#rivervale_lodge

-------------

Flowers are blooming, particularly around Rivervale. Under the Chieftain's preferences, a certain Thane has made amends, and he really does have a green touch. Whether he is using spring magics or just natural skill is hard to say, but flowers of all sorts are in a high colorful peek all about the place in flashes of color

The Chieftain has indeed allowed Bancroft's influence to touch certain portions of the grounds...but those portions are limited. She seems reluctant to have him use his talents on most of the gardens.

A few flowers of Norway are present. A mea culpa, or maybe currying favor? But it is clear that large heart of Forget me nots for Siv were the true main showing. Yes, they are still there.

For her part, Brekke resists tending Bancroft's garden patches. He does so well enough, they're not neglected, certainly. But they're apparently 'his,' for the moment, and she's trying to respect that. She focuses on working at the bloodthirsty roses and preparing the food gardens for spring plantings. Trays of seedlings are arranged on the windowsills within the Lodge, and they're ready to go into the ground.

Sally Mae comes out and opines "I don't trust sidhe as a rule, but you have to admit the young man has a talent."

"Mm." Brekke nods agreement. "He does, at that." She looks up from her work with the spade. "What are your thoughts on the Hearth's new squire? I hope your distrust does not make his presence difficult for you."

"A bit... but truth to tell, Chieftain, I always played it sloppy and assumed 'sidhe are bad' to save time. Wasn't till recent years that I learned more on what which Houses did or do. I did ask about. Daireann have a good repuatation for hosts... apparently grand warriors, but they dangerous for revenge. Still, he's a boy ,and maybe we can gentle that edge, or at least push him towards other aspects. If anyone can, It's Hearth Kerri. She helped Dagmar so much"

A bit of a grin there. "She did, yes. Dagmar has done very, very well in a year." She goes back to working the soil. "And you? Is all going well for you, Sally Mae?"

A smile, "Well, the exception being lost family... yes, pretty darn well thanks. Clem is trying to make sure the kinian get as much say as kith, or at least more. I appreciate that. And I've learned I COULD be a hearth, not fae souled aside. College going well." A cough "Apparently a satyr fellow came by the farm and ...well, you'd like him, he's TALL , I mean, troll sized."

A bit of an amused eyebrow. "You presume I like all troll-sized beings."

A smile, "Well I suppose it's wrong to presume you even like all trolls, but a troll sized satyr certainly entertains. Also, he is so nice. Pro wrestler, and wealthy, he's trying to set up havens, mortal dwellings, for kith and kithain displaced by floods and such... and he heard we helped flood and fire victims. Good looks, broad shoulders ,and no ring on his finger quite a few of my cousins were over him like bees on honey- and you know? I was tempted too, but Kerri … the Hearth, and you, and others here have made me more aware of my OWN worth beyond that. We flirted, but he.. ." A pause "he offered me a job. Accounting and the like. Can you believe it ? And not because anything was going on, it didn't. I turned him down, save maybe temp work- but it felt wonderful. I am of value not just for how I look, or children I might give, but what I know. Silly, but I learned that lesson better here than I did at the farm"

Brekke stops and gives the girl her full attention. "It sounds as though the experience made quite an impression. And I am glad. Sally Mae, you do have much value and much to offer, and I am glad you see it now. I am glad he sees it." A pause. "Why did you turn down the full-time work? It sounds as though it is a worthy cause."

"Besides college? I have work here still, and with my family, it was tempting, powerfully tempting but I don't know, I guess while I'm glad I 'm respected for what I do and know as much as what I am- I still feel a sense of duty. Kinain can be seelie too."

"Of course. But...how would such a career interfere with your duty to your family? Or to us? You support Hearth here at the Lodge...but that is not intended to be a life of indentured servitude. And if your employer is, himself, fae...then much of what complicates mortal work in most cases would not be so difficult for you."

She bites her bottom lip "You think I should take it on?"

