#rivervale_lodge

"Has Adam been making...... other friends? At school. Or in the area?"

She bites on her lower lip. "Not enough. Being new sucks."

"Anyone.... um. Special?"

"Special?" Blush. "Girls? I don't.. I don't think so..."

"Mmm." A rumble. "Guys, do you think?"

"Oh, no, he likes girls..."

"He likes pretty girls."

Frank nods slowly. "Ok. Thank you."

Dagmar frowns a little, flustered, and goes to wash out her glass.

Frank keeps an eye on her as she does.

"I'm sure he'll get a girlfriend, though. Lots of girls like him, he'll have his pick."

"You think so?"

"I think so." That little crease again and she shifts her weight.

"Someone pretty, for sure. I think some of my teammates are eyeing him up. He made Varsity, so..."

Frank nods, listening.

"Well. Being Varsity, and looking like he does..." Shrug, scuff. "He'll be popular."

"He'll need strong friends." Frank opines.

"I guess?"

"I think he needs guy friends."

"What makes you say that ?"

"Because.. because I think... I mean, he's a guy?"

"There's stuff... guys.. I mean, guys like different stuff..."

"They do." He agrees. "Or even the same stuff, differently. You both like basketball." An example.

"We do..." Oh, that is oddly loaded.

"You guys play?"

"Once." Frown.

"I mean... it ain't fair..."

"Np?"

"Dagda, right?"

Frank looks puzzled. "Not sure I follow."

"I'm bigger and stronger than him."

"If.. if it was him and Sam, maybe.. but when he's enchanted, it ain't fair."

Frank strokes his beard. "You make a good point."

"So, yeah."

"I don't know the right way to handle it. Letting him win isn't right, but neither is going all out."

"Well. Could try giving yourself a handicap. Like in golf. Or playing him when he isn't enchanted."

"Yeah, he said a handicap, too... and that..." She frowns. "I don't like that, neither."

"Why not?"

"Because it... it..." A frown.

"I guess it doesn't seem very fun, that way."

"And it isn't fair without it..."

"And it just... I hate it. I don't wanna do it. It makes my stomach hurt, you know?"

"Play ball with him?" Puzzled.

She shrugs, shoulders curling.

"It's dumb."

"Dagmar, I'm sorry if this has made you uncomfortable." Frank sits back.

"I just.. I just wish we could just play. But we can't. So. Whatever... my problem, I guess."

"Maybe when he's not enchanted?"

"Maybe."

"Something to think about. As his mentor, you don't want him dream-struck."