#rivervale_lodge

Truth.

"Was there... more?" The kinian asks.

"Just him being a jerk." A snort. "What's this about?"

A sigh/frown.

"Just if you could give him space, it would be appreciated." Sally Mae says.

"Yeah yeah, I already got the talk from Sylvi." He scowls.

"I don't get it, I thought I was ssupposedta check on folks what got attacked like his mom?" Dirk scratches his head

Jaw-jut.

Dirk notices the jaw just "What's up with you?" To Dagmar

Shrug.

"What. Ever." He rolls his eyes.

Grunt.

Sally Mae raises a brow. "Peacekeeper Dirk. You did a very good thing in saving his mother, and deserve a lot of praise for your hard work. But whether you see it or not, Adam is going through a lot."

"Like what?" Dirk snorts.

Scowl. "Don't."

"Don't what?" Confusion by the redcap

A glare at Sally Mae.

Sally mae looks to Dagmar, then says to Dirk "Dirk. Can I ask you a question, about ME?"

"I guess?" He says.

"Do you see me as equal to you, or Sylvi?" She says

"Well, no," The Redcap says "I don't. "

Truth. Confused on why he's being asked

"Why is that?" She asks.

"Well, you're only Kinian" He shrugs "Not your fault. Some is wolves, some is sheep"

Sally Mae looks neither surprised, nor too offended. "I see. Okay, Dirk. Why don't you go in the kitchen. There's a piece of cheese cake you might like"

"Cool!" He beams and goes into the kitchen, forgetting the conversation if it means he gets to stuff his face.

Scowl.

Sally Mae looks to Dagmar, and says softly "Dagmar, I'm sorry if I offended but I thought you would want him to stay away from Adam?"

"I don't want you telling him all that, make him look weak to Dirk."

"Feels half like I'm betraying him, telling you."

"He trusted me. I just... I don't know how to make it better."

"You're not betraying him ,you're trying to help him. And I want to help him too. Did you hear Dirk?" She gestures, "See what he thinks of me? Trust me. I know better than many what Adam is facing."

"And he's not the only one."

"Perhaps not, but we're not going to help Adam by keeping everyone out of the loop. That's why we need specifics. Everyone talking to him doesn't realize he's already gotten it from others. You're right to tell them that Adam feels like it's all stick and no carrot. Now, that doesn't mean Adam is perfect, and the others might have points about how he could improve his own behavior, but you're not wrong in that Adam is feeling lost, frustrated, and confused. "

"....yeah..."

"But that don't mean fuckin Dirk needs the intimate details."

"I feel bad for saying this, but I don't know if Dirk would understand them if I told them, let alone remember them," She sighs "He's.. not as dumb as we think but he's not a 'dedicated' thinker"

"He'd see a place to attack. A weakness.'

"Doesn't need to understand it to pick at the sore spots."

"I suppose you're right. My apologies." She says "I'm mostly used to trolls. "

Shrug.

"Bullies are bullies'

"True. Okay . We need to find some wonders to show... mmm" SHe ponders "Hold on, I have something."

She gets up, and moves to a different section of the lodge.

Eyebrow?

"Here, Earl gave me this as a gift but he said I could regift it if I wanted. You pass it onto Adam." It's a small painting.

She looks at it.

"Earl's the weird one with the girlfriend, right?"

"I know, the idea of Earl being the one who gets a girl wigs me out too." She admits, "I would have sworn he was going to die a virgin" She mutters then speaks up "He's the artist"

"Good artist, though..."