#rivervale_lodge

"Perhaps Da'an has a plan for Dagmar, or a plan that requires Dagmar. Perhaps you're just lucky?"

"But that doesn't make it fair."

"No. Folks .." Klump's brow knits "People often say something.I hear it again and again. 'Life is not fair'. This is a truth...but it is not the whole truth, and it is misused and abused.... often when meat says 'Life is not fair', it is instead an excuse for their own injustice, a pass for their evil or selfish ways. An excuse. Life is not fair. People should strive to be. Life is not fair. That is the case. That does not give ayone an excuse not to STRIVE for fairness. Who better than a changeling, one born of dreams, to try to make things fair, just? better? You cannot make the world fair, Dagmar Hammerstrike. But you can try to be fair, and you ccan try to make what is in reach as fair and just in your power. It will not be easy, and you will fail." he rumbles "But that failure does not mean it is not worth striving for it"

She bites on her lip as she listens, and nods. "It.. yeah. It's stupid, but... yeah. I want... I want it to be better."

"It is hard . It may be impossible...but you will try anyway?"

"Well... yeah, maybe. I'm pretty stubborn."

"Then I submit, you are not Soft stone"

A laugh. "Thanks, Klump. Hey, are you coming to my Saining? I think I get to have a party."

"I will be there" the big Glome (is there any other kind?) "I am not always..good at parties ? But for yours I will go"

"I'm not great at parties, either, but I'd like my friends to be there. Gonzales is coming, too - she's a werewolf. You ever meet one of those?"

"I have seen them, the pack, loping along.. hunting the world poison. But I do not think they know me."

"Well, I think she'll be enchanted, so she won't remember."

"Good.Good. The shifters make me nervous but that is because they have no masks. They are open, horrifyingly open...and yet, in the rawness I see doom and hope alike. Maybe they will save us all."

"Well, she said they are fighting things that would hurt nature. And you're nature, sort of..."

"So in a way, they're helping protect you. I like that."

"Yes." he nods "I like that too."

Dag nods, enjoying the silence between them.

And for a time, Glome and Troll just enjoy the soft sounds of the wood.

(End Scene)

For Sylvi, the time before the Carnival is turning out to be less fun, largely because the day after? She goes to the funeral of a friend.

She's been seeing to chores and duties, and not as angry as she was, but still down. It's definitely impacting her school work and cheer work, but teachers and coaches have been told that a good friend from out of town died in a car accident, so folks are cutting her some slack.

And, of course, there's her costume which is ready.

Oh...right...costume....

She's certainly not as hyped up for Carnivale as she was this time last year. Was that really only a year ago? And...with Kelby.

That loss somehow leaves a hole in the entire holiday.

Bzzt her cellphone rings

She picks it up, checks who's calling.

It's colton texting actually Bzzt "You gonna be up for the Earth Runes or want that smaller party?"

Bzzt "I mean, which is..easier for you?? Maybe a different place if it helps?"

A long pause.

*bzzt* I want to go to the Farm. I want to go on the party raids with them. I want to mess things up alongside her cousins. I want you to come, too, but I understand if you don't want to.

Bzzt "you're asking me to cause trouble with a bunch of yahoo screaming crazy corn sucking anti-nobles when I myself am sworn to a noble?"

Bzzt fast after "Yes... for you, of course. Sounds fun! Can we piss off Leanhaun holdss?"

*bzzt* Your choice.

*bzzt* ❤️

*bzzt* I don't know where they're planning to go, but I bet they'd entertain that suggestion.

*bzzt* Leanhaun...do they kill their Carnivale fool? Like...salt tears?

Bzzt "Some did and do. YUP."

A pause.

*bzzt* Did your lord?

Bzzt He never held the knife, but he laughed about it. I'm sorry. I should have done more.

*bzzt* Back then, you didn't know.

bzzzt "Now I do. and if we want to harrass bad noble holds? I know a few. And I'm with you"

*bzzt* Okay. I'm glad. Thanks, Colton.

bzzt " Always ❤️ ' And the call is done.

Sylvi looks at her phone screen a few minutes longer, thumbing through a couple of apps idly, and then she looks at her Carnivale costume, and sighs. "What was I thinking?" It's a fluffy, floofy, puffy, pouffy Cinderella ballgown, completely with fancy mask and glass slippers, and so very glittery.

A soft tapping at her door, a polite time after the last bzzz of text has ceased.

She clears her throat and sits up a bit. "Come in."

The door cracks and Symon is seen through there, though he waits outside the threshold for a moment for her to see him. “Hey. Sorry to drop by so late... Got a second to talk?” She did say ‘come in’, but he seems to be waiting for a more clear invitation- as he’s not likely who she may have expected at her chamber door at this hour.

"Symon?" Yeah, this is definitely not whom she expected. "Uh, sure...come on in. Everything okay?"