#rivervale_lodge

"Yeah, I know. It's nice."

"He's nice."

"And you know he's not much of a smiler?"

"I guess he isn't, sure. Seems like that's... well, maybe a King thing? Frank doesn't smile much either."

"Maybe. Anyway, when Jaymes does talk, he talks about you, and most of the time he smiles."

Tove smiles

A touch of purple. "Dunno."

"Well, I do. He's a puzzle box sometimes, but I'm figuring him out." A bit of a smug look, then "Lord knows, he needs us to keep an eye out on him. He can miss things."

"Oh, yeah. Like, he means well, but he misses the most obvious things!"

"Some boys do that" A nod

"I'm glad he's mostly set straight, though."

"Took work" She says "Thanks for the help"

"It's... he likes you lots."

A blush

"I like when you're around, too."

Tove smiles , so much more easily than the two of them do, and she smiles now, "Thank you. Sometimes I worry I'm being a pest." A whispeer "But I like that you like my food as much as you do Kerri's. Puffs up my pride even though she's better."

"She ain't better." Stubborn defiance!

"Mmm well, let's say everyone has their opinions and leave it be. I do appreciate you like spices. Sometimes I think the others around here go too soft. Though apparently Olgar has this chilli that's supposed to burn holes in things."

"I bet he does!"

"Maybe I'll ask him ffor his reciepe and tweak it a bit. I might need a volunteer to let me test it out."

She raises a hand and flashes a grin.

"Bet we could make it so hot Jaymes'd cry."

"Might be fun to try" A wicked flick of her lips

"I mean, it wouldn't really hurt him."

"But it'd be fun, maybe?"

"Of course, and he might even like it" A nod and grin. "So..how's the birdhouse coming?"

"Oh! Pretty good! We're gonna paint them this week. I'm gonna give it to Jaymes, so it'll be blue."

"He likes Blue" She says "Now, what kind of wood are you using?" She herself being a wood worker is naturally curious.

"Just pine. The teacher says we aren't ready for cedar yet, but maybe next semester?"

"Well, I wouldn't want to overstep your teacher, but if you want some tips sometime, let me know?"

"OH! I bet! Because you do all that carving. Maybe you could show me how?"

"I'd like that," She beams, "Mind you, my tools are more old school than what you have at school. "

"Well, so? This is just, like, to do it. Not for class.:

"Then I think I'd love to show you a bit of what I know. My mom was fantastic, I'm...pretty good." A light tilt of her head, "Sometimes when I'm working the wood, I can remember my first lessons...how to work with the grains. What's hiding in the wood and how to make it peek out."

"What was your mom like?"

"Oh, well, I thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world, of course," A smile wistful, "A lot of trolls have white hair, but mother's was white and silver, she had this lock of silver that... right here.." She gestures, "It was beautiful, especially in the moon light. She had a way of smiling, like she had a secret all her own. And she could be so fussy when folks missed things after she thought she told them."

"She cared."

"So much" A nod "Her hands were strong and skilled. She was a true master of woodcarving, though she could also work in skimshaw. Dad would joke she did the work in the family, not that skalding is always easy. And for all her fussing, his voice would make her pause like she was bathing in his songs. I remember how happy she was when he sang just for her. It's how he wooed her I'm told."

"Scrimshaw is teeth, right?" Chin back on knee, thoughtful and listening. "He must have loved her very much."

"Teeth, bone, Ivory... and yes, he did. He wrote songs just for her, about her. " Tove sighs wistfully, "And she made so many wonderful things for him. I tried to learn from both."

"It sounds wonderful."

"It was" A tilt of her head "I think myself blessed. I lost her too soon, but at least she was with me for a time. I hope her next life is a happy one, she deserves it."

"Maybe you'll meet her again? Frank told me his one student - the one with the wings? - she found her whole family from before."

"Maybe," She says "but I am very lucky to have others in my life now too. My father still with me, all my new friends. Jaymes. You. " A pause 'heck, I even like the dogs"

"Who doesn't like the dogs?

"I knew one fellow who didn't. He found them smelly and messy."

"Sounds like a jerk."

"He was a sourpuss" She sighs "I think as rule, I don't trust folks who don't like any kind of animal. Shows a lack of empathy. "

"Yeah. Animals are better than people."

"They certainly judge less," She says then smiles, "Even if Oak is a big furry baby about belly rubs."