventually ended up at the bar.
Laura says that she's trying to get into Sweeney's hoard, and has his coin. The coin will give Liam his powers back, and wants him to get the Spear. Liam says that he can't break the old Hibernian code and steal from Sweeney's hoard, and an exasperated Laura notices that the green cocktail Liam served him is bubbling.
In World's conference room, Tech Boy tells Ms. World that it's time for her to fix him. He wants World to find Bilquis and make her fix him. World tells Tech Boy that he must be far gone to trust the old gods to solve their problem. Meme brings in a head-grabber, and World tells Tech Boy that it will restore the electrochemical neural balance. World's faceless aides grab him, and the head-grabber attaches itself to Tech Boy's face.
In the bar, Laura shows Liam the coin and claims she doesn't want the Spear for violence. She says that Sweeney hated himself for murdering her, so he gave her the coin to show he repented. Laura claims that Sweeney wanted her to have the Spear so she could protect herself from Wednesday, but Wednesday killed him. She swears on her graves that it's true, and Liam agrees but wants the coin in payment.
Liam tells her that he'll go alone or not at all, and Laura irritably agrees and goes to the room with the coin.
Kai goes to the room when Salim calls for the bed to be repaired. As Kai works on the bed, he invites Salim to a pansexual adventure love-in later. Kai says that party is completely safe, fixes the bed, and tells Salim that he doesn't want to miss the bed. When Salim points out that he hasn't received an invitation, Kai gives him a bracelet.
Laura comes in, interrupting them, and complains about Liam. Kai leaves and Laura tells him that Liam is keeping the coin as payment for the Spear. She figures that Liam will steal the coin. Laura insists that she didn't fall in love with Sweeney, Salim points out that she doesn't need the coin to stay together, but if she doesn't get the Spear then she, Salim, and Shadow will die. He says that Laura will have to move on eventually, and giving up the coin is acknowledging.
Laura points out that Salim won't give up the Djinn's sweater. Salim admits that he's the same as Laura, and neither of them can give up.
The Boy is in a straitjacket confined in a room in a maze. He can't get out, and in the real world he is on World's conference table, the item still on his face.
Laura goes to the bar, gives Liam the coin, and tells him that if he isn't back in a couple of seconds then she'll know he betrayed her and will come after him. Liam gives her his word that she'll come back, and takes the coin and disappears. Liam doesn't return, and Laura grabs a bottle and takes a big swig while she waits.
Shadow finds himself in a blizzard surrounded by hundreds of shadowy figures. A faceless warrior appears before him and offers his hand. Shadow wakes up in the Wolf's Den, a museum, Tyr is there, and admits that he's been killing Wednesday's followers. He's set up a scaffold to flay Shadow on, and tells Shadow that he's at heart a god of justice.
When Shadow asks why Tyr is going to murder him, Tyr tells him that Loki fathered Fenrir, and it laid waste to everything in its path. After they forged an unbreakable chain to contain Fenrir, Wednesday dared the Wolf to let them test it on him. Fenrir wanted someone to put their hand in its jaws, and Tyr volunteered knowing the Wolf had to be stopped. The Wolf took Tyr's hand and Wednesday never paid a price for betraying Tyr... until now.
In his cell, Tech Boy comes face to face with a being in the image of Bilquis. He tells her that she broke him and should fix her, and "Bilquis" says that she reawakened Tech's Boy's emotions and he's chosen to continue experiencing them. When Tech Boy points out that he didn't choose, Bilquis tells him that she's just a manifestation of his subconscious. Tech Boy continues glitching, and Bilquis tells him that World is keeping him on ice and he'll have to fix the glitches on his own.
Tech Boy wonders how, and Bilquis tells him that they happen when he feels a strong emotion and tries to repress it. He insists that he doesn't "do" emotions, and she tells him to let the emotions come and go. Bilquis asks what he's feeling, and Tech Boy says that he feels anger. She tells him to find Artifact One, and he wonders how he does that when he's imprisoned. Bilquis controls his body and he releases the head grabber.
Salim goes to the party in another part of the hotel. He hesitates outside, and Toni comes by and asks if everything is okay. Salim says that Kai invited him and said it was a safe place, but Salim doesn't feel safe. Toni asks him if he feel ashamed, and Salim says that he feels proud and happy. He wonders if God is trying to tell him he was wrong, and Toni tells him that he'll be safe at the party and maybe that's what God is offering him. Salim wonders if could go in for one night, and then asks Toni if he can have the honor of escorting her inside.
They take hands and go inside, and Kai comes over and takes Salim's hand. Salim takes it and the two of them continue into the party. They look around and Salim smiles at everything and everyone. Kai and Salim eventually go to the couch, and kiss and make love.
Wednesday arrives at the Wolf's Den and tell Tyr that it's just between the two of them. He dismisses Tyr as jealous over Demeter, and Tyr tells him that he's an usurper and he won't allow it. Wednesday says that Tyr always plays the victim, and then say that his life is Tyr's if he lets Shadow go. Tyr agrees and says that he never thought Wednesday would sacrifice his life for his son. Wednesday contemplates his necklace and it glows, and Wednesday says that they'll settle it the old way.
The two gods appear on a beach as armored warriors, as Shadow looks on. They fight and Tyr manages to disarm Wednesday and knocks him down. Shadow grabs Tyr and stops him, and Tyr throws him away. He then says that Shadow's interference requires that he kill Shadow... as Wednesday comes up behind Tyr and runs him through.
Later back in the real world, Wednesday burns Tyr's body on a pyre. Shadow looks on, and Wednesday tells Shadow that his fulfillment to him is fulfilled and he's proud of the man Shadow has become. Runes glow in the ground surrounding the fire, and Wednesday disappears. Shadow looks up at the moon and curses his father.
The next morning, Salim tells Kai that the previous night was wonderful. Laura comes in and Salim introduces her to Kai. She tells Kai to leave, and she and Salim need to talk before walking out. Kai dresses and kisses Salim goodbye, and Salim thanks "Hot Bellhop" for all he did.
Once Kai leaves, Laura comes back in and tells Salim that Liam took the coin and left. She says that it's okay that Salim told her to trust Liam, and he sees the best in people. Laura plans to still try and kill Wednesday, but figures World will kill her. She says that she's going to Wednesday, and needs Salim to stay in the hotel and say safe. He insists that he will go for her and wonders why she cares, and Laura tells him that she cares about him. Salim says that he loves her as well, and that he's not running from himself or the New Gods. Laura tells him that she thinks he's being a total moron, and Salim tells her that it will be all right... "If God wills it".
Laura takes Sweeney's ashes and starts to go, then notices that the sweater is gone. Salim admits that he doesn't know and figures that he lost it. Laura says that's cool and leaves.
Shadow goes to a bus station and buys a one-way ticket to Lakeside. He sees his mother swinging a child in the air, on a poster for Florida. The image freezes after a moment, and Shadow says that he's heading for Jacksonville.
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