#rivervale_lodge

"So, I get it, a little. Despair isn't the opposite of hope, it's what you have left when hope is dashed,... and without hope being there in the first place, it wouldn't hurt as much, without hope, despair can't hurt you"

A bit grim.

"Maybe" A sigh "Probably. I still feel like a stranger to Tiffany. And she's got her kid"

"Yeah. Can't get let down if you expect nothin;;"

"Well, you and Vali are a package deal."

"But you cheat yourself too wandeirng around without hope so..shit. I don't claim to know and I got no right to lecture ... but no, Siv and Sylvi won't get it. They're not spoiled or nothing, they work hard, but they don't understand."

A pause "you're saying she'll deal with me because she loves Vali? I guess that's true"

"Exactly."

"But.. if Vali ever had to choose, I think I might lose" A sigh

"Bullshit."

Dubious troll brow

"Yeah, bullshit."

"He's not your dad, but he's family."

Higher brow

"And he's sort of basically your dad..."

"Who did Olgar go to?"

"I see your point, but you have to see that you're kind of defeating your own worries right? If you're saying Tiffany would never cut me off from being loved by Vali , then ...to use a wonderland term, 'contrarywise' that baby will never cut you off from Tove or your dad's love even if he or she does take up a lot of their time"

"What's good for the Gerd is good for the Dagmar, kind of, or at least applies"

A frown.

"See, I know."