#rivervale_lodge

"I wanna go home. I can't just... sit in a desk and act like things are okay."

"It'll be hard...but...sometimes we do what's hard."

She scowls.

Harrumph. "Fine."

"Okay. Hey...let's see if Vali will write us passes so we won't get in trouble."

"....Right. Stupid dance. Stupid Nadeen."

"Vali probably would" Vali says

Sylvi smiles sheepishly, not having noticed that Vali had closed the distance. "Oh, hey. Thanks. We just had to talk about...stuff."

Dagmar is scowling.

"Well, is this a stuff that you don't want to talk to me about and you'd just as soon I gave you a pass or two so you don't get marked tardy? Or do you want to tell me about AND get those passes?"

"Ain't no snitch."

"Well ,I was thinking more of trusting a friend and a lodge mate, but I get it. THere are codes ,and there are codes." He pulls out some paper "Let me know when and if you decide it's okay to talk about it"

"It's not about being a snitch...." Sylvi says to Dagmar, then turns to Vali. "Something's wrong with Gonzalez. She's been angry for no reason and really twitchy. I thought maybe she was going to dream dance, but that's not it."

"I see. " He hands the papers over "If I get a vision that helps, should I tell you, Dagmar?" Deferring to Dagmar on this?

Eyes wide at Vali volunteering a vision.

She crumples the paper up in her hand. "I don't know. I guess?"

Vali raises a brow at the paper being crumpled.

(The pass?)

"She's mad she can't help. I get it. But...if you figure anything out...yeah, please tell us?"

Vali closes his eyes for a moment

A twist then..."Dagmar, I'm torn. the dance will be dangerous... and you are one who can help fight the danger, but if you fight it with a weapon you risk something precious."

Sylvi watches the process silently.

"But I fight with weapons. That's what I'm good at."

"I know" he says "I wish I could tell you more, but that's what I got. I don't think they mean punch things but... the visions were a blur. I can't tell you more without betraying a Code Beaumayn follow and making the future worse. If you don't go you will be safe. I know that. If you do go. Others won't ..." A sigh "No, that's too much. Do what you feel you must. "

A huff.

"Stupid dance. Stupid oath. I hate all of this. Everything was fine."

"Not the most helpful, I guess, but...."

"Maybe Eden got her to talk. Pooka, remember? Getting people to talk is what they do." Again, her voice is pitched low enough not to be heard beyond the three of them.

"Maybe. Though can she really tell us?"

Vali says 'In my experience, pooka are often underestimated at what they can and can't do, even by themselves" Just as low

"It'll be like talking to Connor, y'know? We'll figure it out."

"Right."

"You two should probably go before those passes end up being for NEXT period" Advice

"Oh, right, yeah. Thanks!" Sylvi heads back to the school building, pausing for Dagmar to join her.

Dagmar shuffles after.

"We'll figure it out, and it'll get better. I'm sure of it." Sylvi says as they go back inside and head to class.

"I hate this."

"Why can't there just be something to smash?"

"It's like that, sometimes." Sylvi shrugs.

Dirk walks by, a tempting target.

"It sucks."

"Hey, Dirk...you're going to the dance with Gonzalez, right? Any idea what's got her so mad recently?"

"Yeah, we're going. I thought first she was on the rag you know? Cuz.. chick" He says "She said something about not getting much sleep but eh." A shrug

"Not much sleep...." Sylvi bites her lip, and gives Dagmar a glance.

"What?"

Then.. oh, that expression is dangerous. Even to a redcap as dim as Dirk.

"Since when do you two ditch classes like I do?" He says

Sylvi absently waves the pass, but her mind is elsewhere.

Then a look at Dagmar "If you're going to kil lme for something I didn't do I'll try to kill you right back" Then he notes the pass "Oh feh figures."

"Whatever, Dirk. You hurt her, I'll hurt you."