#bergen_county

"Oh! Sure!"

Tove leads her in and says "Okay. We know I love spices but I don't want to fry May so you tell me what to make" Then quietly "You didn't read that script, did you?" Not judgey, honestly making sure

She winces, shoulders curling.

"How about spaghetti?"

"Sounds good" Then Tove whispers "You want to hear what the script is about? I read it" A wince of guilt

Oh, Sam looks miserable and guilty - but she nods.

Her mother says "First, you should read it. It's wonderful, but I think I get why you didn't. IT made the change seem all too real and reminded you of it. A mom knows when something is wrong even when she guesses wrong" They start to work "But it's wonderful. It's a story about the daughters of Xena and Gabriel, adopted daughters... and each of the daughters is based on the three of you"

"...Oh. Like we're sisters." Happy-hurt.

"Yup... it's really adorable and a bit tongue in cheek. Now as a story teller myself I might think it's a tad heavy on the cheesy, but it's GOOD cheese. The main character names are Damantia, that's the one most like you, Luveen, the one like Lupe, and then Yamara... the may version."

"Is she kind to herself?"

"She made Yamara a bit too clueless, if you asked me. Her sisters end up saving her a lot more than she saves them. " She admits

"Self-perception."

"mmph" ("You're ALL wonderful and should be kinder to yourselves")

"Mmph." ("MO-om.")

"Fine" ("Fiinne") She says as the 🍝 takes form "Extra meaty sauce?"

"Meatballs?" Wistfully.

"Meatballs it is" She kisses her daughter on the forehead, "Now...I think you have enough to keep faking it if you need to. But the battle with the Kraken is the big one so if you need to prove you read it to the end that should help. Go on in there and have fun with your friends. I'll finish this up in NO time"

"You're the best, Mom."

"Mmm" She shrugs ("I have my moments")

And off Dagmar goes, rejoining her friends. Lupeh has switched the subject

"All I'm saying is that Namor's an asshole, but he's a SEXY asshole" Speaking of the movie

"Nakia is sexier, though. And Okoye."

"Okoye ROCKS" May agrees "And I would kill for Nakia's curves"

"And neither of them are assholes" Lupe sighs "So I have a crush on a jerk. At least he's only on film"

"I think it is okay to have a crush on a fictional jerk."

"Also the actor could be nice" A wink from May

"Hey, that's right" Lupe is relieved. .and wonders if the guy is kinfolk

but the conversation is merry and warm, anmd while the script does get asked about... Dagmar has enough info to fake having read it before changing the subject again. Because trolls protect.. sometimes even from hurt feelings

(Fade to talk about who is sexier, Wonder Woman or Nakia)