#rivervale_lodge

She watches. "Does Dad look angry to you? I don't think he's angry...."

"Oh fine... " Nadeen sighs "The patterns aren't helping me, but your father has his usual murderface instead of his REAL murderface if that helps. And yes, I saw him mouth the words 'borders' and 'watch out for McGillcuddy'"

"Heh. Useful murderface."

Gerd smiles "He does kind of have murderface"

Sylvi relaxes just a bit. "Okay. THAT helps, yes."

"I need one of those." She tries a scowl.

"I've seen you mad, Dagmar. You've got one."

"Yup." Gerd agrees.

"Ok, but, like, for when I am not that kinda mad but just annoyed?"

And that's when the two guys head to the door and open it, her father's voice can be heard "I can only go to the raths right now and no I don't think I'll send you , that's your liege's right. Sides, we need help here too"

Sylvi ducks away from the window as they approach so she doesn't get caught staring, and tries to look casual as she grabs a seat nearby."

Colton beams when he sees her, and it would appear he thinks she hasn't noticed him "Hey, it's me."

"HALT, who goes there!?"

Olgar stops "What the... " even as Colton steps back respecting the rules

"Announce yourselves" Gerd says

"Uhm, Squire Colton?" Colton says unsure how much detail to go into.

Olgar snorts "Olgar, acting Storm, king of no one in this room is above a chewing out unless my wife is in there"

"So you say..." An outsized squint.

Gerd whispers "Now he's kind of more murderface"

Sylvi has never been happier for Gerd. And she waits for Gerd to let them pass.

"Yeah, I think you better let them in."

"Mmm.. " gerd supervises Then says "Well ,I don't know anyone who would want to be you except you so you must be you. Enter"

Dagmar snorts and grins.

Olgar pauses then runs fingers along his chin "Okay, even I buy that...but I worry about Vali's influence. Colton's with me"

"Okay, you can come into, Colton" Gerd says "make sure to tell your girlfriend her hair looks nice"

Sylvi laughs and goes to give Colton a hug as soon as he's approved. "Hi!"

Colton returns the hug, then smiling, adds "Nice hair"

"Thanks," she says with some irony, giving Gerd a look, then steps back slightly from him. "I didn't know you were going to be here tonight. You could have texted."

"Oh, your dad texted me and I thought, well he said he told you I might be over?"

Nadeen nudges Dagmar "Should we get coffee for the Storm pro tem?"

"He said he was going to invite you to help us out...that's not the same as saying that you're on your way right now." The last part is an accusation directed at her father, albeit a mild one. "Anyway..." A centering breath. "I'm glad you're here."

Olgar says "oops?"

Dag nods. "Sure... I think he likes it black..."

"You think I'll hate all things not bitter when I'm a grump?

Colton says "i'm glad you're glad. I'm not sure how long I'm here. My liege said I could have some time to myself. There's this really cool Dougal I'm going to meet. She's blind, well, to mortal stuff, but works in gold and silver smithing"

"This batch of thanes is a lot more cheeky than I recall the last one" Olgar mutters perhaps overhearing

"Mortal blind, but not chimerically blind? That's gotta be weird." Sylvi's still holding Colton's hand, and she tugs him towards the kitchen. "Come on, let me get you something to eat."

Nadeen chuckles "At least your hearing will still be good" straight faced

Colton is dragged into the kitchen

A short laugh. "Guess so!"

Fortunately, Jo has been brought out here, so the coffee is easy to get. Yes, Olgar does prefer it bitter now that you mention it

Olgar takes the coffee when it is offered, "Thanks, girls"

"AHem" Gerd says

"Thanks, thanes" he says and sips

"You're welcome, Storm."

"mmm" He drinks and looks out the window

Nadeen asks "Do ...do you think they'll all return? the odds..."

Her jaw juts out. "They're gonna be back soon."

"All of them."

Olgar nods towards Dagmar then looks at Nadeen "The trolls and allies of Rivervale have been breaking the odds for as long as I've known them, before I was part of them. Even the new comers like Jaymes have earned solid reputations and survived nightmare lands and broke out to tell the tales. I may tease Sir Frank and bust his chops, but he's survived things that no one should ever endure and came out on top. The Chief didn't get her nickname Shackle-Breaker because she crochets. And Clem? " A Long drink "She may be new to chief hood, but she's seen her folks through some serious trouble before"