#rivervale_lodge

"There they go," Vali says as the ship takes off. "Party time."

Gerd sighs "I never get to have great adventures" Then "Can I go to firnost?"

Vali looks at her "AAABSOLUTELY not" A fluttering of his eyes

"Besides, don't you have a book report?" He reminds

"Ack!" She says " I forgot" And races up the stairs.

Kerri watches the girl go. "I'm impressed. You only needed to remind her once."

Vali chuckles "She thinks since I'm now a teacher, I must know all other teachers everywhere."

A grin. "I remember thinking that way. And being astounded whenever I saw my teachers outside of the school building, having non-classroom lives."

"Yeah," A chuckle "I went to a gaming store the other day, the way the kids acted you would have thought I was part of a raid."

She joins in the chuckle. "How does it feel to be the spectre of authority?"

"Fortunately I have good role models," He admits "Jests and jibes aside, though those sometimes serve me well, I've learned how to set my gaze to 'someone is in trouble now and you don't want to be that person' when I need to in class. At the stores and out and about? A bit jarring. Got one or two guys who decides to get lippy and I wonder why then I realize it's like oh god. to him I'm the old man that he gets points for standing up to. " He shakes his head, "I think maybe it's good I spent some of my earlie wilder years with House Beaumayn."

"You mean, because of the ability to hold your tongue?"

An amused look "I was thinking I got away with more actually. Also, the chieftain and you nd Frank had enough headaches without me circa 14 o so deciding 'you're not the boss of me'. This way I can tell others I was an angel and they'll take my word for it."

"Ha. Well...as long as it serves you, one way or another." She finishes wiping down one of the long tables.

He helps clean up if she lets "You're in charge, but what we're thinking is Lut and Tig will take some longer ranged patrols, then swap with me. The Dogs stay close. But you'll have warriors available no matter what. Might take Nadeen on a short patrol. She needs to learn the obligge part of noblisse obligge"

Kerri nods. "That all makes sense, and yes, Nadeen needs exposure to that part of leadership. And it gives her a chance to take that sword of hers off the mantle." A tinge of disapproval about the weapon.

"SHe's really pushing for Whispermourn" He sighs "frankly I find the thing ugly, on it's beautiful craftsmanship, but a profiling sword? geez"

"If it only warned her of sluagh nearby, that would be one thing. But the pain it causes Symon...." She shakes her head.

"Yes," He says "I admit, I don't trust some sluagh. Had one try to bug Gerd once. But 'some' ain't all and difference in culture is no reason for universal hatred. It's a shame, Varich might have a lot to offer if they could get over that. Maybe Nadeen will eventually.. I don't know, lose the worst of that bias if not all"

"That might be much to ask of her, Vali, given her house. And she doesn't seem particularly conflicted by it...only inconvenienced about our 'unreasonable' strictures on her weapon."

"You're probably right." he sighs "I need to remember the Chief has respected some of my own House's...codes and tolerated them." A look at Kerri, "Let me know if you ever want to be hated by Dark Forces and be plagued by visions you don't always understand. We're always hiring"

"Quite the recruitment package." She grins, but also gives him a look. "You doing okay, Vali?"

"old burdens, with new hopes" he smiles "Tifffany and I don't always see enough of each other but it's great when we do. I see things , glorious terrible things I can't share for fear of making it worse. Made friends here. Sometimes my job makes me nuts , othr times its very rewarding. But my agent wants a new book yesterday"

"Teaching, and writing, and living this life with its obligations, and raising Gerd...you're not exactly taking the easy route, Vali." Kerri nods. "But I'm glad you and Tiffany sorted out whatever was going on before. You two are an absurdly adorable couple."

A grin "It's almost sickening... and she doesn't take TOO much of my BS. I never thought that would be something I wanted.. no, needed in a woman. Weird huh? Ego Checker is not what was written on my list of sexy traits top 10" A nod "Tiffany, if I understand her, thinks I should write something set up in a Pseudo France set up for my next book. You know, kill two birds with one stone. I was thinking splitting up my life a bit more, but she miht be onto something"

He explains the ideas Tiffany has suggested, and asks the Hearth's input in fiction, what she thinks is a better pitch.

And ..it might be enough to make both stop worrrying about a ship in the Jersey sky.. for awhile.

(End scene)