#bergen_county

"Money you can earn honestly. Not money gotten by cheating rubes."

A brow "Sure, you be short and I'll be honest. Count of three"

"Honest speech and honest work are two different things, and you know that perfectly well."

"You even have marketable qualifications, now that you've done some construction work."

A huff and crossed arms "You're my favorite troll"

"Imagine my shock."

"I expect that AnneMarie will tell me about the very generous donation you've made before the end of tomorrow."

"FIINNNE"

Piper whispers over to Lut, "Is that kinda harsh? I mean, she DID provide a tour."

Said in the traditional teenage note that makes most cats want to wince

Lut whispers to Piper "It's the principal of the thing. The Lodge is open to all. Right of Haven can't be cast doubts on, it's not just for those with cash. Right of Demense is the other factor. This isn't HER lodge to offer a tour of"

Piper bites her lip, but reluctantly can't really argue with that. "Still, I kinda admire her for the chutzpah for trying?"

"Thank you. After that, come check with me, and I'll see about helping you find a source of income. If you want, of course."

With that, it seems Rikki is released from the discussion. Kerri looks back over. "Everything good, Piper?"

"She's ballsy, yes" Lut says "But needs to work on her survival instinct if she can't find her ethical center" again softly.

Rikki scowls and moves away

"Peachy keen!" She responds over to Kerri with a thumbs up - though she looks a little worried as Rikki sulks off.

"Good to hear." Kerri gives her a nod. "Lut, it's good to see you. Now, I've got to be getting back."

And thoughtfully, she approaches the Hearth, and gives a little wave to Rikki to catch her from leaving... "I'm sure that Rikki didn't mean harm, but maybe... she's onto a little something. Not the Lodge itself, but showing visitors around town, the sights to see for the Fae? The best spots to visit at the lakeshore where people can let their ears hang out, so to speak... and maybe, yes, the Lodge could be a STOP on the tour, so that visitors know that they are welcome?"

Lut says "Surely, but.. ah, you know Stormy and I would love to have you over for lunch sometime" A nick name not a title for his girlfriend

"I mean, the lodge is great and all..." She hesitates before adding, "But sometimes, it's a little.... intimidating, if you don't know the folk directly."

Quietly, Kerri says to Piper, "Maybe you should suggest that to her. Better that suggestion come from you than from me. Then she can present it as her solution."

Piper looks heartened when her suggestion isn't immediately shot down. And trots after Rikki! "Hey girl, wait up. Let's synergize and cloudstorm until we can roundtable a solution..." Tossing out all the corporate buzzwords she can think of at the moment.

Then a grin to Lut. "I'll take you up on that. How's tomorrow?"

"That'd be great" he says and lowers his voice "Ah, want me to enchant her or are you okay with going by Mrs. Davidson ?"

Rikki says "Words, catchy peppy words "

"Probably best to go with Mrs. Davidson for now. Save the enchantment for when it's necessary." A sigh as she looks at Piper talking to Rikki. "Well, I'll be the evil old Grump for a while. It won't be the first time. I got that glare from you a time or two when you were a boy."

"Hey, Tig was the troublemaker... " A beat "mostly"

Piper lowers her voice for just the Pooka's ears as she mentions the 'alternate idea' that Rikki inspired, for the effect of looking like she's confiding this in Rikki. ..."But, it would take a clever tour guide to make that work. Even if they DID know about the secret hot springs."

"Mm-hm." She doesn't sound convinced, but pats his shoulder. "Thanks for helping out here, Lut. I'll see you tomorrow." And Kerri heads for the building exit.

Rikki says "You're appealing to my most base vanity and greed" A beat "Go on"

....and returns to the Lodge.

Lut escorts her to the exit and wishes her well

"Well, it's what the hearth was saying, they need to know that they are welcome at the Lodge, Escheat and Demenses and Haven and yadda-yadda..." Waving a hand absently. "But do they really KNOW that? It would be a true-blue Fae who would ensure that visitors to River Vale know where they can go if they need the BARONY of River Vale and not just the mortal town... and since you're showing them all around, no one could really claim that you're taking advantage of anyone's sovereign territory and what not..." A sly grin. "I might even help out, and I'd only take, oh, 40%?"

"Forty percent? LEt 'me see, you want to take my moment of outrage at this injustice, side with madame stick up ass, put me to work on my own idea, and then cash in on it?" Ears up, then "I've taught you well"

She grins and gives Rikki a fist for a bump. "I might be convinced to do a friends discount down to... eh... 30%"

Fist Bump "What if I offer not to sing when you do? Bound to be worth something in a groucho way"

She laughs. "You could check around you know, maybe Mrs King - Tove, not the chief - might want to shwo off some of her carvings. A piece of River Vale to take home." She pauses and adds, "I would be SURE to check before sending anyone over though. Fun is fun and all, but they have a new baby and if door knockers woke up those powerful lungs when he just fell asleep, the Hearth's rage may seem like a warm sunlight tan next to the inferno of a tired mum." A grin!

"Too late to frame Tikki isn't it?" Wistful

A grin. "Afraid so. But I think you had a good idea. It just needed a bit of polishing. And I think you could even keep the T-shirts - oh, I'd love to see the Chief's face when she saw them.."

"...maybe at a distance."

K'SNERK

Then a soft matter "I gave one to Sir Vali for a penny"

"You know, that Lut guy isn't half bad. Kinda old, but cute. Too bad he's taken. I hear he does have a brother though..." A wink to Rikki. "If you're into greybeards..."

"Mm how much green does Blue Bro have? "

“I haven’t the slightest. You might need to be a sugar mama.”

"Drats. Were Cougars need seasoning" She huffs

She grins, and offers another freezie pop from the cooler. “I’ll be your sugar and artificial flavoring mama.”

"And then wonder why I'm running laps on the railing" She does not say NO to the offering

A warm day, cold popsicles, and only a small scolding. Not too bad?