#rivervale_lodge

"So you're saying I should have tipped the musicians" Dead pan

That gets an embarrassed laugh. "Well...maybe."

"You know, I'm glad it did happen, however it happened"

"Oh, totally! I guess I'm just thinking...that..." A deep breath. "I kind of want to go to the satyr event? But then I kind of think maybe it would be a bad idea...."

"Because we might give into what we both want to do, but not necessarily what we should do" He nod

Both embarrassed and relieved that he understands, she nods.

"...because it really is tempting."

"I.. mm yeah. " Finally he admits "Look, I'm Seelie... and honor tells me I shouldn't look for advantages like that... but hoping for love is also seelie too so..it's confusing. So I'm going to chicken out" He kisses her "And let you decide which and where we go to. And which ever you choose, I will not expect anything. It's like your dad said, this is a new frontier, to both of us"

"He...he said that to you?"

HIS turn to blush "I shouldn't have said that, but yeah. he... said he had been hard on me because fathers are the patriarch in Patriarchy and he is protective of you... but that is a bad thing when it holds you back when you feel and think you're ready. He might not agree, but he has to accept, but he wanted me to remember the same.. and said you would have to remember the same about me and..good luck, but wilderhood is a new frontier, and a little caution is prudent but he'd be lying to say he was prudent when he was a wilder."

"Weird thing is..he actually gave me advice I think MY dad might have tried to give if he were still around" A nod "That was nice of him"

Sylvi seems dumbstruck, stuck on processing that speech.

"Okay, are you mad at him ,or me, or both?" Bracing

"I...no!" She shakes her head. "No. Not mad. Just...surprised, I guess. Shocked? But...it's good. That's...wow, really good." She slips her arms around him and rests her head on his shoulder. "I'm glad he respects you like that, Colton. Respects us like that."

"you're glad, I'm stunned. I thought he wanted my head over the fireplace"

"Yeah. I mean...when he suggested that you could come and help while the others are away, I was really surprised, but...wow...."

"I hope this doesn't mean you're going to find me less appealing if I've somehow got your dad's approval? I can totally piss him off it'll make me sexier? all I ask is for a head start on him" MIGHT be joking

She laughs. "No need to be the bad boy, you're plenty sexy. And I prefer you alive."

"I'm much sexier alive" He agrees

"Well, I should hope so!" She smiles.

The dogs bark impatiently

She sighs and pulls away. "We should go."

"Yeah" he sighs "Your mom will worry" He takes just her hand though he'd like nothing more than to kiss her again.

She squeezes his hand as they walk, though she's thinking about kissing him, and....well....just thinking about kissing. Mostly.

He seems to read the thought..and as they get to the door and takes one more.. just one.

Yes, just one...but it's a nice one...

...and then they go inside.

It is. they do.

(end scene)