#scarsdale

"I... is he? I do not see it. He has been unfailingly considerate towards me, despite my... truth, I am rather outspoken for a sluagh, yes? Too social. But he was very welcoming when I first went to Firnost. You know I... I do not fare so well, here..."

"Pfft. Outspoken? Zara, we're lucky we get four words in a row out of you. You're fine; it's good you have friends now! Even if they are that momzer, the goyboy, and the arty-farty one. All boys, not so good. You should have girl friends too."

"There's Miss Clementine?"

"Ok, so she counts."

"But... but it's nice, at Firnost. There are many sluagh there, and... and despite my gregarious missteps, they are very kind."

"Nice. Feh. Know where is nice? Hannah's living room, that's nice. Needs better curtains, but she doesn't listen to me."

"...sorry."

"For what?"

"I have been home, yes? I... I haven't...is Mama okay? Have I spent too much time here? I know I haven't the time to go there..."

"But I thought I was doing okay..."

"What okay? You're fine, I said!"

"Sorry. Right, you did. Sorry."

"Again with sorry!"

She doesn't apologize again, but she makes the face. A nod.

"Are you and Ratchet and Miriam coming over for the seder?"

He shrugs, his 'awkward topic' gesture. "Not sure. We'll see."

"S-..." stops, nods.

He slurps his coffee. "Still new, Bubalah. Still... strange. Give us time. Old, nu? Set in our ways."

She nods. "Very new. Very strange. But... good, nu?"

"So far." Slurp.

"Sometimes... sometimes, I am worried this is a dream. I... that she likes me, I think. Seems to."

"That she is doing so well..."

"She likes you, Zara. She loves you." Quietly.

"She... she does, yes, I think. I just... I was worried... I mean, you and Ratchet and Mama and Papa are... are used to me... I was worried, she'd... she'd not like what she saw?"

"But she's been nothing but wonderful."

Slurp.

"Your blue boychik. You like him?"

Her cheeks flush. "Earl's... h-he's very nice, yes."

"Treats you right, respectful, sees you for who you are? Accepts you?"

"He's a gentleman. I don't... I think, mayhaps, he sees me... me as something that I'm not. We've fought about that."

"What does he see you as?"

"As... as some dream-girl. I'm afraid I fall rather short of what he sees."

"Puts you on a pedestal?"

She nods, cheeks flushed.

"So don't do that to Mirim, hm? She's not perfect. Ha! She's a nocker!"

"But she... she's been so nice..."

"She is nice! She's a nice nocker. She's been through... you know. And maybe you look through rose-colored glasses at her, hm?"

"Maybe. I know, she's been through a lot. But it has been better, this time, with her remembering? And we'll protect her from them. I won't let them touch her."

He chuckles. "Little mother of mothers."

"But I can help. I would protect her."

"I know, Bubalah, I know." He sighs. "I felt ... feel... the same."

"And I think she is happier, now that she's not fighting the mists?"

"Some. Some, not so much. But, not for you to worry about. Or me. It's her's."

"I want her to be... I... I am worried, that she fears crafting..."

"Hmmph." Another telling shrug. "Give her time."

"I know. But she seems to at least enjoy the jigsaw puzzles. Mayhaps something else will help, too."

OOC *Waves flag*

"You're good for her, Bubalah."

"I hope so." Pauses. "I think I love her, too. Is that hasty?"

"No. You always loved her."