#anywhere

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Frank clears his throat, speaking quietly. "Thanks for stepping away with me, Vali."

"Not a prbblem, they need to talk." He tilts his head and smiles, "though I'm starting to gguess why he asked me about my own sea fairing adventures and the Mer"

"You know," He says, "Jaymes has really opened up to everyone ever since he started thinking about Dagmar as someone he could teach and more. I think she's good for him. "

Frank nods, looking around for.... yep, Kerri always leaves things around to serve drop-in visitors. He starts a tray. "I think so too. And him for her, maybe."

"More likely."

He sighs, frustrated. "Brekke and I have Siv, Olgar and Kerri have one of your three girls, Sylvi. You have Gerd. James would have Dagmar."

"And she'd have him," He frowns "though poor Gerd maybe ..well, I'm not always sure what I'm doing either but I know how much she misses her folks. Took them to visit her graves in willows on Mother's Day. She made me promise"

Frank's expression clouds over. "Wow." Softly.

"They're kinian, she knows she'll never see them again. She gets reborn, at least a part. They don't."

"Pardon, they were Kinian"

Frank seems ... heavier. He nods.

"Sorry, Frank." Apologetic

He shakes his head. "No, Vali, it's fine." He says gently. "I just realized... I haven't visited my parents in.... over 20 years?" With soft regret.

"Are they alive?"

"No. They died when I was 17."

"Frank, Gerd is a kid. She still needs to see the stones. You're an adult with a family of your own, a living family, and besides, I'm pretty sure you search Jessica's face for signs of your mom here and there, or Siv's hands. " He says thoughtfully "I'd put money on it"

Frank nods. "I don't think I went to see them much, even when I was a kid. After." He takes a breath. "Things happened kind of fast after they died."

"I can only imagine" He says, "But I tell Gerd that , for humans, there maybe a different wheel, or even if they go to a heaven, maybe they can see us anyway. Maybe they finally get to understand us. So..maybe your family is looking at your life and family and kind of impressed" A shrug, "They should be. You're a good man with many blessings"

"I am greatly blessed, indeed." He agrees, shaking his mood off. "Is there iced tea in there, or something like it?"

He reaches in and gets a pitcher "Yeah." He says "YOu're good enough to help me help Dagmar and Jaymes"

A smile

Frank shakes his head. "I'll be speaking with Brekke at the earliest opportunity. You should probably find her before I do. We don't need that money, Vali."

"We've never been well-off, but we manage."

"Frank, this isn't about us, it's about Dagmar having a roof over her head a a home. What, are she and Jaymes going to make it in a small one bedroom roach room? If the mortals do get involved that will..well, it'll get ugly."

"It's not going to be that either." Bread, cheese, about half a ham, wooden bowl of apples....

"Well, we agree on that" A no

Nod

"We do." He takes the pitcher from Vali. "Grab the tray?

"Got it" He grabs the tray "Lead on"

Frank pushes back into the main room of the Lodge from the kitchen.