#rivervale_lodge

"Dumbass is fine by me" Jaymes says "by itself. Meaning, if you call someone here a dumb ass, it may not be a cussword, but that doesn't mean insults won't get folks in trouble."

Gerd nods "words matter"

"That's what I was saying" Vali points out.

"Yes, but Uncle Jaymes says it better" Siv points out

Vali grumbles.

Jaymes sips

"What if they are acting a dumb ass? I mean, it's not like calling somebody a c-..." She pauses, "Kerri doesn't like that one."

"No she does not" Vali nods

"Some people really are, though."

"Well, if hey're acting like one... decide if that's the best word to get them to stop acting like one I guess. Otherways might work better. No point in BEING a dumbass just to try to teach another Dumbass a lesson." Jaymes shrugs "that said, I get you. You like plain talk. And yeah, some times folks really are. "

"People will talk fancy so you don't see they're lying."

Vali says "Sometimes yes, but that doesn't mean all folks who talk fancy are lying."

"No..."

"But you can't trust them, neither."

Vali tilts his head "You may not want to visit sidhe courts when you're able. Fancy talk is considered good manners in most of them"

"I did okay at the one. With Akanthea."

BOW your heads, Peasants!

"Yeah, you were very well behaved" Jaymes says "And when you get sained, you can go back again. If we get this bug guy out of the way by then, you might even get to go alone or with a friend like Siv."

"I'd like that" siv beams

Grumbles. "That's still forever."

"Ah... Jaymes? the Chief, that is, Siv's mom, doesn't much... " A sigh from Vali "does not get along with the Countess there."

"Oh. Well, that's up to her then on Siv, but Dagmar will still be allowed to go." Jaymes says "And it's not forever. Just feels like it"

Siv makes a face as now she isn't sure SHE can go "But Vali, you like her, and she seemed interesting."

Vali chuckles "She is the very soul of interesting. But my liking her doesn't mean I'm going to get your mom to suddenly like her hon. Believe me, I tried"

"Why doesn't she like her?"

Vali sighs then says "HonestlY? Not sure all of the details. I think they got off on the wrong foot years ago. You'd have to ask the Chief, but it may have started when the Countess dated Count Hemlock. It was just a temproary thing"

Vali looks like he's tempted to say more

"And Hemlock is her 'liege,' right?"

"yup." Vali says

"So, like, does that mean she was jealous? She's married to Frank, though."

"My mom would not be jealous" Siv says. "Da's the only fellow for her"

Vali smiles "I believe that too, Siv. Not jealousy,maybe more... just rubbing each other wrong and taking misteps. First impressions are hard to break."

"I get that..."

"I can tell you this much, there are only five women in this world I would bend knee too. One of them is the Chieftain, and I am honored to serve the Baroness of Rivervale. The next would be Countess Akanthea. " He says "Both have their flaws, but each in their own way takes the weight of the Dreaming on their shoulders to try to protect those in it. "

Ack, Flee the Dread Sovereign

Siv squirms a bit

"I don't know how I feel about the idea of just.... promising to do whatever somebody says."

"How do you know they're okay?"

"That has always been the troll kith's dilemma, well a knight's dilemma too but... trolls are so bound to Oaths our very strength increases from them" Vali says not sounding like his usual joking selef 'there are oaths your lord is supposed to give back. But even then...things can go wrong. "

"Which is why I'm not allowed to make any Oaths yet?" An odd expression, and amber eyes flick over to Jaymes in his chair.