#rivervale_lodge

In the gardens of Rivervale, the tomatoes are in desperate need of harvest, and Brekke is gathering yet another basketful. This has been a truly satisfying season for the Lodge garden, even if the same cannot be said of many of the mortal farms.

It is a comfort, with all the troubling news, to see the rewards of her hands' labor.

Frank approaches, with a empty basket. He starts to help with the harvest.

She looks up, grins a welcome, and continues. They work in companionable silence for a while.

After a bit, though, she regards him again. "Frank...a question..."

Frank inhales; she knows he loves the smell of tomatoes.

Another grin at that, but then more seriously, "Have you been feeling well?"

"Sure. You?"

"Mm." A pause, another tomato in the basket. "I am well. But I had noticed...some of your habits have changed. The coffee...."

Frank pauses, listening, giving her space.

When he doesn't offer information, she adds, "I am simply concerned. Is it because of sleep, or your stomach, or...?"

His eyes twinkle with amusement. "Both. And... well I've drunk a lot of coffee. Don't know that I need more."

Some answering amusement, but hesitation. "And...that is all it is?"

He nods. "Yes. Just... time passing, Brekke. At least, as far as I know."

His lips are pressed together, hiding amusement.

Not hiding it very well. "You...think that I am funny. Because I am asking about your health?"

"No, Brekke. I'm touched and comforted that you asked. But yes, I am amused.... it's like you were worried I was cheating on our institutional beverage."

"Hmph." She goes back to the harvest work. "That is not what I meant. I thought you were hiding an illness from me."

"You think I would do that?" Quietly.

She looks over at him...and nods.

Frank looks away, works for a bit. "I am not ill that I know of."

"Then...good." A pause, more tomatoes. "I am sorry."

"I am too."

Another pause. "I think that, if you did try to hide it from me, you would do so with the intent keeping a burden or worry from me. That is like you."

He nods. "I have done things like that before."

She looks at him another moment, then goes back to the work.

Frank finishes his basket and takes it inside.

Brekke finishes hers as well and follows.

Frank has left the basket at Kerri's request and gone for a walk.

((End scene))

---------------

Vali returns from a patrol. He's been a bit distracted, feeling jumpy. Sometimes moody but he's learned to adjust for that now that he knows much of where that comes from. The girls are up to something, he knows that. But... oddly he's not worried. They need to 'get away with things' and whatever they've got going, he knows now they're formidible.

Brekke is out in the garden when he returns. She is not actively working on it, but seems to be contemplating it, perhaps planning the next round of planting. She looks up sharply as he approaches...and he may get the sense that he is not the person she was expecting. "Ah. Vali."

"Patrol went smoothly, Chief. And the Togail is pretty much set to go."

She nods. "Good, on both counts. I know Kerri has been preparing for a major cooking event." A pause. "Vali, I have had a concern brought to me. I believe it involves you."

"The Dragon? No vision I can share there yet Chieftain. I'm..acutally hoping the togail will trigger something"

"Yes, I understand. And I want us to gather as a Lodge to discuss what we know and what we need to know. However...I do not mean the Dragon. Vali, one of the high school wilders noticed that a teacher was enchanted in the middle of the school day. A certain Ms. Grey."

He blinks, "Do we know who did it?"

"Not beyond a shadow of a doubt, no. But...Lut has been dating her."

"I can see why you came to me... I mean, I work in the same building." A scowl "Unfortunately I'm afraid i missed the enchantment entirely. I hadn't met her, not with a glow about her anyway. I know Lut and she were getting pretty serious- he talks about her some times with me when we patrol together, but I never heard any hint that he was going to try to bring her over. Are we sure it was him?"

"No. I was hoping you might have heard or seen something helpful, but..." She shakes her head. "I do not wish to interfere with their relationship, but if it is generating lingering glamour, that is a problem. She apparently did not directly address the wilder in question, but did seem to see a fae form rather than a mortal one." A sigh. "I will have to speak with Lut...."

"I was busy chasing Adam down... he tried to skip school after he got yanked up to the guidance counselor. Which means I was out in the parking lot for nearly a full hour. Anyone could have enchanted her then."

A frown. "I do not think any of the Lodge wilders would do it, do you?"

"I can't picture it." he admits "Dagmar would be horrified to hear it, but she's actually quite the rule follower. Sylvi's too smart to enchant willy nilly... and Siv? Well, it's been drummed into her head not to waste her glamour in mortal settings. Gerd can be anywhere but I don't think she even knows the woman. Do you think Dirk or Symon? Doesn't seem like them but.."

"I would not normally suspect them, no. However.... Well. I will speak to Lut. Thank you, Vali. Please try to Ms. Grey's welfare as a matter of your attention, if possible."

"Will do" He ponders "Chieftain, Ms. Grey didn't freak? Or scream, or panic? Or worry about an LSD trip? And she had the sense to not go approaching the fae letting them know she knew. You realize what that hints at ?"

"She did not, from the report I heard. And that means she has been coached, yes. She knows more than she should....but...she may be willing to protect what she knows, as well."

"Yeah, this likely isn't her first time." A bite of his lips, "Maybe it's been going on all summer for all we know. Still enchanted, she's vulnerable to some nasty things. I'll put her on the school guardian list."

"The what?"

"The list of kithain and kinian and even chimera I've got going for those who need protecting or might at the school. It's why I got the French Teacher job there in the first place .. so I I made a list, purely chimerical, of course"