#rivervale_lodge

"MISS KERRI, I'M MAKING COCOA." She announces.

Kerri brings a basket of laundry out, fresh from the dryer. "Making cocoa is fine, just clean up after. Hello, Nadeen, Eden....Eden, are you okay? You look frozen."

"i'm ffi/fine.." the girl shivers

"Snakes don't do November outside." A pause. "Where's the mix at?"

Dagmar asks, but she's already checking cabinets for the Swiss Miss.

Nadeen doesn't seem to release she's leaving the work to others.

Kerri fishes a sweater out of the basket and offers it to Eden. "One of mine, so far too large for you, but warm. Go ahead."

"The cabinet over the stove, Dagmar. And show Nadeen how to do it, would you? She may not know yet."

"ooooh thank you, new skin to molt into" The girl takes it "Very sorry to have shed here, Mrs Davidson ... I just found out I got outsmarted by a garbage disposal and I must plot my wrath"

"Do what?" Nadeen blinks

"Nadeen, can you fill up the kettle with water?"

"isn't that..boggan work?" Dubious

"A garbage disposal?" Kerri asks. Then she says, "Oh, Dagmar, this isn't instant...it's cocoa powder. Here, I'll show all three of you how to do it."

She gets out whole milk and pours it into a pan over low heat, handing a wooden spoon to Nadeen. "Stir gently, just keep it moving or it will burn."

"You don't need hot water?" Uncertain.

If she heard the boggan comment, she gives no indication.

"Nope, not water...good whole milk, cocoa powder, and sugar. So...Dagmar, fetch mugs for all of us. Me included, I'd like to try what you make."

"I.." Nadeen stirs "Am I being punished for something?" But she stirs

"Hunh..." Intrigued, but she goes to get double-handfuls of mugs.

]
Eden says "I should sit on my ass while they work" She starts to rise, rolling up the way too long sleeves

"So is this why it always tastes fancy here?"

"If by 'fancy' you mean 'made with love'? Yes. And Nadeen, you're being taught how to do a special thing that others will be impressed by and appreciate you for. Consider it a bonus skill."

Kerri has Dagmar measure out the cocoa into a bowl, and has Eden measure out the sugar and add it to the cocoa.

"I hope to have servants for this one day" Nadeen says then realizes perhaps this might be seen as rude "Who I will appreciate for their bonus skills"

"Well, someday, perhaps, but that is not now." Kerri doesn't seem at all upset by the comment. "Is the milk steaming yet?"

"Lady Sparrow didn't have any servants before Colton, and I don't think he does servant things. He's a squire."

Eden mixes things in "Of who much is given, much shall be asked, and somehow they'll still get all the really big tax breaks"

A little laugh at Eden, then to Nadeen she says, "We all serve here, Nadeen, but we serve each other. Whatever is needed to make another's role easier, we try to make that happen for each other."

Nadeen sighs but works "It's steaming"

"I don't think fledges have titles, anyways."

And Nadeen nearly spills what she's holding

"I have a title, I just don't know it yet" explains a horrified Nadeen

"Careful," Kerri warns.

"Dagmar, slowly add the mix to the milk...just tip the bowl part way, and tap it so a little goes in at a time. Nadeen, keep stirring, please.

"As to titles...they aren't relevant at the moment as all we're doing is making cocoa, right?"

A head pops around the door, peering in shyly. "Is cocoa?"

Eden says "So much for my dreams of being a bishop"

Dag taps with all the seriousness of a bomb squad...

"Eden, would you fetch a mug for Connor as well, please?"

He waves to Eden - more than just a hello, he seems intent on getting her attention. "Miss Slithers, please, you do know that the cocoa is my Absolute Favorite. Extra powder in mine, lots and lots. Just milk is icky and plain."

"Oh..." Eden looks down, "But isn't coco bad for mammals?"

Nadeen says "Oh, he's a pupy pooka, he can handle choclate yes?"

He tilts his head to one side, then the other, his ears flopping each way. He gives Nadeen a grateful nod. "Oh, yes. It gives my neck a nice warm hug."

"And makes my cheeks all rosey. Rosey red and lumpy. It's my favorite."

"I'm not poisoning anyone" Nadeen says "That's Daireann style"

"Oh! Of course, Connor, I'm so sorry. Is there something I can make for you instead of cocoa? Maybe some warm cider with cinnamon?"

"But he's not a real dog, he's a boy..."

His ears perk up and his tail starts to wag. But he pauses, seeing everyone already hard at work. "I can help though?"

"You can help with this" Nadeen offers the job SHE was doing

"And some boys are allergic to chocolate or milk," Kerri points out to Dagmar.