#rivervale_lodge

Dirk comes in with Dagmar to the lodge "I owe you a Dr. Pepper right? For the help"

Grunt. ("Thanks")

"Uh.. gonnna take that as a yes" He says "or at least positive" He goes into the kitchen and gets her a cold one and gets himself a mountain dew red soda "Can I ask you something?" Uncomfortable

"Sure?"

"I'm glad Sylvi's heading back n shit, but..." A huff "you ever get the feeling everyone's runnning around superfast and you're like standing there? I mean... Change is good but half tthe time I don't know what's going ON around here and I feel like I barely got an opinion on the change asked for. I know I ain't smart but shit. Yknow?"

Grunt. "I know the feeling, yeah."

"Or you're getting left behind, maybe? Dunno."

"Yeah, maybe" A nod "I mean, I DO change. I got a girl kindda... and that's nice....and I'm biggger and tougher and more dangerous. Might even have a chance against you in hand to hand... not that I'm stupid enouggh to try" True "But like the Doc wants me to go to college. And I don't know, not sure what I'm going to DO besides kick ass. It's what I know, right? I kick ass for the Chief. I look for shit that needs it's ass kicked. And I'm good with that. But Zane's all 'oh i'm the worst' shit and Sylvi's like 'I'm back' and I'm just standing here and I almost feel guilty like maybe I ain't ennouh of what everyone seems to need"

"Zane... uhg, needs to get over himself."

"We are gonna be graduating... so shit'll change whether we want it to or not."

"Nothing wrong with kicking ass. Dunno, maybe you could be a bouncer? Bet you'd intimidate the fuck outta folks."

"Huh, Bouncer? Yeah, I'm kind of abouncer NOW for the whole Barony aren't I?" Realization

"You graduating is good... you'll probably get some college practically begging you to yeet basketballs or shotputs or something for them. I mean, sure you're strong, but you also got mad skills"

She chews on a nail. "Yeah, maybe. But college, you gotta pick what you want to do."

"Like, right away."

"You got any ideas?" he asks

"Well, thought being a firefighter or paramedic would be cool. Don't need college for that, though."

"Or a vet.. but... I dunno if I could put an animal down, neither."

He ponders "maybe you could be like a zoo keeper? "

"Maybe? I like animals. Maybe something with horses?"

"You love horses, yeah." A nod "Maybe something like that Liam ranch but closer? If it's a good idea it's worth duplicating"

"Maybe..." Sigh. "Shit like that costs lots of money, though."

"Well not MY fault you're too honorable to rob banks" He ponders "But then, if you go to college and learn about animals and their behavior, then won't you gget a paper that will make folks want to hire you for htat kind of thing?"

"Maybe?"

"Well, ask for connections. You're a knight, you might as well get the perks along with the work. No shame in asking other changelings to keep an eye out. People are gonna put walls up for you cause of your skin, or that you're a girl, or whatever bullshit reason, so no shame in looking for doors. You're smarter than you look, that's your edge"

PROBABLY meant that last as a complimentt

A wry tug of her lips into a half smile.

"Still not used to asking for help."

"Which makes sense when you think of where you was,. where some asshole would see it as a kick me sign. Been there, not the same way. But now we know who it's safe to ask .. makes the diff, I think" His brow knits with philosphical focus

"Yeah. Dunno, for all... like, Rivervale doesn't seem much like what I've seen of so-called 'noble holds.' I don't get it. Hemlock's hold? Teaneck? THOSE seem stuffy and fancy."

"Sticks up their asses," he nods

"Yeah."

"I don't feel like a noble. I don't do court stuff, I'm not slick like Sylvi or tied up in stuff like Siv..."

"Oh Sylvi's a princess who dislikes titles, and I don't mean to be mean when I say that. But she's good at it and looks out for us. Siv's like... I think Siv is like you sometimes. You both wanna help. Sure, she likes the swashbuckle frruity fiona stuff but she wants to make things better and not let folks down. YOu three just got different ways, but if it helps? I don' usually think of you as 'Dame Dagmar', so much as just Dags. But don't mean you shouldn't milk it to help yourself and others"

"I mean, maybe it'd be cool to do the.. like.. noble stuff? Figure it out?"

"Hey, if you get good at it, maybe the Chief won't gotta so much? She's not a fan of the baroness title "

"Yeah... I might not be good at it, either, to be honest."

"Yeah, better than I would be. "

"So get a bit better so if you have to you'll get the basics, but otherwise ask Siv or someone else to do it. "

"Just.. dunno, might be cool to get more quests. I like quests."

"Well, you just got one" He points out with a grin then admits "Though I didn't expect a bugggy book. Hey, if I learn shit that's weird, you wannt me to tell you? I mean usually I cann handle stuff, but if you're bored annd want to hit stuff- well, I can understtannd THAT"

Grin. "Yeah, things I can solve by hitting it real hard are great."

"I KNONW right? " Sometimes he forgets he and Dags have things in common "It's like, see asshole, hit asshole, asshole stops being asshole. I love it"

"Right!"

"Such a relief after all the political shit" A nod "Yeah, sure Dags. If I find a quest I'll tell you. Specially if it involves fighting"

"Nice. And I'll let you know if there's folks who need to piss their pants."

"Cool" Much cheered "Thanks, Dags. I feel a bit beterr now. It IS Cool we're gettinng Sylvi back"

"Yeah." A smile.

A long sip of his own drink then "So summer endinng soon. "

Sigh. "Yeah."