#rivervale_lodge

"I think that's good, what do you think?" She's skewering jumbo shrimp.

"Not sure it's going to look as good in different parts of the day" A nose wrinkle.

"Mmm, you have a point. Light changes. Okay, where do you think?"

"Well, for moonlight, the best, I'd probably say that corner over there" She gestures "It's not direct, but the moonlight will bounce off the other glass objects onto it from there."

Then a curious tilt, And she bites her bottom lip but says nothing.

"Interesting! I wouldn't have thought of that. Okay...bring down that ceramic bowl, we'll find another spot for it, and put it there."

A glance. "What?"

"Nevermind. I ... it would just open things up again" And she takes the bowl down as directed and puts the urn up "Oh. I think this could work"

"Open things up? Gerd, I'm willing to listen." And she nods at the placement. "Looks good."

"DO you.. really think I'm unworthy of being a hearth?"

A blink. "I don't believe I ever said that."

"You said I was too selfish to be a Hearth... i mean... I said I was using Hearth training and you said I was being selfish instead and it sounded like... " She shrugs "It's okay if I am. I think mostly I've been learning hearth stuff because everyone expects me to go mountain and I probably will anyway but if you really think I'm not cut out for Hearth at all I definitely should stop trying. I ... I don't want you having to pick up after my mistakes"

Kerri shakes her head. "Gerd...I said you hadn't learned enough. Not that you couldn't learn enough. There's a big difference. And yes, you've been a bit selfish. You're hardly the first, and you won't be the last."

A frown at something. " I guess. "

"Right now...you're learning how to collaborate on matters of hospitality."

"Oh.. you mentioned something about that. I guess that's one area I am not as used to. I mean, I've seen you throw a lot of great events but it's more than that isn't it?"

"It is." She nods. "Gerd, up until now, you've certainly been helping around the Lodge, but I wouldn't call it training...not the same kind of training that Sally Mae has been doing. If you want to move on to that level of training, I'd be happy to have you."

"I honestly don't know" She admits "I think I was avoiding mountain for the wrong reasons, but that doesn't mean I'm not interested i nHearthing. I don't know if one day I'll be either really. Here or elsewhere. But I guess I'm not alone in that. Dagmar screams Storm, but she's pretty happy in a kitchen. Sylvi is..well, not sure, a good leader, but is she Hearthy? I don't know. Siv is..well... not sure. Storm lite?" A smile, "It's okay though. We'll each find our way with hard work and exploration... knock on wood" and she does, lightly. "But my help you have. After all...It's only four days from High summer"

"Oof. Always a perilous holiday," Kerri quips, wide-eyed. "Here, help me carry these out to the grill."

"No kidding, Pranksgiving? If the pooka don't get you, Uncle Vali will" But said fondly , and she carries them out. "Think we'll get another statue of the chieftain?"

"Well...I think you wilders have been getting rather more noticeable this past year. I'm willing to bet the pranks might be more geared toward you." Outside, she sets the various foods over the coals and they start to cook.

"Oh, Heimdell on a Crutch" she mutters , "You're right."

"Yup." A wink. "Have fun with that."

a HUFF, and she blows up that lock of hair out of her eye. THAT hasn't changed from her childling years, and Gerd probably doesn't realize it. One day when she's older some guy is possibly going to fall in love with that habit, but if mentioned to Gerd she'd blush and try to stop. For now though? She' young, and the battle with acne, while temporarily favoring her, is ever close. "SOMEone will have fun with it, I'm sure. Okay. So... proper hospitality versus just making a lot of food. How does it go?"

"That...is a longer lesson. It'll take time to learn it. I'm happy to teach you. For now, let's start with this: It has to do with service more than with personal preference. So I'm going to ask you to observe for a day, and then tell me what you think that means tomorrow." She says this while tending to the cooking...

...and soon enough the food is ready.

As luck would have it, Brogan, her squire does show up, and the boy proves a good one to show as an example so that by the time things are ready, well....

To Siv's credit, she does not come to dinner wearing the 'Tall Glass of Water- Served' Tee shirt that her mother does not care for, nor her 'comfy clothes' that show a disregard for care. Actually, she's dressed in what might best be described as her finest. Tricorn hat, prop poet shirt, and a vest over that. The leggings are a bit tight but tasteful.

Gerd wears Black, with a dash of midnight blue.

Vali has his armor at a good shine, but seems to be curious why everyone else is dressing up.

Brekke, in her Gwydion green-n-gold, shares a glance with Frank at Siv's clothing, but seems not to disapprove. Sylvi is chattering with her father about the most recent news from Dika-Hannah in the north. She's also dressed nicely, but not overly courtly. Kerri has also changed into something nicer than her average clothes, though not overstated, as she makes sure everybody has what they need, and thanks Brogan for his help as he fetches requested items.

Even Olgar is dressed above average (Possibly his wife's advice)

Dagmar is in her good voile, Gwydion tabard and all... looking a bit uncertain about this whole affair.

Tove looks smashing, she has lots of costumes for her youtube videos and it translates well. Jaymes is..not wearing a tie, but he looks pretty good too.

Torin has come out in an old style nordic garb .

The meal is delicious, everybody able to choose plenty of their preferred foods, and the conversation is casual.

Gerd looks really tempted to praise the statue of last prankgiving in hoping to rediret her uncle towards grump targets, but sighs and does the mature thing. Kinda

Sally mae and Brogan work the kitchen , the former taking lead.

Eventually, everybody has eaten enough and the coffee is going around...and that is when Brekke stands. "I have things to say."

Dagmar chews on her thumb.

Siv smiles, "Cherish this while it lasts folks. She's not normally a talker"

An eyebrow at her daughter, but she's grinning, too.

Kerri catches Dagmar's eye and subtly moves her own hand away from her mouth with a wink.

Vali and a few others chuckle at the joke.

Olgar however says "Well, let's hear it, Chief. We're all here."

Dag drops her hands, folding them together in her lap.

Brekke nods. "We are, indeed, all here. That was nearly not the case. Both Siv and Vali very nearly lost their lives when they were attacked. They were rescued and brought to where they could be helped. If that had not happened...we would have lost them both."

"The one who has done this deed, their rescuer...is Dame Dagmar ap Gwydion. Do her honor." She raises her mug of coffee. "Dame Dagmar!"

She looks torn between being pleased and embarrassed.

"Hear Hear" Vali says raising his own