#anywhere

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(Last night) Samantha grumbles as she comes into the brown home. The problem with a day off for holidays is that means some teachers load you up the next day. SHe's not sure Jaymes was joking about wanting her to try on the grades, and that..well, it raises some fears.

"Someone wants her? " Tanya's voice is, full of surprise.

And in the kitchen.

Sam stops, holding back to listen, unobserved.

"It would appear so," Mrs. Brown says, whether it is disbelief or delight is hard to tell, "I met the man, very nice. We should tell Samantha..."

She chews on her hangnail, still listening.

"You talked tohim? I don't remember any guests but..."

"Yes yes. Go see if she's here."

Tanya could just yell out sam's name, but no, she's too nice for that.

She's coming this way to search every room, knock on everydoor

Sam takes a step back, making as to just-now be dropping off her backpack. "Hey."

"Hello, Samantha," Tanya says "I was just looking for you. They have news, it's really exciting for you"

"Yeah? What's up?"

"you need to ask them" Tanya says primly but looks just a bit pleased at knowing something Sam herself doesn't (Or so she thinks)

"Yeah, okay. Where are they?"

"Kitchen" She says

"Kay." Tromps to the kitchen.

Matt and Jennifer are there, she hears them talking a bit "Well, he's a single man, I hope he's ready"

"Hey?"

"Samantha! " A smile from Jennifer, "We have such good news"// "You might want to sit down" Matt says, and then says "You, of course, know James right?"

"James King? Yeah. He's Sylvi's uncle. You know, my school friend?"

"Yes, lovely girl" Jennifer nods.// Matt smiles, "Well, Mr. King wants to adopt you."

A shy grin and she nods. "Yeah."

"He told you? Talked it over with you?" Jennifer says pleased

She nods. "Yeah..."

So excited is she, she doesn't see the giant scorpion rising out of the earth outside the kitchen window.

"What do you think?" Matthew asks "We don't want you to feel pressure?"

"I'm... kind of excited? You aren't... like,, your feelings aren't hurt? Sylvi's family's been real... welcoming, you know?"

"We noticed you spent a lot of time there" JEnnifer shrugs

"And if they make you happy, then, well, Sylvi at least seems a positive influence" Matt adds

She nods. "Though you guys, you've been a real good placement. I mean it."

"Well, we worried about that" Jennifer says with a look to mat, "We know we have a hands off approach."//"Still embarrassed we didn't help you with your grades sooner" Matt winces "I mean, maybe if we had shown more interest in what it is your like to do...uhm whatever that is, you would have liked it here more"

"It's fine. Tanya's more your type, yeah?"

The two look at each other cautiously, then Jennifer says "Perhaps it's simpler to say 'we understand her better'"

Unseen, Jaymes and Vali have tackled the giant scorpion which now bucks like a bronco from hell

A shrug. "I get it."

The two actually look guilty for a moment, then "Well, hey, we're not going to fight this. So while things aren't all done paper work wise, if they have a room for you we'll be happy to help you start the move now IF your'e okay with it" matt say

"That... really?!"

"Really" Jennifer beams. Now, Dagmar may wonder if perhaps, some of this influence by Prof Wayburton. He has been remembering to ask, and she's allowed it once or twice, the cantrips. If so, she sees what he meant by chicanary being a more subtle art

"I can pack my stuff!"

"Wow, ok. Need help?" ///while Jaymes holds the stinger point a few inches away from his head and Vali tries to cut the tail off

"I don't have that much...." Truth be told, it hasn't really left the trashbags in the past few months.

"Oh"

(Pause scene)

(Unpause)

"Do we need to call him? How does this work?"

"Well, we definitely need to make sure he has a room for you"

"Oh, right, sure..."

Tail loose, creatures thrashing about wildly, Vali now trapped in a pincher