#anywhere

She laughs. "Like I don't?"

"You missed it when I first met Olgar."

"I was scared of trolls."

"Well, Rover Olgar IS scary," He says "I mean, I'm dating his daughter. Guy does not always like me... but beyond that, he's got that... kind of " He makes a motion to his face, "Murder death horror movie killer face?"

"Just a bit. Yes."

"I met him when I was still recovering from that Ogre. He'd.. he'd broken my wing. I was not in a great place."

"Oh yeah, the one you fought down in the alleys" A nod sympathetic

"You don't see how much I have is because of the generosity of others."

"I know that you feel like without them you'd be ..I know that you don't enjoy that others have helped you. You act like it's a failing. And.. if it is, then I've failed too because I sure needed yorus and the lodge's and others. I think, maybe you confuse what they do for a charity you need, rather than a charity they wanted to offer.. it's different. The house? Caesar WANTED to repay August. August wanted to know you better. It's not charity for youk, it was charity that was good for them. I Think..maybe you have some sidhe pride and a whole lot of Liam guilt. Maybe I'm wrong, but I hate how sometimes it seems like you think you don't do enough or don't deserve the good you got. I can tell you you're always welcome here if I have a say about it, if I stay anyway.. and that's not charity. You're my friend and.. more. "

She reaches out to ruffle his hair. "If you stay, this Lodge will have one hell of a Knight."

A blush "Thanks. And wherever you go ,whatever you DO, that place will have an amazing noblewoman, a true baroness be she ruler or be she advisor or be she champion"

As he is not sidhe, his hair stays ruffled

but it's cute

"Well, that aside... do you want to see the goodies Delore sent?"

"Oh yes, please. We're living on ho hos and breakfast cereals here, though Kerri is planning on sending more later"

"Of frikking course hohos. You and snack cakes..."

A purple blush "I was supposed to say no to generosity like that? Diplomacy matters"

"I thought the hold generated them based on your preferences."

"And there's real food in the mix."

"Well ,mostly the real food is the ho hos, the chimerial food..well.. not so bad."

"We also order pizza. I mean, we go pick it up, but..."

"Only so much of that."

"I'm surprised you haven't had a flock of boggans, sensing your diet, swoop in at the pantry door."

"Don't joke... Symon keeps looking over his shoulder like his step mom is going to appear. Not that many boggans here actually, in the barony I mean... I guess it wil lpopulate now that things are getting better. I've been giving tips in musing, and put out word that anyone ravaging will be sent with broken knee caps to Count Jude if I have to mail them by crate"

"With an active fire, I would expect an uptick in chrysalises."

"Some of those regardless, mostly trolls I imagine.. that dragon juice returned.. though not all the souls he trapped were trolls they were his favorite. That thing was pure evil. but yes. I need to keep an eye on it"

"And others seeking position, seeking purpose..."

"That's what I've been dealing with now... you won't believe how many contracts I've had pushed in my face asking me to sign as a 'alliance' or 'mutual peace compact' only to learn if I read between the lines that that's not all it would be. Sylvi chewed one of them out" Proudly "Well, more like a stratetic put down"

She nods. "Hold steady. It will be easier if it is less open ended."

"The worst case - if all else fails, claim the fire yourself. Your Glamour is in it, it knows you."

"That.. is indeed a 'if all else fails' I think it's one of the reasons there is no challenge yet. Not direct."

"But let's not push it."

She offers him a hand up. "You ready to face them?"

"Yeah" He takes the hand up "I know it seems a bit wimpy, but I do feel more confident now with you here, and I guess the spurs help" A happy sigh "Wish mom and dad were alive to somehow know this"

"I will need to go soon, but I can stay the night at least."

"Please, take the master bedroom. It's got a huge bed and very cozy"

"And where are you sleeping?"

"It was there, but we have plenty of rooms. Heck, we have barracks"

"Okay, I would prefer not the barracks, but I won't take your room."

" Well, then there's the oh.. I know just the place.. follow me, you ight love it." He leads her out the hallway and up some stairs

She trails after her sq-... Colton.

"See, this room was , in the mortal world, kind of a look out spot? But walled in.. and in the fae..." he opens the door and she has a roomy tower solar of sorts, but one with four lovely windows facing each cardinal directions, and two resting areas. One typical, and troll sized, the other a hammock hand crafted of some kind of ivy that never fully lost it's green or suppleness

"The windows can be covered from any angle, there's a telescope you can swing around if you want to look about the area"

"Oh, how wonderful!"

"It reminds me a bit of Ardent Harbor..."

"Well, it's your room for the night. Later I'll talk to you about the Blackgate and the ugly thing we have to play warden to"

"Certainly. And do say hi to Bachdion? He brought me here."

"I will and .. we'll make some real food for you. " He says "Not just ho hos" A grin, boyish still

"THANK you."

And he goes down, she looks about, watching this land out the windows... blooming isn't the right word, but definitely a warm dethaw and new growth