#rivervale_lodge

"Well, that's an understandable thing as long as it doesn't lead to you abandoning what you feel is right"

"I'll do whatever, though. I mean, you gotta be smart..."

A tilt of her head

"Smart how?"

"Well, like... sometimes you gotta do stuff that sucks."

"I suppose" She says tilting her head "but you need to figure out where your lines are. the ones you won't cross."

"I dunno. Depends, I guess? Like... it's stupid to get all... I dunno... you can live through a lot, right?"

"You fight too much, it can blow up in your face and make things worse."

"I think you've lived through too many hard things myself, sweetie. You're strong one in more ways than one" She smooths Dagmar's hair "Look, Jaymes is the one whose supposeed to guide you if you let him, but if you face things you had to endure when you were younger and alone, you let us knnow. Okay? You have people now."

She frowns.

At the frown, she tilts her head

"We don't hafta talk about the stuff before, right? The Sam stuff?"

"I think eventually you'll be ready to on YOUR terms, but speaking just for myself? "

Eyebrows

"I sure as heck won't insist on hearing about the before times when you don't want to. And Past events aside, I know that the girl in front of me Now is a good one whatever she's called."

"I like being Dagmar."

"Well, I can't say I blame you."

"You ever have something happen where your whole life changes?"

"Oh yes, more than once. For me? My mother died, my father lost his honor by being my hero...and everything was taken from us all on the same day. I had a real close waltz with hate. " She says "I like my new life here better too"

"Now, go shower and get to bed. More repairs on the house tomorrow, eh?"

"Yeah. Painting." Yawn. "M'not sleepy."

"Sorry you lost your mom."

"Me too" She guides the girl towards the steps "Okay, you're not sleepy. Just shower and then read maybe"

"Okay. Plan. See you tomorrow."

Dagmar tromps upstairs - and, post shower, is asleep about three pages into her book.

Later the book will be tucked away on its shelf and Tove? tove smile before heading off herself

(End Scene)