#rivervale_lodge

"Just go away!" Desperate, wild, control growing thin.

Siv frowns then "you need to talk to someone about this, Dagmar, if not me... your dad, or Tove. Promise me you'll talk to someone about it and I'l…" A hurt look "then I'll leave ye be for tonight"

Olgar nods "Nope. It's not, but you forget. I'm Unseelie too, and right now? I am betting your passion is all over any sense of duty. ANd I love you, princess, but your winter side is a little on the vain bit. This isn't the girls who know you only as a good leader and a great manager. This is your dad. and your mom and I know you better. That pride of yours? It can serve you well if you harness it, but not if you let it harness you. "

A grunt -agreement? Maybe? But she turns and flees. To the Barn, to her room, to a place where she can try to seek calm again.

Siv watches her go and thinks I'm starting to see why Mom's policy is just keeping her damn mouth shut

A sigh

Dagmar storms in up the stairs before Jaymes can even say anything and... finds a sleeping twobit on her bed! And a resentful looking cat on the book case

Sylvi looks out the window and slumps down in her seat. "Can we just go home now, please?" Sullen and petulant.

Dagmar flops on the bed, hiding her face in her pillow. Jaymes, if he dares, is also told to "go 'way," but the animals are allowed to stay.

"No." Olgar says "You think I don't notice the solidatirty you show me? Even whenyou're full on Seelie you let people guess what court you are, because you won't let that label you. And you know I'm more than the 'token unseelie'... but you are too smart to let this get out from under you. You got pride, it's hurt. You could have taken the B team thing out of pride... and SHOWED them that they misplaced you by excelling. Instead you let the pride make you quit, and not because you really wanted to. That's not your passion or your duty, honey. that's just surrender, and that's what worries me. "

"What, I can't make a CHOICE when I see that I don't really like something??"

"So, from now on, anything I start I have to commit to right away, before I know I like it??"

And if the "stupid dog" licks her face, well, maybe she can get pets. And Odin, too. Scritches for being stranded on the bookcase. And quiet, until the storm seems less overwhelming.

"How is that even FAIR?"

"Nice twist, willing to tell the chieftain that you really don't like cheerleading? Gwydion might be useful" He counters "Because I don't think you REALLY dislike cheerleading. I think you REALLY resent trying hard and coming up what you see as short. It happens, kiddo. It happens. You try, you do everything you'r supposed to, and you don't end up where you think you should be. That's life sometimes. Tke it from the only grump in the hold without a title or position. Kay? Not that I wanted one exactly, but did my pride get hurt? Oh yeah. But I'm honest about it. You need to be honest with yourself and think on whether you're going to let Unseelie values lend you their power, or hold you back. If it's the latter, I'd just as soon you switch to summer again ASAP which I admit its the wrong time of a year for it, because you'll be happier."

Yes, stupid Dog licks and ignores Dagmar's protests. Odyn meows along agreeing that life is unfair, like... snooty people who should be better- and ..dogs getting on the bed! Life sucks!

And Jaymes does knock but when told to go away, he says "I'll be downstairs... " foosteps leaving, then back, then "When ...iff you wnt to talk... well uhm.. I'll be downstairs'

A hard look at him before she grumbles, "You have a title. You're a Rover, a Knight of the Way." Poking any hole she can in his argument. "And besides...now you act like you want to see me jumping around in front of guys in a little miniskirt with my boobs bouncing around."

She falls asleep before making it downstairs - the next time Jaymes checks sees Dagmar serving as a slumbering wall between Shaggy Thing and Resentful One-Eye.

Olgar snorts "We both know that Rover is what I get called for a reason" A tilt of his head "And nice side step. As for the rest... no. we both know I want you to dress in a turtle neck year round and go Catholic or something... exaerating, only a little though. The fact I am fighting hard to get _you _ to fight hard for something I think you might both be good at and might make you happy should tell you , if anything, my wishes aren't what I'm taking into account. this isn't about me. This is about my brave girl not giving up . You really don't want to cheerlead? REALLY? If that's true, okay. But you lovee social actiivites, you love shining... so you damn well find something to shine at because you're going to be miserable hiding in your mirror or smart phone telling yourself you don't need anyone."

The door is open"Now you can go inside"

Odin will endure the wretched smelly horrible dog for now! But by Bast, the universe better appreciate and reward his sacrifice!

Twobit thinks she smells sweaty good.

Jaymes tucks her in, and makes a midnight snak that's easy to prepare if she wakes up then, and plans for a big breakfast if she doesn't later.

Her jaw is set. "Right...I'll just help win Pennons and bring home balefire and fight frozen dead things and, oh yeah, help kill the Bug Guy....but being a cheerleader is what really matters." She gets out of the van and stalks to the Lodge without another word (but with plenty of dramatic effect). Once inside, she heads straight for her room.

Olgar counts to twenty then says to no one in particular "What ever I did in a past life as a young wilder, I'm SORRY already. No need to bring her into this. GEEEZ"

Kerri starts to tell her that dinner will be ready soon, but stops when she sees the look on her daughter's face. She's wearing a rather grim look of her own as her husband comes in. "It's going to be an 80 proof night?"

Olgar enters in and at the question "Just let me know when I'm allowed to be right again. I'm really missing that" A sigh and he fills his wife in

Meanwhile, Sylvi bestows her backpack in her room, letting Flopsy out, and spends a few moments pacing back and forth...but then with a look of determination, she digs around in a dresser drawer, finally pulling out one of her They Might Be Giants t-shirts that she never got rid of. She pulls it on -- it's far too small for her now, definitely revealing a midriff and all of her curves. A bit more makeup...perfume...her denim jacket buttoned closed over the shirt...and she writes a note that reads: "Don't Freak Out -- I'm just going out for a while, but I'll be back. --S"

"Oh, this will go well" flopsy says

"I didn't ask you." She slips out her window and across the roof to a spot that Siv showed her, a way to get down to the ground pretty easily.

And off the prodigal daughter goes.

...to the trods, and what lies beyond.

To the bottle, and what lies at the bottom!

(end scene)

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Hammering sounds outside the Ironhawk house

near the driveway

"If I die, I'm going to pout" Vali says as he walks on teh roof "You know we're all big guys right?"

"Oh suck it up and let's check the placement" Jaymes says

"What if she only plays basketball for one season?" Vali says

"Then she only plays for one season" Jaymes shrugs "I want her happy, if she finds new hobbies or callings then that's okkay. Worst thing is I get a new basketball hoop on the house"

"I wouldn't call this thing NEW" he eyes it

"Used then. Still.."

The board and hoop are used, but solid, strong material! It ain't pretty, but it works

"Now, I was promised a pizza or something" Vali says from the roof as things appear done.

"I got better than Pizza coming" Jaymes says.

Indeed, Tove arrives "Looks good"Unaware that from this angle, both guys get a peek of some nice cleavage.

Vali politely pulls eyes away but mutters to Jaymes "You're right better than Pizza"

"I will throw you off this roof" Jaymes warns