#rivervale_lodge

Lucia is in a bad mood. Her father and mother think the cheerleading is nice, but it better not get in the way of the restaurant business.

Snow the monkey has been pestering for bananas

Odin has opinions! Twobit is sure that barking at the snow will clear a path.

Browndog does not want to poop outside! It's cold ground out there!

...Tove finds bananas going missing.

Oak poops outside, and seems amused when folks 'find it' under the snow later

Tove raises a brow, has suspicions, but makes sure to buy just a few more bananas

Sylvi takes her time enjoying the letter...the look of it...the feel of the paper...

She stands it up on her dresser as decoration.

But she shows it to Sally Mae, first.

Sally Mae says "Okay, that's classy" An admission

"Do I...am I supposed to write back? My handwriting's nowhere near that nice...."

"That'ss okay, neithere is his," She winkss "Notice, his name is signed, but I suspect he had this professionally done. Which is fine, but you don't have to make it just as nice ...unless you feel you want to be classy back? I can help transcribe for you? " her hand writing is very good "And technically one corresponds back. As flowery as you want. "

"Oh..." She looks at the card again, and mumbles, "I just texted him an invite to mine. I've got zero class."

Sally Mae huffs and takes a free hand that isn't holding a card "Sylvi Davidson, you are a very classy young lady. I have seen how you care for those who look up for you and try to do right by them. Now I remind you, Squire Colton has access to a Scribe. Yes, he went an extra mile, but for him it was a clear path. And Texting is fine for this day and age. Heck, my elders still don't understand why 'I' prefer texting. Now do I have no class? "

"I...um...no?" She's not sure how to answer the negative. "I mean...you have class. And...okay...um....yeah, could you help? I think I have some stationery that my mom got me forever ago."

"Then, let's get to work" A smile . It takes only moments, and Sally explains all the things you can do. A drop of perfume, hearts here in there- and... "Of dcourse, there are ways to flirt in prose. Or even make him wonder if you're teasing. Saying "I really enjoyed your letter, thank you, of course I'll come" is fine. saying how you were 'stirred' or must admit a pleasant warmth to imagine his voice in your ear? Put ideas in his head in a way that you can pretend you never did such a thing"

Sylvi smiles, and colors, "Yeah, but I don't want to get too corny. Like... is My heart thrilled to receive your invitation too much?" She shrugs with embarrassment.

"Is it true?" Sally Mae asks

"Um...kinda?" She thinks. "Yeah, it is. It was a surprise to get a letter, and then to see how nice it looks, and that it's from him...it did make my heart race, kind of. Y'know, it made me feel...special."

"Then it is absolutely not too much, and even if you're also hoping to get a rise back? Still not too much. You'll find your own pacing.. flirting is part of the fun person to person, no shame in a bit in letters. " She writes 'My heart thrilled to receive your invitation' in very fine cursive. "If you want help with your handwriting, let me now. Aunt Agnes was a stickler. But for now, I will happily be your scribe, and will tell no one of the contents unless you give the go ahead." A crossing of her heart

A sincere sigh of relief. "Thanks, Sally Mae. I couldn't really go to my mom for help with this...that'd be weird. And I don't know if I can ever get my writing as graceful as that," she indicates the page with the script flowing across it, "but if you could help me, I'd like that. They never taught us cursive in school. Mom taught me, but I never really kept up with it." She looks at the page. "So.... It would be my honor and delight to join you at your school's dance..... " She stops. "Um...then what?"

"I know what you mean about it being weird. I was related to almost every girl on the farm remember? Only so many outside sources." Sally Mae looks it over "Well, mention maybe that you missed him? "

"Oh! Oh, how about... It has been far too long since last we danced. Is that good?"

"It's lovely" She approves and writes it down "Should I add 'and I miss it greatly' or for something more flirty something about hoping to learn new steps? or leave it be?"

A little catch of breath, and she colors again. "Um...I like the new steps thing...."

She writes it in, after finding just the way to put it in "See, this is what letter writing was made for, it's like a dance itself. Sly steps and close brushes"

"It really is," Sylvi says with a bit of wonderment. "I always thought it was more like a chore, but...wow. Flirting in text is really different. It's fun, but this is...I don't know, more intense. And then not knowing when he'll get it." She bites her lip. "It's not too much?"