"I think you should consider what you wish to do, and whom you wish to do it with, and why. I think Rivervale has benefited from your service in many ways, and we would be very grateful to continue to do so...but if and when you choose to take a different path, we will support you in that as well."

"If it was anyone but you, Chieftain, I might worry you were trying to be nice while actually trying to make room because of a growing crowd" She says a look at the flowers "Sidhe suitors and squires visiting a lot no less. But it's you, and I know that you'd bump either one of them before me or at least make it work. I...well, I graduate by summer. Maybe then I'll be more sure. "

"Hm." Brekke gives the Lodge a fond look. "I have sometimes wondered how to find the space...but the Lodge finds a way to provide over the years, and I have learned to trust that there will be room for those who need it. When there is not, it is because they are needed elsewhere. As for you...yes, take the time to think about it. More importantly, let the satyr know that you are reconsidering...otherwise, the job may not be there when you decide you are interested."

"Oh my, fair point. " She says a worried look, "Chieftain, would you forgive me ? I think a phone call to the man sooner rather than later would be ideal"

Brekke merely nods her towards the Lodge, and returns to her work with a satisfied expression.

"Thank you" And off Sally Mae goes. Solitude is sweet, and yet, short lived.

Gerd approaches "Uh, chief?"

Brekke looks around. "Yes, Gerd. You have a question?"

"Yes. I have concerns about this new squire" Ahem, and she reaches into her pocket and pulls out a note "I prepared a list of my concerns."

"While still a childlilng, I am, as ever, in the dreaded shadow of wilderhood." SHe starts to read aloud "Mortal girls, younger and younger, are afflicted with the curse of adolescence. As I am half mortal, I must be cautious, for soon, the rage and trhe weeping and the really weirdness might over take me. I had thought I had years...."

"...and yet, there is now a boy about my age, who is pretty., Too darn pretty. And then there is Bancroft, and he is all grown mostly, and also too darn pretty. Now, when I get older, I wished to be treated like a princess... when convenient for me at least by my boyfriend. BUT.... I am not ready for that yet. The day may come when I am giggling stupidly at everything a boy says just because I like him... but it is not this day. The day may come when I storm up the stairs saying to Uncle Vali how I hate him when I really don't, but it is not this day. The day may come where I don't dress pretty for me, but becauause I care what a boy thinks... but it is not. this day. And I worry 'the day' may come earlier... with all these sidhe boys around. They are like cootie shot resistant carriers. And I would like to know what I am supoosed to do about as they maybe accelerating my fall into wilderhood?"

When she looks up from her notes, Gerd will note that the Chieftains eyebrows have climbed almost up to the base of her horns. Her lips are also pressed together very tightly. Vali might know this as her must-not-laugh expression, but Gerd may not have caught on to that yet. After a few moments, she clears her throat. "This...bears some consideration. Am I to understand that you, Gerd, are concerned about how you might behave when confronted by attractive people of another gender? And that you blame this on the other people?"

"Well, I didn't make sidhe boys so pretty" A curt nod

"No. Da'an did. And Da'an put two sidhe boys in your immediate vicinity." A pause. "Gerd, if a boy acts aggressively towards a girl, and then blames the behavior on the girl looking too pretty, that she was 'asking for it,' then who is to blame?"

"The boy. The boys are always to blame, I learned that from Television" Perhaps giving reason to distrust the device as the Chieftain might

"The boys are not always to blame in all situations, but in the situation I described just now, I would agree with you. Now...if you start acting differently and blame the behavior on the boys looking too pretty...who is to blame?"

"Well then I would be acting just like the boys, blaming them for how someone else looked and.." Her eyes widen "Oh...Chief, I don't want to answer this question anymore."

Eyebrow. "Too late."

"Darn it" A mutter.

"It would be my own fault how I act or react when they';re not actually doing anything" Said as if having to chew on spinach

"Yes, it would. Now...re-read those notes you just read to me. What actions are you concerned about most?"

