#anywhere

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Before Beltaine, but after Jaymes' talk with Dagmar... Jaymes is surprised to see his brother approaching him while he's on patrol . Quiet day

Frank nods. "Anything to report?"

"About the patrol? Nope. Except everyone asks how Vali is doing. Does he talk to everybody?"

"Yep. Chatty Cathy, but he's our Chatty Cathy, so...."

"Mind if I walk with you a bit?"

"Don't mind. " He shrugs, 'Though I may not be as talkative as you're used to." Humor? yes, maybe

A small chuff, and they do indeed walk along in silence for a while, getting used to the presence of the other.

jaymes seems to like the more wooded areas. For a sailor, he has gotten used to wilderness

Frank shares the affinity. After a time... "So. How's it feel, here?"

"Peaceful, I tell you, Thyle always... " He considers, "Even before the enslavement, Thyle felt like a house with the roof on fire and folks were concerned about the color of the paint. I wanted to scream at them. Here, sure, there are dangers, but if the roof catches fire there will be a bucket chain formed fast. That make any sense?"

Frank nods. "It does. Brekke pretty much built it from the ground up, picked the people, enforced standards unwaveringly, and early. She means it to last."

"And we have allies, and a good crop of childlings for that end."

"This your way of telling me to stop sleeping on the couch?" He does not in fact do so, but again, possible understated humor "That you need the room?"

"Nope. More like asking you to pick a room and unpack."

Frank pauses a moment, mentally, at least, and chuckles.

"Alright" he says with a nod

Frank nods acknowledgement and agreement.

"So far I've been essentially a thane. Like Lut and Tig. I'm fine with that if that's what you need."

A few more steps as Frank considers it. "Actually, was thinking of something more. If you want it. I promise, there's no pressure on this."

He raises a brow, "Let's hear it"

"I mentioned the younger ones?"

"You did" A nod

"Well, I can vouch for Lodge help with this, of course, and mundane help as well. We need to get Dagmar out of the system."

"Would you think about adopting her? Both mundanely and by Oath?"

He stops at the name, then turns to Frank at the suggestion, "Frank? Are ..of course you're serious. You wouldn't joke about that. bad timing, Frank. Really bad timing."

Frank nods. "Ok. Thane works too."

"Frank, she's a great kid. But maybe you should hear about why I'm talking about the timing? Last night, ..."

and he relates the conversation

Frank listens. ((Sum up? Just to refresh me; not sure I have all my notes here.))

"Well, I learned she hates herself, at least she hates Sam."

he quotes her "She says she's stupid, and bad, and worthless and fucking garbage. "

"And..she took a swing at me."

"She make contact?" Eyebrow raised.

"I caught her punch," he says, "But yes, she would have. My fault, I pushed some pretty tender areas while trying to figure out WHY she thought Sam was garbage and worthless. Frank, you're a Liam, I know you value mortals, but if I ever find the mortal or mortals who put that stuff in her head? I'm liable to break their gawdamn jaws."

"I value mortals, yes. I think there's something good in just about everyone. But I also think you can get that card revoked, or at least suspended. There are people who game the system, use the kids as money-makers or worse. -Those- people... well, you'd have to get in line behind me."

"Mmph" A nod

"We have to get her out of the system, and we will." Frank sounds sure. "I almost ended up there myself."

"Frank, I...admit, she's a great kid. I never thought of having one, but I'd be tempted, but after that, I'm pretty sure she hates me."

"Enough she'd turn down ... you know, all of it? Freedom from some mortal demands, a parent who understands what she is, proximity to the Lodge?"

"She's used to trading off benefits for.... other things. Not that you aren't a benefit, but she might not see that right away."

"I'm not sure catering to her misconceptions is the best way to do this"

"Didn't mean to suggest we would." Mildly.

"what about you? Frank, you've got two great daughters, one I know personally, the other seemed quite pleasant and is quite the success"

Frank chuckles and nods. "We've talked about it." He walks quietly for a while. "Jaymes, this is confidential. You'll see why. Your word?"

"Who would I tell? Sure not the kid. She'd find someway to twist this into a weapon against herself"

Frank nods. "And how. Jaymes, Dagmar has a da'an on her. Valley.... he has visions. They can be cryptic, but they are true. Dagmar and two others, here.... three of our wilders." A few more steps. "It's our thought that no one parenting unit should have more than one to help. It's an issue of resources; emotional, not the least of them. Brekke and I... Siv.... Siv has...." He sighs. "Special needs. We're concerned." With trollish understatement. "Adding Dagmar to that... I'm not sure it would be the best mix. I think Dagmar needs to have the opportunity to be an only child. Special. Chosen. Needed."

"Shit." He says

NOt in disdain or denial, far from the latter

"Yeah."