#rivervale_lodge

He sighs and slumps against the counter, leaning. "Fishing. Fishing with Fishie."

"How on earth did she get the nick name Fishie?"

A sheepish smile. "Try bathing a baby on a boat. Slick little things."

She laughs, "Oh my. " then gentlier, "Ask her to go fishing with you then, Mountain, but also be ready when she wants to go sailing, on a regular boat on the lake, with you. Or to the mall again. It's... not fair to you, but we girls do grow up. We don't mean to betray our fathers that way but it happens" MIGHT be joking a bit

"I know." Mournful.

"You're a very...precious man, sir" Then moving on, "Have you thought about asking Jessica for advice?"

"Jess?" Clearly the answer is no.

"I mean, they're sisters but they don't really know each other very well. Supposed to visit over the summer...."

"Yes, but one has been a 16 year old girl more recently than you have" Straight faced

"Mmphm."

Possible agreement there.

A nod, "Well, I leve it to you and the chief to ..talk somethings over. Think about Jess as a source of..information" She looks to the kitchen, "I better clean up , my day for the dishes"

He nods, straightens off the counter and toes off his boots, carrying them into the living room near the front door, and then taking a seat before the Balefire to ..... think.

Sounds in the kitchen, thinking before the balfire, and loud angry music upstairs

(End Scene)

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Vali is laying in wait. The Chief's favorite coffee close by, her favorite snacks nearby. The fire merrily going..okay, so that's just the bale but hey

The Chieftain, unsuspecting of the trap that has been laid, comes in from patrol in the company of two well-walked dogs.

With his own drink ready, he sips and greets the Chieftain, "how goes, Chietain?"

"Ah, Vali. It goes well enough. Expecting some more rain tomorrow, but just a storm, not a deluge." She goes to the coffee urn to pour herself a mug, and notes the cinnamon rolls nearby. "Mm, excellent." She brings both mug and treat to the Balefire and watches it a moment before settling in her chair. "How are you?"

"Pretty good, tthank you. Got an offer that may let me help Jaymes get a new place that Dagmar could fit in."

An interested expression. "Indeed?"

"A possibility for a few thousand up front that might help with building materials or down payment" A drink

"A few thousand? Does this involve larceny?"

"Nope," he smiles at that "It involves video games Or a video game series. Ever hear of the Witcher series?"

Her eyes immediately go to The Machine That Lies In Wait at the side of the great room, and she frowns. "No...no, I have not. I cannot say that I am a fan of such games, Vali. But...I understand that they are popular."

"Well, these are ones you play on your personal computer or gaming system. And yes, some are. Witcher has a good rep. The game series is made by a game company in Poland, detailed storyline and so forth" sip "Like a slavic Lord of the Rings in that regard, though smaller scope, bit grittier. " He says "It's based on a novel series. "

"Ah!" She nods, biting into the cinnamon roll and taking a sip of coffee before continuing, "I did enjoy reading Tolkien."

"Very different style, and i don't pretend to be as good as either tolkien and Sapkowski but... that aside," He says "Sapkowski sold the video game rights to his novel, wanting a large lump up front and forget royalities. Who can blame him? He didn't know if it would catch on. It did."

He continues , "As you may have guessed, I don't bring this up randomly. The Silverfist books are enough of a hit that it's caught someone's attention. They want to make a video game with a strong female protagonist and ..well, called me."

The mug pauses halfway to her lips...and she puts it back down again. The remainder of the cinnamon bun is likewise set aside for the moment, and she brushes bits of sugar from her fingers before leaning forward to look at him directly. "Silverfist. As a video game."

"I checked, she will NOT be romping around in the chainmail bikini" He holds up his hand in scout's honor

A long silence as she just...looks...at him.

"And it comes with royalties as well as the lump payment. If it catches on, royalties will provide for Gerd. the lump payment? I think I can help Jaymes set up a place the state will find as 'acceptable' for a new adopter"

Eventually she looks away to the Balefire, brow furrowed in thought.

...a long silence...

Vali wonders if he waits her out will he transition to a grump himself? "It is not my goal to drive you insane. honest. They didn't want the other characters I've been working on"

"Do it." Simply said as she still looks at the 'Fire.

"Thanks Chief. I appreciate it. I know you have qualms."

Boots on gravel outside; a familiar tread.

"Qualms, yes. I have many. But...as you have pointed out before, whatever her origins, the character is not me. And those letters were...persuasive."

She looks to the door, and both dogs trot over, tails a-wag.

The footsteps stop.... and there is a pause.

"That's what they're hopin for, weirdly. Gaming is often seen as a 'guys domain' so.." then the footsteps pause, and he raises a brow, "I think I'm about to tag team here and leave you two alone. Frank may want to talk to you about something else"

She frowns at the door slightly, then at Vali. "Something else...?"

"All I know is , your daughter is pisssed and playing her music reallly loud and angry"

A sigh. "And her father is lingering outside the door. Yes. Thank you." She pushes to stand. "Vali, I hope this...deal...works as well as you expect. I would like to hear good news about it...but I will hear any bad news that you need to share as well." She goes to refill her mug, and to fill another one for Frank."

"Understood, Chief," he says "And if it helps? it's tied to my House. We have an MMORPG." A smile, and heads up to his and Gerd's room

Porch-sounds, but no door.

"You have an Em-em-oh-what?" But Vali's gone, and she sighs and heads for the door, two cups in one hand. She opens it and goes out, letting the dogs out again for an evening run if they insist.