#anywhere

Leaving the two older wilders behind, Gerd and Connor appear near a Dairy Queen, the back end of it. "Heh. I Hope he's freaking out."

-oooooooooo"! He finishes, then blinks and ducks down nervously. "Oh, oh. We're outside. And my ears are out. " His gaze darts around, making sure no one can see him. "And I think Dagmar doesn't like me. But it's okay, I don't like her and don't want to be her friend anyways. Maybe she's 'lergic to dogs. Not Browndog or Twobit, just twoleg dogs like me?"

She puts a hat on him, one lighter for summer wear, and then says "It's okay. I got this. And Sam likes you lots. I bet she's just a bit shy because she was teaching Adam, you know? And Sam doesn't always feel comfortable being watcched if it's not for a sport or the like." A look down, "Okay. You tell me what ice cream you want, I'll get it. Stick your hands in your pockets while I order, Good?"

"Wait, wait, don't LOOK." He gives her a stern glance.

She covers her eyes.

"is it safe yet?"

He fidgets and grumbles and tugs until his tail is shoves down in a pant leg. It probably looks like he's wearing a diaper a bit. Or if it was in the front, Vince would be impressed. The boy cinches up his jeans and holds the belt, and says, "Okay. But it looks like I poo'd myself."

"Just keep your back end facing me when others come by to protect your dignity" She says and then helps it a bit further if he'll allow "Maybe we can get you special pants. You know, Connor. I may grouse a lot about how unfair things are- but you somehow take some real challenges and still come out smiling. I envy that, little brother. you have no idea how tough you are. One scoop or two?"

"Two scoop super-dooper poison chocolate with extra jimmies, only no Jimmies because he would steal the ice cream, he doesn't mean it and would give it back but by then it's melted. And I HATE vanilla."

She holds up a thumb "Got it." And she might actually. She's seen what he likes to eeat at the lodge ice cream wise and elsewhere.

"Do you have enough 'lowwance to bring ice creams back to Sam Adams? Maybe she'll be less grumpy then. Ice cream always cheers me up. Even if someone always chases me with a warsh cloth after. I tell ya, it's like no one believes in saving some for later."

"I think by the time we got there, they'd be gone out for their own," Gerd says, then she ponders "it's possible..well, when you're older you'll understand, but sometimes girls and boys get all soap drama at a certain age. Frankly, I plan to fight it."

"Oh, I -hate- soap drama. It's always drama when there is soap involved. Blech." He backs against a wall suddenly, because he can't help but wag when he looks over the menu at the DQ! "ooooh, RAINBOW sprinkles..."

Gerd smiles at his excitement, "We are going full pride mode then... fine by me." She goes up and makes the order... he can hear "Make the sprinkles rain on that second order..." commentary "yeah, he's my brother. He's shy."

He IS shy. Or nervous. Twitchy little fella, can't seem to help fidgetting, tugging at his hat, adjusting his belt.

She gets him the ice cream, his favorite flavors adorned in a splatter of sprinkles and hands it to him, "here you go, bro. Let's go eat outside. It'll melt faster but more private right?"

"Yes!" He holds his belt with one hand, ice cream with the other, and his hat threatens to fall off as he turns his head this way and that to catch drips on the sides of the cone with his tongue...

She laughs, and they find a spot that's private to sit down at in a small park. "Sometimes folks get mugged here but I'll protect you."

"Oh? We should patrol here and if there are any bad guys, can I bite 'em? I won't hurt them, I promise, but I'll RRRR, RRRRRR and get their pants and make 'em fall down and then their Kerri will scold them for rippin their pants. That'll teach 'em."

"It totally would. Who wants on Aunt Kerri's bad side?" She sighs "Though she seems to really have it in for ME lately. I got drafted into the Hearth. Guess I mouthed off once too many times."

He licks at his cone thoughtfully. "Or maybe she wants to teach you how to do hearthy stuff so you can be, like, 'prentice Hearth. Maybe someday when you build your own lodge you can be Hearth there. And I can come, too?"

