#rivervale_lodge

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Siv has discovered she actually missed some of her old chores, well, kind of missed. Today, she's lovingly cleaning the Kestrel. Sure ,the ship isn't going anywhere, but if she had to, she'll be ready. Cleaning and then bringing the finish of her to a shine, Siv works hard.

She sings that silly song she heard playing on Vali's mix

"Yo, listen up here's the story
About a little guy that lives in a blue world
And all day and all night and everything he sees is just blue
Like him inside and outside"

Tove does it better, but Siv's got a good voice and it's chipper

Kerri looks into the boathouse and calls, "Siv? I brought a bit of a snack if you're hungry."

"Blue his house
With a blue little window
And a blue corvette
And everything is blue for him
And himself and everybody around
'Cause he ain't got nobody to listen..." Then a stop, "A snack ye say?"

"I do say." Kerri smiles and puts the pitcher of lemonade, glasses, and plate of cookies down on a platform. "You've been working hard, I think it's time for a break."

A book is left for Gerd, with torn scraps of paper tucked into certain pages - Blue jays and bluebirds, at least, have colorful females. Vibrant yellow canaries. Bright green budgies. A red-crested lady woodpecker.

"Real nice o you, Miss Kerri. " Siv says, poppinng out proper to the snack, "But I love the Kestrel so she's worth little work now and then. Also I got to missing her. But, well, okay a break it is. How are you? Any news from Sylvi?"

"The Kestrel is worth it, indeed." Kerri looks up at the hull. "Well, Sylvi seems to be doing fine, though her notes home are a bit...sparse. She says she's keeping notes and will tell us everything later." A bit of clenched teeth. "I'm being patient."

"Ye are. In a way, you should look at it as praise on you and Mr. Olgar if you don't mind me saying?" She explains "You made her so sufficeient and competent, she's got things pretty well in hand for a girl her age. "

Amused. "Speaking as a girl not much more than her age?"

And she takes a drink from the lemonade. Thirsty work makes for a thisty girl

"I'm sixteen ish near as we can tell, that's at least what two years, 3 even ahead. That's crucial, why I positively reek of maturity" she says with exaggerated pride

While he book is left, Dagmar is tromping on the path towards the house.

"Oh, I see. Of course." She hides the grin again. "So how did such a mature young lady enjoy the camping trip?

A squee of delight from Gerd

"Colors" Gerd's voice might be heard from the lodge

Siv grins "I liked it for the most part. Grand trees, so many interesting animals... my heart belongs to the sea, but I can see why mum loves the woods so. Racoons are bold as brass creatures by the by"

"Oh there's one way to thwart a raccoon. Marshmallows." A knowing nod.

She laughs "What? Marshmellows?"

She pauses, listening, and takes the other fork, towards the lake.

A grin. "Think about it. What do raccoons do with their food, do you know? Before they eat?"

"The bluebird girls re blue like me..." In the distance

Siv answers "Oh that's easy, mum told me they wash everything and..." Her eyes widen "But if ye wash marshmellows, them being sugar, don't they... you know? Break up?"

Kerri nods. "And they're left looking at their own empty, sticky paws. It's not a very nice trick, but it does frustrate them enough that they often go elsewhere."

"That's something I learned when I was little, before my chrysalis."

SHe laughs "okay not nice, but funny"

"Yup." Kerri helps herself to a glass of lemonade and sips. "So, summer's almost over...how are you feeling about school coming up?"

"Excited.. so excited. " she beams "I like the DeBukes, but public school? Oh it'll be grand"

"Mmm...maybe it will. What are some of the things you're expecting?"

"Well, there will be the mean girls, who I'll both hate and envy until I realize they're the sad ones and I can be me and still have friend. There will be the grumpy burned out teacher, and he'll.. I'm thinking he, but could be a she, is ready to give up because no one listens to him, and he wonders if his time is wasted. He'll be cranky with me, and i'll think he's just mean to be mean, but it turns out he wants me to learn... and even as he hooks me on learning, I make him stick around for another year as he realizes he DOES make a difference." She says

Kerri grins and nods, listening. "Anything else?"

"Well, to hear Sylvi talk of it, homework that's over done to the point of redundancy.... " she says "And studying. Oh. I am hoping to meet boys, but sure Dagmar will make a comment about that anyway"

"Oh, you'll meet potentially-date-able people, no doubt of that. And you may well meet some who seem like they'd be good partners, but end up being swine...but you're savvy enough to figure that out quickly, I think. And always keep an eye out for the underdogs, the lonely ones...they often make the best Dreamers. But you know that already, too."

"Dad's taught me some... and mom's better at it than ithought she would be. I can't muse with a quiet touch" A bit admiring

"Well...not yet. I bet you could learn if you liked, but it doesn't strike me that now is the time for that. You're still going to do things the wilder way."

"Well, that's good as I am, you may have noticed, a wilder"

"Really? I'm shocked!" A grin and a sip.

"Well, it sounds like you've got it all figured out, already."

A laugh and she hugs her, "Missed you" then "But? I mean, I'm not daft. If ye have advice, I'd try to heed"

She returns the hug happily. "Well, not specific advice. I like your attitude, and I think that it will help that you have generous expectations. Just...be patient with yourself and those around you. Nobody's going to get it all right all at once, and everybody will make a mistake sooner or later."

"I'm thinking...maybe it would help if we say you lived overseas for a while? That might cover for some of the gaps in your pop culture knowledge."

"Well, I have been told I sound a bit Irish or Scotish"

"Yes, some of your turns of phrase...." She nods. "That might work. Or just that you were homeschooled up until now, which is true."

"The Geographically Untraceable Accent can get you far." Her eyes twinkle.

"mmm true. you think..." She pauses "You think I'll get teased a lot for it then?"

SHe's been eating and drinking between talk

"Possibly. I think it's more likely you'll be seen as 'exotic.'"