#rivervale_lodge

"Oh, Vali. Do not do that. For then you will both be inconsolable." A sigh. "If this situation has made your relationship with Tiffany more challenging, I apologize for that."

"You couldn't know." he says "I mean, pooka are hard to read. I can't even figurre out if she is ready to..take it bit furthr like I Hope and..pardon, you don't need this. I already bothered frank. I just.. I want an adult serious relationship and I think I have one but... it's harder to find out when she speaks the way she does and seems to change the subject FAST"

"Have you asked her to stop and listen?"

"I.. worry it might sound too much like me telling her to listen. I do not want to be a neanderguy"

A blink. "It is...'neanderguy'...to tell her you need her to hear you?"

"No, I ... huh no. I need you to hear me sounds more like emo guy. "

"It's a hard balance for my Gender, Chief. We have to stay between here or here for extremes" He gestures

"Or else your ego may be wounded." A very slight wry tone slipping in.

A sip of coffee.

A wince "That only stings because you're probably right, ya know??"

"Hm." Her eyebrows both arc with innocence. "Interesting, that."

"Okay okay. I'll suck it up and talk to her straight. She's a pooka, but I'm not so nno more dancing around. "A sigh "You realize I'm leaving this conversation out of my memoirs?"

"I think that would be a loss. It may well prove helpful for the future lovelorn." A gentle tease, but then she grows serious again. "It is not easy, Vali, I know. That is part of what makes the relationship valuable...it is not easy to attain."

"I just, well, I can't go chasing skirts all my life and I care about her, a lot. She steals my shirts and I smile about it. I don't know if that's love but I'd like to find out"

He rises up, and a deep breath "I'll talk to her ..in a few days"

Brekke nods. "If it helps...I approve. i think you suit each other well. But my opinion should not matter."

"Funny thing, it does. A bit" A smile "Thanks, Chief"

Brekke nods.

And he heads off.

She watches him go, and sighs. A mutter to the 'Fire, "I do not do that half as well as Kerri, I think. But hopefully well enough." She finishes her coffee and sets the mug aside, and then climbs the stairs to bed.

(End Scene)

After hours and hours of measuring, checking, and replacing rope, Dagmar might actually realize that this chore is meant to teach a lesson.

A STUPID lesson.

"See, told you after awhile it gets to you," Siv says "Okay, that one behind you don't forget that one." Siv seems to know where all the ropes are. it's almsot as if she can summon them with a finger point

"How many more?" She grabs the offending rope.

"We're almost done" Siv says "Don't let it get you down. If we walk out of here with smiles, we win"

"I've done worse. They ain't gonna break me with ropes."

"Right spirit" She turns the music back on. Mom and dad didn't say they couldn't play music. Chumbawomba's "I get knocked down" plays. Fortunately there appear to be no ear worms to take advantage of this

She bobs her horned head in time with the music.

A few songs later, they've made progress and are down to their last rope! Then Dagmar notices a troll she's never seen before

Amber eyes latch onto the stranger, wary.

He's big (Duh) but dressed very finely. Kind of like a coachman in those movies with princes... "Pardon me" He says in a crisp accent (British?) "Pardon ladies" the wilder fellow asks, though he is nearly a grump "Have either of you seen Tove the Skald today?"

"Why?"

"Oh, I hoped she might be available tonight" the man smiles, "She is a lively lass indeed isn't she? I thought perhaps I'd invite her to dinner, and a walk by moonlight"

Oh, she glowers.

Siv says "Sounds romantic, but if I might ask, what are you thinking of feeding her? I hope it's not too spicy? Bland is best. Given her...well, flatulence"

"Fla.. she.." He pauses "spice eh?"

Siv nods then looks at Dagmar "Bland is best for her, right, Dagmar?"

She looks at Siv like the older girl has two heads.

"Uh... Tove hates too much flavor?"

"Oh, "The ttroll gent says "Mm well, if you havent' seen her I'll keep trying. Thanks for the tip" He says, smiles and tips his hat.

She GLARES at his back.

Once he is gone "Oh crap" siv says "Jaymes has a rival"

GLARE.

NOD.

OTHER ACTIONS IN CAPS.

"Dag? you.. you okay?"

"It's not fair."

"I like Tove. She's nice."

"Fair? what's..what's not fair?"