#baronyofthesilverwolf

There hasn't been a ton of snow up here in Carthage, but it is cold. Northern New York breeds stern stuff, and simple chill is not enough to cancel school! As long as the roads are clear, and busses can get through, school is on!

That said, it doesn't stop Danica from insisting that she can drop Gwen off on the way to work in the morning.

"Unless you think you'd get some guff from the others for traveling with an officer. I can drop you at the corner, if so." Says the Thane in her patrol car.

"Did mom put you up to this?" She is bundled extra heavy thanks to said boggan. the question is asked with gentle humor

"No." Danica says, with a nod. "I would have offered anyways. What good is a Knight to the Barony if she's frozen solid? Don't forget your coffee."

"NEVER" at the mention of cofffee neglect, but she smiles "And thanks, I'll take you up. Drop me off at the corner is great."

Danica raises her own large thermos in agreement, and they're on the way. "I understand you're working on an art project?" Her glance invites more information.

"Yes. it's.. terrible, but winning isn't the goal . And it won't be in my name, but Blaine's. I'm putting up all his hateful sayings to students I can gather as the display, the soul crushing words exposed to the others"

"It might hold more weight if you can convince the students to put their names behind the work. In more than one way." Danica reasons slowly. "They are artists, you say? If you can incorporate their skill into the project, as a collage perhaps? It will gain value as a real work, and not be as easily discounted. One student hurt may not have the courage to speak up. But if you can band them together? Strength."

Despite being in her patrol car, Danica still stops at the lights, and uses her turn signal. "The other reason behind my suggestion. Do you know how Autumn People are made?"

"I... I don't want to risk others, Dancia. I ..haven't even told Thistle" A puase "But ..don't autumn folk infect others?"

"Yes. Not always, but often." She looks over at Gwen. "Those artists he has denied run the risk of turning banal as well. His influence spread, and each of those students, dull and lifeless, and dragging down others - it is a plague that must be stopped. The best way to help them, is to let them conquer that which hurt them. Think of Thistle. She has been given every opportunity, every chance to grow and learn now, and yet, she is still stunted. A chance to destroy that which hurt them - may be the surest way to ensure a way to heal."

"I'll.. talk to them" She says "But if one narcs on me, I'm screwed"

A considering expression. "You are not doing anything wrong, or counter to the guidelines for submission?"

"I've been under orders to avoid him, you think he won't seek me out? or block the submission? "

"Under what grounds? I think that the more artists you have behind you will help legitimize the submission. If he gets upset... he would have to explain why." She nods. "I trust your judgement in this, but do not hesitate to call us for help."

A frown "In truth, Dancia, this man scares me. And angers me. I can't attack him to defend myself because no mortal sees his weapons. I don't trust others to be able to resist him, and I am this close to saying to hell with honor and poisoning him"

"Part of the reason I have - we have - not simply removed him is that it may be necessary to triumph over him, to truly be able to heal. Simply cut him out, and the students he had hurt would go on to take his place. Thistle might have become an Autumn Fae if she hadn't been rescued by Art's Chrysalis."

"I would suggest - involve Thistle, if you can. She does not have the strength yet to face him alone. But together, you may succeed. Speak to Art as well. His visions may shed light on things that are unclear. All three of you are together against him."

"every time I approach thistle, mention him, she goes gray. I feel like I'm hurting her. I feel more resposbile forr her situation than ever. I'm strong, I'm tough, but the helplessness I feel about my impotence is...there are times I think she'd be better off without me, Dancia. The only contribution I've made is knocking a sidhe soul to land next to her and driving a car to save her brother who, if you believe that damned thallian, was only endangered to get at me . Thistle is a friend, but it does look like I'm almost as big a threat to her as blaine is"

"Then do not try to help her." Danica says, simply. "Try asking for her help. It cannot hurt to ask. Nor to be devious, if it helps. Recruit Art to ask her."

"I... " she pauses "Ask HER for help? " A blink "that seems so..assbackwards. good grief, lin has been saying it nicely but I really can be pompus in my sense of duty, can't I?"

Danica sips her coffee before answering. "Sometimes, trolls can be dense. Lin is... well, she's not wrong." A surprise, that the officer thane actually mentioned her sister directly.

"She.. got this movie under my door... this song in it.. it took a bit to catch on but I see what she was saying.. Surface Pressue is like a troll national anthem.. I'm almost sure therre's a changeling musing Lin Manuel. Anyway... I guess I should ASK her for help. If she says no, I'm fine"

"You may be fine... but if you do not hurry, you will be late." They are at the corner! Danica has that slight amused crinkle by her eyes, though anyone other than a troll would just see a stern expression.

"Yes, ma'am" A smile and she scoots out

There's Thistle, parking her scooter! Surprising she can get it to run in this cold, but hey, Nocker. And over there, Art getting off a bus, along with a stream of other kids - including his elder brother Gareth, who does his best to pretend he doesn't know the Underclassman

She moves towards them, waving

Trina waves at Art when she spots him, spirals brightening. (From the cold, surely!)

He waves back, heading over! However, Trina is intercepted by... Chuck?

"Hey, Kat - got a second?"

Amusement

Chuck does notice Gwen and waves to her with a "one sec" gesture.

"Hey Chuck. What's up?"

It's been a while since they've hung out, just the two of them. Closer when they were kids, elementary and middle school - but when Chuck took up sports, and Katrina went towards art, they just drifted a bit.

"Uh, if you have a minute - maybe later if you gotta get to class, can we talk? I need some advice."

Gwen arches a brow

"I mean, sure." She grins. "Got some time before homeroom?"

"Yeah, works for me."

"Cool. Shoot?"

He steps aside to a corner where they can stand out of the main press.

A hand goes through his short cropped hair nervously. "Uh. You remember when your parents got divorced?" A small wince, "Sorry, stupid question. Of course you do. I mean, what was it like? Was it hard on you? I'm... my mom and me, we're having trouble with Brett."

"Oof..." She exhales.

"Yeah, I was little, but it was hard."

"I went to therapy for a while."

"Were you like, really mad at your mom or dad?"

"Yeah, I was."

"Sometimes, I still get mad."

"It felt like it was my fault, or that I was being left behind... lots of stuff, I guess."

"When it wasn't about me."

"Brett's just gotten nasty to mom, though. It makes ME angry..." He sighs. "We have a counselor, but Brett just shuts down. Mom can make him go, but can't make him, like, listen? He just sulks for an hour until they say he can leave. Now he's saying he wants to go live with Dad."

Nose-wrinkle.

"No offense, but I worry your Dad still has some.. uh.. anger issues."

"I worry that it might be like, genetic." He says, in a worried tone.

"Like, Brett called mom a... well. I don't want to say, but I was this close to hauling off and punching his lights out."