#rivervale_lodge

"SYLVI.. wherever you are, unlock your lips from your boyfriend's face for a moment I want to ask you something" Siv says

"Colton's not even here, Siv!" Sylvi calls back from where she sits, barefoot, on a picnic table near the practice ring, painting her toenails.

"Ah, so it's cyber smooching then" Only half joking, "I wanted to tell you something and see if you were able to come along"

"It was cyber-smooching about ten minutes ago," she says, ironically prim. She fans the fresh polish on her toes. "What's up?"

'Hopefully us... mom wants the Kestrel out of dry dock for a day or or more.. no more than five... so off I go... care to come along if you can?"

"Oh! So...is this a trip or a quest?" She caps her nail polish.

"A trip if your mom is asking a quest if she's not? But she will ask. I'm afraid I worded it poorly when I mentioned maybe taking you along."

"You already primed her? Well...oof...that might make things more difficult. Or easier. She's had time to think about it...which could go either way. Does my dad know?"

"Not yet... but I meant it half joking when I said something taking you and the two of us getting into trouble" She sighs "I Honestly Did mean 'fun'..why don't grumps see that trouble can be fun?"

"Because they're grumps. They've forgotten. But really, I think you have more of a taste for trouble than I do. Or maybe you like a different flavor of trouble. You like trouble for the sake of trouble itself."

"Maybe I do" she admits, "There's a kick to it.. you know? Life on the line, do or die... adreniline pumping..." A pause "Okay, maybe I shoudl just trot over to House Fiona and ask to sign up now."

Wryly

"Ha! You, in a House?" She laughs again.

At that Siv stiffens, then looks curious "And why not?"

"Why wouldn't a house take me?" She says

Sylvi blinks at her. "I mean...geez, Siv, why would you take a House? I mean..you always seem so rebel-rebel."

"That's against parents... they don't count. You're the one with anti noble leanings, not me. I think the system works fine IF other kith cultures are recognized andd honored... mom? Mom makes being a baroness work..partially because she's a chieftain and has our troll heritage taken care of." She says "Sides, not just any House... Fiona...they fight for love. "

A grumble, "I'm not as extreme as I was...." Then she looks at Siv as though she'd never seen her before, sizing her up. "I guess...and...you think that'd make sense for you?"

"I think it's worth considering. " She says "I mean, even a ship on a huge sea needs a bit of rudder now huh ? I mean, what do you hope to do years from now and who with? What cause calls?"

A frown and she looks away.

"Of course, I am older than you... and even I'm not sealed to one fate. Plenty of time" switching gears at the frown

A bit of a scowl, then a sigh. "Yeah. I'll figure it out. I keep kind of getting half-ideas, but then none of them seems to quite fit." Then a brief little laugh. "I was thinking of taking circus skill classes, even. But I'm almost too old for those, already."

"Circus? " A pause "wait, you mean the changeling circus stuff we spoke about with clem?"

A shrug. "Yeah. I looked into classes. There's a camp that teaches them a couple of towns away. But...I dunno. " She sighs. "I need to figure out what to do for work, for money, y'know? But also figure out what I'm going to Do. And...I just can't get a grip on it."

"Well, first.. a circus employee does get paid, even if it's only shoveling up elephant shite. Second, while they're a dying art form in much of Concordia, there are those thriving... and third... you're a changeling. If you go to a changeling circus and they follow the Escheat, they probably feel obliged to let you stay for at least three days, and frankly Sylvi Davidson, 3 days to charm some folks into thinking your the adorbs? I wouldn't put dross against your chances. You shouldn't give up on your dreams, or even the search for your dreams. "

A wry grin. "I guess. You know...this is the downside of being Privilege-Girl. I think if I were one of those fae who got, like, abandoned on the street and had to find my own way, no family? I'd be a lot more ready to step onto just about any path. The way I am, I've got too many options, so I second-guess all of them. Which is an INCREDIBLY stupid thing to complain about, I know."

