#bergen_county

"Like, self-paced study, and it sucks."

"It does."

"And, like, if you don't take care of yourself - are you really doing right by Darkgate? You only get one senior year."

"I'm doing okay with it, but..."

"Sylvi, you're not like me. You're not the sort of person who talks in an empty room making folks think she's maybe got bedlam... I'm chatty, you're social. That's why this Bridge thing works for you. Dagmar has few friends, but quality ones... well chosen. SHe's more introverted than either... but when Chief Hewit took you on, he iddn't recruit the Fae alone.. he also got the mortal... you're a changeling... and mortals go to school, most of them, and he'll understand if your bridge duties are mostly on weekends"

"Pkus - like, that pace is GRIM. A few hours a day here - like, everybody would understand you have school."

A frown and she shrugs. "Doesn't matter. I oathed. Year-and-a-day. And I'm so doing more than just weekends. And...y'know, I'm spending a lot of time with Colton. But...maybe I could be back for a couple of months at the end of the year or something."

Clearly, this option is a pale substitute.

Jaw-jut.

"Or you could take advantage of your friend who has the magic teleporting ship, or the one who flicker flashes you happily.. and is DATING A nocker who is based there anyway"

"Have you asked about going to school? Because it sounds like you've decided it won't work before even looking into it."

"Do you know who's gonna be cheer captain with you and Nadeen gone? Sherry. THAT Sherry."

"I donh't even go to school anymore, and even I don't like Sherry"

"That's a lot of commuting...." she says dubiously. And then her eyes go wide. "Seriously? Sherry?"

"...maybe she got better? And nicer?"

Not much hope of that.

"Nope. But she's pushy, y'know?"

"Maybe Gerd's boyfriend could make some kind of vehicle to make the trod part easier..."

"He's got that pumpkin wagon... veield so he can do 200 mph" Siv nods "And commuting takes work, but you could try it. By the way, who's your assistant?"

A blink. "A-assistant?"

"Well, sure."

"Vali helps Frank, and Olgar helps Chief, and Kerri has Tove and Sally Mae..."

"You need Reeves!

"And.. Symon is a Pillar of the Mountain, Gerd helps the Hearth..."

She blinks again. "DarkGate's not like that. It's...it's a Fortress. We have enough trouble staffing guards for all shifts. I can't claim Reeves."

"If Bridge is equal to mountain, storm, or Hearth then Bridge should have staff, apprentices, or an assistant"

"I mean, we're skeleton crew a lot of the time."

"You know what, Staffing for back up is on the Chief."

"And you'll stay understaffed without outreach, yeah?"

"I'm doing my best...."

"Sure you are!"

"But you're one person. And you need to come to school."

"There's nowhere near as many fae up there as there are here, is the thing."

"...Maybe Dirk and Prissy would want to guard up there?"

"They need someone social" Siv ponders "Someone Sylvi can train to be a back up . "

A brow "Hey, why not recruit from this area? We're allies. And they can commute too. Back and forth you guys should be able to cover for each other"

Another startled blink. "I...I don't know. That's...." A pause. "I could ask Colton about that."

"Lucia is busy at the County... but Tikki is pretty serious for a pooka. Protective."

Wide eyes as she looks at each of them as they speak.

"Have you thought about asking Tig? WIth Lut practically married..."

"Margalita is itching to do stuff too, now she's a wilder."

"Oh, yeah. Poor Tig's at loose ends..."

"I mean, who would you sort out? WHo is both bad ass and soical enough to be assistant Bridge? You know the wilders here" Siv nods

"Or grumps" Siv chuckles "might be fun bossing around a grump. Teach them how to be social"

"I...I'd really have to think about it...." And clearly, she's already started doing that; she's got that calculating look.

"I wouldn't want to take anybody away from here, though."

"But...I mean, Zane might be a good fit...."

"He does organize those gloaming things" Siv nods

"Yeah, he's social, and also badass, especially with the magic."

"He does!"