#anywhere

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"up and at em" Vali wakes up to the sensation of a towel popping his butt. he turns, "huh what?' the woman before him , well, formerly behind him, is one he'd often welcome, but not quite like this, and, he's surprised "Tiffany?'

Tiffany's tail wags, but only a little, "You ignored me a 147 times, I counted." Accusingly, she gestures to some of his finest voile that awaits, "The First String has returned, you're allowed to skip this game."

"no no, I've got a million things to do," He protests, "Yes, yes, the others are back, but I'm helping put up a house, of all things for some of the newcomers. I have a patrol. I..."

"haven't been charming for months' She Points out, tapping to the symbol of the hold she works at on her own vest, "And it bothers you. I know it makes your tail limp.. thinking about your favorite aunt...alone, forgotten."

The Beaumayn groans, "She has an entire hold, a ward knights, everything, she's hardly alo..."

"Alone, and forgotten, how how sharper than a Shar-Pei's tooth is the neglect of ingrateful pup. All day she goes 'Where is my Vali, I'm feeling so low. Why doesn't he visit? His Aunti theoooo. I miss my vali, but he no longer tries. I guess he don't care, if I live or die' '' The song ish chastisement ends, for now, but TIffany puts both hands on her hips

"Countess Thea would burn in FIRE before she let someone catch her moaning like that in the open and you know it" He grumbles, partially because despite the nonsense, he has been a neglectful 'nephew'.

"I translated. Sometimes you guys have trouble with honesty, that's why Pooka are here... move it, blue buns!" The Gungal/Gundog insists

"Give me five minutes in the shower, and I'll go, I'll go, geez." He rises and heads to the shower next his bedroom.

Stripping as he does.

tiffany admires the spectacle, the trolls here certainly keep themselves in tune. Tiffany considers it, then mutters to herself "I wouldn't want him to visit all stressed out, so charity would tell me I should... burn off some excess morning energy. Oh Charity, you're such a bad girl. But I hope your stripper career goes well."And she follows

Leaving her own trail of clothes behind.

They'll be later than intended. But she will make sure he goes to her liege destressed.

(End scene)

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Woods-tromping? Yes. Even with all of the suburban labyrinths of McMansions and shopping centers, RiverVale still has woods.

And Dagmar? She's alone and free and out in the middle of it. It is cold for April, but that doesn't seem so bad. The lingering pockets of snow make her feel like a viking explorer as she makes her way through the pines.

"Whoosh. Rar. Hah!" She stabs at an invisible foe with her mighty halberd!

The weapon is set aside, leaning gently against a tree trunk. Ahead, there is a piece of deadfall. She eyes it, cracking her knuckles. "I wonder..."

She crouches, finding a grip annndddd... HEFTS the trunk up, over her head.

She drops her arms to chest-height, re-balancing...

Footsteps.

She doesn't hurl the log, no - she drops it with a thud and turns to grab her weapon from its resting place.

"Hello? apologies... "A young man, roughly seven teen or 18 by his voice, coming into view from behind a tree

She levels the halberd, keeping it between her and him. "Hello..."

The face that comes out behind is...like nothing she's ever seen before, his eyes shimmer like a sunlight sky. His hair is blend of all the layers of color in wood to form a rich textured brunette mop that somehow works. He moves with easy grace.

She stops, nakedly staring at the... creature... man...

"Please, I mean you no harm." he wears blues and silvers, there is something 'off' about him, and yet, that face, that presence...

The halberd is still lowered, but her grip is slack. "I... hello."

"Hello," He bows, "Sir Geffron ap Liam. " Yes, he actually bowed, the excess of his mop hair somehow not so much falling about as cascading as he does so.

A long pause before she manages. "Dagmar. I'm Dagmar."

Only some remaining part of her common sense looks him over for weapons, and she notices a still scabbard bound blade, a saber?

"It's good to meet you, Dagmar. I'm sorry for interrupting. Maybe you could help me? If you're not too busy?"

She purples and nods. "I was just goofing around. Maybe I can help."

"Thanks. I'm looking for the Rivervale Lodge. Bergen wasn't hard to find, but I'm embarrassed to admit I've gotten lost on my way to the lodge. Are you of them? It's a troll lodge, I know."

"I know where Rivervale is. What's it worth to you?"

"I ..pardon?" He inquires, "You're charging for the information to a freehold that is supposed to be open for Safe haven?"

A look of confusion. Then a frown. "Is this a trick?"

She shifts her position, standing the halberd upright.

"If it is, I think it's on me," he smiles a bit. My god, some folks talk about people's smiles lighting a room but...lord.

It's hard not to stare - and, indeed, Dagmar is back to that. She catches herself, and passes the staff from one hand to the other. "I'm not exactly sure. I... think it close. I didn't get there this way, last time."

He looks a bit disappointed, "Oh well, I'll find it. So you're not a rivervale regular? First time here myself."

"Well, 'here' being this close"

"N-no, just the one time..."

"Well, that's what happens when I assume, sorry about that. I have a House Brother there, you see? Wanted to talk to him. Still, I'm not worried. What luck denies effort will bring. '

"Wait - the Mountain. You said Liam? What do Liam do? That was one of his titles, too."

"Are you a sidhe?"

"Am I.. " He seems startled she asks, then says "yes, yes. I'm of the sidhe. The shining host, the elves, and less kind things when we annoy folks too much." a sheepish shrug that just...damn, is every facial expression going to inspire standing ovations? "I'm of House Liam, there are several Noble Houses, sidhe centric but for many other kith are members, and good thing too or we'd miss the wise counsel of folks like Mountain Frank. Of course, I'm just going by his reputation. I've never met him myself. LIam are...well, I hesitate to tell you all about us but our first goal is the preservation and inspiration of mortals. From them spring the Dreamers, and without the Dreamers? We believe the Dreaming will die."

"And Dreamers make glamour. Right.... and the other place. They make that. Okay." Hesitation again, looking around. "It should be these same woods, I think. I know the Old Timber Road leads most of the way..."