#bergen_county

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Dirk doesn't LIKE this. He could have been asked! He could have had a vote!

Instead, he's emptying out his room to move out to the she shed that Prissy once used. Now, it will be renamed a He Hut. The other option was either he moved in with Symon, again, or mom lost her office. It would serve mom right if she DID lose her office. He's PISSED at her. But this close to Beltaine he's on WIMP mode so.. fuck it. He wanted more privacy anyway... right?

Hell, he hasn't even met the little girl. Oh yea, let's not let the new girl see the scary ass redcap whose room she's stealing. Dirk is no troll, but he's strong and young and capable of moving furniture himself. She's a changeling.. that much he knows. He supposed mom had to take her in, right of rescue and all that. But aren't there like a Dozen other folks what could take her? NOOOO mom saw the little girl, saw that dad was soft too and hiding it, and BOOM... new kid in the family in all but name.

THe worse thing is, feeling unnaturally seelie, he gets it. Honor has like.. demands... stupid fucking honor.

"Thank you so much for this, Dirk" His mom says "You're a good son to be so giviing..."

Dirk looks over and gives his mother a glare. One that makes one think of insanity

She backs up and lowers her eyes

The guilt is immediate and stabs him even mroe than the fear she felt hit her, he sighs "Symon was here first. I get it. And sides, I like it loud, he likes it quiet right"

"That's true but we can arrange something that... my office can go..." She says

"Don't be stupid mom" he says , yes he feels put upon, but it makes no sense otherwise "You do most of your work from home whne you're not driving out to help folks. You need it. I just..." This hurts. He wants to say. It stings. It's hitting every stupid insecurity he's got. Then he sighs "Is this brat tolerable?"

"She's hurting, and she's troubled," His mother says "She's a little girl, and frankly? She's not as strong as you, Dirk. You were always so strong. You had a terrible life and you held. She's had a wonderful childhood, and ... now .. this is trauma for h er and unlike you, she's not used to that."

"A few years on the street would toughen her up or weed her out" he says, but his heart, however black, isn't in the comment for real

"Dirk" She puts a hand on her hip , a gentle chide "Now I love you. Your father and brother do too, even if they don't say it..."

"God that'd be weird" He blurts at the notion of his dad, and Espcially SYMON looking him in the eyes and telling him 'I love you'... super weird.

"but whether you believe it or not, what you're doing now? Giving something up for someone worse than you? I am SO much more proud of you for this than any fist fight you've ever won" And damn it, she looks it. SHe looks PROUD. And there he is, feeling warm and fuzzy and lapping it up.

What can he say to that ? "I love you too, mom. But I got the furniture. Really." He knows, he just knows, while he gets the big stuff ,she'll move 3 times the light stuff behind his back with boggan efficiency. She's as much of a bully as he is. Damn, but he loves that about his mom.

"Okay, dear" She pretends to comply. And he hauls the nasty ass recliner out.

It occurs to him,, he never even asked what kith little orphan annoying was. Oh well

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Cleo has cleaned the room they gave her. It took awhile.... it kind of smelled of teenage guy in here but she's finally got it spic&span. The furniture she was given is nice. Very nice.

Mrs Lee asked what her favorite color was. Cleo said whatever was fine... she pushes her glasses to her nose. None of this is hers. No matter how clean, it feels like a stranger's place. Not hers.