#rivervale_lodge

"I kind o thought 'you're a great kid' covered it, you're smarter than you think, you've got a good heart. You give a shit about people you barely know. You stand up for the underdog. You don't like bullies. You have a sense of humor . what, do I need to go on? "

"Why do you want a kid?"

"I don't want a kid, or at least I didn't, but .. when I met you? Suddenly it seemed... I don't know, I thought how it was a shame folks didn't have a clue about how much you had going on. We talked. I don't talk much. Vali says if the Chieftain and I share a room, you can hear the coffee steam rising because there's no other sound. Not that I see anything wrong with that. You? I talk to. "

A long silence, staring at him still.

"I don't want a kid," he repeats, "I want you. I'm not stupid. I get it. There's not going to be hallmark cards and sitcom awwwws playing in the background. Frankly, I think that might annoy the tick out of us both anyway. "

"You don't want a kid. They're expensive."

"I don't think you get paid with adoption..."

"I have a rich trucker semi brother I can mooch off of," Straight faced

"You don't know what I'm like."

He looks down at his hands, no, just one hand, the one he caught when she punched ...HARD, "I think I've seen more than most. Offer stands. I want to adopt you. You let me worry about the money."

"I'll hit you again."

"Or break the rules. You even know what the rules are?"

"Look I..." Realization, "You're thinking of refusing me because you want me to protect me from you? is that where this is going?"

"No." She scowls. "I think you don't even know what you're asking for. I think you got this idea that you have a 'duty,' like Rescue, yeah? But then you're gonna realize, oh wait, now I'm stuck with this."

"A duty? " A raised brow

"Right of rescue, or... feeling bad because I'm in the system."

"Feeling bad ain't no reason."

"What part of 'I'm not doing this for charity' are you not hearing?"

"So why?"

"I don't know hardly nothing about you. You don't even know my last name!"

"You're right. I don't..." He says, " I don't know your last name. You never gave it, but I never really asked. Maybe I should have. Me? I've been a wanderer, a warrior, a sailor , and a rebel. I've been an Athlete, came close to the big time, and fell short ... what do you want to know?"

"You don't know anything at all."

" I know you care more than you admit. About other people, about using your strength the right way. I know you like movie superheroes because you see them use their power like it should be used and because when they get pushed, they can push back, and when they see someone helpless, they can help. I know you don't trust boys easily, at least if they act like they want to date you. I know you like the dogs and the wood and animals. I know you hate fakes and you don't want to feel you owe anyone anything. I don't know everything no. But I do know some, and I'd like to give us a chance to learn more. "

"What if I don't want adopted?"

"then you say 'no' and someone else offers probably and I live with it. And you say no to them or yes to them."

"You thought I got the short stick? Kid. I'm asking first because I won the lucky draw, not the unlucky one."

"What do you get out of it?"

"Distrust so far, but I get that. That's sensible given the hand you've been dealt all your life. Hopefully we'll get around that. But I won't hold my breath. " He states with a shrug, "But beyond that? you know, I actually thought about it. I got no one. Oh yeah, Frank yes, sort of... a brother in a past life who I'm trying to know better, and the Lodge is...well, they're warm and welcoming to any, parrticularly trolls. You've seen that, but I don't want their charity either so I try to earn my way. Not sure I'm one of them, or feel like it. You think you're the only one who wonder about family?"

"Don't want no family."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. In two years, I can get emancipated."

"Be all on my own."

"Then adoption seems sensible, doesn't it? You don't have to worry about getting yanked around in the system, you have regular access to the lodge without having to make excuses all the time, and the mentors too. And in two years you can flip me the bird and walk if you want anyway." A shrug

"What'll you do when I screw up?"

"Be right by your side when you deal with the consequences. Details will vary depending on the nature of the 'screw up'. Hopefully, when I screw up, you'll cut me a little slack too."

"Because we're both going to screw up, that's not a flaw in us, it's just life."

She shifts her weight from one foot to the other.

"Look, this isn't a regular family thing we'd be joining, you and I. so... we might have to work on making a few rules together. Work in progress. "

"I don't fit in regular families."

"Well, I'm about as irregular as it gets."

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

"Ok. You think it over...." A nod, "We'll be guarding your area and you because that's our duty. the adopting you? That's our hope. "

"Well, certtainly my hope" A mutter

She flushes purple, and shakes her head. Time to retreat.

He watches her go

Back to the Browns!

And he sighs and heads off to talk to Kerri or Brekke or Frank or ...well ,somone. He's fought sea monsters. of the two events, fighting sea monsters was something he felt better prepared for.

(EndScene)