#rivervale_lodge

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The next day... sometime

A small white flag waves into the room where Brekke is.

"Safe to come in?" Vali asks.

"Hmph." Brekke is in her usual seat by the balefire, and she gives the flag a skeptical look. "No promises," she says, but with a bit of humor in her tone.

He joins in, "Well, it poofed in Dawn's light..." A smile "On another more serious matter. I thought I should tell you about the results of Tiffany and My 'talk'"

"Yes. Come, get yourself a drink, and join me here."

He does just that

She sips her own coffee. "What have you two decided?"

"Well, she's not only moving into the area. She and I will be living together. It's.. a big step but I feel... I feel it's long enough in our relationship, and given how I love her, that we should. She agrees though I think she might jump if I pulled out a ring at this stage. Problem is, while I surely hope she's welcome here in this lodge... she thinks the two of us crowding into one room might be a bit much in a lot of ways. Not good for us, not good for the lodge. So we're going House shopping, whether to rent or to own. A place of our own. I'll still report here and consider it my work location so to speak. But that means.." He looks around then "That means my old space is about to be freed up. Let the brawl commence. I thought you should definitely know."

Brekke nods slowly. "I think this a reasonable decision. A big step, but it will be good for both of you, I think. Can I help in any way?"

"Well, depending on if we rent or own or get a fixer upper, I won't lie, your wood carving skills would be great on a few touches. Beyond that, I'm not sure. I know Tiffany is going to miss being a Thane at New Agengard. She's released from all oaths and dutiies there, but she prides herself on being a sporting breed tht DOES things. Also, she's an ex army demolitions removal expert and a good shot. Would a pooka thane be accepted here ? That might help her fae side whiel she also shops for a job"

"We have a redcap peacekeeper. I hardly think I could make an argument against a pooka thane. And Tiffany has already proven her skill. She will be a valuable asset, if she is interested."

"Thanks" He smiles "I think she's more than interested. I already mentioned to her that if it goes through, she can't make MY mistake of forgetting this is a troll lodge before it is a noble hold. I tended to flip the two in priority"

"You have, sometimes, yes." Brekke nods. "Well, I am glad she thinks well of Rivervale."

"oh she loves the woods here. " he says "Though I'm afraid you're going to get some tree jokes."

"Oh, certainly. Hm...I wonder how she and Connor will get along."

He winces "I'm not sure that..yeah. I think she's gunshy of him."

"For one thing, he 'overdogs it' ..she makes dog puns.. but he is actually cool with folks patting him on the head and seems to prefer his dog form. And then there's that 'hey, she's not sure about raising kids yet' thing. " A sigh there.

"Well...perhaps she might model for him how to enjoy his human side more. But he cannot help 'overdogging' as you say...he has constant reminders."

"Yes, and she knows that. I wonder if his condition spooks her a bit. Like a pooka who cna't fully change back?"

"I mean, that's nightmare fuel for a shapechanger"

"I had not considered that. It makes sense."

"I think she'll be quite polite to him, but if she thinks folks are teaming him up with her because "Hey, you're a woman all maternal right AND a pooka" she'll feel typecast. She's made a life of defying limitations others set for her."

"Not that she can't follow orders.. but like 'a woman in a combat zone? ridiculous sort of thing"

He mutters "I keep telling her Captain Marvel is okay, but not even in Marvel's top half of movies they've made, and she growls at me, and backs it up another 10 minutes and watches it all from there"

The Chieftain may not completely understand the movie reference, but she shakes her head at the rest. "That was not my intent at all. And I am not considering assigning them to each other in any way."

"Vali...you said that you wished to speak to each member of the Lodge. Was there something else you wished to tell me, beyond this?"

"Yes, but it can wait. I..I Had visions... strong ones, as part of my turn on the wheel... and I think the Dreaming answered... because I asked for ones I could mention without making it worse to do so."

Eyebrows up. "That is quite a boon, for you. Another time, yes. Soon."

A nod "Thanks. I need to go tell Tiffany. She's already sorting through catalogs" And he rises

And the Chieftain is left with the thoughts that vary, but one of them is .. what to do with the space Vali is freeing up? And wil lthe wilders fight over it?

(End scene)