#rivervale_lodge

"You think, like, somewhere there are superhero fae? Or chimera, at least?"

"Probably, but I haven't met any. But I bet some kid Dreamer has cooked up a chimera just like the Hulk to fight off his fears."

"Totally. I used to... well, not the hulk... "

"But, like, sometimes I'd tell stories to myself, you know?"

"Yeah?"

"Oh, dumb kid stuff. Like... like how maybe Iron Man would have to hide in my garage, and then he'd see what things were like, right, and scare them so bad they wouldn't dare..."

"Or maybe I'd secretly be special, you know? And get taken away..."

A grin. "Well, that part worked, eventually, right? Just sorry it took so long...."

She rubs at her blue wrist and nods. "Guess it kinda did."

Sylvi notes the gesture. "You ever think..." She pauses, then shakes her head. "Nevermind."

"Think what?"

A frown. "It's not a nice thought. But...I just really get kind of sick when I think of your foster people hurting you. And...I wonder if you ever think about going back and confronting them."

"I..." She stops, turning it over in her mind. "I don't... they always seem so big when I think of them..."

"I dunno if I could face him. He'd just... he'd look at me, like... like...like a liar, like nothing worth anything.. they didn't believe me then, right?"

"All that was Sam, anyways. I can be Dagmar now."

"Yeah...but...you've heard of Bedlam, right? You gotta be Dagmar and Sam. If you're too much of one or the other, you get twisted."

"Right, sure. That's why I gotta get sained, too."

"Yup. But...after your sained, maybe, if you ever want to go face him? I'd go with you. If you want."

She curls her hands into fists and shakes her head. "I dunno. I'd rather just forget it."

"That past is the past. Can't change it."

"Okay. That's okay, too. Just...wanted to make the offer."

"It's okay... it... it just... I don't want you seeing..."

"I really like being Dagmar, and being a troll, and being here."

"Yeah...but you don't want me seeing...what? Sam?"

"Look, it's...I really don't think Sam's that bad. And you know...since you know that you're Dagmar now? Sam might not be the same as you remember, either." She gets up and stretches. "Come on, I'm getting hungry. Let's go get something to eat at the Lodge."

"Yeah, that frog ain't comin' back. You think Kerri has brownies?" She rises, following after the other wilder.

"Ooooh, I hope so! Let's find out." She grins. "C'mon, Oak, Edelweiss! Let's go!" And they head back on Quest for Brownies and doggie treats.

((End Scene))