#rivervale_lodge

"I'm like the puppet. Maybe one day I'll be a real boy. I just got too many strings." He dolefully tugs at an ear.

"Oh, I think a few more stirs and you're done, Nadeen. Connor, you'll help me with the cider, okay?"

"...oh."

"In fact, fetch the jug from the refrigerator, please."

Nadeen makes a face as her escape plan fails

He gives Nadeen a concerned look - unhappy? Oh, no.... but obediently goes to fetch the jug. "Next time I can help stir, okay? I like the smell, it smells like a warm hug on a cold day."

"He's a sweet boy" Nadeen comments about Conner, "So amibable"

"It does." Kerri agrees with Connor, then she looks over at the pan. "There, that looks about right. Thank you, Nadeen. Eden, can you very carefully pour the cocoa into the mugs? Oh, Dagmar, the marshmallows are in the thin cabinet there."

Eden nods "I'll hardly drip any venom at all"

"Gotcha." Marshmallows, she can do!

Eden seems pretty deft for someone who was freezing earlier.

"Connor, the small pot from that cabinet there. Yes, the red one, see? Bring it to the stove, please."

Nadeen looks about, "Does this lodge have hand lotion?"

"wjat do you need lotion for?" The trolless shakes a portion of mini-marshmallows into each mug.

"There's balm in the jar by the sink. A little goes a long way."

"Thank you, Dame Kerri" a look back at Dagmar "To keep my hands looking nice. I don't want calluses" She moves to get the ointment

"......... from a spoon?"

"One can never be too careful. When the time comes for my marriage of political alliance, the groom I am engaged to may have a desire for a maiden with perfect hands. It's advantageous"

Eden laughs "oh that's hilarious, that. wait, she is joking right?"

(Assuming Connor brought the pot over...) Kerri pours a good amount of cider into the pot on the stove, then shows Connor how to add just the right amount of cinnamon. "A fresh wooden spoon for you, and now you get to stir while it warms. Try not to let it boil...let me know if it starts to bubble at all."

"Uhg - marriage? That's years away..."

"Well, I get sained first, obviously" She agrees, and to her credit is just using a little of the lotion as requested

"Political alliances through marriage are often common in sidhe courts," Kerri says, her voice carefully neutral.

The salve is creamy and smells lightly of lavendar and...something...wonderful and earthy.

"Butt that's always the bad way a movie starts... like... the princess always is set up with a jerk. Like Jasmine."

"I have a say in it, Dagmar... the sexses are equal among mostk ithain, sidhe included"

Nadeen then adds "Besides, no Varich can marry for love"

"Varich can't fall in love?"

"We cannot swear the oath of true hearts, because of the ...machinations of a kith I will not name"

"Cimmanon... cinnaminny..minnin-non...." He hums quietly to himself as he shakes some into the cider pot... and then leans over and shakes some into the nearest cocoa mug as well.

Nadeen sighs with a bit of frustration

"Hunh."

"But you can fall in love?"

Eden for her part sighs "All men are jerks everywhere and I only generalize because it's a safe way to go through life"

"Well, Connor, I don't know if anybody is going to want cinnamon in her cocoa...?" An offer to the others, and possibly a distraction from the conversation.

"Oh. Well, I can lick it off, maybe?" He sticks out his tongue helpfully. Then, curiously, shakes some cinnamon onto said tongue.

He makes a face - another face - expression twisting up oddly, and then gives a mighty sneeze!

"Oh jeez, Connor..."

"It's gub!" He says, eyes streaming, and offers her the cinnamon shaker.

"No! Oh, Connor, don't...."

Kerri takes the cinnamon from him, and turns to Dagmar. "Pour him a glass of water, please. Connor, rinse your mouth out and spit into the sink." She takes over cider stirring.

"is he okay?" Nadeen has forgotte nabout her hands

A cough, and he gives a grin. A brown-toothed grin... and then makes another face, his tongue working like a pup with peanut butter stuck to the roof. "Bleh... bleh..."

Dag obeys, promptly getting said glass.

"I hope so. Connor, cinnamon can be very bad for you if you inhale it. The little bit you had should be okay, but please don't do that again. And...I'll be happy to try my cocoa with cinnamon."

Vali comes in looking a bit glum

He looks a bit nervous at the presumed scolding, but then his tail wags a bit as she offers to try it. Taking the water from Dagmar, he gulps it down obediently.

(...well, Kerri did tell him to spit it out...)

(Spitting is a dirty habit!)

She picks up an unclaimed cocoa mug.