#rivervale_lodge

"Exactly!" And she laughs and gives Siv a quick hug.

A grin "Been there" Hug returned "Look. I'm not as smart or wise or experienced as your mom, but if you ever need advice from a hyperactive sailing girl, I'm here. Okay?"

A bit of a flinch. "I haven't really talked with Mom about this. I mean, she's offered, but....it's weird, y'know?"

"That's why I offered. I might be easier to talk to even if I'm not as helpful."

A few moments of silence. "Do you talk to your mom about this stuff? The Chieftain?"

"When I do she wishes I didn't" dryly

A bit of a wince. "I can't even imagine talking with her about that."

"mom ... and I are very different" regret there "Different experiences, you know? I think she wishes she could help me more, but honestly? She helps more than she knows. Do you know how valuable it is to know that if I choose not to.. if I .. want to hold off.. if I want to wait, I might still find the right guy? THE guy? That if I choose a life of duty and honor it doesn't mean no love? I'm not sure I WANT that way, but ... do you know what a load it is off to know that more than one path might still lead to happiness?"

"I...I guess...yeah. It takes the pressure off, doesn't it?"

"So much, mom and dad make me crazy, but they're there for me. Not just to talk to, but by what they show me day to day. Love is possible for the stern and stoic, it is possible for those who choose to take on great burdens , far more than I will ever take on. But ... it's there you know? Your parents probably teach you more than you realize if you think about it... even in romance. I mean... your dad.. your mom out ranks him. She co rules, he doesn't. But now and then... have you noticed, she looks at the end of her rope and.. he's just there. How your dad treats your mom? It's... a better lesson to a young woman than a dozen speeches. My dad is the same. He walks in mom's shadow, but when she staggers, his hand is the one that takes hers. I'm not blind to that. In fact, " Speculative, "The older I get, the more impressed I am by it."

Thinking about her folks like this gives Sylvi a fond smile. "Don't tell them I said this...but yeah, I really think my folks are doing it right. You see some of the parents at school, like the ones who show up for games? The mortals, mostly, but some of the fae folks, too. Some seem like they can't even stand each other. Not my folks. They're still sappy, in their way. And your parents?" She shakes her head in wonder. "Sappiest ever, but you wouldn't see it unless you knew what to look for. Unless you knew them for a really long time."

"oh there are times I still miss it. But yes." Then in a rocky horror whisper chant "Trollbrow sex. Troll brow sex."

Trying to make Sylvi laugh

Sylvi blinks and then groans. "Oh, nooo....now every time they do the eyebrow thing, I'm going to think...." A wince. "That's your fault!"

"Totally is" Proud, and if they walk by any grumps and break out laughing for no apparent reason, well, that's just teenage girls

(End scene)