#anywhere

"It's not weird. " Both boys say, oddly defending her kith while talking to her.

"Sorry," Zane says "But trolls are awesome."

"My girlfriend's a troll" Bert nods.

"Are you guys allowed in the Lodge?"

"Well, good?"

Zane says "Sure.. it's still a freehold. Right of haven, also, the chieftain maybe a quiet sort of ruler, but she's a good one and listens to her folks when they go to her. " He scratches his chin, "Though I think more folks tend to pass things on through Vali when he's on patrol, and Kerri when they visit. They're both easy to talk to."

"Kerri's... okay, yeah."

'I Might not be as welcome" Bert blushes "But that's on me. NEvemind it. "

"Dude, it was a mistake, over a month ago. Surely they.. okay, trolls don't forget easy, but Sylvi forgave you."

"Yeah," Bert nods, "She did." Relieved

"What? What happened?"

"Cantrip went wrong. I'd rather not go into the details" Bert says

"Cantrip - magic? You know magic?"

"Sure"

Zane agrees, "Most Changelings, even the young ones, learn at least a few cantrips. You will too."

"Yeah. Frank made fire appear out of nowhere.... that was pretty cool."

"He's Mountain, so troll spirituality is part of his balliwick, and that includes glamour" Zane nods. "I think the favorite arts in that lodge are Primal and Wayfare, but there are others."

"Vali knows Winter" Bert says"Don't seem to fit him but he does."

"You might have a knack for something" Zane says to her "And if you don't, maybe see what you'd like to learn? Part of the big deal about the mentoring is they're supposed to teach us not ust order us around"

She nods, pretending to keep up.

"Sure..."

"Let's see..." And they both begin to share brief mentions of the names and some basics of each of the arts, well, the main arts. Wayfare, Primal, Soothsay, Legerdemain, Chicanery, for sure.

She goes silent, expression grim and focused as they speak - trying to memorize every tidbit. An occasional nod or grunt is the only indication that she's not made of stone.

"And there are other rarer arts." "Yep. Sidhe try to keep naming to themselves." "Yeah, Chronos is getting out though" "And the season arts but I don't know much except what i've seen of Winter from Vali." "yeah, need to ask around."

"Sure..."

"Any sound like your kind of thing?" Bert says

"Wayfare sounds cool. And Primal."

"Don't need to be rare to be cool."

"Oh you're definitely in the right lodge. Gerd is the youngest and she already hops an zips all over the place" Zane says "And Primal is the go to magic for a lot of trolls"

"I saw her do that. Like, a huge jump."

"Yep. She's really good at it for someone so young. I think it's her favorite." Bert says// Zane snickers at something

"What's so funny?"

"Uhm theres this other troll, Earl?? Nice guy. Creepy paintings normally" Zane says "but anyway, he's finally learned how to fly or something? And... then Gerd mentioned something about how she'd be doing that soon and showed off... came close to doing . He just got this.. look. And muttered 'I quit' sighed and walked off. I think he's worried she's going to hit flicker flash before he does."

'Flicker flash is like teleporting" Bert says

"Ha."

Pauses. "Flying, you know, it'd be like being a real superhero."

"Yeah, I guess it would" zane admits

"What? Like you don't wanna?"

"Oh, I'd like it, but here's the thing.. I think if a mortal saw you flying there's be a danger of it popping off? or something? Could be dangerous."

A sulky look. "Yeah. What's the point. Can't let anybody see you're strong, either. Gotta pretend to fit in those stupid tiny desks."

"Well..okay, fair point" Zane says then he smiles, "Hey, if you want to learn how to fly, learn how to fly. What's the point of being half dream if you can't CHASE your dream right?"

"We do have zepplins and things" bert says "Maybe we can take a ride on there until you learn to do it on your own?"

"I don't have any... I mean, I just want to get by, you know?"

"Of course you have dreams" Zane says "Evveryone has apsirations, it's mentally healthy..."

Bert sighs "Here we go." And settles in

Zane begins to explain, "See, there's a hierarchy of needs, but once you get past survival..."

"... healthy fantasy lives..." more psycho social stuff

"I mean, at night? Sure. But not like..." She flutters her eyes, making an exaggerated expression and her gruff tone going to sugar. "Oh! I'm going to be rich and successful and, like, OMG, sooooooooooo happy..."

"Actually rich people do have a higher standard of happiness than many because certain anxieties are alleviated... but but it's not as much as you think because... " A pause "Oh, you're being sarcastic."

"Oh, good. You caught up."