#rivervale_lodge

...........

Clem seeks out Kerri. Sometimes she's a bit intimidated by Rivervale. the Farm maybe larger, older, more populated, but what has it done beyond survival? Rivervale , Rivervale is a home of heroes, legends even.

Kerri, the Hearth of heroic Rivervale Lodge, is currently plunging a clogged toilet in the bathroom off the main hall of the Lodge.

Clem smiles and sends a thanks up to the Dreaming for providing these little moments of support, "Need help, Hearth?" Peeking nearby

"Hm? Oh, hi, Clem. Nope, just got it..." A flush, a successful one. "Now, behave yourself," Kerri addresses the porcelain throne before she washes her hands.

"I wasn't expecting you, Clem? Is everything okay?"

"Well, things will be changing, not sure if that's good or not"

"Oh? C'mon, join me in my office..." She leads Clem into the kitchen. "Something to eat?" There's already a plate of pastries out.

Following she says "I'd say 'no i'm good' but your pastries are Loki's lure so how can I resist?" she does get a small one, "I need your opinion as a Hearth. About the position of Hearth." A bite, "Do you , would you think it wrong to have a Troll Kinain take up that position at a lodge rather than a 'true troll''?"

A surprised blink. "A kinain? Hm. I'm assuming this is about Sally Mae. So...a member of your household who has all the skills of Hearth, including some education in math that other Hearths don't have...and the only thing against her is that she's kinain rather than kith." She frowns, thinking.

A nod

"if she were blue taller and changeling souled she'd be the obvious heir to Hearth Agnes"

"What if...she were a nocker? Or a boggan?"

"We'd probably say no, it's a troll lodge, but unlike the nocker or boggan, she does have troll blood"

A nod, thinking some more. "Aside from 'she's not one of us' what are you seeing as the benefits and drawbacks of having a Kinain Hearth?"

"Biggest drawback would be resistance from the traditionalists and hurt feelingsfrom those who are 'of the Hearth' and now likely would never BE hearth. How others respond, and, of course, one must watch out for her being dream struck just as one might have to worry about a troll reaching Bedlam"

"Well...for those 'of the Hearth' it seems to me that they'd have greater opportunity to serve, as Sally Mae will need time away from the Farm."

A fond sort of smile, "You're not going to let her quit college, are you?"

A chuckle. "That's not my call. But...I'd advise against it."

"Well, since the cat is half way out of the bag and looking at us with big yellow eyes... " A deep breath, "Chief Agnes is stepping down, but only as Chief. She will remain Hearth, so I think, if I can get her to consider the logic of it- then Sally mae would be her second."

Kerri nods slowly. "I thought it might be it. Clem...why not any of the others? I think Sally Mae's a great choice, but...if there are options, why are those options not good?"

"most don't cook as well as she does, and ... when the farm ended up swamped by financial risk, she's the one who saved our asses with the books. Don't get me wrong, there are some that cook as well perhaps, and maybe clean better, but at holding off the banality of the real world while providing to the Hearth she seems most likely and I have to think of what's best for the farm despite bruised egos. Depending on if Sally Mae accepts. We drove Earl away making him feel like h didn't belong. Sally Mae shouldn't be treated like she's a second class citizen at her home. "

A slow nod. "What does Agnes think about this?"

"I'm working my way up to her , forgive me, but I thought i'd save the most important opinions for last- sorry if that's insulting. Her and Sally Mae. Either one could nix this. And it WILL be Agnes' call because every head has the right to pick their second. I guess I wanted to prepare you for the possibility we'd be stealing her back from you, you've helped her a lot and she's learned more than we could teach. Sally Mae may tell us no, and that's her right too. " A deep breath, "Aunt Agnes is slowing own, getting tired she can't do both jobs. And ... well, I just found out that I am the one they're putting up to Chief come Autumn. Apparently I'm the only one who didn't know."

A badly-hidden grin. "Yes, apparently. And congratulations."

"you too? What, was there a sign on my back?" A huff "I mean, yes, Okay, I like being in charge. I kind of thought it was a failing"

"Nobody told me, but the signs were pretty much there. I will say that, whoever you have for Hearth, she better be a little better at inference than the Chieftain-to-be." A gentle tease.

She sticks her tongue out, then draws it back in "There, once I'm Chief I'll worry about my dignity more. And I suppose that's true... Agnes will be Hearth, stay that way. Murray and Emmit stay Storm and Mountain... but each will have seconds. It's.. just the way we ensure we can continue. It's our hopes. Now, mind you, I would not be above poaching from Rivervale in other areas. heck, if she'd come I'd steal Tove in a moment but I've had strong hints that there would be a rebellion from your next generation."

