#earthrunes

"It's your party, Siv, don't you want to..... you know. Party?"

Brekke shakes her head. "Siv, this is your celebration. We do not wish to take you away from it."

"Fine, but you three don't get to talk Often so have a small meal together, talk a bit?" A look at them "It's one gift I can arrange for all of you. Tonight I get to throw my weight around. And I suspect you'd prefer a private place to catch up to my dragging you out to say hello to every Lion out there. Am iright?"

“Yoooo-hoooo!” Vince calls and waves on cue, before being shushed away by someone with more sense.

Brekke shakes her head. "We will not go too far." She nods to a nearby set of seats that look troll-safe.

Then a glance at Vince and a wry sigh. "You are in demand, Lady Captain."

Frank exhales. "Go on, Siv. Have fun."

She gives each a hug, "ThAnk you again..." Then she moves off, first to talk to some servers "Anything they want, and they won't admit what they want... so good luck" And then to Vince she calls out "Oh Vince! You shiny golden lure! How you beckon!"

And dramtically she goes to him to dance

Jessica shakes her head. "There she goes...."

Brekke sighs. "Yes." A pause, then she turns to Jessica. "Besides the tour, and the aftermath of the raids, how are the people in your lands?"

Jessica walks with them to the sitting area indicated. "I'd like to think we've made a difference. I know we have in individual cases. But the problems are still there, still the same. Lack of education, lack of opportunity, poverty, crime and drugs. We just keep.... pecking away at it."

The servants show up with..coffee!

Brekke expresses deep gratitude for the coffee.

Jessica takes her cup with pleasure as well. Frank pauses, then takes it.

They bow, sugar and cream near by to add, or ignore, as the trolls like. And they leave them be perhaps to get the food part.

"Slow change is lasting change," Brekke says to Jessica, sipping her coffee.

"Ah...Frank, something other than coffee, yes?"

"No." a gentle rumble. "It's likely to be a late night." Not without humor.

"Mm." Brekke nods.

"Jessica, have you spoken to Chieftain Clem? Do you know about Hearth Agnes?"

"Coy got word. I sent him home to the Farmhold."

"Do they need anything?"

Brekke nods. "She is better. And she seems to have made her peace with SallyMae's choices."

"Good." Relief. "That's good on a number of levels."

Music plays in the background and... a tray of Norwegian style snacks is laid near the family.

Siv has definitely talked to the staff.

Frank lifts an eyebrow at the tray. "I sense a theme."

And then another tray, with trucker chow! Well, food meant to be eatten on the road.

"Hmph. I do not object," Brekke says.

"Jessica, are all others well at Fenix?"

"And...near Fenix?"

Jess frowns. "Mom, what are you getting at?"

"There are people in your life, Jessica. I am...showing an interest."

"-All- others well?" Jessica shrugs helplessly. "Yes? As far as I know but .... I mean, I've been here for 20 minutes, it might have changed. Near Fenix? I've had some concerns about Tidemarch but I'm going to spend some time there, get to know him a little better. Tweak is doing well at Skyhook; at least, I haven't had word otherwise. And the Pit is also fine as far as I know."

"I have been working on getting liaisons in those places. People I know and trust who can keep me in the loop."

Brekke nods. "Tell me of your concerns about Tidemarch."

A boggan plays an instrumental tune of 'we are family' nearby on a keyboard set to soft piano, not too loud

Brekke give the boggan a raised brow...but not a threatening one.

A sigh. "I ... knee-jerk reaction. I thought it might have been behind a plot against Ellie. Then I asked what you would do, and I thought again, and instead of starting a civil war, we talked. A little stiffly, but talk. He's... very different from me and we haven't learned much about each other so... I'm going to try that route first."

The boggan gives a hapless look and glances in the direction of Siv being social elsewhere, but he does reduce the music's volume still more

"Hm. Communication is important. Your people will benefit from this."

A glance at Siv, and a resigned expression.

"I was... very angry. I'm glad I calmed down and was able to think rationally about it. And, it did point out to me that of the three other Freeholders, I know Baron Tidemarch the least. So.... I owe it to him to try and rectify that."

Siv is talking to an elderly Fiona woman respectfully now , along with Sylvi.

"Hm. I do not think you owe it to him so much as you owe it to his people and your own. The better understanding between you, the safer and more secure they will be."

"Both, maybe. He served as Baron long before I arrived, and his lands are not in bad shape. He is successful."

The Instrumental version of the Family Ties TV show theme song.... for those that recognize it.

"Mm. Remind me of his House."

"House Varich."