#darkgatefortress

"Hey, your dad got me drunk" Realization "I'm not even sure how weird that is.... "

"Pretty sure it's rare, but not all that weird." She looks over to where Olgar is sitting, watching the show. Looking out for me and him, Dad. Always a Rover.

Olgar seems to be stealing one of Piper's cauliflowers while she's on stage

"I guess.. I'm lonely, and I think of happy and with someone, I think of you. Doesn't mean it's your job" Colton says

That thought makes her turn back to him. "So, okay...look at Dad right now. He's got a beer, he's kicking back, he's...well, snitching some of Piper's snacks...and you know he and Mom go to bars to dance and hang out, and I hear them talk about their mortal friends there. That doesn't make him any less of a Rover."

A sigh at his comment. "No. It's not." It might seem like a blunt statement. "I can't make you make friends...but I can encourage you to, right?"

"He.. he told me it used to be hard, that he felt like he was failing your mom and you sometimes... but after awhile he found a way to treasure the together time with you both all the more" He says then "Huh? Oh... I meant it's not your job to be there anytime I'm lonely"

"Sorry , still a bit blurry.. I guess I don't want you blaming yourself. ANd.. you always encourage me." A smile

"I don't know that I do," she says with a frown. "I mean...I know I encourage you with Storm stuff, and with leadership stuff...but I don't know how much I've encouraged you to...um..." A pause. "To not be focused on me."

"Huh... " A look at her "I did this to myself, remember. I signed up here. Jimmy isn't up here to hang around. And Zane is newish" A thought "Mmm And yeah, you kind of like that I focus on you, but that doesn't make it your fault. You love attention. I've known that. What one me over was figuring out how you deserved it. You weren't just all hat and no cattle"

A grin at that. "Nice. Okay, but...I haven't exactly been asking how things are other than what you already tell me. Like...I haven't been asking what you're doing that's not duty."

"Duty is mostly what I talk about," He confesses "How about this.. I think I'm sobering now, because the realization I just sang FIVE Long songs about long distance relationships is settling in. How about I promise to engage in some soical activities that have nothing to do with being a role model or a leader to anybody? I'll see if Zane has some ideas. Maybe the theatre crew will wnat to use me as muscle.. that kind of thing. I'll find some time ... and .. I'll text you more and tell you more. Not just 'I'm great, now tell me how you're doing'

"

"I...yeah. I mean...I enjoy all the cute emoji stuff and so on...but it's kind of...kid stuff? Like, sometimes I want to know what's really going on." Pause. "And sometimes I want cute emojis," she admits.

amused, he looks at her "Remember this when I type out 'I'm frustrated, I'm lonely, and I'm suffering from Ennui' then follow it with a kissy face and head exploding"\

"Where IS my phone?" He suddenly realizes and searches his pockets "Oh man I think I lost it"

"Um...I think my Dad has it. Which...well, um, you might want to get it back...."

"Well yeah he might see.. " His eyes widen . He's sober now "I have some pictures from you he does not need to know you sent. Excuse me"

Including possibly one of her with a strategically placed pillow

"Crap..." She gets up and follows after him.

"Hi, Dad!" she says with bright innocence as they get to the table.

"uh huh?" Olgar looks over "These caulflower things aren't so bad"

"Oh! Cool! Mom'll want to know that."

"Oh hey, hotwings are still better..." he swats Colton's hand "Hey, get your own"

"Oh, sorry sir, I wanted my Cellphone?" Colton says

"Oh yeah, sorry, I sent a message or two to a certainy nosey nellie" Olgar pulls out the phone "Want me to delete those?"

"No!" Colton blurts and snatchis his phone "I mean, no thank you"

Olgar now looks, suspicious

"Ha ha! Yes, I was texting you, but somebody was texting back and wouldn't tell me who it was," she says with her hands on her hips, mock-glaring at her dad.

Her father looks amused "Bet your mom takes my side" She might not, but it's fun to imagine for him she would

"I'll treasure it always" COLTON says "And.. thank you, Rover. You... and your daughter have..well, I needed this"

"You did," Sylvi agrees.

"You did" Olgar agrees too

"Yes sir" A blush

"I keep telling you I work for a living" Oglar grumbles at the Sir

"You got me drunk. Cut me some slack" Colton grouses

Olgar snerks "Deal"

Then Olgar looks to his daughter "You taking this from here?"

"I got him." She nods, then gives her dad a hug. "You're a big sneak, and thank you."

"You're welcome. Now I'm gonna head home and spoil your mother" He returns the hug

"Oh, um...I don't know if Piper could use an escort back, Dad...." She looks to where her friend is still on stage.

"Oh ... mm I'll hang around. You two get back to your table then" he hands her a fifty "Order some muunches for each other"

"THanks, sir"

Did he do that last sir deliberately? COlton IS brave

"Thanks, Dad, you're the best." She gives him another big hug, and they return to their table, Colton's phone safely recovered (and the questionable photos apparently undiscovered by parental unit).

Whew...safe again

and they fade to the shadows once more