#rivervale_lodge

"You shouldn't do that, ragged nail might get caught on something in a fight"

She shoves her hands in her pockets, scowling.

A shrug "Scowl all you want, you manage to stop it you'll be better off. By the by, if the worst thing about sam is chews her nails then she's really got nothing to be ashamed of."

She shoots him a glare. "You don't know anything."

"Maybe not about you." A shrug "But whose fault is that when you won't answer a question? I'm not a mind reader."

A stubborn jut of her chin.

"Sam's trash. Okay?"

"Happy?"

"No. you tell me something, but don't telll me why you think it's so. Maybe Sam doesn't know trash from gold. "

A snort.

"Sam seems smart enough, healthy, as far as I know sh'es not got the pox. So why do you think she's trash?"

"Of it it just easier to write her off rather than work on what little flawss you do have?"

A huff of anger and frustration.

"She's not. She's stupid. And bad. Worthless and fucked up and fucking garbage. Okay?" The words spit out like bullets. "And you don't know anything, so I hope you're happy now. I said it, okay?" Her hands clench into fists. "I said it."

"You haven't said jack. "

"You made me say it!"

"I ask whys, you just give me more put downs on youself. WHY do you think she's fucked up and worthless? Why? "

"Shut up!" And, suddenly, one of those clenched blue fists is FLYING.

He catches it smoothy, experience vs might, and hee has some might of his own "You're not worthless, as Sam or Dagmar. You're just a mixed up kid whose been through hell. You got wounds, and they can heal. It's going to hurt, but if you don't let them fester, they'll heal."

His hand is around her fist to keep it from connecting

An inarticulate growl, and she punches with her free hand.

He takes the hit, and grunts this time, "You've got a good punch, makes me grateful for the leathers. Who are you mad at? who the hel are you hating? Can't be me. You barely know me. And it shouldn't be you. Dagmar, you are Samantha, and Samantha is Sam. And that's OKAY. Nothing that can't be fixed is wrong with any of us. Okay?"

"Shut UP!" She yanks at her captive hand, purple-faced - though with rage or tears can be hard to ascertain. "Shut up! I said it, you made me say it!"

"Shit, kid. " her hand comes free by her choice more than his but... "Maybe you needed to say it, like venom, draw that self hatred out ..." A pause, "Wait, did someone Tell you you were trash?"

She backs away, folding her arms around her torso. Glowering.

"Whatever. It's the truth. Trash nobody wants. A throwaway person. Sam's trash, and Dagmar's a duty."

"Just because you've got nobody doesn' mean you deserve to be alone. Just because others don't see your worth doesn't mean you're worthless. By Odin, I'd like to find out who sold you this load of bullshit and had you take it in for a meal. I've seen you at the lodge some. Duty isn't why the others like you, they LIKE you because they LIKE you."

"Shut up. You don't know anything." From fists to tears - angry, ugly tears. "You don't.... why'd you have to make me say it? I hate you."

"If it will keep you from hating yourself, I'd welcome it." He looks a bit lost what to do with the tears. What the hell would Frank do? or Olgar?

She shrubs at her cheeks with the back of her hand, scowling and trying not to hiccup.

"I... I gotta go..."

"Okay. And...I'm sorry someone hurt you."

The last said as if he were trying to speak some new language he'd only heard

"Don't you... don't..." She bristles. "I'm not.... nobody can hurt me now. I'm big, now."

"Then why do you keep letting the past rip into Sam?"

She shrinks - not looking so "big" right now. "Shut up. I gotta go..."

"You want me to escort you part of the way? Keep an eye out?"

Small, yes, and now that the rage has bled off - ashamed. "No. I gotta go."

"Okay. Don't be a stranger."

He clearly doesn't want to drive her away from the lodge

"Mmph." She turns, finding a hasty retreat - not towards the lodge, but towards town instead.

Jaymes watches her go, and once she is out of sight, lifts his jerkin to reveal the bruise where she had hit him. "RIght through the leather. Damn."

As for Dagmar...well... she..she has to go.

(End Scene)