#rivervale_lodge

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Gerd has definitely gothed up a bit, black lipstick, died hair, but she's toned it down, but it does look like her days of pastels are done. "Mountain?"

"MMmm?" Frank looks around and controls his expression; this new phase is taking some getting used to. "Gerd."

"Do you .. have a moment? " guarded

"Of course." He sets his reading down and folds up his half-moon glasses, stowing them away. "Do you want to take a walk?"

"Yeah, I guess," She shrugs "It won't take long though" She pets Edelweiss, who pressesa against her. Cranky as Gerd has been, Edelwiess sticks by her.

Frank nods and stands with a soft grunt of effort, then leads the way for a nice stroll in the woods.

The three of them, for Edelweiss insists, make their way out. Once clear of the lodge, she sighs "Everyone knows, so I figure I should just say it. I'm becoming a wilder . I need my Togail soon."

Frank nods. "I figured it was about time. Anything in specific you want?"

"What I want can't be done. My parents are mortal and they're not coming back." She says "Everything breaks."

"Losing parents is tough." Frank agrees. "I wish mine could have known Jessica, and Siv, and Brekke."

"Yeah, " She agrees with that then "How'd you lose.. I mean, was it just age?"

"No. Car accident."

"I'm sorry, that must have been terrible. " A pause while she considers if she should pry further, then.. "How young were you?"

Frank smiles gently. "Seventeen. Just about to graduate high school. I moved in with my girlfriend's family, which the courts were fine with since in the time it would have taken to get me into the system, I would have aged out."

"For me, itw as the courts handing me over to Uncle vali as my only relation. I had no one but him. And I guess, sometimes I'm mad that he can see in the future but couldn't or wouldn't save him."

"Him?"

"Them"

"Sorry... I... been thinking about dad especially hard.. father's day, I'm going to visit his grave"

"I promised them I'd visit them on fathers and mothers day you know? "

Frank nods soberly. "Do you need any help?"

"I will with the Togail... you're the mountain, our shaman, and ..well, unless you want me to go somewhere else which I can, I was hoping you'd set up something small?"

"No, of course not." Frank smiles a bit under his beard. "It's my duty and my honor, Gerd. I'd be happy to perform your Togail... although, really, it's you that will be doing it."

"I know, I will give up a bit of myself, and banality will set in, it's possible the dreaming will give me a gift in exchange...maybe not. And I'm allowed to ask for a boon from the local nobles. " A shrug "The Chief I guess, but I don't know what to ask for"

"You can ask to use the boon later." The grump points out.

"That's what I did. Turned out ok."

"What did you use yours for?"

He puffs a laugh. "I asked the Chieftess to go on a quest with me."

A smile, "Yeah, that turned out okay."

"It did." He agrees. "So, you can hold onto yours too, if you like."

"Maybe. " She's unsure.

"But I do know i need the Togail soon I'm..." A sigh "Not being very... stable"

Frank frowns down at her, and kenns her.

She needs it, yes. Another month and it could cause real trouble

"Hm. Ok. Tonight or tomorrow night?"

"Oh, that quick? I... guess tomorrow night? I.. need to invite somefolks. Not many, like two friends. I want it small" SHe seems very startled it's going THAT quick

He nods. "Tomorrow night, then, but if you can't get messages to those you wish to be here, we could work on a -brief- delay."

"I'll let you know" she says "I was trying to hold it off... Connor, he's gonna be the only childling. I said I'd be there for him and now i'm going to... you know, go wilder"

"You can still be there for him." Frank reminds her gently.

"Yeah, but I won't understand him like I used to. Trust me, Sylvi became COMPLETELY unreasonable"

Happily, any movement of Frank's lips is obscured by his beard. "Well. Has she settled down now?"

"Yeah, she's pretty cool now," A sigh "I guess. I.. you're sure Connor will be all right?"

"I am. He has all of us to help him, understand him."

"Well, it's extra hard for pooka, so I worry. I think Kourtney DeBuke will be following me soon. She has to grow up faster now that she's taking on more duties for Kelby. " A nod "Okay. I shoudl probably make some texts "

Frank nods. "Of course. Thank you for coming to me, Gerd. For what it's worth.... no matter what season you're moving to, Togails can be scary. It's ok to be scared; but you have to be brave, as well."

A nod "I know, I mustn't shame the Lodge"

A gentle expression. "You won't do that, Gerd. But it's not about the Lodge, it's about you being the best you possible."

"The best me possible was an old man who knew everything" A mutter, meant to be too low to hear, but Frank might

Frank sighs. "There isn't a day goes by I don't think of Vegard, Gerd. I miss him. There isn't a choice I've made I don't think he'd have done better on." A deep breath. "But he isn't, and we are, and what we do matters."

"What you do matters.. I'm not a leader like Sylvi, or a warrior like Dagmar, or fateless and fierce like Siv. I'm not wise like you, or a legend like the Chief, or..well, pick any other troll in the hold and they are expert at stuff . Me I'm not."