#rivervale_lodge

"I wonder what he'll be like as a grump? I hope it doesn't kill the fun part too much?"

"Well...I kind of remember when Mom went grump, even though I was really little. She was all moody for a while before, like snapping at people and then crying for no reason, you know? And then she had her togail and...she sort of evened out kind of. I think. At least, that's how I remember it."

"Moody, snapping..... mmm not quite the same but it's close enough to Vali's being so touchy when not treated with respect to make me think we're on the right track" A sigh "Shit. Dad may know about this already but if he doesn't I should probably tell him. Or do we tell Vali first? And how do you bring THAT up?"

Sylvi, eyes wide, lets out a long, low whistle before answering. "Vali will be mad if we tell your dad first...but I think that's what we've gotta do. I mean, he's the Mountain, it's definitely his territory. I mean, if it is what we think it is."

A groan "Then.. I guess I should tell him? Dad I mean... I'm the oldest.. and ... when Vali goes.." Her eyes widen "Oh wow. I wwould be the oldest wilder in th... "A look of relief "Wait, no that's Tove! Tove and Sally Mae."

It is clear that Siv is happy to have a buffer

"Oh, please, you are SO far away from Grumping! Sometimes I think you might re-childling yourself!" Sylvi teases.

"Ha. I've heard stories of that actually... seeming slips backwards... but it's so rare I think it might be myth" A grin "Besides, we both know I like some very adult things" Then the grin falters "Damn it. Sorry..thought of Bancroft again"

A sympathetic look. "Sorry."

"Do you want me to go with you to talk to your dad about Vali?"

"Nah, it can wait. He's still looking for Connor. Hope he goes easy on the lad"

Sylvi frowns. "Maybe Uncle Frank should let Mom handle that one. It's kind of a Hearth thing, keeping food stuff clean? But...you're the one who choked, so I can understand why he'd want to address it personally with him. But yeah, I hope he's not too strict."

"Oh shoot, last thing I want to do is upset your mom. She seems a bit tender herself of late." A thought "Though she did get that day and a half off. Good on her!"

"Yeahhhh...that doesn't happen a lot. Not sure why it did -- I was up at the Farm for an overnight. She seems a bit more chill since, though."

A smirk "Guess your dad is good at more than roads"

"Siv!" Sylvi flings a pillow at her.

A laugh

Then she laughs too. After a few moments, she quiets and says, "Don't tell them, okay? But...I hope someday I have a relationship even half as good as theirs. My folks got it figured out. Somehow."

"They really do, don't they" she says "I mean, your dad's .. I don't know how he does it, but he really backs her plays without being.. well, a doormat about it. you know?"

"I...yeah...I guess I never really thought about it that way, but yeah. I just was thinking about how they still seem to be so into each other after so long."

"Well, your mom backs your dad too..maybe that's how it works.. he and her against the world you know? "

"But yeah.. they're major into each other" A smile then a pause "Gee.. her birth control has to be amazing. why do you not have like.. four siblings?"

"Ack! Siv! Things I'd rather not think about, thanks!"

A smile "Okay I can understand not wanting to know about the process... when it comes to them, but sibs aren't so bad. You're kind of like a sister/ cousin you know? and you're not all bad."

A grin. "Yeah, you're occasionally tolerable, yourself."

"Anyway, yeah, I'm pretty sure....that they, uh, took care of that."

A smile "Thanks. Sorry if I've been mopey. When dad caught me on the table earlier, he asked if I was out of my 'emotional phase' " A roll of eyes "I get it. I've been moping about Bancroft-but lordy what a way to word it"

"On the table?" Then, "Yeah, that's...huh...I mean, sometimes he's kind of tough with the way he puts things, but that's...tougher than usual." A troubled look. "Is he okay? I mean, he's already a grump, so it's not like with Vali, right?" Then a sigh. "Of course, it can't just be that whenever I don't like what adults do, there must be something wrong with them, right?"

"Ha... they do the same with us I bet... 'oh no... Siv's looking focused what's wrong?' "

"Yeah...'She must be plotting something that'll destroy property along with her reputation!'...and then the lectures, right?"

"sometimes. I think dad feels he.. wasn't there enough for jessica so he pushes to be there with me.. and others of the lodge too. He's got good advice usually.. but the times he's done best with it? It's when ... I don't know, when he sits beside me and not across from me... and then talks about himself. It's.. he's not a person who talks about himself so when he does I try to listen and it helps"

Sylvi thinks about that. "He's never talked about himself with me, not really. Maybe just bits now and then. But...I feel the same way when my dad does that with me, but I bet he doesn't do that with you."

"Nope. Maybe that's.. well father and not mountain" A smile then "AND since you may hear about it. Dad caught me on the table.. I was in a good mood and dancing to that old song 'girls just want to have fun'? "

Jaw drop. Then a giggle. "Girl, when are you going to learn that you are never alone in this Lodge? But of all people to catch you, your DAD...."

"I KNOOOOWWW... and you're right... I thought it was just me and the pets.. but gah"

"Gah, is right." She hesitates before continuing, "You were kinda in-your-face with them with 'Let's Hear It For The Boy' you know. I mean, even I thought it was a little tacky."

"Well...ladedah" Hurumph "I was happy. SUe me."

"Yeah, but...well, I'm happy with Colton, but when we eventually do it, I'm not exactly gonna flaunt the fact in front of my folks. And your folks are SO much more uptight!"

A sigh "They are..." She admits "but you plan ahead. I don't.. and sometimes that means I don't always consider things. I'm working on it and.. "A brow shoots up "hold up.. 'when'? Not if?"

Sylvi blinks a few times and flushes lavender. "Well...I mean...."

"Mmmmmm? What do you mean, Sylvi Davidson?" She mimes lowering glasses

She rolls her eyes. "I hardly think you're in a position to get judge-y about that."

A chuckle "maybe not though i was older than you are when I did so.." A shrug "NOt that means I can cast stones true. Waiting till you're seventeen?"

A frown. "You were stuck on a ship where you were the youngest by a LOT. That's hardly the same situation." Then an uncomfortable shrug. "I...don't know."

"One day, with Colton or someone else, you will know, and it'll be okay. I mean, you've got great advice from your mom.. and sorry, i'm making you uncomfortable. Just.. I guess I am a bit of a hypocrite because after fussing about dad's lecture I want to give you 'advice'... sorry" Sheepish "You know 'take it slow' 'you don't owe any man anything' and so on blah blah"

A half-grin. "Yeah, I know...." A pause. "Bancroft really was your first, right? I mean, I know you flirted heavy before then, but I don't know what else you did."

"Bancroft was my first..." She admits "Other boys I kissed, I teased, I flirted. Bancroft I ... we.. gave ourselves to each other. " A shy blush "It was... not unpleasant at all to say the least, but it's not like the movies..."

"What do you mean, not like the movies?" Siv's got Sylvi's complete attention.

"Oh god..well.. in the movies.. it's much more.. it's like folks KNOW exactly what they're doing.. virgin or not, right? And trust me.. it's not. Also.. there's the little things like.." A laugh "It.. you know the images of couples cuddling in the nude all happy?"

"Yeah?" She looks dubious.