#rivervale_lodge

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Midsummer...the shortest night. Surely watching through from dusk until dawn will not be much of a challenge on the shortest night. Song and story and music... And then to wake up the sun for its longest journey!

The Lodge is decorated with the bright flowers of late spring, both inside and out. The feast tables have been brought out to the garden again, and bright candles and lanterns illuminate the growing darkness now that the last light of dusk is leaving the sky.

Kerri sets the last of the platters down for the first round of food, and Sylvi helps set out pitchers of drink.

Gerd has tried to help as well, in an excited mood.

Sylvi has to admit that Gerd is a lot better at helping than she used to be. She can even be trusted with setting out goblets without trying to balance too many of them.

The trust makes the childling BEAM and work the harder. "Remember" She calls out "I'm a childling so if I fall asleep the worse yo ucan do is paint flowers on my face and stuff"

"Oh, I know...but don't worry; we'll make up for that with plenty of payback when you're a wilder!" Sylvi assures her.

"And you remember, no messing with Dagmar, right?"

Dagmar isn't averse to helping - carting tables and chairs as directed.

"I remember"

Brekke is happy to have Dagmar help with the lifting and moving, as well as setting out tall torches on the garden's perimeter. "Please light those."

Frank and Olgar are 'discussing' the grill.

"Can do, Chief!"

"Just saying, a new brand of charcoal is not a betrayal of tradition for crying out loud" Olgar says

"I just don't see why we can't make our own." Stubbornly.

Kerri has, wisely, made small snacks the order of the first round of trays...for meat-a-palooza is going to be the result, if the men ever get the grill issues settled.

Jaymes is helping Tove and her father Torin set up a place to play music from

Dagmar gets to play with fire!

Brekke grins a bit...she figured Dagmar would appreciate that. Then she looks around...and frowns. "Has anybody seen Siv lately?"

Frank is pulled out of his discussion by his Oathmate's question, and he looks around to confirm his daughter is not, in fact, present.

Vali says "She was dog walking last I heard. Out front maybe. She thought they might need to burn some energy so they didn't get too excited during the party"

Brekke nods, but mutters, "Likely good advice for several here."

Olgar says "Becaue we don't have enough to use our own right now"

"Gentlemen," Kerri uses Hearth Voice, which is very much like Mom Voice. "Will you please get on with it?" Oh, and that's the Hearth Glare.

"Anything else need set on fire?"

Frank gives Olgar a look. "I'll go find Siv." And he scoots.

"Perhaps the grill," Kerri suggests to Dagmar.

Vali smirks at Dagmar, "Jaymes, I think Dagmar is going to enjoy July 4th"

Jaymes grunts in the affirmative.

"Fire, bru-ha-ha."

"Okay okay, light it here" Olgar advises

Kerri has Gerd and Sylvi help stake down a few long cords from something that looks like an oversized umbrella...and when that's done, she 'opens' it to create a sort of tent-skeleton, just the lines and no walls. She taps the center pole three times, and twinkling lights burst out along the lines in all directions so they add even more gentle illumination to the feast area.

Frank finds Siv with the dogs returning the hold, his daughter looks a bit sweaty.

"Hey there, Fishie." Since it's just them and the dogs, it's ok to use nicknames. "Everything good?"

Dagmar quietly grins, watching all the lights go up.

"Yeah, sorry, I took a quick mowing job earlier and wanted to finishing a few branches..." She says "Sorry

"

Brekke surveys the area, hands on hips, and nods approval.

"That's ok." He gives her that daddy-smile, and hugs her. "You want to shower, or just come out?"

"If you mention it , I should probably do it" She laughs "I'll be quick though."

"See you in the back, then." And Frank returns to the party, where Olgar has no doubt screwed up the grill. Like always.

Olgar of course, has the grill working perfectly, for once...by Olgar preferences

"Sylvi," Kerri says, "make sure to prepare a few more pitchers of drink and keep them cool in the kitchen. I made sure the locals know we'll be celebrating, so we may have plenty of company."

Sylvi nods and scoots back inside the Lodge just as Siv is going in. "Hey! You missed most of set-up."

"Sorry, " She says "Dogs were part of it, but I also stopped to finish a job I did for a neighbor took longer htan I thought. I'm going to shower"

Brekke nods to Siv. "Good idea." And she watches her go inside.

Dagmar flicks the lighter, holding her palm over the flame.

Siv heads up to shower.

Jaymes walks closer to Dagmar, watching her