"uhm… I don't know, it seems teenage girls end up crying, or mad, or acting really weird. I worry it will happen to me. And... it's nice to play at having a boyfriend, but really having one takes works. Like Thane Tiffany? And Uncle Vali? Sometimes they don't agree" Horrorfied, "And feelings caN get hurt. It's bad enough hurting a friend's feelings, but your true love? Or .. you know, at least boyfriends? " Worried "And then there's other stuff... like you know...competition. Even girls seem to be … well she's ugly, she's pretty, she's so big up top, she's so flat. It sounds exhausting, and kind of mean. I like to be liked. I worry I'm going to be a mess and it will get even worse when Iturn into a wilder."

Brekke nods. "It will be messy. And it takes work. And, often, it does hurt. And it is a quest for which you will not be ready, no matter how much you try to prepare. You only become ready to face its later challenges by facing its earlier challenges unprepared." She turns back to working with the spade. "The good news, Gerd, is that you have people to turn to when the journey is painful. They will not be able to stop the pain, but at least pain shared is pain lessened."

"Uncle Vali's good to me," She says "Sometimes I worry he gives up too much. I know I'm the reason he came here. And I'm the reason he won't take a squire. And..." She shrugs "He's good to me. And you are all good. I even have sort of sisters! Well, at least cousins. Sylvi knows all this grown up almost stuff, and dresses so nice, Siv knows how to tie knots and is fun. Dagmar's like the BIG sister I never had. She didn't know where she fit in either, like I did when I came here. But now she does. " A happy smile at that, then more seriously "But I worry about Connor. He's like my little brother. If I go wilder. I might get selfish and forget about him, and he needs someone to play with"

"First, while it is good that you notice Vali's actions, it is not your job to worry about him. Allow Vali to see to his own journey for now, and you are part of that current journey. As to Connor...I think Squire Brogan and he are getting along well. Perhaps that will help? But be as kind to him as you may. Do try not to forget about him, as you say."

"It'll be hard. But then, I guess trolls aren't afraid of challenges" Firm nod then a look to her "Okay, the sidhe boys can stay. I can learn to deal with it. But I hope MY boyfriend will be not a sidhe. NOt because sidhe are bad... the Count runs a toy company!" Excitedly then she remembers more "But because a lot of commoner kith are nice... also, Siv is so gushing over one already and you guys don't need that twice"

A slight huff of a chuckle at that. "Well...Gerd, I am not the one to give you advice on that front."

"Bah, you and the Mountain are like the best couple. You found true love AND helped make this a home for other trolls and those in need. I hope I'm so lucky when I'm ancient again" Firm nod

"Well, Vegard might be pleased to know that I have not forgotten how much advice he gave during that time, both to me and, I suspect, to the Mountain. But Gerd, you do realize that that was much later than our teenage years. Yes, we found each other eventually...but it was not an easy path."

She seems to have kindly not heard the part about being ancient.

"I Heard. Siv says she can't talk about it much because 'me mum and da are private people' but she does say that you both overcame a lot to find each. Siv says you're both heroes, that everyone in her family is pretty much doing amazing things except maybe her though she is proud of you all AND her helping save that mortal and the kind things Count Jude said about her. She said she thought that she was the weak link on the family... which is stupid. I told her it was stupid too, because like YOu just said, lots of things take time...and also she did a lot of good things like saving flood folks too and looking after. And Sylvi did things and Dagmar did things and it wasn't a contest and she should not put herself down for stuff... see, THIS is why I worry about wilderhood. 'm gonna get all emotional and competitive"

A blink. "You are not emotional nor competitive now?"

"Weelll" A pause "I think if I am, it will be worse when I become a wilder" a nod "I worry I'm gonna age Uncle Vali right to grumphood"

"Hm. A concern. Well..." Brekke leans on the spade. "Do you have any suggestions about how perhaps to give your Uncle Vali a break?"