#rivervale_lodge

"First one, then the other, I think. At least for me. I've known some folks who can just..." he snaps his fingers ".... turn off any reflection, forgive and forget. Others who don't seem bothered by regrets, ever."

"Seems a bit..."A loss for words "cavalier? to do it so easy but forgiveness is good I'm thinking. Wish I were better at it"

Frank nods. "You'll learn. I hope." Not without humor.

"Ha. Hard part is forgiving myself when I've done another wrong. Eats at me even after I've asked them to forgive and tried to set right. I should be better. "

"You may have gotten a double dose of that tendency. Sorry about that."

Another laugh, this one more free than the first "Well, aye. Mum and you both set high standards for yourselves. Jessica probably has it too. "

He nods. "She does. But, you're very different ladies. In a good way."

"I know, she's the one does great things. I'm the one who helps others do great things. World needs sidekicks too"

Frank has a small smile on his lips. "Give yourself time."

"Ah, is nice, but I'm not a leader type. Too rash. I can do in a pinch... in the here or now, but Sylvi is a better leader. Heck, Symon is a better leader in some ways. "

Frank nods. "Good insight. You -can- work on leadership, but you don't have to."

"Well, I suppose a bit of practice in any skill is handy. Now Bancroft knows tactics. Miltary type? But he says he'd not be the sort that would lead a barony, not that he wants to. Odd boy, proud to be a commoner thane, yet works for a baron and upholds the system and his house mostly modernist."

He nods. "Scathach are... different, but I've known some good ones."

"Dad, weird question, but besides House Liam, is there...what other House do you like? I mean, as a rule?"

Another fond smile. "I have a soft spot for House Gwydion. Some of them, anyway."

A grin "Yes, I noticed. You ever.. do you like House Fiona at all?"

He purses his lips. "I'm a bit in awe of them. That's a lot of energy, passion."

"i.. WELL... " she says "I love Liam and waht they do, but House Fiona's philosphy, a lot of it makes sense to me. "

Frank slowly lowers his horns into his hands.

A blush "I don't mean the... acting like satyrs with pointed ears. I mean, living life to the fullest and daring! And... well, yes, love IS important"

"Your mother is going to -kill- me...."

"Why???"

A deep sigh. "Because I'm going to offer to introduce you to a Fiona Baroness. Just promise me you won't take any Oaths until you have.... well tried it out a few times?"

A beaming smile "Really?"

"Yes." Heavily.

"Well, that would be dandy" she says "You always say it's good to learn more about others folks ways so you can learn how best to build a consensus or at least communicate."

Whether Frank remembers ever saying that, let alone 'always' is another matter

"Hmmphm. Do you remeber Baroness Coradel?"

"Vaguely, she seemed nice. Quite lovely. Only a little older than me"

He nods. "Her Trueheart is of my own House. Thought you might try a little time at EarthRunes, see how you like it."

"I..." That surprises her, "I don't know, you mean for the summer?"

"If you don't visit Jess first, there'll be hell to pay." He points out, not without humor.

A relieved look, "Truth, she was the one I had planned to see, and wanted to hang about with. Though I wasn't sure how long she'd put up with me." A tilt of her head.

"Renaissance is big enough for you to spend time with each other -and- have time apart." He says gently.

"I know, but sometimes I worry she doesn't like me. Silly isn't it? I mean, but... she's so aloof"

Frank takes a deep breath. "I think she feels she has a lot to live up to. As you've confessed for yourself. And I have a touch of it too."

"You? "

He nods. "I married a Legend. But I'm no Legend myself." He pats her leg. "I'm ok with being a sidekick. They're needed too."

"oh that.." She says "You're a great knight. One of House Liam's best! And a fine mountain! You're a hero, dad."

He shakes his head. "Kind of you to say so. I feel I'm adequate for my roles. And more than happy with my life, and my family. I'm proud of what we've built here."

"Vegerd Hornshield..." She says "I didn't know him. He was hard to live up to too? I gather?"

A chuckle. "Impossible to."

"Mmph. I think you're too modest. But yeah. I guess you and I are alike. Feeling a bit..in awe of others about us."

"Rest assured, Siv, we -are- alike. And we are not alone."

A nudge against her dad "Well, then I'm in good company"

He puts an arm around her shoulders. "That you are."

Resting her head on her father, she smiles, "So... want to hear how school is going?"

"Yes." Firmly. "Tell me."

"Well, track is going amazingly well.... but you probably want to hear about grades... thanks to Sally Mae's help with math, I think I'm going to get a lot better grade on..."

And she fills her dad in on the stuff she finds dull, but her folks seem to want to knwo about, before going into the fun stuff like track and friends and so on