#anywhere

At another part of the farm, Sylvi gets to talking.

Kourtney is glad for the help with chores "So the colt is okay? I mean.. with wings wow"

"Yeah. He's a little goofy and silly, and that makes his dad look all like...." Sylvi gives a look of wounded dignity as she helps hang laundry to dry. "He doesn't know how to make his wings behave yet, either."

A snicker "Sounds like some troll families I know" Kourtney says ,then she looks about "Though I wish that were all we had going here"

"Yeah," Sylvi's voice goes more sympathetic. "This whole thing with Hearth Agnes..." then she pauses. "That's what you mean, right?"

"Yeah, sorry if I'm being a downer" A sigh "it's just.. it started out reasonable enough.. folks were like Sally mae should be pickier in who she dates. And I can see that. But now it's getting mean"

"Well, I heard some folk talking about her, saying like she's trying to take over the Hearth position or something. As if she had planned this, intended it. Is that what you're hearing? I mean, when you say 'mean'...?"

"Mean in all kinds of ways" She says "About Sally Mae, how she's like a vulture... and then about Chieftain Clem.. how this is ultimately her fault for going to Firnost and blathering to this or that stranger... for dragging us out. They say she started this and maybe they picked wrong when she got made chief"

A frown. "That's going backwards. Like, wanting things to be the way they were before. But...people were getting hurt then. Folks who didn't fit in."

"You mean Earl" She says

"Well, yeah. Earl, and SallyMae, and Teesha, and Murray...I know that's not all."

"Sally Mae always fit in though. She was the pretty girl, the popular girl , among all the kinain" Confusion

"Well, sure, but...well, I haven't been here, but she always speaks about how there's not a place for her here. Nothing except...." She stops and hangs up another shirt.

"Oh" Kourtney says "Settling down, having troll blooded kids"

She blushes lightly at the comment that comes out of her own lips

"Yeah," Sylvi frowns. "Like, that's all anybody seemed to think she was good for. I mean...it's gotta be hard for kinain, being on the edge of our life."

A bite of her lip, troubled look, then "Sylvi... about that?"

"Uh-huh?"

"There's some what's saying" A low voice "That Sally Mae going out to college and on her own is proof that maybe it's time to keep a tighter grip on the kinian.. for their own good"

Sylvi sighs. "Yeahhhhh...I sorta guessed that might happen." She snaps a wet dishtowel to get the wrinkles out before hanging it up. "And...I get it. I do. You don't know if you trust this guy, if maybe he's using her to get at you. I don't blame you. We had...another situation kind of like that, at Rivervale."

"Oh thank the creator" she says then blushes "Sorry, I know, it's petty. I just.. we must look so BAD to you now. It's nice to know you have troubles. What's your situation?"

An apologetic look. "I can't really share it in detail. Just...a sidhe tried to manipulate one of our newer wilders. We got it sorted once we figured it out, but...it still has bad echoes."

"Oh geez, I'm sorry" she says "Glad you got it figured out"

"Yeah, and now our wilder has a better idea how to recognize manipulation. And...well, isn't that part of the point? Letting people go out and make their mistakes, help them through it, and hope they figure out not to make the same mistake again?" A wry grin. "I'm pretty sure that's what my folks try to do, and I know I probably make them hella crazy with it."

"I KNOW you do" Accusation "I've talked to Gerd about your misadventures. Gerd says your willful moments are why your parents have stock in Seagrams. I THINK She's joking, but I get the gist"

Sylvi pouts briefly. I try to give Gerd some anonymity, and this is what I get? Then she shrugs. "Well, anyway...seems like her dating a sidhe isn't a mistake until it's been proven a mistake, and SallyMae is careful. And she's not stupid."

"Turns out she's actually pretty smart" Kourtney agrees "Good at math like nobody's biz. " A frown "There's also the matter of the Maudes.. .they're all kinain you know? And all mothers? You remember?"

"Yup. They all okay? And the babies?"

"They're fine, but they.. May Maude pretty much handed her kids over to Caesar and went world traveling. I hope she's okay. ..but the family is irked. And now they're thinking that ..well, since April Maude, May Maude, and June Maude are all kinian, maybe they need 'guidance' in how to raisse the kids.. keep them here" A pause "Is it just me or does that sound bad?"

"Wellllll...I guess pretty much any family has hopes for new family members and gets pushy with those hopes. But, well, maybe that kind of shows how this whole kinain-life thing isn't working? Like, if they feel they're only good for having kids, then some won't stick around once they've 'done their duty' I guess."

"So, what would you say Kinain should be told they ARE good for? I don't mean that snarky just... sounds like some of my kin need a hug or something and we're not big huggers" A pause "Siv blows their minds"

"Yeah, Siv's like way the heck out there. But about kinain..." Sylvi sighs as she hangs up a pair of socks. "I don't think we've got it figured out, either. I mean, SallyMae is great at our kitchen, but that doesn't necessarily mean she'd be Hearth if..." a fractional pause "...when my mom's ready to retire from it. And have you met Adam? He's kinain, but his situation is messed up, and no matter how folks try to help him, he never seems to be happy or whatever. So...I don't know. But...I know SallyMae said she's happy being able to go to college and pursue her own life. She just...she gets sad when she thinks that her family here wouldn't accept her life."

"Well, I admit, I was mad at her. If she'd told, broke Agnes the news herself more gently, maybe this wouldn't have been"

"Maybe she would have if she thought she was safe to do so. And I'm pretty darn sure she never meant for somebody else to tell her."

"Blame Myrttle Anne for that. " A frown

"I'm guessing she's blaming herself plenty. MyrtleAnne is nice. I guess, y'know, she just couldn't help herself."

"She might not have really understood why it would be such a bad thing to mention."

"Probably not. She probably thinks it's wonder-" Eyes open "Oh my god. She thinks it's wonderful"

"Um...yes?"

"Wait...did Hearth Agnes think MyrtleAnne was warning her or something? Like SallyMae needed to be rescued?"

"no no.. I mean, if a boggan is okay with it, they see. I mean ,she'd KNOW if the relationship was abusive or fake right? Boggans have a gift?"

"Oh! I...guess so? I mean, they see how people relate together, and...I mean...she's seen SallyMae and Carowyn together and..." Sylvi blinks. "You're right. Do you think others would respect that?"

"I don't know, but .. I think maybe we shoudl try" She grabs the last of the laundry "Let's go. I got an idea"

And off the two go

Sylvi follows, curious.

(End scene)