#rivervale_lodge

BIC: "I am asking about the woman I love, Hearth" He says with forced calm "I mean no disrespect to you. I love her. I want to help her, and no one will let me"

((nope, but she did...a bit of an overreaction, because she's on the spot))

"No? How are you so thin on glamour, then, if it hasn't been in helping her?"

"That was giving Gerd the glamour to try to flicker flash the cheiftain who by the way went after her daughter because the first attempt to send the Mountain was less than perfect"

"Then stop whining about how you are not helping."

He stiffens then "Perhaps. I am not..normally so emotional."

Youthful pride pricked

Kerri takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Bancroft. Things are stressful just now. I know you want to do whatever you can to help her, I do understand that...but her parents need that, just as much, and have perhaps the better claim."

"The mountain hates my guts and didn't even want ot take my help"

The slightest of grins finds its way through the tension. "Said no suitor about his love's father, ever."

"SIv.. SIv made her choice. I thought I was okay with that...rational... then.. I found out she had nearly died and I lost my mind" He admits

"And then when I wasn't allowed to see her while she was in a coma... I ..." A deep breath

"Why do you think you panicked so?"

"I can only guess that somehow a Fiona took over my body. Possesion, some sort of madness"

"Hm. Bancroft...if when she recovers, she still does not choose you...what will you do?"

"Probably write bad poetry privately and wish her all happiness publicaly" He says "And she's not in a coma, she's out on some highway where I can't help her. She's recovered already, never was in a coma I suspect. " Not angrily, more feeling foolish "Baron Kealan is right. Trust but Verify"

"Or maybe, respect that people other than you have things under control and could stand not to have to manage your attempt to interfere?"

"If your husband were in danger and his fellow rovers lied to you and shut you out with out so much as an explanation...would you 'respect' that?" Raised brow, rather trollish

"I would hate it. But...he has a duty. If his fellow rovers lied to me, and I knew they had his best interests at stake...I would have to deal with it, as much as I'd hate it." She refills his coffee. "You do not trust her parents."

"I respect them, admire them.. but " A frown "Perhaps trust is hard. It's supposed to go both ways, and it does not. "

"I understand. You don't trust them to have your best interests at heart. And they don't. But there is nothing they wouldn't do for their daughter's well-being, Bancroft. You have to trust that."

"And I would they trusted to feel the same. I would never intentionally hurt Siv. I wanted her to move in with me" HE drinks slowly, "And yes, that was..too rushed on my part, but I would think it at least shows how I feel about her. It makes no stragetic sense to drive away an asset that could aid you like they did me"

"Well...I think it was a calculated risk. I think far more of us would have been excluded if we hadn't been present when the first attack happened."

"I know, Demnse and Dagda's code both, I should yield to those above me in station" A bit ashamed "I try to follow the Code. I do. It's just... normally I'm senisble. Practical, logical. She calls me Lump. I've got a friend who calls me Vulcan...as in Spock. But Siv is...I don't know, maybe opposites really do attract"

"Oh, they definitely do. Over and over and over."

"Most disciplined thane in teaneck, and that girl reduces me to idiocy with a tilt of her head" A sip "Yes, I know. I'm..whining."

"Well, it's well-earned. One might say, a fine whine."

"You and Sir Vali are alike I see" A sip

"Well, I could blame him for being a bad influence, but that wouldn't be entirely honest." She gets her own coffee.

A bit of a smile, "Yes well. Sylvi must get it from somewhere." Then as if remembering something "Oh, my satchel..." he reaches "I was able to get one of the plants on the list..."

"You...you were?" Kerri looks surprised. "How?"

"With difficulty" he says. possibly stoic humor

"Hm. Vali is contagious, I see. Which one did you obtain?"

". Tahina spectabilis .. the suicide palm" He looks at her "SPring magics are wonderful"

"You have Spring? How did you do it?"

"A little...mixed that with Chronos and you can mix renewal and time to cause a plant to gift you if you're lucky. I was luckyy..though it also took a lot of dross"

Kerri nods. "And what will you do with it?"

"I thought I might offer it to you. You were the one with the list... even if it was for... other reasons I was given it"

"But you did not get it for me," she reminds him with a grin. "This should be Siv's."

"Excuse me, Bancroft...I have work to do. Sit and rest." And she goes into the kitchen, leaving him to mull over his options himself.

"... yes. I suppose" he says and nods and indeed does mull

(End scene)

"NO..." Vali says

"I can't believe you're trying to tell me what to do with MY body" Gerd says snapishly

"I"m not telling you what to do with your body, I am merely claiming veto power over who gets a look at it. That skirt is way too short and I am not ordering it for you." Vali insists

"I bet Tiffany would be allowed to wear it" She says.

"Tiffany has worn military Fatigues? You want to go to the army navy store? I know where one is, let me get my keys" Vali says

"Fascist!" Stomping slam sounds.

"I'm a noble, it's allowed!" He calls back

No response from the angry 12 year old.