#rivervale_lodge

"Wow."

"You ever meet one?"

"A true dragon? No. I did see a Dapper Drake though. Now they are silly creatures. Like Bookwyrms, they look like little dragons... adorable I suppose, but their scales are shiney and come in so many colors...they adorn themselves in tiny jewels and if they can get them, hats and vests. To a Dapper Drake, status is set up by fashion. That's how they got the name. They DO live up to their name, but they don't do much else. And they've been known to buzz you if you wear white after labor day... or is that before labor day? I never can tell. Natural rivalry between them and the Bookwyrms, for the Bookwyrms count status by the books they protect. Snapdragons can be snappish with anyone, but are floral things and..well, beautifully wild. And they may hiss but smell so sweet, or so i'm told. I've only really met Dapper Drakes."

"I bet Sylvi would like them... she likes fashion."

"mm she might, they can give good advice. "

A bit sheepish at something said

"What?"

"I might have ..well, taken some advice after one made a comment about my hair" A blush

"Hmph. Your hair is pretty."

"It is now, I used to not know how to wear it and picked cuts that did not look good over my face"

"Oh, so they helped? That's good!"

"Yes, the one I met wasn't necessarily NICE aobut how the advice was delivered, but it was good advice." Amused now in hindsight "Sometimes we learn things in ways we don't like"

A little scowl. "Maybe, but that kinda sucks."

"It does, and it's not normally a good way to teach. Sometimes folks can be educated or expert but not be good teachers. Teaching is a skill set all it's own." She says "Better a good teacher with more knowledge than you, than a bad teacher with more knowledge than anyone else is my view, but sometimes it's just wise to try toget the wisdom out of it while you can either way. If nothing else, I have learned who I don't want to be from the cruel, the callous, and the arrogant- though I'm rarely grateful for the lesson"

"Like how I'm not gonna be like, well... a lot of people. I'm gonna have, like, six foster kids."

"They'll be lucky to have you, but I think maybe don't start out with all six at once" A smile

"Well, right. But I'll be a grump by then, I think."

"Probably" A nod "So, how many will be boys, and how many girls? or does it matter?"

She considers. "All girls, maybe? Too dangerous with boys."

"mmm " She says "Maybe you'd get one of the good boys. They do exist I hear. Take a look at Symon"

"Well, Symon's not a boy. He's just.. he's Symon. He's safe."

A nod "And a true friend. I.. mm maybe I'll save some of this meal to age properly for him. You think? So if he visits later?"

"I bet he would. He lieks spicy stuff. You ever have kim-chi? It's, like, on fire slimy cabbage."

"I have had it, amazing stuff... I didn't know until someone told me that they buried it, at least, taht's how some do it. I tell you, the world is full of variety and food is not the least of it. "

"Buried? No shit. I bet Two-bit wouldn't eat it.."

"Let's not test that, somethings aren't safe for dogs. Grapes and the like"

"Green beans are safe, right?"

"Oh sure depending on what else is on them.. but just plain green beans? I think it's good for dogs, not just something they can eat. Though I bet Twobit likes her green beans wrapped in bacon"

"oh, you bet she does!"

A tap at the kitchen window.

Dagmar leans over to check

Snow taps again. The little chimerical monkey waves though when she sees Dagmar is looking

"Hey!" Opens the window. "Did you get the oranges?"

"Yes, thank you! I got this for you" She holds up a stone "it was by the lake. " IT shines nicely "You can skip it and give it back to the water."

"Pretty! thank you."

"I know its been a lot of bananas and apples lately, but it's almost summer..."

"Yes, but it is harder to get to things when the window is closed. You should leave it open" Snow suggests

"No, because not everything I set out is for you, Snow" Tove says before Dagmar offers to leave the window open most of the time.

Snow makes pouty monkey face and looks at Dagmar

"Well... when it's warmer, maybe.... maybe we could have a bowl for Snow's stuff?"

"When it's warmer we might waste electricty leaving a window open, hon" Tove says "Besides, I'm not sure she'd remember the difference between the bowl that's got some nice nuts and is hers, and the plate that has pie, and is ours"

"Pie?" Snow perks up

"Did she know that the pie wasn't for her?"

SNow looks a wee bit guilty

"I suspect she did" Tove says

"Oh... and pie is for a lot of people, not just one person. Gotta share it."

Snow hangs her head "it was so good."

"Thank you, Snow. But in the future, please make sure to ask first."

That last from Tove who is not as ready to melt over big sad monkey eyes as Dagmar might be

"We can save you some if there's pie you want, right?"