#bergen_county

"I..." A bite of her bottom lip, "Yes. I guess. I love Uncle Vali, but he's not my dad. And I don't have a mom. I'm everyone's niece or cousin at best..." A sigh "I mean, when I was younger i thought Dagmar might be a big sister but she blew that off... so yeah, little jealous. I'm.. glad to be part of the lodge. I'm proud even. And yeah, you're all family... but it's like two steps you know? She shows up and folks are TRIPPING over each other to save her to have her as a daughter."

"Ah." A slow nod as they walk. "I am sorry, Gerd. I suspected that you might have such challenges, but you have seemed to cope well. For the most part."

"Well, a few bratty moments " She admits "God, it's amazing Uncle Vali didn't just freeze me and leave me in the fridge some days. And I know he's not alone. "

"Well, we survived Sylvi's bratty years before you."

"But Connor, well, when he came on, I just... here was a kid that had it as bad as anyone you know? And he didn't really have a mom or dad stepping up from the ranks..." She says "But I liked him, and I felt..."

"And Lut and Tig's before hers...."

"You felt...that you could be the one to care for him, as you wished to be cared for....?"

a grin "Yeah, Olgar told me about some of Sylvi's stories. Did she really STAMP her foot when she didn't get the right doll one yule or is he exagerating?"

A faint chuckle. "The STAMP of legend. It is truth."

Then.. on Connor "Partly. I guess trolls need to be needed, but I really do feel a kinship and he IS my brother"

"Heh..saving the doll story for when I need to spring it on her in an argument"

A thoughtful pause. "Perhaps you two might consider formalizing that kinship with an Oath."

"I don't think there's a big sister oath ..." She pauses "if there is Vegard didn't...doesn't remember"

"It bears looking into. Perhaps one can be crafted to suit the Dreaming."

"Well...maybe" A thought "but it's..not a priority right now. "

"Perhaps. But such things are important."

A smile "yeah. Well... okay." A huff "But the Dagmar thing...maybe I'm more jealous than I realize but I still don't think I deserve what I got tonight from her. And I know Connor didn't need that."

"I understand. Thank you for talking with me about this, Gerd. I intend to speak with Dagmar. I would like to have us all speak together, but perhaps not immediately. Would you be willing to do that?"

"I'll probably hate it, because she's gonna call me a narc, but yes I'll be willing."

"Thank you. Now, will you join me for the rest of this patrol?"

"Yeah" She perks a bit "maybe we'll run into something I can smash all legal like. Lead on, young lady." A smile as she mimes Vegard a bit.

"Hmph. Careful with that, Old Man. It sounds like sass coming from that mouth." But she doesn't seem particularly upset, in truth, as they continue the patrol.

(End Scene)