#rivervale_lodge

A frustrated looking flick of hair from his face, which falls right back down. “Wish Dagmar could go, but I get it. Trods aren’t safe yet.”

He pauses, looking over at Kerri contemplatively. “Couldn’t you?”

Vali raises a brow at that

He shakes his head and continues, “After all, you practically run this place, even more with Chief away. You could probably ban me for life or something.”

Still looking at him. "I could threaten you. I could bully you. And yes, I could find a way to ban you. And...none of those would be right." She sighs and looks away. "Do what you're going to do, Symon."

"Symon, are you getting at something?"

He gives Vali a shrug. “No, I don’t actually think she’d black mail me. Too seelie for it. But I’d not want The Rover mad at me, and he’s bound to take her side. Contractually obligated.” A flick of his eyes around as if to check to see if Olgar IS lurking. Not afraid, mind you... just a healthy respect.

Her eyes flick back to him. "Careful. Do not disrespect my husband by suggesting he doesn't have his own mind." The glimmerings of angry Kerri are showing.

"Also, he's far more dangerous on the silver than he is in the lodgge, not that I'd piss him off either way. Symon... about earlier? Is Dirk right? did the chief or one of us say something to offend you?"

He goes still for a long moment, not even breath moving his thin frame. As though he might vanish from view if he freezes. Eyes flick to Vali at his comment, and he manages to mutter, scarcely audible. “ent no ...isrespect. m’m.”

Vali nods "And yet, there's an answer missing. Come on man, you're one of us. when we wrong each other we try to amend."

She looks away again, but she's still frowning.

"Did one of us offend you ? " Vali says "god knows I've put my foot in my mouth"

He edges towards the lodge, almost imperceptibly. “Am I? Or am I a neighbor that can come by for tea, but you’ll still lock the door and warn neighborhood watch when out of town?” His voice soft, but tinged with bitterness. “At least the kids trust me, as far as I can tell. Pardon me.” And he slips away from the uncomfortable conversation, silent steps making him invisible once out of sight.

((They're in the Lodge...do you mean the door?))

"Oohboy..." He says

((Whoops. Sure!))

Kerri rubs the base of her horns. "Well...that's all just lovely, now...."

"Yup. the chief said something he took wrong. Mmm" then a look to Kerri "You okay? want me to get some aspirin?"

A pause. "No. No, I'm fine." Head high, some decision made.

"Hearth... " He notes the expression, then gentler "Kerri. you want to talk about it? Your expression looks on the certain side"

"I thought we kept her out of it, but she's getting pulled in, anyway. So...fine....she's likely to go with them. And so will I."

"Ah, Kerri? You're not ...I know things are a bit different in the Dreaming, but you're not a warrior by trade." Cautiously

"Nor is Symon. And yet...." she makes a wordless gesture in the direction the boy went.

"Yes, but symon's plan is to sneak. How is your sneaking?"

"Sylvi has Flopsy" He reminds

She frowns at him and folds her arms, irritated.

"Look, my nick name, 'the stealthy' was something of a punch line , at least at first. Now I'm stealthy by troll standards..which is to say still not that great. Chicanery could veil you.. I suppose"

"You're saying you think I'd be a liability."

A look away then back to her "In this mission? Yes. I think you might. It's still your call...but I'd be betraying a lodgemate if I didn't offer my own judgement. Disregard or do not, but I think it's the case."

She looks rafter-wards for a moment, making a frustrated gesture. "We were trying to keep her out of it, Vali!" She only remembers to keep her voice down at the last moment.

"I know." he sighs "Look, when I was a childling, I got into a quest into the sea of the dreaming...before it was the in thing I might add. And... I went. Barring putting me in a dungeon cell, it was hard to keep me and the other kids there. Was it dangerous? yes. But...the best you might be able to do is make sure she's got eveerything she needs to succeed."

"And.. maybe talk to her about it? offer to go along?"

"And if she says she doesn't want you along.. or She doesn't think it's wise, don't push?"

"Well, I can't very well do that last part, can I! Not if you think it's likely I'd put them at risk!" Frustrated to the point of pacing.

She sighs with exasperation. "Fine! Fine...." She shakes her head. "You're right. I know you're right. I wouldn't be able to keep her here if I wanted to, once she knows about this. I just...wish it weren't a thing to be known about."

"So do I. Look, we can fair fortune them before they go maybe?"

She nods tensely.

"And dross is a given"

Vali lowers his voice "And..there iso ne option, but I think the Chief would nix it if I mentioned it."

"And the kids would be furious" Still very low as he tries to make sur even a sluagh wouldn't hear it

That does get an interested look from her, and she moves a bit closer, glancing towards the stairs to make sure none of the childlings are coming down.

A whisper into her ear

"is there something saying a group of us can't cleear the path ahead of them, find the thing firs, leave it alone, and then they 'find it'?"

Oh, she looks very conflicted at that. "Vali...I adore that idea...but it seems the sort of thing that the Dreaming would have strong opinions about."

"Yeah, it might.." he admits "But if you asked me to, I'd do it. That lodge family talk isn't just for the young ones. I try to live it"

She sighs, thinking. "Let me....let me think about it, okay?"

'You're probably right, but it's...well, I try to consider all options... blame it on Eiluned influence"

Normally that would amuse her.

"Right. Tough crowd tonight" He sighs. "Well, unless there's anything else? I'm going to hit the hay I guess? "

She glances up towards Sylvi's room again. "I don't know. I guess I switch into waiting mode, again, now."