#bergen_county

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Up in her room in the Lodge, Sylvi watches responses come in from the text blast she sent to all the local wilders she has contact info for. Basically a checking-up, how you doing? text. It'll probably keep her busy for a while, but there's one wilder's response she's keeping an eye out for....

Lucia complains about family in take out mode going bonkers.

Romana says babysitting for non fae has dried up

Zane gives word that Fewer muggles to play with, le sigh

TXT: Seems to defeat the fun

And then.... TXT: 🐍

That last from Eve/Eden

"Oh, finally...." she murmurs, then sits up and texts back to Eden only.

TXT: Oh, swimmingly. I'm as happy as a clam in bubbles

TXT : Y?

TXT: How much are short straws going for these days?

"Oh, c'mon, Eden...." she mutters.

She also takes a few moments to text back to the others during all this, words of encouragement and empathy.

TXT: Did someone tell you do this? a question straight forward

TXT: mmm well.. only because you held me at gunpoint

TXT: What are folks? CU next year

"Attagirl." Sylvi smiles and sighs with relief. "Step one, done."

And she heads out of her room and downstairs.

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On the forest path ways............

"I got your letter. Thank you for that" She says

A few more steps. "Tell me of your trip?"

"It was easier than I thought it would be, to be honest. I had help positioned... called in some favors, had folks waiting at stops to do things like veil the truck or refresh my dross.. dropping off the load , well, I almost went to the wrong lot...but corrected fast enough. Truth? It was exciting in taht I never did it before, but rather uneventful"

Frank nods, listening as they walk. "Any issues on the road? Mechanical or technical or.....?"

"Maybe both... dad, the Treader would NOT slow down sometimes.. not like put me in danger, but it was like she wanted to get home, or maybe to get ME home... kept trying to ease up. Honest, I know I have a lead foot, but it wasn't me."

Frank frowns. "Trouble shifting gears?"

"I don't THINK So, she seemed to handle the hills fine and you'd think that's when the trouble would kick in right?"

She says "Dad. Were you worried that your enemies would hurt me while I was wearing your face and driving your rig?"

"When I found out about it? Not immediately. Not until later."

"Well, I.. I'm not sure why you were... you do know you were awesome right? I asked others. You pinneed Dagmar, ketp her from a rage and from killing... you fought off a swarm of thallian long enough for mom to arrive.. and you stopped a balor"

"Or more accurately, stopped his plans"

"Hmmphm." a dry noise.

"Did you think you had FAILED? If you did it was 300 spartans level failure.. onlyou lived"

A sigh. "Siv, I'm honestly not concerned about .... my vanity in the face of defeat in combat."

"I THOUGHT That was crazy but nooo .." She catches herself "Okay good. So... if not that, and not the 'oh no my enemies will hurt my daughter' what set things off? Because I never lied to you, and I HAD to impersonate you or some other LEGAL driver for right of ignorance sake"

"I was afraid for you. Retroactively, yes. From your point of view. From mine.... it played out in my head, Siv. Very quickly, and yes. Lacking some context. And, it seemed, under subterfuge and obfuscation. That felt like being lied to. Mislead."

"Sometimes I think you guys need to let a few more emotions leak out little by little so you don't EXPLODE from keeping it bottled up," She sighs "While I still feel a bit insulted about it, I do regret the scare all this gave you, and the hurt"

Frank nods gravely. "I know. I appreciate it. Thank you. And I apologize for my reaction."

"Forgiven," She says "But dad. Whether I become a Fiona or not, my life is going to be a dangerous one...and I will be leaping into its teeth. I'm sorry, I just can't cower"

"I don't think I've ever asked you to cower, Siv. Please, correct me if I'm wrong."

"Not in words, but in your actions, your reactions, sometimes it's hard to infer anything else, dad. And so I feel the need to just state it flat out"