#anywhere

She laughs

"Five people, and lots and lots of maple syrup."

"I can't decide if that's in Vermont's favor or not, but I wouldn't doubt you"

"Where's the High King? DC?"

"Somewhere in New York State. Why? I don't know. Grand palace and all. I didn't much care for sidhe, now I'm having to relearn all about them."

"I've met a sidhe. He seemed okay. Liked to talk."

"How long were you in the Dreaming? Frank said you go crazy there."

"Thyle had some protections, and it's a good thing or yes, we'd have fallen into bedlam. Father, he's more learned than I, tells me that part of the magic of Thyle helped fend of Bedlam. But yes, normally, too much time in the Dreaming, or even if you only stay at freeholds, you can go mad. "

"Seems like everything, you go crazy or die."

"Or not die. Nobody's real clear on that."

She hasn't let go of the weapon, but it has slowly dropped to a nearly relaxed level.

"Oh, that's a bit more complex with us. Somethings kill the fae soul bit by bit, but don't touch the mortal flesh. Somethings kill both. And then Cold Iron..." Tove shudders, "Cold Iron means the fae soul dies forever and never ever comes back."

A nod, filing THAT tidbit away.

"Sorry, grim talk I know," Tove says, "A girl your age should be thinking on more pleasant things in the spring."

"But then a girl your age should probably know about how to avoid death. Tricky balance" She strums her ...guitar looking thing.

"I can. I'm tough."

She puffs up her chest, adjusting her grip on the weapon. "I can fight."

"I believe it, you got muscles on top of mucles there" She says without harshness

"I know, right?" A brief flash of teeth as she grins. "You ever want to just cut loose?"

"Of course, that's why trolls are taught to keep it in because we can so easily hurt weaker folks, but it doesn't mean we never get to cut loose. " A pause "Ever hear of highland games?"

She shakes her head.

"well, there's one where the biggest craziest lads, and among mortals it's usually lads, but we she trolls can hold our own with OUR Lads fine" A wink, " And they pick up whole damn logs, long big ones, and FLING them into the air! High and for distance! It's crazy, but at the same time so much fun!"

"That... that sounds cool." Cautiously.

"It can be" She nods, "Trolls sometimes have events like that, or did on Thyle. Clem of the DeBukes is pushing for something like that. Maybe you could have a go? If it gets going."

"I can pick up a log. Bet I could even pick up a bigger one than I did..."

"...I'm new, too. But not like how you are."

"OH, you're the new Chrysialid. Yes. Siv mentioned going to a movie with a new girl. That explains much."

"Mind you, I'm not sure what the big deal is about a panther, but I'm sure it was nice"

"Black Panther. That's his superhero name."

"Siv hadn't seen a movie before, so I had to show her the ropes."

"Sylvi went, too." A smile, brief. "And we had pizza, after."

"Okay now we didn't havee Pizza on Thyle." She admits "So, score one for Concordia"

A chuckle, almost a giggle "My father calls it 'lazy seeming food'. He prefers mutton and potatoes."

"Where were you from before the Dreaming? Or were you born on Thyle?"

"Somethings are hard to remember, you understand? I ...was raised on Thyle, that much I'm sure of."

"But probably not New Jersey."

"Oh, no definitely not. the accent here throws me off"

"Ha!"

"So you live here? In the woods?"

"Oh no, I just sing here... practice, learning songs I didn't know before. See, I was given a gift of Danny Quinn's CD..that's folk music you heard earlier? So I'm learning the songs. I also like Adele and Shakira."

"My father and I have a place rented out, but we're hoping for a spot of our own."

"Oh. You have a job?"

"Rent's expensive, unless you get section 8. But then, you gotta live in a project."

"I only understood only half of that" tove admits, "But I sell things. I'm also a wood carver." She reaches into a pocket, "here," She pulls out a wooden creature about six inches long, in incredible detail. "I try to make pipes and flutes too, but there's nothing musical about this. Just got the urge ." If she knows what a badger looks like, that's it.

She releases one hand from the halberd, standing it like a staff as she reaches for the little carving. "That's cool." A blunt fingertip touches the wooden snout.

"Yeah, Badgers are tough little fellows. Don't give up ground easily, and not as big as some, but fierce in a fight"

"Like wolverines."

"they're related to Wolverines in point of fact," She nods

"Yeah?"

"True, and Wolverines are said to be even meaner" She notices the girl likes the Badger, "Look, you've helped me out a bit, telling me somethings I hadn't thought of beecause I'm new to this world, a bit like Siv, so if why don't you keep the badger? It was just for practice anyway. And if you like, I can work on a Wolverine to go with it. "