"Oh, I definitely think we need Tove to stick around a while longer, yes." A grin, but then she grows serious again. "You asked me for my opinion about a kinain as Hearth. I think, as well most things, it would depend on the particular kinain, and on the particular Lodge, or Farm in this case. Sally Mae isn't just kin to the kith, but she's kin relation by blood. That matters in a family-run group. She grew up there...that also matters. And yes, I think your concern about not marginalizing her as happened to Earl is really important. I can't say I'd always say that giving a kinain the role would be a good idea, and I agree that you're going to have arguments from others...but in my opinion, Sally Mae is a good fit for the job."

"As for poaching...I'll just have to conscript the others into kitchen duty more often."

A look of relief, "thank you. It felt right the more I thought about it. And she is more...mature. I mean, I hope I am too, but Sally Mae was always a bit stuck on some of the wrong things... lately she seems to have shaken the blanket of her old notions and kept what's worth keeping while removing some of the dustbunnies of self doubt and ego ..and this is why I shouldn't try poetic metaphor." A nod "Your daughter and Gerd both seem to lean Hearth now and then. Oh, how is Sylvi? I haven't asked? Any word?"

"Well, around here everybody leans Hearth now and then because they learn how to scrape a plate and wash a dish. As for Sylvi..." she grins and shakes her head. "Come with me. I want to show you something." Kerri leads Clem out of the kitchen, through the main hall, and up the stairs to one of the bedroom doors. "Sylvi's room. Well, hers, and whomever needs additional housing while she's away." She opens the door. "She sent us something, and I decided we should keep it here." A gesture at what looks like an enclosed reptile tank. "Take a look."

She follows her along, looks at the room, "I wish I could get Tisha to keep hers this clean" A peek into the tank and "Oh sweet Friggia, what on Earth is that? I mean, a severed hand of sorts but.." She watches it hop randomly on its fingers

"That...came off of a White Walker chimera. The Baron apparently takes Sylvi on patrol regularly, and she got this 'trophy.' " A sigh. "I thought I drank a lot when she was here."

Clem covers her mouth, trying to hide any amusement from the understandably worried mother , "Uh look on the bright side. Maybe she'll come back with a collection of Dragonglass and new theme music?"

The thing hops and bounces

"Just what she needs." She shakes her head. "It's more, er, 'lively' now than when it arrived...I guess having a few days where it wasn't being bounced around in shipping gave it a chance to recover a bit. But I am not going to feed it." A pause. "Not that it has a mouth.... Well, at any rate...that's how Sylvi is. Apparently she's making a good name for both herself and Rivervale with the StarBear folks."

A smile, "Gross things or not," She closes the tank, "You're gushing with pride even more than worry, aren't you?"

A reluctant grin. "I am. I do worry, but...I have to admit that she keeps proving to be a young woman who can face unexpected challenges, and really, what more could I ask for?" A glance around the room. "I suppose it won't be long until she's gone for most of the time, and summers will be when she 'visits' home."

"Oh now, wilders need to quest, but you're let her have freedom and trust. Take it from someone who got into some trouble at that age, knowing folks support you is ... I think you'll find her visiting home more often than she would if she only got loose at 18 or so. She might be surprised how often she stays here . Or maybe not, but she'll hold onto this place in her heart, and that's because of her parents support."

"Thank you. I hope you're right." Kerri gives a game grin, and leads Clem out of the room, shutting the door.

"So, anyway...how are you feeling about your impending Chieftainhood?"

Clem follows along and admits when asked "Excited, Nervous, a bit eager, guilty for being eager. Proud. Honored. Touch worried."

A chuckle and a nod. "Sounds about right. The Farm is lucky to have you, Clem. I hope you know that."

"I'm blessed to be of it," she says, "When I hit the sea, I loved it, but time, even hard as it was to tell what time was, time passed and i caught myself missing the farm. It'ss a part of me. I hadn't realized how much .the farm has me, in more ways than one. And i'm good with that. "

"Good. And I believe you'll do fine. I'm not sure where the Chieftain is right now, but I know she'd remind you that Rivervale will support the Farm when you need our aid."

"She did. I spoke to her, she was fully suppportive.." An amused look, "She even 'Kerrried' for me a bit"

A blink. "I wasn't aware I've become a verb. What exactly does it mean to be 'Kerried'?"

"In my case it was setting me straight about trying to do without romance until later in my life and afixing to duty only. Would seem the Chief did not ,as I thought, lay pristine for Frank to find in the wood for convenience's first kiss, but rather went through some uncertain times and heart searchs herself and feels I need to take my lumps like other men and women have. Mind you, not her exact words."

"Hm. She told you that?" Kerri looks impressed.