"Yeah, well, the old man was a mountain. I only made Hearth talk to hide from him. But there's no chance of that now." A sigh "I don't know, maybe I'd be okay at it. I just.. mmph" Then a look, "Oh who knows where I'll end up, but you'l always be my little brother wherever I go. Right?"

He licks at his cone, not making eye contact. "Do you think that they're coming to take me away?"

"Who would do that?" Her jaw sets

He licks at the cone, gotta catch those drips. "Mattias said that they are coming to check up on me. Chief didn't like that."

She eats hers, "Well... 'they' might visit, but I know the Chieftain.. the only way you'd be going is if someone can give you a better home. And I don't see that happening so.. you're with us." a pause, "You know we'd never let you get taken anywhere that was bad for you right? Heck, I would think we'd never let you get taken"

"I don't think I want to go. I don't know them. I've never been to New York. I've never even been to OLD York." Lick lick lick - Bite, and then a sharp intake of breath to ease the cold sting on his teeth! "If you still had a papa and he said you had to go, even if you didn't want to, would they make you?"

"My parents died. " she says "But if I still had one? I don't know... MY dad sure. I loved him. He loved me. Does your dad love you? Do you love him?"

"I'm sure he does. Right?" A shrug. "I never met him, and Mrs. Gunderson, she was at the farm, not the blue farm but the sad one, and she said I shouldn't ask because he didn't want me, and it's rude to annoy the Lords and Ladies." He tugs at an ear fretfully. But then, he gives Gerd a small smile. "But I never had a sister, so no one can be mad if I go find my own, right?"

A sudden thoughts. "At least, I don't THINK I have any sisters. I would know, I think, if I did."

"If you never met him and he kept handing over your raising to others? Maybe he is your 'father' but then he's a lousy 'daddy' and your better off without out him. MY dad was great. He always cheered me on when I tried, and he told me things would be okay when I was hurting. He didn't let me settle for less than I could do, but always was proud when I tried. My dad wanted the best for me and he would throw me into the air and always always catch me and never let me fall He was..." The girl rubs at her heavily made up eyes "My point is, that's what real dads are like. I think your father lost the right"

He sets down the ice cream and scoots over to lean on Gerd's shoulder, wrapping an arm around her. "I think I like your dad best too. He sounds good. And your Vali does a good job. I'm sorry, don't be sad."

A bump, "yeah, Vali's.. Uncle Vali comes close sometimes... I guess I resent that he tried. It's okay, Connor. No, wer'e not giving you up just like that. If I have to? I'll pop you out of where ever and you and I will hit the road. There's a world with plenty of freeholds"

"We can ride the rails! Oh, oh, I can make a bindle! That's a STICK and I'm good with sticks, and we can take snacks. It's like a road trip! Can we go anyways? I mean we'll come back. But it would be fun...."

"Hoboing for fun and profit?" SHe raises a brow

"Yes! Especially profit. Maybe we can go to calliforny and find out if there really is gold in dem dere hills."

"And gold will buy LOTS of ice cream. Oh, uh oh." And he scoops up the melty cone in his hands, messily devouring it and licking his fingers.

SHe's finishing her own, but laughs "Come on, let's head home. For now, we've got a great home."

And off they go

(End scene)

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Sylvi sleeps late. She's earned it after all

A knock on her bedroom door

"Grrmurumph?"

Her dad says "You want to get up?"

A pause. Then a groan. "Not really...?" Then a sigh. "Getting up."

"Darn. I was going to tell Colton forget it" Her father says

The sounds of startlement and abruptly the door is yanked open. "He's here?"

"Yup. Showed up with some surprise date idea... thought it would be romantic... at least I think that's the skinny. Your mom is trying delay him with talk and food but no promises there."

"Oh, sh--....I mean..." She's definitely rumpled and tousled. Maybe it's cute, but it's also raggedy. "Dad, stall him, please? I promise, I'll be right down. Five minutes. Maybe ten. 'Kay? Please?"