#rivervale_lodge

"Why Ironhawk?"

"Got it in a battle. Took a high point, and I held it. I know the 'iron' part sounds ominous, but it's COLD iron that's the soul killer not regular iron"

"What makes iron cold, though? Like - is it made a special way?"

"Oh... that, we'll, traditionally..." He explains about Cold Iron

She listens intently, face falling into a now-familiar focused expression - some might mistake it for irritation or hostility, with the crease between her brows and narrowed eyes.

"... of course, some say the spiritual aspect is what really does it, cold iron has somehow become banality incarnate. It is to fae the symbol of everything that destroys us. "

He thinks it over, "you know, if you're interested in weapons of all sorts, though it usually starts with knives, there's this show I like watching. 'Forged in Fire'. You might like it"

"Yeah? It's about knives?"

"It's about forging knives, and other weapons from all over the world but they almsot always start the contest with knives. It's kind of like a cooking show, but not so girly, and unlike cooking shows where the thing made , if it's deadly, disqualfies you, this rewards it"

"Cool! That sounds awesome. I wanna learn how to make knives..."

"Really? You like metal shop? Huh. I'm no pro, but I've done my hand at it sometime"

"Haven't had metal shop yet... wood shop is okay, though."

"I like it way better than home ec. Uhg. Trying to get thread in the stupid needle..."

"Huh, yeah, Tove can show you how that's done" He says, and a look, "What? You hate home ec? That mean I can't stick you with the cooking?"

She tenses up, then vehemently shakes her head. "I can cook. I swear. Clean, too!"

"I can. I promise."

"Hey hey," He says and sits down on a fence "Easy."

"We'll both cook, and clean, because we need to do it to live ..."

Amber eyes stay fixed on Jaymes, her hands clenching the hem of her tunic so hard her knuckles are white.

"I can do it."

"Not because you have to, and you know, if I burn some toast, or you forget the mustard, it's okay. IT's not the end of the world." It doesn't take a genius to figure out he hit a sore point and he sees that he has. "We're good. I want you to be my kid not my kitchen staff. You see the diff?"

An uncertain nod.

"good. Also sometimes I like cooking, well, more like a good grill out, but that's neither here nor there. So I get a turn too."

"Okay." She slowly unclenches her hem.

"Say, what are your favorite foods?" he inquires, "you got a favorite?"

"I'll eat anything. Mr. Brazurri used to call me a garbage disposal..."

"Brazurri's an ass, I'm talking favs... me I got a love of ribs"

"Um. Don't laugh? Pork chops. Mrs. P would make them..."

"Why would I laugh at porkchops? One of the best meals I ever had was a chicken friend pork chop at this out of the way place"

"I don't know about chicken fried... she'd... I dunno... cook them in the pan? Them and brand-name mac and cheese, the blue stuff."

"She's the one that took me to see the baseball game."

"She sounds like one of the good ones"

Dagmar nods, a smile creeping in. "She was. I liked her. She was the last one before my birthmom got custody back..."

"So... four years ago? Yeah, four. That was in Hackensack."

"Hackensack, huh. " nod "Never been"

"It's south of here. I've been all over th'county, really."

"Well, tell you what, I'll see if I can arrange pork chops once a week or once every two weeks, different types..... and then when we find your favorite of favorites, we'll know what's for special occasions. Such as getting As on your report cards"

She turns violet, scuffing her boot against the dirt. "Okay, I guess."

"Bs and no Fs might do it" he says "I Don't want you studying so hard you don't get any fun."

"I don't get a lot of A's..."

"Truthfully?" A look around "Neither did I."

"I won't tell."

A chuckle escapes him "Thanks.. Did pretty good in gym. Shop, once I got to take it. I flunked algebra, but I blame that on Becky Strath."

"Algebra is the worst. I'd like gym better if you didn't have to change, though."

"Yeah, I don't know about for girls, but it's awkward on the guys side. Lots of insecurity"

"I know, right? Like, oh my god, who wants to strip in front of anybody?"

Starts to say something, then thinks of Frank's blood pressure and receding hair line. Why ruin a good thing here? He nods.

"I lose points for not changing, but whatever." She shrugs. "I like it otherwise. We're doing tennis right now."

"Huh" A thought or two on how to help with her changing problem, "Tennis? You like it?"

She nods. "It's okay. I think I hit too hard, though? It's tough keeping it in the box."