#rivervale_lodge

"If we hurry, I bet, and Sylvi can springify it later if need be" She moves "I know where there's a spare vase. It's from Nadeen right?"

"Um." Blush.

" I heard she asked you to Sadie Hawkins so I figured.." she explains her guess

Then a look "My questions are making you uncomfortable, aren't they?"

"She did ask."

"....I said yes."

"YES! I mean, I'm happy for you both" Gerd says "Hope it goes great, pretty sure it will"

"I... oh. I... you think it's good? A good thing?"

"look, I know you're both private persons, so I don't want to like, break out the pom poms, but yeah. YOu two have been through a lot together. YOu like each other. Just because I got MY heart stomped on doesn't mean Im against love, right? Or even the chance. I think it's worth you two exploring"

"...Dunno if the kids at school will..."

"Well, Lupe and May would be cool, right?"

"Of course, May's the gentliest soul I know " A pause "Well, except maybe for my brother. And Lupe would slap a bitch who says anything rude about it"

"I'm not... I mean..." She frowns. "You don't think I'm broken?"

"You mean broken like say an eating disorder?" She reminds "Let's just say I have very selfish reasons not to declare things or people broken too easily"

"I mean.. dunno. I broke up with Adam."

"He's normal, and handsome, and he liked me."

"Adam would hate to be considered normal I thinkl, but hard to say. You and he...look, I don't know enough to stay but it seemed like you two were going on different speeds? He wanted white water rafting, you wanted paddleboat. Maybe Nadeen wants paddleboat to? or at least a rowboat on a slow lake and thus is closer?"

She chews on a nail and nods.

"But, it's good you're not afraid of the water entirely and..." An annoyed look "Great, now Siv has me speaking in aquatic metaphors too. That's it, I'm dragging her ass to a desert one day"

"Ha."

"My point is, I think it's worth a try and I think you two are good for each other. I think you bring out good qualities in each other"

"Yeah? Howso?"

"She can be patient with you, she waits you out at times I think, and while she doesn't always like it, she is good at giving you space, don't you think?"

"...She is, yeah."

"She's really gotten much more patient than when she first arrived."

"And you helped bring that out of her, just like she brought out some of the guardian in you, and... honestly? Beyond the guardian, the tender. You never liked anyone hurting, but she coaxed that out of you, because like you, she hates to be seen as weak. You two give each other permission to be soft, and soft is not weak, and you taught each other that. It's..." A breath "Sweet. It's sweet. I said it. Deal with it. it's a good thing"

"well... like, don't tell anybody that."

"I'll only blab it to Edie. She's in charge of a lot of my secrets" A glance to the Great Pyreannes who has already stolen her brother's favorite spot

"Dogs are good with secrets."

"Yup. Keeps me sane" She says

"Cats too I suppose, but I always get the feeling they think I'm doing things wrong. VERY judgy"

"They can be, but not when you really need them."

"I guess. You and Siv are the cat lovers"

"But Odins' pretty boss"

"Odin is the best."

"Odin is a chatty catty"

A chuckle. "He is"

"how about horses? They good on the secret keeping?"

"Not as good as cats... but yeah."

"So Dogs, Cats, horses in that order for secret keepers and sympathizers" A nod "Someone should write this down"

Edelweiss wags to hear dogs still have top spot. She has taught her two legger well

"Mmmm... does Connor know?"

"Know what? the hierarchy or my secrets?" She asks

"Yeah"

"I THINK so..he talks to the dogs more than the cats...not sure about the horses. I know Brown Dog and he seem close but he likes em all."

"He's a sweet kid."

"He's been through a lot... and woefully treated like less than he is. " A smile "Guess that's why I adopted him. Not out of pity, but because I saw how .. cool he was."

'I feel better now that he's himself more."

"I noticed. Jaymes is easing up a bit too, but that's because he gets why the ruse is needed, and..." A breath "I know he's actually TEACHING Connor.. as a boy. When no one is around. I...I think I owe your dad a thank you. Jaymes is pretty cool. Quiet, but cool. He's got a quiet sort of honor doesn't he? Quiet but bigger than he is"