"Oh fluff.. I belly ache too, we all do now and then, or brood quietly and feel sorry for herself and I almost prefer the open belly aching. There are times I see one of the quiet members of our kith glowering at a wall and I want to shake them until answers fall out. You do have a lot of options, but dont' be avoiding them out of guilt- won't do those without the same options any good if you do. Sometimes it's better to be up on the next ledge if you really want to help those below you up, rather than the same. Just never let it get to your head right? You'll find what you wish for and learn if you can- And I bet you could. Just remember, when you seek the task that amkes you happy your'e still gonna have days you're miserable. I've broken into tears on the ocean. Sometimes joy in work isn't enough to salvage us and we have to suck it up and keep trucking. Fortrunately our kith seem good at that"

She gives Siv a look. "When the heck did you get so wise and stuff?" A smirk.

"I think mostly it's my father's brainwashing.." Shudder "Somehow those sad talks and lectures are starting to congeal. Mom's rare moments of conversation of 'siv, there is something I feel you should know' is just the coup de grace on my poor psyche" A sudden grin "Ye can see why I NEED a bit more trouble now and then right? Otherwise I'm heading towards sensible, and gah, what fun in that?"

"Oh, okay, when you put it that way....when do we go? Assuming I can get permission, that is."

She names the time. "Now... would you like to hear what we will actually quest for?" A smile

"I thought...I thought you didn't have a specific goal, really."

"Well ,it might yet be.. but I have a few ideas.. I just dont' want to concrete it...and deny you plausible deniability, but Dagmar got me thinking. She was talking stuff like golden monkeys and alll.. and.. I thought, maybe a raid. There are rumors of lost Eiluned treasures that allow one to tattle tale with greater accuracy. Now, you and I may recall a certain Eiluned being all high and mighty. Now I'm not such a fool as to rob the woman, but lost treasure on some isle of the dreaming that ANYONE could claim, ones that could help us scry?" A wicked grin "That I would do."

"And the fact the Eiluned might pay through the nose for its return if we don't keep it? the better"

Sylvi's eyes are wide. "You...are a madwoman. And a terrible influence. And I think I like it." There's that guilty-pleasures look. "Okay...I'll try and get the go-ahead for, uh, a summer pleasure cruise with you."

"Just make sure none of us talk about in earshot of mom. Dagmar might not narc...but mom? Love her, but she has a grave surplus of ethical restraints."

Sylvi bites her lip. "I kind of wish I didn't know. I don't have a great poker face with the Chieftain or the Mountain."

"Shoot. I always thought you were better at it than I." A ponder "Well, we'll see how it goes. If they nix it too hard, I'll come up with a plan B."

"I'll try my best. Okay...um...any chance that part of this quest to include a quick visit to Colton, either at the start or the end?"

Siv starts to say something then, tilts her head, "You really like him don't you? I mean.. like... seriously wondering how far it goes and all?"

A startled look...then she bites her lip. "I...yes? Maybe? I mean...I...I don't know. It's not something he and I have really talked about or anything. I...don't think I'm ready for that kind of talk, either. I mean...um...we haven't gone nearly as far as you and Bancroft did."

"Truth that might be for the best but I feel like a hypocrite saying it" She says "Don't get me wrong even now ...I would not change THAT... but.. I was just thinking... " A deep breath "Do you want to ask him along?"

"We could...but you don't sound like you really want that. I mean, it's nice of you to offer, but I don't want to ruin your plans by saying, hey, my boyfriend has to come, too."

"Oh..." She laughs "Sorry I think you... actually I don't mind. Honest. What you picked up on was something else"

"Up to you" she says

A suspicious look. "What kind of 'something else'?"

"Nunya" A smile

"Hmmmm...well, okay. So...you said no more than five days, right? Let me see if he can get the time off." She picks up her phone and starts texting. TXT: Hey, want to take a trip on a viking ship?

TXT: Seriously? Oh wait, you guys have one ! I saw it. Oh if it's okay with my liege sure

She texts him the details. TXT: Let me know! I still haven't got the okay from my folks, so I'll keep you posted.