#rivervale_lodge

She nods and tugs at her collar. "Yeah."

“New clothes are nice, they make you look all ‘fficial, but sometimes they itch or rub or pinch, especially in the toes. That’s why it’s good to be at home where you can put on your old tee-shirt and take off the boots and no one minds much because they understand.” He wiggles his toes emphatically, smiling to Dagmar.

"Coming on two years in May, Hearth" And a nod to the pooka though cautious. Pooka, as all know, lie, at least a little- they must. And he forgives them for this for in his blood is that of a celtic hero.. also Nebraskan, but mostly celtic hero

"Oh, I should also ask, where will you be going to school here? One of the publics, or a private, or...?"

"Wimbly's Private Academy for young Gentlemen" he says

A little smile at the toe-wiggle... and a small nod.

“Do you want to come with me?” He asks, his tai wagging. “Sometimes they say “Connor, were you raised in a BARN?’ But I go ‘no sir, but I got learned in one! In a cornfield where the stalks grow so tall you think they’d also be blue.”

"I see." She nods.

This, to Brogan.

Then a quick throat-clearing to Connor. "Would you like another one, Connor?"

"Oh, I must see to my knight's needs. "

“It’s also a private academy, because no mortals ever come play.” He nods somberly. “I don’t know if there are any gentlemen there though?” His eyes widen. “I can spoil my supper! Yes MA’AM.” Eagerly.

It takes Kerri a moment to realize Brogan means her needs. "Ah...yes. And to your training here."

"Yes, liege. When should I be here for duties and lessons?" The boy asks

Her pocket buzzes and she checks her dumb-phone.

"Miss Kerri, Jaymes is on his way home. I'm gonna head out. Need me to take anything to the kitchen?"

"Clear your glass, please, and anybody else's if they're finished. Please give my best to your father and Tove."

"It was an honor to meet you, Knight" He bows to Dagmar, one higher in station, and in height.

"..Nice to meet you, too."

She collects dishes, and does rinse them out before heading home.

The boy looks at his own plate and glass then done with them, grabs them both "Should I do the same now, or later?"

He belatedly bows to Dagmar too, following Brogans lead. Once she’s left, he
whispers to the boy, concerned, “Do you think she minds that I forget to bow? And I forgot Miss Hearth Kerri is a knight AT ALL.” He looks rather forlorn, peeping over at the Hearth.

A reassuring look to Connor "it's okay, you're a commoner, and some ignorance is to be excused. Besides, I too am new if a squire , so I too might make a mistake" unlikely, but possible

A quick tap of one finger on the table. "Careful about how you speak of commoners, Squire. My husband and daughter are both without noble title."

“I can make enough for both of us, and you can claim some if you feel left out. That’s what Gerd and I do.” A nod and he offers a hand to Brogan to shake. “I’m Sir Connor, but the Sir is just part of my name and not a title so you can leave it off. Also I’m Buddy, so that means we can be friends?” A tentative tail wag, not seeming offended by the commoner jibe.

"Ah, I merely meant that expectations for nobles were higher, Hearth Kerri, or so my last knight told me" Brogan says, looking surprised at the word of caution. Did he say something wrong?

But he does shake the other boy's hand, "I need to get used to more casual situations it seems. I Hope I did not offend, Connor Buddy"

"That depends on what types of expectations you mean. Expectations for courtly manners may be higher among the nobility...but you may find commoner expectations equally challenging in other matters."

"I think you'll very likely find us far more casual than you're used to. And to that point...do you prefer that we use your title, or merely your name?"

His brow knits. Something does not compute about that commoners expecations being equally..challenging.

“Yes! Like when your Knight hath decreed, you must Throw The Ball for me, and each time I return , it must be thrown again whence it came, but you throw and throw and throw and I Never, EVER get tired.”

“Remember Kerri? Remember when you said he should do that?” He wiggles hopefully.

A bit of a grin for Connor. "I seem to have forgotten that I said that, but perhaps it can be negotiated later."

But then he ponders "I suppose if Dame Dagmar, who outranks me, prefers no title, it would be wrong of me to insist on my own humble squire title save in the most formal situation. Whatever you think will bring the most harmony to this hold, Hearth?"

"Oh sure, Connor, we can throw a ball around sometime" An offer as well as acceptence "When I'm not doing my duties or the like"

“Yes! And if you need to do your duties, there’s a small room over there too.” Helpful.

"Well, we'll try the name both ways, I think, but you let us know if you end up preferring one or the other. But certainly titles on formal occasions."

"Yes, Hearth" He says

The door opens, Olgar enters carrying a brown bag. One look at his blighted face, and the young squire 's hand drifts close to his scabbard, though he does not put hand to hilt

“Can I show you around?” He asks Brogan, eager to show off the hold.

“Rover!” He waves to Olgar delightedly. “This is my friend!”

Olgar looks to his wife "I got what you needed, let's go have that talk" A glance at the boy, a smirk on his face, then a look back to his wife "Yep. I get it now."

A faintly-beleaguered look at her husband, and she says, "Squire Brogan, I'd like you to meet Rover Olgar, my husband. Olgar, this is Brogan ap Daireann.,.my new squire, per Count Hemlock's directive."

A glance that says there's not enough booze in the WORLD

Olgar looks into his bag like he's not sure he brought enough, then looks up "Heya, Kid. How's it hanging?"

"It hangs very well, Rover Olgar" The boy says

Then, "The two of you have had enough sugar and starch for now....why don't you go burn some of it off. Connor, please show Brogan the surroundings."

The sidhe turns to the pooka boy and says "Lead on, please, Connor Buddy. Perhaps we can throw ball or wahtever too"

“Sugar and starch, sugar and starch, onward Squire, time to March!” He gives the grumps a salute each, and prances out with Brogan before Kerri can remember that he didn’t have to wash his feet!

Brogan bows to Kerri, and withdraws