#bergen_county

"There you go. Not bad. Good reaction time." He climbs in and starts her up.

A rumble grunt at the praise, purring at the praise, but giving enough of a grunt to make it clear the Rig would NOT like to do that again unless it has to

He drives slowly and carefully back to the Lodge.

And pulls up to see.. Siv waiting for him with a toolbox

Frank climbs down. "Jonas called?"

"He did. short call too which meant he was busy. " Siv says "how is she?" Looking over the Treader

"So far so good. I want to give her a good once-over, though."

She nods "Why I brought the tools. We can check out the alignment together if you like"

Frank grunts and reaches to take the tool box, and together they can get to work. It's not like they can put it up on a lift, but he can check things out. Maybe take a ride afterwards to see how it feels.

As they work, Siv asks "Will you be doing any Pennons events?"

"Probably not." It doesn't seem to bother him. "I'll be there to support."

"Shame... they've probably got a wrestling competition" Siv says

"Young man's game."

"You weren't that young when you did it in Thyle I'm told" Siv snorts

"I was younger then."

A grunt of dubious notice "I haven't withered you that much with stress, have I?"

Tires looking good.. grill need tightening. And, a gauge needs adjusting

He asks her for tools as he works. "My deterioration proceeds apace."

She hands them, knowing them by name and often even guessing what he'll need before he names it "SORT of an answer" Wryly "Fine. So House Liam goes unrepresented?"

"By me." he agrees "There are plenty of young bucks out there that will serve, some of them might even be around here."

"I see. Need to talk to Sally Mae about bully Carowyn then" As if this is right and proper "Though I fear Sir Carowyn is merely a good warrior"

"Might be Sir Carowyn has his own plans."

"That's why I'd go through Sally Mae, dad" She says "Women are like event coordinators for their fellows 8/10"

He grunts, moves on to the next fix-it.

"I know I know, tyranical " She says

"I'm more tyranical than folks who insist on the Oxford comma as Shalimar likes to say"

"Shalimar? EarthRunes, yes?"

"Their jester, funny guy, he's a skunk pooka, 'little stinker' doesn't begin to cover it" She laughs then she ponders "Sometimes I think he's sad himself or has a sadness... and he fights it, cheering others is how he beats it for himself maybe?"

"Sounds like it makes sense." Frank agrees. "Comedy is tragedy plus time."

"Huh, good phrase" She says "Actually, the pooka there are tops. None as adorbs as Connor, of course, but there's Vince, oh what a fine fellow he is, true charmer, but his heart is gold. And there's Emma, she's a cajun and a healer.... and Vashti she's a moth pooka, fine seamstress, very proper and a bit sluagh like. Then there's the kids..Enri and Isis.." She goes on fondly while they work. He may learn more about folks at Earth Runes while they work on the truck than he has in a while

He has visited, of course, but his attention might have been elsewhere. Still, with the strong Liam inflence at EarthRunes, perhaps his welcome was more firm than elsewhere, which is also memorable.

Oh indeed, the subject may shift, and Siv talks of others, and Baron August she liked... and of course, BOTH chatter about Sparrow

Frank has not chattered since he was six, but he's happy to speak about his mentee and sister-Liam.

Well, yes. Siv chatters. Frank speaks 🙂

And the Rig gets not just things fixed that got bumped, but a lot of love. Siv seems to be happy to have the excuse to spend time for her father

((Fin))