#debukefarmhold

"I've missed your company..." She starts, then clarifies. "I'd like us to be friends again, if we could."

He stops walking and slowly, giving her plenty of time, reaches to cup her cheek.

She hesitates, and moves slightly away. Not walking off, but moving from the touch. "Have you met anyone new at EarthRunes? ...And how's Nab doing?"

His hand lowers sadly. "Dating a few people. Nothing serious. Nab's fine." A pause. "You?"

"I've been good... had some good days, some bad... but I'm seeing someone now..." Her eyes light up a bit and cheeks color. "Really special."

"Oh."

"I'm.... I'm glad. For you."

"I'm glad to hear you're dating too... I can imagine in a Fiona hold, there's always a party somewhere..."

"Yeah."

"Would you be into archery? Distance stabbing?"

"Probably not. I was thinking about it but.... it got complicated."

"It can't be as complicated as sword fighting. I think I'd get all tangled up and trip over the blade somehow."

"I guess. I haven't really worked much with the bow."

"Maybe they'll do sword fighting here. Chief Clem seems pretty open to ideas."

"Oh, shoot - I have to clean up that jelly before the Hearth sees it." She remembers belatedly.

"Yeah. I can always practice on my own, forms at least."

He nods. "I understand. See you around, I guess."

"Hearth Agnes seems nice and all - but she's no Kerri. Sometimes I'm not sure if she's gonna snap my head off or offer me a scone." She hesitates. "See you tomorrow?"

"I guess so. Depends on how they run things here."

She reaches out and squeezes his hand. "Give it a shot. They surprised me. Kay?" And with a wave, is dashing towards the be-jellied kitchen to fix the earlier mishap.

Adam finds a tree to sit down under, and does so.

"I'm a painter..wheee!" From the kitchen, Orwella is delighted at her art

her jelly art

---

And for Adam?

By the tree?

He stares off into the woods or corn or whatever's there.

"You don't seem near evil" A voice says

Adam sighs and looks over, weary.

An adorable troll girl about his sister's age waves cautiously at him "Hi."

"Hi. Hello." He corrects himself.

"You don't seem near evil" The troll girl repeats. "None of you. Ain't sure what to make of that. Do we seem evil to you?"

"No. Miss. No, you don't."

"WHew. Good. I mean, I feel a weebit unseelie, but that ain't the same thing I'm tole" She says and sits down next to him "And yes, I know ain't supposed to say Ain't, but school is over, so way I figure it, I'm OFF the clock" A hurmph

"Hm." Agreement? Acknowledgement at least.

"I'm Sally Jane, but I don't like that so I prefer you call me S.J. Seems like half the folks here are So and so Sue, or such and such Mae, or blah blah maude. " A beat "What's your name?"

"My name is Adam." It takes him a moment and seems to take effort. "Pleased to meet you." He offers his hand politely.

She takes it, and shakes it "Neat... no evil cooties or anything. Guess the Chief was right. You're just like the rest of us, trying to get by." She says this as if it's VERY odd but pleasant

"Yeah." Softly.

SJ ponders life, the universe, the fluff in her belly button as she often does and the nature of sidhe as non enemies and how to adapt to that, "Brogan seems nice. bit stiff"

"I don't know him that well."

"oh" she says then ponders "Do you know anyone here? Don't want you to be lonely. Sometimes I can be in a BIG Crowd, and since they are usually trolls, I mean BIG in both ways.. and I still feel lonely. Weird huh!"

"No. I think that's pretty normal. Thanks for the offer, I do know some folks here."

"Oh good. Who?" She asks "Any friends"

"Mostly kids older than you." not without kindness, if somewhat distant "Zane Wayburton, most of the others from Rivervale. Connor, he's around your age."

"OH, CONNOR.. he's a bit silly, but nice" She says "And Zane is nice too. Some of the wilder girls think he's cute but satyrs make poor husbands I hear"

"Connor's a pretty good kid. Zane's solid."

"Yup. The Mountain doesn't teach magics to just anyone" She says

SJ looks at him "You hungry?"

"No. Thank you, though."