#anywhere

"oh, that? Huh. That's making them weird?"

"Yeah. Whatever. Did fine before, can do it now."

"Well, that IS stupid. You're the same as you were before.... they shouldn't make a big deal about it. You don't want them to. THEY don't want to. It's just a bunch of them worrying about stepping wrong so they really fuck it up trying too hard. "

He shrugs

"It sucks."

"Well, bet Symon doesn't give a shit."

"No. He doesn't. You don't, either."

"Why would I? " The redcap mulls his own question over "Nope, Still can't think of a reason. As for the others, maybe they'll get their heads out of their asses and act normal again."

"Jeez, I hope so."

"Don't worry about it... if nothing else when Nadeen gets sained they'll forget all about you being a knight" He says "Next best thing. Me? I'm a cap. We barely listen to anyoine, and we only respect power. Don't have to be a knight to have that"

She nods. "True."

The door opens, and a voice says "Dirk, get in here"

She tips him a salute.

He gives a nod and grunt and goes in "yeah yeah yeah I hear you..."

Poor Anne Marie. She's gonna to get an ulcer with this boy.

Well, Jaymes isn't much luckier at times...

When a redcap is the only one seeing things right, it's a weird day. Still, in the next class comes around, and then the one after that...

And Sam plows through, stubborn-jawed, squared shouldered. Track is a good time to hurl heavy things.

On her way to track, she sees...Betty!

A grin, showing her wolf teeth. "Yo, Bets!"

"Hey... " a grin of eel like teeth in return "What up?"

"Track soon." A shrug. "You?"

"Still feel new around here... got this nerd group I'm seeing after.." A shrug "Then off to my foster."

"Nerd group?"

"Science club" she admits "if it's too banal, I'm out "

"Well, fair. Maybe you can make something explode?"

"Oh sure I can, hard part is getting permission" Another smile, "Kick ass on track"

"Well, maybe explode first then ask forgiveness? Seeya."

"Mm tempting... see ya" and the two girls part.

A better mood, and a chance to hurl stuff! Her coach doesn't coddle, but also gives praise when its earned.

And no weirdness from the mortal track girls. Dagmar heads home in a much better mood, at least.

Her dad greets her, and it's weird, but GOOD weird, that she's getting use to. The oath between them isn't something in reserve or buried. It's a part of her, and a part of him. There's an energy to it, a feeling that comes with it, and it feels... pretty good. On their way home he says "Snow says Hi. Oh, I got a second hand cat tree for Odin we can set up"

"Hey Dad." Still new, but it makes her smile. "I saved Snow my orange from lunch."

"Is it tall? Odin'll like it if it's tall."

"Goes almost all the way to the ceiling, at least the top part, there are lower extensions." He smiles , just a moment, at the Dad word. It's one of the words that can make him smile and he's not big on facial expressions.

"Sweet. So we'll put it together after homework?"

"It's a plan" he agrees

"OH, track was real good, I matched my best."

"Yeah?" Impressed "I mean, I knew you'd be good, but ..and don't get a swelled head, I think you're the best one on the squad"

"Well, like, we all do different stuff."

"You should see Lupe on pole vault. Fwoom!"

"That's because she's little, but she's strong little... " he says "And I know you were competing against some boys with the shotput, bet you're still doing better than them>" Stubbornly clinging to his pride in her

A shrug but a grin. "I do okay."

"Tried throwin' a boy's shot - they aren't bad at all."

A nod pride confirmed "Well, you having fun? that's important too"

"Sure!"

"Coach thinks I might make State."

"Coach knows talent" A grunt "Now, I best stop before one of us gets a swelled head"

"Coach says if I work hard, I could get a scholarship, maybe..."

"That would be nice" he says pulling into the drive way "And I'm glad you got sense to consider the future"