Sally mae looks at Sylvi, "you mean are you making promises? Hard to say, just like words spoken, words written are subject to interpretations. BUt if he is a gentleman, he will understand just because you agree to one kind of dance, say a waltz, doesn't mean you're feeling ready for a tango. Maybe slip something in there about that? Sometimes, when I am flirting with a fellow in writing, I describe myself as a Lady, with a touch of flourish to empathize the word"

"Mmm...." she wrinkles her nose at that. "I don't think that's my style. No offense. No, I think...I think that's enough. Short, but not too short. So I should sign..." she reaches for the pen.

"Nothing to apologize for" She hands the pen over

Sylvi takes it, creates a neat but flirty little heart where others might right "very truly yours" and then signs her name carefully and neatly. As with his invite, the name does look a little different from the rest of it, but that's okay. "Can you do the envelope?"

"I can" She says gently "Technically this is good hearth training for me. And let me know about those cursive lessons if you want..."

A knock on the door downstairs?

"Oh, I better get that, I don't think anybody else is around. Thanks again, Sally Mae!" She clatters down the stairs and goes to answer the door.

"I'll get that envelope while you see who it is"

Sylvi goes down, seeing the dogs are ready... and opens the door

A strapping teenager already growing into the man he's destined to be, the lankiness of yesteryear filling out to the more muscled figure of tomorrow with solid shoulders and strong arms. While he's still not able to grow a beard, a light patch of fuzz on his chin indicates it's thinking the idea of becoming real facial hair and he's got a masculine jaw. His shaggy brown hair is kept under a tractor hat of green. His eyes are gray. He's rather tall for his age and wears weather appropriate garb, a simple short sleeved t shirt and working jeans when he can. To Fae eyes? his Kith's birtrhright makes him seem even more muscular with light gray and blue skin, with his eyes more a metalic gray, and his hair gone full true blue! His voile doesn't change much from his clothes, except his hat which instead of being just green, sometimes seems to have cave paintings of buffalo run across it.

"Hello," he says tipping hat, "my name is Bix DeBuke. I..oh, hey, Sylvi. You probably don't remember me. I was more in tractor repair than riding it"

Sylvi looks at Bix. "Oh, hi! Yeah, I remember you, a bit. Come on in." She gestures for him to come into the Lodge.

"Is there something wrong at the Farm?"

"no no... Joanie got chewed out for using water for the radiator of one of the trucks.... but well, she had that coming. Otherwise it's fine. I'm here to pay my respects to my new teacher"

He does come in, and even takes his hat off. He's not sure if he should or shouldn't per se so he's playing it safe

"Your...what? Who's your new teacher?"

"Mountain Frank" He says "He's going to teach me to be a Mountain.. well 'of the Mountain'. You didn't know? Huh. Mountain Emmit has other students plenty and he's swamped so... he asked Mountain Frank to take me on. I hear he's a trucker! What's the model? I didn't get a look. Is he local? or cross country? " Seems to find 18 wheelers amazing

Sally Mae comes down the steps and then says "Bix? You're the new student? Didn't know you were that interested in arts and cantrips"

"I..." Sylvi starts to answer the barrage of questions, but then Sally Mae arrives. "I didn't know Uncle Frank was taking on a student!" Welcome to Rivervale then, Bix. Hey, can I get you something to eat or drink?

"Well, you know me, Sally Mae...I can figure out how anything runs, maybe even Cantrips. And if it doesn't run smooth because of Finese, I'll take a hammer to Soothsa and beat fate into shape. " He flexes exagerated, but does look gratefuly at Sylvi "That's fine but you don't got to. I'm not here to mooch you know. I'll work for my training"

"Okay, well...then in that case, I don't mean to be rude, but I've got an errand to run. Got to get a letter in the mail." She smiles at Sally Mae. "Good to see you, Bix, and welcome again." Then she's heading up the stairs to get the letter, and soon again is hurrying down them and grabbing her coat and heading out the door, stamped envelope in hand.

"Nice to meeet ou again" Bix waves//Sally Mae says "You cannot 'hammer'Da'an, even I know that... and did you wipe your feet ? I don't think you did" //'Ahhh" Blush