#rivervale_lodge

Frank sighs, and takes a seat near Gerd. "Ok. That's ok. It happens. And. Good on you for trying."

"THanks" Somewhat mollified. She sighs "Siv is miffed at me though. She almost ran people over getting out of her school to get to mine"

Frank grinds his teeth.

"Ok, well, we'll talk to her about that." Calmly.

"I texted her. I didn't think it was safe for me to flickerflash home...so don't blame her. She was doing a right of rescue"

"Mmphm."

"I totally was" Siv strides in and hands her father coffee just how he likes it.

"Good call on the flickerflash, though."

"Siv, give us the room please." Taking the coffee.

"Of course. Before I scram," She hands some lemonade over to Gerd. "Just how yOU like it, or did. Hope you still do." And she turns to leave

"Thank you, Siv."

Geerd takes a drink, and some of her mein knits faster, Gerd sighs 'She spiked my drink with glamour"

"I'll speak with her about that."

"Well, it's your and the Chief's fault mountain" she says sounding a bit Vegard like as she smiles, "YOu two kept being noble and self sacfificing around her."

Frank's expression gives no quarter.

Then she goes back to petting her dog. Gerd's blue hand passing over the beautiful fur, she looks up, and sees his expression, "I know. I shouldn't have tried it alone. I just..last day of school . I felt I had to try"

"Why?" Not demanding an explanation as much as a neutral forensic look.

"Because I failed her. I called her friend, and rather than help her, I didn't see...and I got caught in the wake... I should have caught on. Seen past the cool stuff and realized how empty she was feeling for real. And I didn't I just.. screwed up, and then I GOT screwed up, and then everyone had to bail me out"

Frank nods, his thoughts percolating.

"Well."

"You got screwed up, yes."

"Tell me how you -should- have known."

"I should have kenned her when I met her... banality isn't glamour but I might have noticed. I should have noticed how she just.. mimed others rather than letting her inner spark create. I.. got caught in the miming myself" She looks at her outfit, but it does show she's changed it up a bit. A bold streak of red here and there.

Frank shrugs. "Maybe. Or, could be something you needed to learn on your own, this time."

"I have some of the best teachers in the world. A great ldoge full of lore... and you'd think I'd learn befoer I put my foot in it" Sulk

Frank.... LAUGHS.

A full-on belly-laugh. The kind of thing that takes you by surprise and incapacitates.

Confusion "Uhm.. did i say something funny?"

Frank tries to control himself. "Sorry, Gurd, sorry....."

"I... you... I had.....Vegard. Last time. And I have.... made so many screw ups during and since....."

"Gerd, those screw ups, I see now, they are badges of honor."

"I.. But Vegard was PROUD of you." She says baffled, "I don't remember much, but I know that."

A fond expression under his beard. "I'm glad to know that. But.... how others see you does not mean how YOU see YOU.... right?"

She looks down at her hands, then pets Edwelwiess "I guess that's true. "

"Guess?"

"Okay. It IS true"

She smiles "So you're not as good a bowler as your daughter sees?"

"Let's not bring Siv, or anyone else, into this." Firmly but without judgement.

"About your bowling?"

Frank gives her a LOOK.

Shoulder shrug

"Ok, let's go back? Do you want to talk about your screw ups or mine?"

"Oh. I guess I don't need to know about your screwups but I don't see them much if you have them. "

"Gerd.... I lost years of life with my Trueheart, thanks to my screw ups."

"oh." she grows quiet then "Well, I guess when you put it that way I do ssee them a little bit now"

"So your mistakes then led to some good things now?"

"Yes."

"Is it okay to hope I get the good things without making too many messes?" Sheepishly