#rivervale_lodge

She blinks at him. "Dad...you have to have hair for that to work." she giggles.

Okay. He flips air ..busted

"You have an imagination... and by the way, I dare say you're responsible for half that being gone" A chuckle at her, another tossle o HEr hair

She laughs, that time. "Some day I'm going to win a bet against you, and when I do, I'm going to make you dress up in drag with a long wig."

"Wouldn't it be easier to ask your mom has photos from the time SHE won a bet?"

He looks dead serious.

She looks at him, agog. "Are you serious?!"

"Do a search on "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" .... and use your imagination or see if your mom spills the beans. I can tell you this, when I lost the bet, she didn't let me go as Riff Raff."

Horror is a good word for the expression on his daughter's face....well, amused horror maybe.

A chuckle "Guess you're old enough to hear that story now . IF your mom wants to share. She TOLD me she didn't have any pictures, but I've always had suspicions"

"Oh, if you think I'm not going to ask, you're wrong." She looks smug, but then it fades a bit. "Dad...about Mom? When Dagmar was all upset...she didn't want anybody to tell Jaymes...and she still doesn't, so don't...but she said it would be okay to tell Mom...." she kind of trails off uncertainly.

"Damn. Jaymes is going to be hurt she doesn't trust him, and that's how he'll see it. So, you asking me to ask your mom to handle it, or want me to slip iot to Jaymes? Or..."

"No, I..." she stops. "No, never mind. It's nothing."

"It's something, c'mon. I was doing well there for a moment" He coaxes

She scowls a bit. "It's stupid. She wanted to tell Mom, not her dad, not Tove...and...I got a little jealous, just for a moment." An admission.

"Ah," he nods "We all get jealous. It's human...and kithain. Your mom is Hearth, and also just very good at life hacks, you know? So she's kind of the go too person... for moterly advice without being the mom which means you do end up sharing her some. Sorry about that. You're a victim of her success. But YOU are aour daughter. She worries about Dagmar when Dagmar is in trouble. When your'e in trouble? That's the only time I see her close to panicking, not that she'd show you mind. When Siv needs advice, your mom gives good enough answers. When you need wisdom? Your mom digs into her soul to pull it out"

"You don't see it, but your mom has a list of who comes first, and you and I are in the top spots"

She smiles and blushes at the same time. "I...I know it's stupid, especially after you guys did that whole thing with going to the play and stuff. I don't have anything to be jealous about...but...." A shrug. "Like I said, it's stupid. Thinking like a little kid for a moment. But ...thanks, Dad." She reaches to give him a hug.

he hugs her "If you can't be a little stupid around the people you love and safely, who can you be safely stupid with ? that's why I look so brilliant when you and your mom aren't around" a chuckle

Wryly, she says, "Well, we do what we can."

"You do" He says with a wolf grin "you ready for the game saturday? Cheerleading for the girls basketball team?"

Deep breath. "I think so. I mean, we've been practicing a lot, and I think I've got my V jump solid, now."

"Fair . I'll be selling finger foam hands in school colors"

"You....please be joking?"

"What, I can't make a little money here? "

"what if I cut you in for five percent?"

"I...." She pauses. "Seven percent."

"Seven per... fine fine, that's a lot for hush money, you know that right?" He says "I checked, your school doesn't have any being sold at girl sporting events. Hell, not only is this providing a service, it's teaching a valuable lesson about equal merchandise for lady sports teams...and you want to skin your old man for 7 percent?" Faux hurt look

"Hey, I'm going to be working hard to inspire all that team spirit that's going to make them want to buy those foam fingers!"

"mmm well, in that case you should have bargained to 10 . 7 it is!" A grin

She sighs ruefully. "Yeah, I realized that as soon as I said seven. "

"See, your old man is still teaching you"

"He better never stop," she grins. "Even if I don't always listen."

"Ha. Okay. Deal" He offers his hand

She takes it and shakes with firm, comical enthusiasm.

This seems ot make her father terrifically happy.

She smiles and rolls her eyes. "You're being sappy, Dad."

"Yeah, sue me. " Anod "And.. in case I didn't say it? thanks for being straight with me about waht happened, not just what happened, but how you feel"

"Well, it's easy when I didn't do anything wrong." she says reasonably.

"Point" he agrees

"Oh...Forged in Fire is coming on, you wanna watch?"

She smiles broadly. "Will it keel?"

"It will keel" He nods with good immitation "Or his ass is out of there' And they watch the show

(End Scene as a father and daughter bond over dangerous weaponry like the norse gods intended)