#rivervale_lodge

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In the small hours of Tuesday morning, shortly after midnight, a teenager creeps down the stairs. She does't believe, she hasn't believed in years... but, well, if Dragons and Elves are real.. maybe, just maybe....

She knows the ritual - a glass of milk, two of Tove's cookies. The Barn does have a fireplace, swagged in garland (a bit more bedraggled after several covert attacks by Odin) with a collection of stockings - including ones for the ornery feline and TwoBit.

Treats on an end table, and Dagmar curls up on the couch to wait... and wait...

And maybe just to close her eyes for a moment......

when Dagmar wakes up, the glass of milk, and both cookies are gone, only the empty glass and some crumbs remain. there are presents too, a few just from here, and one marked "To Dagmar From Santa" and it looks quite flat.

Jingle Jingle...Twobit races by that morning with her fake little felt reindeer antler hat and bells

THAT awakens Dagmar. She sees the remains of the treat... but... maybe? "JAYMES! IT'S CHRISTMAS."

"It'll still be Christmas if we sleep in" He yawns from above

"But you gotta open stuff!"

There is definitely a new present there. Listed from Santa.

She eyes it. Picks it up. Shakes it. Sets it down. Picks it up again.

Tove rushes down pulling at Jaymes "Hurry"

"We're trolls,w e have Yule" Jaymes says as he's pulled out of his room

"But it's Christmas. I saved your presents."

"We're changelings, we get Christmas too" Tove agrees. She is wearing a green and white elf cap and a smile . She comes out, "Merry Christmas, Dagmar"

"Merry Christmas!" A look from the package in her hands to Tove... calculating, uncertain...

Jaymes enters in, wearing some gifts he got for Yule, large fuzzy slippers shaped like grizly bears

And then at Jaymes, looking for one of them to slip up....

She's not going to ask... she's 14, too old....

Neither seems to notice the present she's got in her hand

"So ..uhm how do we do this?" Jaymes asks

A huff, and.... "You gotta open mine first!" Two packages, wrapped in bright paper - one for Tove, one for Jaymes.

"Merry Christmas, Dagmar" Tove says "And thank you"

The first, of course, being a hand-made spice rack, stained chestnut, and full of little glass jars with blank paper labels. The other, a wooden toolbox, painted bright blue - "Jaymes" on one side.... and "DAD" on the other.

"Thanks, Dagmar" Jaymess says "Uhm.. Merry..." He smiles "Merry Christmas"

Tove is opening hers oh so carefully.

Jaymes gestures to the corner where a large box , a big one, with a bow on it is.

And he opens his first, though he smiles at the dad title, then "Hey, HEY, a toolbox. I needed one of these"

Dagmar waits to open hers, watching the pair of them open theres with a nervous grin.

"You made this? this is better than that stuff at most stores" Jaymes observes, "Sensible color too"

Tove fusses at him, "It's not a 'sensible' color, it's a beautiful color AND your favorite color"

"That too" he nods, but he does tap the side of his tool box, approving of the solidnature

"...Made it in shop..."

"Hope you got an A, you deserve it"

Tove finally unveils hers "oh, yes this is...it'll be just perfect for our kitchen here"

(Pause)

"You can fill it up with whatever spices you want, I figured, and yeah, I was thinking you could maybe keep it here if ypu wanted...."

Tove' smiles "I think that you figured right"

"I made that, too."

"I see that, you made sure it was solid enough atthe supports but not so much that it had tobe one piece so it's light enough to stay on the wall" Tove has helped her in her woodworking and is gld to see it paid off. "With hands as strong as yours, you could become a worker of the really hard woods."

"I want to try carving, too..."

"Sure, I could use the help actually" She says, "Now...seems to me someone here has some gifts of her own to open?"

"Oh, right!" She goggles a bit at the bounty. "Is there an special order?"

"That one" He grunts

Pointing to the big one in the corner

"Can do..." She retrieves, and tears into the wrapping.

It's not hard to guess there's a bike here! And not a bike meant for easy streets and paths! No this is a dirtbike! Air brushed paint designs of lightning bolts and stormclouds! The word 'THUNDER' in fancy script along one side. A matching helmet for safety.

"Holy sh-... I mean, that's awesome! Thank you!"

"Thought about a ten speed, but as much as you like to go off road and such... seemeed like something that could take dirt was better" Jaymes says