#bergen_county

Skulking around near the barn, before folk gathered up to leave for the saining, Symon searches for Dagmar. He is distracted for a moment by the battering ram!

Dagmar is wearing makeup

Which has happened a few times now, of course. Sylvi's work.

She is approaching the barn to say good-morning to the horses, even if she is a bit too dressed up for more.

Symon is wearing... the same things he always wears! He does not look dressed up for a party. He gives her a wave, and moves over slowly - there is some sort of odd bundle slung onto his back that he tries to avoid jostling.

Eyebrow

Look at the bundle, second eyebrow joins the first.

Star nickers a hello, but she gives Stormwake a nudge with her head as he would move to greet Dagmar. SHE knows dressed up when she sees it!

Symon reaches Dagmar's side, then pauses, and carefully backs up a few steps and delicately removes the sling made of olive-drab fabric, and sets it with the contents aside. He draws back the fabric juuuust enough to show her... some sort of birds? Or rather one bird, with two heads! Blissfully snoozing for the moment, it is an incredibly ugly creature. Symon steps away to join Dagmar.

"Sorry, if it woke up I was worried it might vomit on your outfit just to be obstinate."

"That's... wow. Um. What does Lovecraft think?"

Star and Stormwake both get pats!

"She is in a BIG sulk. I told her not to pounce it - then she did anyways, and the NOISE it made was incredible. Also she may have lost a few hairs off her tail from one of the beaks. ...it was in my bed when I woke up from Samhain - and no jokes, that's something I'd expect from Zane." A wry grin.

"I'm not sure if I rescued it, found it, or stole it from a nest somewhere. I did a little bit of research, and it looks an awful lot like this two-headed monster from an old movie about the Voyages of Sinbad... so I figured I'd ask Siv if she's seen anything like it. She's the closest thing to a pirate I know."

Meanwhile, he is examining Dagmar's makeover with an appraising, thoughtful look.

"I think I may have stolen a car on Samhain..."

"Siv would know, sure."

"Guessing you aren't going to the thing... I mean, i get it. Varich are really messed up about that."

"Don't worry, I don't really feel left out. Parties aren't my thing, really, and I won't insult her, real or imagined, by showing up like we're friends." A small shrug. "You look good. Sylvi's work?"

"Always, yeah. Eyeliner and gloss is the most I can do without her."

"I bet she could work a good bunk with that. It's like... another way of girding up for battle."

"War paint, literally!"

"True! I suppose you can't go Braveheart, because it would be too hard to see." A toothless grin. "How'd that present you were working on turn out?"

"Pretty good! It works. Betty helped."

"I'd show you, but I don't want to unwrap it. I think you saw the picture I was basing the carving off of..."

"Oh wait!" Phone out... swipe swipe... "Here!"

"Here... I figured she wouldn't accept it directly from me, but maybe if it came via you?" He offers a small packet, wrapped carefully in an embroidered cloth - with Nadeen's mortal initials on it. "The handkerchief is from Ann Marie. She said she'll do a set once she knows her real name, too, because" And here it is a bit of an imitation, "It's cold out and everyone needs hankies, even if you're from the icy Steppes".

She can unwrap it - there's an interesting smell from within. Something smokey?

He trades her, taking the phone and peering at the pictures. "Whoa. And you did this yourself? It's impressive."

"Oh, thanks..."

"What's that smell?"

"It's a tea, called Russian Caravan. Mix of..." He pauses, then checks a note. "Oolong, Lapsang Souchong, and keemon. The story is that it was what they drank on the caravans that traveled through Russia, and the smoke came from the caravan fires." A nonchalant shrug. "It tastes okay. She might like it, maybe it will help her with some of her remembrances. If she ever drank tea."

"Cool!"

"Tell her it's not poisoned." He remarks. True. "I wouldn't do that." FALSE "....to someone you cared about." ...fine, true.

She snerks at something.

"And if she doesn't want it, eh. Give it to Gerd, or something." A wry grin. "I'll be around here this afternoon - I want to study for a bit while all y'all are off at the saining." A pause and a sly look over at the Vuldra bundle. "Unless you think I can foist this thing off on Nadeen as an unlabeled mystery present?"

"Mmm... maybe? Or just say it is from a shy friend?"

"Or shy not-enemy..."

He shrugs. "You can tell her it's from me. Or from me and Ann Marie if she needs reassurance that it's not a trick." A pause, and he remarks, "She's not terrible, after all. She means a lot to you, and she's fought by your side, and it's not really her fault that she came with a bunch of pre-installed biases as part of her base software package." Eyes narrow a little. "Not that I'd ever admit it." Faint grin.

"She'll believe me if I tell her it's not a trick, and I know it's not one because you said it wasn't." Shrug.

"She has gotten better."

"Well. I hope that whatever she is hoping to get out of her Saining, she gets it. And even if they send her away somewhere - not that anyone with half a braincell would believe those rumors of her being here to take over Rivervale - I know you'll find a way to visit. Maybe on a flying horse, right?"

Her jaw tightens and she nods.

A voice calls.. rides are here

He wraps up the tea once more, and gives it back to Dagmar along with the phone. "Have fun, right? I'll stick around here until later."

And Dagmar and Symon part. Thoughts of a certain Varich very different, but there.

(End Scene)