#rivervale_lodge

"It's cool. I think Sylvi knows, and.. that makes me glad. you've got someone to talk to if you need someone who already does"

"Sylvi doesn't get it."

"Like, she's never seen the other side of something too good to be true, right?"

A pause, "We all have some part of life we haven't seen. For me, this whole modern world is alien ..if fun, but I've seen monsters of the obvious sort. You've seen some wearing human faces I'm guessing. but sylvi's been on quests, she's..helped the homeless with me Da. Seenn folks who lost everything to flood or fire and helped them side by side with her mom. And, there was some quest with a skull and balefire bits"

She nods.

"But have you turned whatever it is over to see hte other side yet? Or is this something that once you do that you're all the way in?"

"Yeah. I guess. Like - giving up a known thing for.... for..." she shrugs. "For stupid stuff."

"Is the stupid stuff a treasure?" Curious "sometimes risks are worth the right rewards. that's how legends are made"

"No."

"It's stupid, and childish, and... and I'm not some little kid anymore."

"And I know better."

"You're not stupid, that's true, and you're not a little kid. And you've been through a lot of shit" SHe agrees, "But that doesn't mean you have to abandon hope."

"But I have to be smart."

"So, weigh the gains as well as the losses . what might you gain?"

A siiiiigh, eyes closed.

"I won't."

"It won't."

"You don't think you have any chance at the prize?"

"No. Not me."

"Would I have a chance if it were me?"

"You? Sure. But you don't need it. You already have it."

"Dagmar, you're not inferior to me." Flatly stated

A faint snort.

"do you believe that much?"

"I know."

"then if you think I would have a chance, then you would have a chance. And whatever this is, it seems important to you. Don't defeat yourself "

A muffled sound, and she bites on her lower lip.

"I gotta say no. But I don't... I wish..."

"what do you wish?"

"I want it. I want it to be... I want it to be something it isn't."

"You can't make something real just by wanting it."

"No, but you can make something real less likely by not trying, by treating it like it's sour grapes without knowing. Look, my da might give better advice. He's a mountain, and wiser than he realizes, but it sounds to me..." A deep breath, "It sounds to me like whoever did you wrong still has a grip on you. they stole your past. It sounds like they might also be keeping you from your future."

"Mmmph."

"Whoever hurt you, you going to let them own you?"

She glowers. "Stop."

"Okay." She says "But...if it's what you want, what you WISH for? I think you should try. Just one more time. It'll be work. Everything worth getting is."

She bites hard on her lower lip, breath catching with a ragged sound.

"And, you won't be alone. Sylvi might be going to alaska, but we've got phones and things, like magic. And I'm here, and heck, even Symon"

A sort-of nod and she is Not Crying. Maybe it would be better if she did.

But how to tell someone to have a cry? "Sometimes I get lonely. I feel like I'm locked out on the best parto f things. When my da and i got into that crazy game ...long story, we could have died, but I rarely felt more alive. I was part of something, and it was so worth the risk. Just to belong. I.. i don't claim the things are the same as what you face...but...maybe it helps to know that you're not so odd?"

"yeah, sure."

"well, you don't sound sure but...thank you for hearing me out. I think you should go for it "

She rubs at her face. "I should get going."

"Sure. If you need to stay your'e welcome too, you know? But. sure."

"I'm okay." She stands, round shouldered.

the sixteen year old risks a hand on the shoulder, just to try to comfort

She doesn't reflexively shrug it off, so there's that!

"Want me to walkk you part way?"

"...Okay."

And she does.