#rivervale_lodge

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After a certain Sluagh has gone to hammock, Vali helps himself in on a long night patrol. Someone got the work shift, and in this case, ti was him. he knows something's wrong- the kids weren't outside. When he makes it to the kitchen and sees Frank (possibly with a weapon still in his hand) Vali's sure of it

"I missed something big, didn't I?"

Frank nods. "Kids got the Bug Guy to attack Dagmar, and then they worked together to Chimerically kill him." Very very calmly.

"The kids got the Bug Guy to attack Dagmar?" Vali blinks, "Are the kids okay?"

Frank nods. "Not a scratch."

"Incredible... I saw..thought…" He shakes his head "My visions were way off ...even the hints said it wouldn't happen until after s..." realization "Siv was in on it. I can't always read Siv. " A tilt of his head "Are you Okay?"

A deep breath. "Yeah. I will be. They marched back in here with the guy, told us what they'd done." He shakes his head. "I want to strangle them -and- throw them a party. Which, you know... figures."

"I am, less and less looking forward to Gerd being a wilder" He admits and not for the first time, "I'm sorry, Frank. I know I'm not the best role model. I Had my quests as a childling and now wilders point to me and say 'see'. Yeah, I imagine you're shaken. How's the Chief doing? Please tell me she's not blaming herself for this as in how she should have somehow stopped this guy by herself before? It's getting near Samhain, you know better than any how hard she can be on herself"

Another heavy sigh. "She picked the guy... Simmons, now... up and carried him out to a mundane setting away from the Balefire to sleep it off. I haven't talked to her, but I will." A shrug. "Just as well they don't know too much about my wilder years. Although, Siv knows some, Sylvi probably guesses, and I just told Symon a bit."

"Symon is a good kid. He's going to save the day more often that he's going to be comfortable admitting. Whose day, I'm not sure about." Vali sits and gets out a drink, "I take it Gerd and Connor, the younger kids, were asleep when this happened? They don't know their older 'sibs' are big damn heroes who also are probably grounded?"

Frank nods. "Yep. On all counts."

"Well, that buys me time to give Gerd the 'yes they were very brave BUUT' story" A nod "Okay. You know, I'm only an Uncle... and..assistant to the mountain and patrol guy #3 but maybe it's time to let them do more if they're going to do it anyway? Direct them if we can't block them?"

"Yes. One reason we sent them out on paired patrols and to Caer Falken. But I suppose it's time for... more. Clearly, they can handle it."

"I will talk to Brekke."

Vali smirks "They ambushed a sluagh sorcerer. It's.. that's something."

Frank does not appear to appreciate the smirk, but he nods. "It certainly is."

"Sorry" the smirk fades but a thin smile can't help but remain "I can definitely feel the party urge. Frank, there's a reason I'm late from patrol."

"Yes?"

"I had a vision, a powerful one...and I'm wondering if it came at the same time Bug Guy went down. I saw a great door way in the middle of darkness, and it was blocked by a teeming mass of corrupted scarabs. The door could not be opened. Then a bolt of thunder struck the swarming mess and...the way was clear, the door opened, and when it did... I was blinded by a light. No sight. I...only heard a woman's laughter. I wouldn't call it sinister but it wasn't necessarily warm." A frown "I suppose I sshouldn't have told you that, but... it might be related, and you're the Mountain so spiritual matters and matters of glamour and all"

He nods slowly. "Thank you for sharing it with me, Vali."

He thinks about something, then says "Simmons had a journal on him when he was captured. It's in Russian and English, and I don't read Russian but there's references to a Day Maiden and the Return of the Sun."

"We'll look at the journal together. Tomorrow. Ok?"

"Merte" Vali says at the symbolism "OK. Get some sleep Frank. I can take watch of the lodge tonight. I won't let any threat come here"

Frank nods. "I know you won't, which is why you get to keep the porch watch. I'm waiting for Brekke."

Vali smiles at that "Fair enough." He pours himself a cup of coffee, nods, and heads to the porch "And congratulations on raising a brave daughter..." A Pause "And sympathies on raising a brave daughter"

Frank gives him a dour look. "Same to you."

Vali sighs at the crunch crunch "Connor , it's bed time"

"Connor, it's way -past- bed time." Frank corrects.

Frank stands, all 9 feet of him. "Go now, Connor. Please."

He peeks up from over by the pantry, where he had slipped in as Vali headed out. "But we're wading ub for bregg." Hastily swallowing something.

"I am, Connor." Gently. "I want to talk to my wife. You go on upstairs now, we'll see you in the morning."

OOC Gotta sleep.

"I'll get him" Vali scoops Connor up, "One bed time story then you go to sleep, and I go to porch"

"Thank you. Good night." Frank retakes his seat and his vigil.

"Whup!" He arfs in surprise at being hefted, but is carried along willingly, as he crunches the last of his milkbone. "Night Mountain!" He calls cheerfully after him, then claps a hand over his mouth and whispers, "Niiiight mountain." If any tension or grumpiness, it seems to have washed past him like water on a duck's back.

Vali will tell a story and decide not to mention to Jaymes that the boy was breaking into the milkbones again. The story involves, of course, a pooka, who had to make sure kids got medicine during a plague in Alaska long before air travel was easy. And that Pooka's name was Balto

He listens, wide-eyed and interested, until his eyes inevitably droop off into sleep.

Vali tucks him in, and smiles 'cute kid'

and then heads down to watch the porch

(End scene)

*****

Dagmar approaches the truck to head home with some..concern. Suddenly she doesn't have Sylvi, or Siv, or even Symon to back her up. Just her, and Jaymes, and ...Jayme's had a whole night to get mad if he wants.

Quiet is safer, right? Don't bring anything up, maybe... well, maybe this can be without incident.

Jaymes opens the passenger door for her to get on in. He's not saying anything either.

She clambers in after depositing Flyswatter in the back.

He nods, and gets into his own side, and drives. The drive is short, of course, and wordless. It is nice to see the Dutchfarmhouse (Dagmar's HOME with a Room all her own...at least, it should be still right?) . On the front porch is Tove and her father Torin. the old grump is petting racer. Tove standing, is holding Twobit, who almost launches from Tove's hands to go greet Jaymes

Dag steps down, cautiously looking between the older trolls.

Twobit goes rounds Dagmar's feet to say hello before climbing or trying to up Jaymes' leg who pets her. "Hey Twobit. " //Tove moves straight towards Dagmar and looks her over. As if expecting a wound that had been hiding to reveal herself. She looks soooo rleieved and ...was she crying? her eyes are puffy ish