#bergen_county

(Side panel chatter during Pennons)

Siv laughs along with others as the childlings have their moments, her own squire helping and enjoying the dress up

But those who knnow her best may notice wistful glances as if hoping someone will show

After the pageant is over, Kerri praises the childlings, and then sends them off to have fun! Which means she might appreciate some help with clean-up...and in fact she does wave Siv over hopefully.

Siv comes over... "Kids did great didn't they?"

"So great!" Kerri agrees with a smile. "And I think it's nice to remind folks that, even though our stories are often troll-based, we're not all one kith at Rivervale. Can you help me fold some of this up?" She indicates some costumes and props. "We can put it in the Jeep to keep it out of the way until we leave."

"Sure" She says "Plenty of time before the Ship contest. I think Kassedy is making friends. Brogan seems to have adapted this 'senior squire' approach to her but in a benevolent way"

"Yes, I'd noticed. Brogan's good like that. I'm hoping that will help counteract more of what happened to Kassedy in the Caer Falken court. All the same...we should keep watch during the day, make sure nobody gets her alone to pick on her."

"i'm teaching her how to deliver a solid punch to the nose" Siv observes "Should help"

"As long as she uses it judiciously," Kerri says with a nod as she bundles up Vali's dragon outfit.

As she folds, she does glances about, then nods "I've no doubt she'll be far less reckless than myself "

Kerri notes this. "Any word?" she asks quietly, gathering up aluminum-foil-and-paper-tube weapons.

"No." Siv's facade of smiling fiona crumbles "I know they'll look out for each other, but .. no. I'm such a hypocrite. I race off on missions or quests all the time. But now that I'm the one waiting and hoping, I'm... " A sigh

Kerri picks up one of the boxes of supplies, letting Siv get the other one. "Why do you think that is?"

"Because this is my fault, and I can't fix it. It's doubly twitchy "

"Mm." A nod as they move towards the parking area. "Remind me why Piper decided to go on a quest? What's the goal again?"

"I.. think maybe I didn't tell you the first time" A brow

"Well, no...but I think knowing the reason would be helpful. You're taking an awful lot of responsibility on your shoulders, and sure some of it is rightfully yours. But I think the quest part was Piper's decision, right? You didn't tell her to go on a quest. So...what's her goal?"

A sigh "to get over a phobia regarrding Liam sidhe. I knew she had scars. I didn't know the wound was still bleeding. "

A nod. "I was hoping it was something like that. She's to be commended. Not everybody chooses to face their fears, or to overcome them. Can you imagine how much fear she will have released by the time she returns? And with Jonas with her, you know she will return."

"I know I can't help her, and I'm the onnne who pushed her"

"Fair. Is it possible she might benefit from the push?"

"I hurt Her. I didn't mean to, but I did"

"No, I'm sure you didn't intend that," Kerri assures.

"That said, though...isn't it a good thing that she's dealing with something that has been an obstacle to her?"

Boxes into the Jeep before they head back to the festivities.

"I suppose it is something good that may yet come out of this. Please don't ask me to be happy about the need until they're both back in my arms"

"I won't ask that, no. But...I do want you to stop beating up on yourself. You did what you felt was the right thing. Were you impulsive? Yes. Did you hurt her? Yes. Do you think you will ever, ever forget this experience?"

"Baring a head injury? no"

"Then I call it a win. A painful one...but I don't recall you shying away from your own pain."

A sigh. "No, a 'win' isn't right...but I don't think you need to keep beating up on yourself."

"Runs in the blood" Mmmph

A dubious look. "You are not your parents."

"Just pointing out that mom and dad both tear into themselves PLENTY hard if they feel they screwed up. What I'm doing? Should NOT be a surprise" A sigh "but thank you for caring. I'll try to mope less obviously" She plasters on the fanged smile

"Now, now...that's not the point. I'm trying to keep you from putting yourself through excessive self-punishment, not asking you to be fake about how you feel. I'm not expecting you to be completely cheery, and I don't blame you in the slightest for wishing they were both here. You have a right to feel what you feel." She offers a hug.

Siv takes the hug, then gives it back "I'm sorry. I know you don't mean to hide who I am. I just..wish I were better at being stoic" She hears calls o out "Hey, wrestling"

Bemused. "Rather kith-ist of you, expecting all trolls to be stoic. Hmph!" Then a nudge. "Come on, let's go see the brute strength," she says, finishing with a grunt in her tone.

"Unga Bung" She does smile JUST a bit, then calls out "DAD! Get up there! Full nelson for the glory of Rivervale!"

And then smiles as her dad actually DOES it. It cheers her up sincerely

Frank ends up facing an Unseelie troll, who snorts "Huh. Your wife isnn't fighting this one for you, true blue"

Frank grunts. He's shirtless, in jeans and boots. He flexes his shoulders, his neck, and steps up.

Siv watches intently

The scars on his body show he is no soft scholarly stranger to combat.

"Begin" the Ref declares!

And the Unseelie charges Frank hoping to overwhelm

Frank pivots and will let the orge run past him if he can.

"Very good, Sir Franklyn!" Professor Wayburton declares! "Assert your intellectual dominance even as you match his physical prowess!"

The ogre rushes forward and misses him as Frank's pivot is well timed

Frank moves back, gaining distance from his opponant.

"You gonna keep running?"