#anywhere

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Meanwhile, at Tove and Torrin's place, the small cottage isn't large, well by troll standards it's almost small. Got a good porch though, and racer and Torrin use it well. Case in point, now. But Torrin waits for his daughter to come home from her night at the Ironhawk home. His daughter sees him and waves. Not hard to guess she has been with Jaymes. Enough so that the guest room over there has become a second bed room. Perhaps, the oldest grump and skald thinks It's time to talk

"Hello, Father" She is beaming.

"Daughter mine," He smiles and then, pats a chair "Have a seat, would you? We should talk."

Oh. Sweet. Freya. He wants to talk. Tove fights a blush. She's a grown woman. Surely he can't be upset that they've taken a lover. Jaymes treats her with dignity and if anything she's more open about the relationship than Jaymes is. She takes a seat , not sure where this is going and trying to be ready without being defensive, "All right father, what do you want to talk about?"

"Well, it's about you, and you, and you, and Jaymes, and maybe Dagmar, and a touch me, but mostly you" He says. "Jaymes is an honorable man."

"Well yes, father" SHe says.

"And you and he are very fond of each other." Torrin observes

Yes, father, he showed me great affection three times last night. Thank you Thor for warriors "Very" She agrees

"Now, when an honorable man is fond of a woman, and increasingly so..." Torrin says laid back, "He begins to want to do right by the woman in question."

A light blush and now now she worries "Father, he's not said a thing about..."

Torrin looks at her, "He's not a talker, I've noticed."

"No, he's not..a talker" A blush "Father, I'm not pushing him towards anything. He's got a lot on his plate. Dagmar, wonderful girl, is at a delicate stage and she's going along wonderfully. She's going to be a warrior fit for sagas."

"She might already be," He nods "And I can see why you're fond of her too. I am myself. Many wounds inside that one, she's brave to face them where strength of the body helps less. So you have this good man, this good honorable man, and a girl who needs an example of womanly virtue and kindness." A sip of his own coffee "Tove, are you sure you're not bee-lineing for the family life a bit fast?"

"Father!" Tove says "I...I tried dating others. "

"You dated, what, twice, three times?" Torrin says "And turned down numerous offers besides. You kicked one fellow to the curve because of bland food?"

"I will never eat bland food again" Tove almost makes it an oath. TOo many years of poverty on Thyle.

Torrin fights a smile. His daughter has had to be an adult in so many ways even when she was a childling. If this is her one rock to stand on that's just somewhat silly, let her "Not my point. The point is, you went for Jaymes like a bear for honey, and were seducing him with song and food and flirtations almost as soon as you got here in Rivervale."

NOW SHe blushes "Dad!" Not that she can deny it.

He raises a brow, "You got that partially from me. You think I let your mother gather moss? Oh hell no. I had to move quick, and trolls aren't normally that way. Look, if he and the life he offers is what you want, then, well, you have my blessing. He's a good man, and he could use a woman in his life who loves him and draws strength from him even as she lends her own. On the other hand, you need to consider the commitment in such a life and how it fixes your star to certain points. And how it will challenge you, and yes, change you. Because as I said, he's an honorable man, and eventually, once Dagmar and he are oathed as daughter and father perhaps, he's going to propose to you. ANd don't act surprise. You have to know that"

Another blush . Yes, she actually had thought of it, and the thoughts were increasingly pleasant and less and less worrisome "Dad. I don't want to leave you..." //He laughs "Leave? Tove. It's a few miles away. You spent my oathbroken years caring for me. I can handle myself."

"Yes but your job is irregular, and money is tight" she frowns "And Jaymes would rather eat fire than go to Vali, again, his pride. And he's talking about not making enough to put Dagmar in college, and then there's you and things are..." She could almost lose sight of her dreams in the gray of banal reality.

Torrin humphs "I will get by. Our little shack is paid for. That's more than most can say now adays among mortals. And some good healers in these parts. I even have a dog." He pats Racer "And as for money. Well, I don't know how much I can help him, but I know how to help you." He reaches into a pocket and pulls out a folded paper, handing it to her "Take a look at this."

"Patreon? YouTube ?" She eyes her father like he's nuts "Wait, online? Dad, we're so new to this world I don't even type."

"Vali printed this out for me." He says "And you're young, you learn fast. It turns out attractive young female singers singing folk and old tunes can make a living. Now I could try it, but no, this is a younger person's world. You could, in theory, have a hundred or more folks in an unseen audience. Get help from local costume makers, dress in the old ways … liven it up. I bet you're more popular than you think"

"I like audiances, LIVING audiences, da how am I supposed to muse folks from ..wires and screens?" A sniff from her, trollish snobbery in its way also what happens if I screw this up? and make a fool of myself?

Torrin looks Asgardward for strength Gods of old Sagas and new alike, please tell me I was never this young and worried about looking foolish? No response Mmph. Easy for you all, golden apples Then he says "ANd no one is saying you have to give those up. And you know that. I'm not telling you to bank roll Jaymes, though in this new world I'm told there's not supposed to be shame in both folks working. But I think a bit of financial independence will ease your worries for you, empower you, and then maybe help you help others as you see fit. You worry you're a burden to Jaymes, I see it in your eyes. It's nonsense, but you're stubborn, like your mother. So this will help nip that in the bud. If this career goes nowhere, then you're back where you started. Same with wood work, set up a store to sell things online. Look, I'm old. I don't like some new things. Upsets my breakfast, but you my daughter are still a summer child no matter it be fall. You fought like the devil to keep me around, and I worry that you cling to Jaymes partly to have someone else to fight for"

NOW she's offended, "I do not cling to Jaymes out of fear. I Love him and..." A blush, deep blush. That came out easy, too easy perhaps.

"Mmmm" He sips. near wordless in annoying way that make her want to bounce something off his head. But she'll blame that on Samhain.

"Father" she says "You are very annoying some days. And I think you owe me an apology" Firm.

"I apologize" the old skald says easily "For showing you a path to secure your own fortunes so you don't feel like youre going to a man with no dowry to speak of. And I apologize for broadening your audience since real people are only the ones you can see, like...faerie folk who are hidden by mists...which everyone can see. And I am truly truly sorry I got you to just fess up that you love Jaymes and Dagmar and are hoping he proposes but at the same time you're not ready for when he does. My regret over my failings is as deep as the snows of Jotunheim, my sorrow rises as high as the world tree to have so transgressed against you, my only daughter." A twinkle in his eye.

She breaks down into cursing at him at a tongue that could probably best be described as proto Norwegian

"Now you really remind me of your mother" The old skald smiles a bit of wolf fang show

"Fine, fine. I'll take this, and talk to Vali and ...see. And if I end up a success and it goes to my head, it's on you, and … your Yule gift just got smaller" she strides off in a huff "I have to cook your meal for today. MAYBE" And gone.

Torrin looks at Racer, "Think we should warn Jaymes about these occaisional moments of Drama?"//The Dog wags his tail//"Your'e right. More fun to sit back and watch" the old skald says and sips

(End Scene)