#rivervale_lodge

"Right. Shower here, cuz you're kinda gross..."

"THEN home."

A smirk "Only kinda huh?"

Dogs bark, not with 'hey stranger' but excited happy 'we know this guy' sounds

"Only kinda. None of that is yours, right?"

"Well, I got healed so some of it yeah..got a shot through the chest... mostly healed up. When I get the armor off I'll show you the wound. Kind of looks like a starburst"

"That... that doesn't sound very healthy. Good thing you promised. Go. You smell bad."

"Hmph, okay okay," And as they go into the lodge, Vali greets him. He grunts a hello to Vali, nods, makes motion indicated he's good. .and goes on up to use the shower here.

Vali watches him go then looks at her "Wow. He almost got chatty"

"That's normal?"

"Maybe it's just with me but he's on the tight lipped side." Vali shrugs

"Well, that's every troll, comparatively. You're kinda talkative."

"Guilty as charged" He admits.

"Glad everyone made it home."

"Well, not litterally yet. the others are still at the farm" He says "And.. there's the squad at the mortal side mission" Vali's smile dies a gain "Tiffany's on that one"

"Oh... well, they're gonna be okay, too. That's... Dirk, yeah? Tif... Lut and Tig?"

"Dirk's with them, so is that Earl artist guy."

"Well, Tiffany is smart."

"She must be, she's dating me" he smiles

She sticks out her tongue at him.

"Probably what she would say too"

Jaymes comes out wearing a spare sweater and pants, now clean, "What news, Vali?"

"I was about to ask you the same" Vali says "I mean, it's great to see you but... Geez, a shower and you still look bad. Dagmar, could you get your dad a drink?"

A brief frown, but she jogs off to get a beer.

"Thanks" Both men say

She's missing something, she knows she is. It's enough to make a FOMA chimera appear

maybe

Ear to the door, listening...

"...pretty badly..." "...gonna be some grieving...." "...seemed shaken...." "Kids here ..." "been great..." "...tell Sylvi?"

She returns... with TWO beers!

(And a Dr Pepper)

They take the beers "Thanks, Dagmar," Her father says and pats a chair near him if she wants, then "Now... what's this about a ratbat?"

She sits down next to him. "It was in McGillicudy's basement!"

"Well, now I feel guilty. leaving you to McGillicudy" Her father admits "She as sour as ever?"

"She's the worst, as always."

"Gerd apparently enchanted her again" Vali sighs "I think she's hoping to salvage her."

"Gerd is way too optimistic."

"mm seems like a waste of glamour to me, but that explains why the lady saw the ah..batrat" Jaymes nods

"True."

"Yeah, gonna be funny to see Siv's reaction if it chewed on the ship ropes" Vali sips

Jaymes sighs "That may not be the only thing that's funny, not that I suggest we snicker. Vali, when she gets here you need not to laugh"

"Don't laugh at Siv? When doesn't Siv like a laugh?"

"When in the fight she got a bald spot." He says "I'm not sure she noticed. Heck, not sure her parents noticed."

Vali chokes "Ah.. a bald spot? "

"It's not big, like three inches wide" Jaymes shrugs "It'll grow back"

A snort.

"C'mon, that's FUNNY..."

"I'm going to have to laugh about it now"

Vali does chuckle

"And I'll try to leave it that." The Beaumayn says