#rivervale_lodge

"Oh, Hearth Kerri!" She sits up, absently smoothing her hair and tunic. "Yes'm. It was very good."

"oh" A sad look from Siv.

Frank spends a few laconic moments with Olgar to sort out moving raw to cooked and then takes a platter of the latter to the tables.

Brekke shrugs. "I...was not what boys wanted. Keep in mind I had not yet chrysalized. It happened very late for me."

"But mom, you're very pretty "Confusion

Kerri nods, and follows where Dagmar was looking. "What do you see, with these people?"

"Symon really liked the sluagh table. If he doesn't tell you, so you know." She chews on her lip. "The people here? Just... lots of them. They seem to be having a good time."

Some laughter from the table with Leta and her friends

"Thank you for telling me...I've always looked out for sluagh, since...well my early days here." She looks at the group again. "Okay...look at the groups. What do you see?"

Olgar is assuring Frank he has a system, rating from 'evolving into charcoal' to 'a good vet can revive this meat'

Frank nods and when he gets there, takes his time setting out and arranging the table as needed.

A frown as she studies - Zane and his sister listening to Gerd telling stories, Leta's laughing gaggle, Lut and Tig showing off for Sallie Mae...

"I dunno. They all know each other?"

((Sorry, missed Siv's comment.)) A slightly rueful chuckle from Brekke. "Thank you, my daughter."

"I wish I could explain it," Brekke continues. "And I wish I could give you the benefit of my...dating experience. But I did not date until much later, so it would not be much help."

Kerri shrugs. "I don't think they all before today. Most did, certainly, but some are new connections."

"I think most of them are families. Symon's stepmom is here." A nod at the bogganess.

"There's a lot more people than I've seen here at once before."

"It's okay, mother. It..kind of explaisn things" Siv muses

Colton with Sylvi asks , "Time to go back out to the party?" Wistful but trying to be fair

Brekke sighs. "Yes...I suppose it would. Siv, know that...I am doing the best that I can?"

Kerri nods, "You mean...more fae, not more people. You've been in crowds often."

She nods. "Yeah."

"What do you think of the families?" Kerri asks.

Another frown. "What about them? They look fine. Happy."

Sylvi nods to Colton. "I...I think we'd better." She doesn't quite look at him.

"Well...do they seem likable?"

((last from Kerri))

Colton bends over and kisses Sylvi on the cheek, "Thank you by the way, I like your surprise"

"I dunno. I guess?"

Sylvi smiles, but is also biting her lip. "G-good." And she's out the front door of the Lodge, carrying the flowers out to put on display on one of the tables.

Siv looks at Brekke "Mom? did you think I doubted that? G'wan. You and dad make me crazy and i don't always undestand you, but I know you're always knocking yourselves out for me. I just hope you think the end product is worth it. Though Mister Torrad says there is no end product when it comes to daughters, and the rating is biased, whatever that means"

A dozen questions come to mind, but Colton follows and heads after Sylvi.

Olgar calls out to Sylvi, "Honey, Frank put the ones you like at the left side of the table there"

Brekke looks at her daughter, touches her hair a moment. "You have been so sad here sometimes, Siv. I do not want to overprotect you...or underprotect you. And in this matter..." A pause, and a sigh. "I will keep trying."

She chews on a hangnail, watching. "Probably decent to their kids. But it can be hard, in public, y'know? Hard to tell what people are like. But they look decent."

"I want to see so much, mother, like any other wilder," Siv admits, "But I'm not always sad. " A sigh "A bit bummed out about boys right now." Sigh

"Oh! Oh, thanks, Dad." Sylvi puts down the flowers. "Scuse me, Colton." A quick smile, then she goes over to her father at the grill. "Thanks, Dad." An impulsive hug.

Olgar hugs her back, "You're welcome, Rugmonster"

"Yes, well..." Brekke nods, then looks around the group. "Perhaps there are...others here it would be worth getting to know."

Colton raises a brow, and looks at Sylvi mouthing 'rugmonster?'

"C-can I help?" Sylvi asks her father.

"Sure honey, grab me those spices."

that from Olgar

Kerri is quiet a few moments. "Yeah, that's true. It can be hard to know which ones are decent. But these folks...they're good." A pause. "I get that you're not thrilled with your foster parents, Dagmar."

"They're fine. Had worse."

Siv smiles, "Mom, are you giving me permission to flirt with the boys here?"

Sylvi gets the spices and hands them over...apparently Colton is being given a few minutes to socialize with others.

Colton says "Uh.. should I pick a seat or..."

"Go ahead and and cop a squat Colton" Olgar points to a table.