#rivervale_lodge

"And not one of you took French, yet Siv STILL shoots me suspicious looks." Vali says

"I'm not in a language this year, sorry. C'mon, Jaymes, I wouldn't miss THAT much... you could write a note?"

"In the first month?" Jaymes says and shakes his head "Pretty sure the other girls aren't getting time off either too."

She huffs. "But then I'd be doing something that mattered. I did good at the flood here. I was useful!"

"You weren't ust useful, you were great," Jaymes agrees, "But tht wasn't in the first month of school. If I find out we're overwhelmed, I may chnge my mind. But I need you here for more reasons than one. What if most of us are at the flood area, and it's just Vali. He might need help here."

"What'll happen here?"

Vali says "You never know. We might have to go rescue someone who forgot themselves. THAT has happened before." A troubled look

"Like D... like, yeah, okay."

"D?' Vali says "Is someone in trouble?"

"No."

"huh" Vali says but looks to Jaymes./Jaymes shakes his head at her, and the Beaumayn does not pursue

"Does it happen that often, people forgetting?"

"Is there a place for non-trolls to go? I mean, Symon visits... but, like, do they have a freehold somewhere where they can be Hearth or Storm?"

"Not as bad here as some places," Vali as a talker, tends to do that to open questions, "Rivervale isn't as banal as some places. Credit to the Chief for a lot of that. But it does happen now and then. And we always have to keep an eye on it."

Jaymes raises a brow, "Mostly others go the noble holds in other baronies, but anyone is welcome to restore themselves by the fire. Any fae. Right of Haven and rescue both"

"So if they live here, they go outside most of the time?"

"Well, the wwayburtons just come in when they're feeling low, trust me, you can hear Zane a mile away, talks almost as much as I do," Vali says "All they have to do to visit is ask."

Jaymes tilted his head, "Has Symon not felt welcome?"

"But I don't have to ask to visit, I just go..."

"Like, can't they be members?"

Vali pauses, "You mean... like, PART of the Lodge?"

"I guess? I mean, I don't have a job, but I... I belong, right?"

Jaymes snorts "Damn straight you do."

Vali ponders then, crouches a bit, though Dagmar's already so tall he doesn't need to much. "Dagmar, you're family. Now, if the DeBukes have made a counter offer, you need to tell us so we can match it." A lip twitch, then serious again "You are very much part of the Rivervale lodge. But... as for others? I'm nnot sure, it does seem to be all trolls, but that doesn't mean others are forbidden. For one thing, no one not a troll has ever asked. They're always welcome , and we'd die to protect any changeling in this fief."

"But..." She frowns slightly, a line between her eyebrows. "Do they know that?"

Jaymes grunts and thinks it over, "What do you think? You think not? You hve more non troll friends than I do."

"I... I don't think they do. I mean, if it's all trolls, it's easy to think that that's... it, you know? So why bother?"

Jaymes nods, "You want me to bring this conccern up to the chief, or do you want to do it?"

He appears to be taking her utterly seriously. He's not..waving it off, or ignoring it, or telling her she doesn't understand.

Her eyes widen.

Vali looks tempted to say something, but doesn't.

"Nnnnnooo... probably not. Probably shouldn't."

"I can tellyou from what I've seen, the Chieftain is accepting of all sorts. She cares for everyone in her fief, and while she's like me, kind of quiet, that doesn't mean she doesn't see them. But, if you think some folks don't know that they're welcome, maybe that's something we should work to rectify." Jaymes says, "I don't like talking to people, but I'll make sure to tell any non trolls in the area , if they're feeling down, to visit the lodge. You do the same?"

She nods. "Yeah, okay."

"Sometimes," Vali says "It does seem like Sidhe nobles holds are more diverse, but they also run a firmer hierachy, it's a trade off." Vali says"And I can tell you, Tiffany , my girlfriend, pure pooka breed, she's quite comfy when she visits...well, the chairs are a bit tall for her." He winks

Another nod, and she chews on the cuticle of her thumbnail - a persistent habit.

"It's good to mention these concerns," Jaymes says "I think if you asked folks who lived here over ten years they'd probably say nothing but nice things about the Chieftain. Vali tells me they're cheering her like crazy when we cream Tea Neck everywhere at Pennons." A look to Vali to be sure.//Vali nods "It's Brekke-O-Mania!" He flexes//Jaymes sighs "Sorry I asked, but don't you be sorry you asked. If younger fae didn't know that they're welcome, then she will want to fix that."

"Just... I mean, there's lots of not trolls at school."

"We asked them to come study, so that helps."

"Well, there you go, they've had Kerri's food, they'll not stay away after that" Vali grins.

"Food helps, sure."

Jaymes grunts "if their parents are okay with it, they can visit our house too...within reason." he's a private man.

Vali looks Very amused at the expression on Jaymes' face.

"Symon's already been here. And Sylvi and Siv." A shrug, as if those are all that matter.

"Well, let me know if you want others" Jaymes says but he looks a bit relieved.

"Not likely. I don't like too many people at once."

"You are the perfect kid, you know that?" Jaymes says

"You two are scarily alike at times" Vali chuckles

She snorts but her cheeks go a little purple and she smiles. "Ain't."

"Just because the kid has sense," Jaymes says