#kc_necropolis

----------------

Meanwhile, at a very nice house, one Colton comes in glumly after school.

The redhead is in the kitchen, peering at a cookbook with a casserole dish waiting on the counter. She has a stripe of flour down one cheek.

Slumps by, no greeting, frowning face

"Whoa.... Cole? Hey?" Her wings tilt up, concern on her face.

"Oh. uhm hi." He says taking off his backpack, "I gotta put things up in my room"

"Uh-huh... anything else up?"

"nothing important" A shrug

She raises an eyebrow. "Now, I'm not Nansaidgh, but you aren't exactly subtle. Spill it."

"I....got a chance to be in this school project, they'd take all our pictures and so on... i was actually kkind of flattered, you know? Gonna be on the website and all"

Eyebrow again, and she nods. "Sure."

"I was not sure given my past and all, what if my old knight saw it, but then realized the odds were slim... and I was going to say 'Sure' only to find out I only got it because of this" he holds up his prosthetic arm

A little frown. "They wanted your picture for the arm? What was the project?" Her feathers rumple, like clouds gathering before a storm.

"well, it's for their website... and they picked a black kid, a latina girl, an asian american... and...looks like I was going to be the disabled one. They didn't word it that way, but Joey Binklerman says I waso nly getting the spot for 'diversity' and ...I don't know. I don't like getting treatment I didn't earn, and I don't like getting known for my arm as if that defines me and.. .I don't know. It felt weird."

She nods. "Yeah, that's kinda crappy. You're not just an arm - I mean, to us, the chimerical one IS a real arm..."

A smile, "Yeah, I guess it is, but.. I mean, they were nice about it when I asked them flat out, but it's like in trying to show off how open minded they were, they made me feel like I wasn't part of the school but a show pierce? Kind of..' A sigh "I felt like a freak and I didn't like it.. Haven't felt like that in awhile. "

"I'm sorry, Cole." She reaches out, offering a hug but letting him decide to take it or not. "People can be oblivious, sometimes. But your friends don't care about your arm - and I don't recall you ever caring what Joey Binklerman thought about anything before."

He takes it, then he says "I guess you're right. Joey's kind of a jerk. I don't know why he tries to ruin everything. It's almost like if I were a mortal and he was a changeling and he were trying to ravage me. Heck, he thinks my girlfriend is fake"

"Joey sounds like a putz. Some people.. well, when things aren't good for them, they look for ways to tear others down."

"YOU know Sylvi. And YOU know how strong you are, and how much you've done."

"I guess. I tried to be nice to him, heck I even tried to muse him, like you and Sir Frank told me? You know, help folks find what's good in them and bring it out? But he just.. maybe I did it wrong."

She nods. "Some people are harder than others, their dreams are buried deep. Others, it might be... style? Someone could be a dreamer, but just not compatible."

His brow knits, "Thank you."

"I think that maybe it. Makkes me feel better anyway"

"Musing ain't easy." A shrug. "Neither are casseroles."

"Oh, how's the food coming, do you need help?" He has dropped his backpack

"There's also pursuing your own glamour, of course... I've gotten a boost a few times from painting." She picks up the bowl of shredded cheese, generously covering the chicken and broccoli.

"Nah, I think we're good - though you want to do dishes after we eat? It's just us tonight, but I figured leftovers never hurt."

"Sure. I don't mind" He says in a much better mood now, "And I wish I were as creative as you."

"Well, there's other ways, too. Not just painting, but maybe writing, or feats of strength...." She opens the oven to slide in the casserole.

"I like using my muscle, not as much as Dagmar, but yeah."

"She's the new fledge at Rivervale, right?"

"Yeah, she's strong, wow. I mean, I'm strong, stronger than most, but she's there, I guess there's always somoene stronger still. Still, she seems nice, just... jumpy, you know? I think she had a rough life. Glad she found Rivervale"

"Sure. I know Frank is teaching her, so that's pretty lucky. I wish I'd found him sooner. Hey, this summer - you want to do any big trips? I could see if you could spend some time at the Farm or Rivervale, if you wanted."

"Well, uhm..." A blush "Sylvi is going to be in Alaska. I was wondering if I could, maybe visit her?"

"Alaska? Is there a trod route? And who is the Lord there?"

"Well, there's this one area in particular? Uhm.. Kodiak Island I think... the barony of the Starbear"

"Well - find out who rules there. It's polite to ask before just rolling in. Safe Haven covers three days, if you want any more time than that you need to follow protocol."

"Baron Snowmantle ap gwydion, I think. See, Sylvi's got a formal invite. She's an Emmisary"

"Gwydion's a good house, but very formal. Now - I know you aren't Housed, but you are my squire. Some will give you grief for that, but Gwydions tend to be some of the best towards us. Honestly? I'd suggest a letter asking if you can visit. And why. Gwydion'll find out in the end."

A blush, "I think I see your point. One shouldn't be a guest under false pretenses."

"Exactly. It's not honorable."

"And it might be good for you to see how a Gwydion hold runs under a sidhe, versus a troll."

Very thoughtful, then a more nods, "So I can try? Are ..are you going to be okay without a squire for a week?"

A laugh. "I'll manage. But if you hear any gossip from the Earth Runes boggans about my struggles.... be kind?"

"I don't always like it when they gossip about you. Your life is your life, you know?"

"Sure. But... it's their nature, just like trolls tend to be stoic. I don't have much I've done that I'm ashamed of."

"Maybe it would be nice with less speculation on my love life... but it's a Fiona hold."

"Boy ain't that the truth." he sighs "Lot of pressure on guys to.. " blush "Nevermind."

"I can bet." A deep breath. "Okay - you know THOSE rules, right?"