#anywhere

"I really did. Do you want to bring them here, or should I go back with you?"

"Probably best we go back in the backrooms of dad'soffice. He can raise his voice... and his hands will be all over the area... we're very Italian. You want to shush us? Bind our hands."

Brekke stifles a chuckle by clearing her throat and rising from the table. "Lead on, then."

They go back to relate this news. To say the Romanos are upset with their daughter is.... interesting. Oh they are mad at her...they fuss at her, they chastise her ... and then... the two parents close ranks as if Brekke wasn't here for that part "Chieftain, this little incident.. if you were a boggan you would understand." /"our litle girl would never really endanger anyone." //"What are the mists for huh?"//"Let us handle her punishment"

Unfortunately, with the mention of the hands in her head, Brekke may have a hard time NOT staring at the waving dramatic digits

It is like performance art she considers.

Eventually, when they turn their comments to her, she nods. "I think Lucia felt called to help, and made an error towards that end. She tells me she expects to be grounded for this. Is that what you have in mind?"

"Well.. yes." "A pretty severe grounding" The mother says/" She's lucky we dont' take her out of cheerleading"

"Mama, papa!" Lucia says, and begins to wave her hands, "Cheerleading is who i AM at scholl.. hyou take that away? who am I?" Hands in the air make POOF gestures 'NOBody"

"You should have thought of that before you..." //"Responsiblity is who you are if you are a Romano..."

They may have forgotten the immense blue woman is there

"If I may suggest...she has good role models among the cheerleaders, I think. The cheerleading is not a bad influence. But other than school and cheerleading, a grounding. Does that seem reasonable?"

"mmm " "mmmm" Both eye their daughter/She strikes a PLEADING pose./they say "Okay... Cheeerleading, and home for 3 weeks..." /The girl starts to protest /But her dad says "Four is also possible"//"Three's good."

Brekke suspects they'll let her go after two and a half

The Chieftain nods. "I also ask that Lucia speak with me if she has a sense that Ms. Grey is suffering any ill effects."

"Of course of course, our little angel would anyway..."//"If I'm an angel then maybe..." /"So was lucifer, sso don't try" //"Right" Sigh

Brekke nods, satisfied for the moment.

"Thank you for your understanding , Chieftain.. oh, but you must be hungry after such a small meal and all this exciement.. we gonna make you a to go box"

And that's how the Cheiftain ended up with enough food to feed three trolls.

Well, it certainly won't go un-eaten at the Lodge.

Brekke is not without her misgivings about whether she is going too easy on the girl...but...well, maybe all will be well. She makes certain to tell both Lut and Vali what happened. She does not tell Lucia's classmates.

Lut is nodding "Thank you, Chieftain. I feel more secure about that. " He did seem alarmed at the NUMBER Of times his paramour got enchatned "Yeah, a little less of that." A sigh. Resolute.

"A great deal less, Lut. I hope you will be able to develop that relationship with far less glamour."

An unspoken Otherwise....

"Yes, a relationship should have a magic of its own" he says

"It will be difficult. I hope it will be worth the difficulty."

"As do I" He says, and he blushes . Not completelycomfortable with his romantic life being a crisis. "Thank you, Chieftain."

"Mm. " She nods...and they will speak no more about it unless necessary.

When Vali is told he nods "Good. That's one fire out os to speak." A pause "And really kind of funny. Can you imagine how much food you would have got if you told them it you WERE hungry?"

"I imagine they may have bankrupted themselves in their efforts."

"You will keep an eye on her, Vali?"

"Well, my togail is tomrorow and you told me to wait until that revealed things to me" He reminds

"But... likely yes. " He says . Vali pops his jaw as if tryign to clear his ears. He's been feeling the effects of the 'wrong skin' more and more

"Mm. As you say." She notes the gesture. "The Togail will bring relief, Vali. How will you spend this last night as a wilder?" Perhaps a hint of humor, but also empathy. She has been on this journey.

"Well, I chased Tiffany around the maypole a bit earlier... she's on duty now. Honestly I have no idea. Xbox and Skyrim seems anticlimatic"

"Yes. They would. Well...I am sure you will think of something."

"I will" he says "Thanks, Chief. Oh... your daughter's ship should be back by now... good luck with the Kalmari... and they lived."

A blink. "My daughter's....kalmari....?" A sigh. "I will need more coffee, will I not?"

"Possibly Irish" he says A smile. He is enjoying this. flashes of the future he can NOW safely reveal

A sigh. "Yes. Thank you." And she heads back to the Lodge.

Vali smiles, then gets an idea. "One last statue heist" He salutes "Rivervale calls"

(End scene)