#bergen_county

"I think maybe she suspects?"

"I think so" A nod

"Either way, you'll be allowed to change alone." Tove says 'now Tove, there is one thing I do want to do. THere are ointments, natural remedies ahnd the like that help reduce scars, not instantly, but over months. I would like you to use these. It's clear that they are a source of embarrassment for you. Well, I don't want you a slave to them all your life so let's tend."

Blush.

Mumble.

fidget-shrug.

"Lots of people touch things up for a bit of vanity. You think Sylvi wouldn't get to work if she started to get bushy eyebrows?"

Tove fights a smile

Jaymes makes straight line motion over his own eyes "Sylvi with monobrow. It's getting handled."

"Eyebrows are in." Earnest.

"In the plural" Tove says, "But my point is, we'll work on reducing those scars gently over time."

"It isn't your fault... the new ones, I mean..."

"You both know that, right?"

Jaymes looks a bit gguilty.

Tove says "We try not to think that. We know it, up here" She taps her head, and then points to Jaymes ' skull as well, "but... it's harder here." She taps her heart, and then touches her husband's chest.

Shoulder-curl.

Jaymes takes his daughter's hand. "What ...why did you need to do the newer ones? I want to understand."

"I dunno."

"Is it the worry about the changes a new brother or sister will bring for you?" Tove says "I understand if it is"

"No!" Looking guilty.

"I just.. dunno.. everything... there was a lot happening, and I felt, like... overwhelmed, and it.. it helps..."

"What else would help?" Jaymes says

"I dunno.."

"I haven't... it's been a few weeks?"

"Mmm" ("Good but...") A pause "That doesn't mean you don't feel overwhelmed. Maybe we should go out as a family some place different. Or..." Mumble ("wait, no, that would be nuts")

"Mmm?" (What would be?)

"Let you go questing" Jaymes says.

Tove blinks at him. "You, want to let her go questing?"

"She enjoys it. I think...and tell me if I'm wrong, Dagmar. Sometimes things don't overwhelm you when you're allowed to quest? It's..less trouble than the day to day?"

"I dunno... I dunno why I.. I just... it helps. I can focus. Sometimes it's like... like that's something I can control... if I screwed something up, then it's... stuff I can't fix, it... like, then maybe it's better, for a little while?"

"I don't like that you hurt yourself, and if you find something else that helps, let me know?" Jaymes asks "So that's why I thought the quest. Or we could go as a family to Tijuana over the weekend."

"Even if you don't think it would help, let us know if you like iether," Tove says

"Sorry..."

"Ffft," Tove says ("No need to apologize. This isn't something you just get over. We understand that.")

She rubs her hands against her thighs. "Yeah, but you don't need me causing trouble right now."

Jaymes says "Everyone has troubles sometime. It's your turn it seems. It's okay."

"Yeah, but it's... there's... stuff."

"You didn't choose to let that stuff happen, why would we complain that you have stuff happen for you too?" Tove says "We're family. We'll hold onto each other and muddle through."

"I'm here nights so I can do more on that side," Jaymes says

"I'll do better."

"Don't overwhelm yourself worrying about doing better." Jaymes says "One step at a time. One punch at a time. One round at a time"

"Sorry."

"Don't apologize, he could use better movie quotes," Tove says

"Hey, Creed's a good movie" Jaymes protests.

"Meh" TOve says ("Meh")

"Creed IS good."

"Seems like the same plot line to me" Tove says "Repetitive Saga"

"It's a cycle," Jaymes says loftily, nevermind she is the skald

"So's Star Wars, and?"

"I'm not crazy about some of those either" SHe says