#rivervale_lodge

He is giggling, and slurping his juice. A bit of Syrup sneaks into Gerd's drink when she's not looking.

"But...!" Sylvi briefly considers protest, then decides against it. "Yes'm."

Olgar comes on down , dressed for the cold . He looks at his wife and daughter "Hey, great. Did you two forget what we got planned in less than a half hour? "

"More important than pancakes??"

He looks aghast.

"Didn't forget," Kerri assures. "But there was an army to feed. Siv, can I deputize you for cleanup?"

"Surely" Siv says happily

"I can rinse the plates." He offers.

"Just a sec, Dad...." Sylvi finishes rapidly. "Ready in just a sec."

"I do not think Hearth Kerri would wish for you to rinse with your tongue, Connor.."

He gives her a sad look. "They still get warshed after... but I don't like to waste the syrups, is all. I'm being TRIFTY."

Kerri and Sylvi both excuse themselves to get their coats.

Gerd looks at her ddrink, where did it go?

"You're being sticky." Frank points out to Connor.

"Very thoughtful, aye... but still."

Olgar has their coats ready, and hands it to them.

"Ondelae" Olgar says in mangled Spanish

Another huff, and he stacks the sticky plates instead.. though he does sneak any forgotten scraps of pancake into his mouth.. and a few into the dog's mouths... there is nothing left to scrape into the trash by the time they make it to the kitchen.

Siv says "Connor, I have to clean any mess.... " In her best Kerri tone "So if you beome the mess. I have to bath you. Is that what you want?"

"Yes, yes..." Kerri says to her nagging husband, but he gets a kiss too as they head out the door.

And the Davidson family has left the building.

"I'm HELPING." He responds in a hurt tone. And, he does help, the plates are neatly stacked to be washed, and as good as scraped of scraps.

"You are." Zara pads along. "I can dry?"

"Uh huh... I'm not making empty commentary here, Connor. I'll be asking myself 'what would Kerri do?' do, and I bet she would bathe you if you make yourself a mess" But she takes the plates and starts to wash for now "Oh Zara you're a guest. wouldn't be right to have you working"

Frank cleans his hands and brings his plate out to rinse as well. "Siv, I'm going on patrol. See you when I get back? Miss Zara, good to see you again. Connor, thank you for your help."

He beams at Zara, and appears to be watching her in anticipation. A wave for Frank.

"Yes, Dad " Siv says

"Shalom, Mountain."

"And thanks again, I can't wait to drive it"

"You could visit Scarsdale, aye? It is actually easier to drive than to trod, since there isn't a direct one. About, oh, 30, 45 minutes..."

"Mm. Wait at least till the snow clears, Siv." And with that, Frank is gone.

"Oho I could visit" Siv says, but then her dad points out the snow ban "Eventually" A sigh

His ears are perked, and he looks hopeful. "What's Scarsdale?"

"Where I live."

"Is it a Freehold? With a new fire to see and we can toast marshmallows?"

"I think you've met Uncle Hirim... but aye, there's a freehold there. Lots of nockers."

"It's where you need a grown up or near grown up to visit, okay?" Siv says "But maybe if Miss Zara's okay with it , one time when I drive there you could go with me?" An offer

"Can I ride with my nose out the window?"

She nods. "If you wanted to visit, aye. Mama would fill you up with cookies."

"Maybe" Siv says "Depends on behavior" Ah, this is how Aunt Kerri does it, find what folks want and hold it out as a reward? "But as you're a fine young man I'm sure that won't be a problem"

Zara dries dishes, guest or not.

He huffs and grumbles, but helps out.

But his ears DID perk up and his tail wag-wag-wagged when cookies were mentioned.

"thank you for the help, Zara I don't think you should but I appreciate it"

He tentatively watches Zara as they finish up, and asks, shyly, "Have you seen any books lately?"

"I have... oh, I don't think I have your Yule book with me. I must needs fetch it."

He perks up, looking relieved. "I knew you didn't forget."

Siv says 'So how did you two meet?"

"Oh, you shall like it, I hope... it's about a dog named Winn-Dixie, and his person..."

"On a marvelous quest through the winterlands of the fae... she was the knight and I was her stalwart companion, Donkey Hotie. And we tilted at windmills, which were actually cookies, and then we ate them."