#rivervale_lodge

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Later, in Party Headquarters, Sylvi unveils her master plan....

"So, I'm thinking that going high fashion would be the wrong tone. I think we need to go street...ripped jeans, heels, belly shirts...but HOT."

"...belly shirts?"

Sylvi puts up a hand. "I'm thinking those for Siv and me, mostly. But can go hard street. I mean...you know the style, but just without the hiding part." A bit of a grin to show she's not trying to insult.

A soft thump, thump, thump sound.

She chews on a hangnail and nods. "Uh-huh."

"I could kinda go Billie Eilish?"

"You could...wait...did you hear that?"

Muffled giggle from... underbed.

She rolls over on her bed and peers under.

Arms over his head, Connor is underneath, but his tail wags uncontrollably, thump thump thump on the floor.

"Connor!" A groan. "You're not supposed to be in my room...."

"Oh, jeez."

He peeks out and grins. "That's what makes it the BEST place for hiding and seeking."

"Who are you playing with?"

"Gerd! I figured out how to get her to play. Whenever she's all busy with her face paint, she'll always play hide and seek with me. And I'm so good she never finds me, neither."

Dag bites on her lower lip, looking a bit stricken. "Oh, Connor.."

Sylvi sighs and gives the boy a smile. "Yeah, you're really good at it. A pro. Come on out."

He wriggles out and sits cross-legged on the floor. "When do we leave for the party?" Wag, wag.

Sylvi sits up and shoots an alarmed look at Dagmar. "Ummm."

He tugs at his shirt. "Do I need to show my belly too?" Pondering the fabric.

"Oh, it's a long way away."

Sylvi's thinking fast. "Well...I think the party we're talking about might be past your bedtime..."

"That too. BUT...we could have a here-party, with a guest of honor!"

"A party here? But there are no parties, just talkin' bout how everyone's gonna get et up by dragons.

"Or maybe roasty-toasted until we're all gooey like marshmallows, and THEN et up."

"I don't even have any marshmallows. Miz Yourmom got mad when I et them all out of the Lucky Charms and now she buys cereal without any."

"Okay, you are totally not going to get eaten by dragons. But don't you think that when people are talking like that, that's the best time for a party?"

"with marshmallows. And a fire?"

"For gooey marshmallows?"

Sylvi wrinkles her nose. "Yeah, I did that with the marshmallows when I was little, too."

"Yeah! Hey, we should totally have a just-because party. And do you know who it's in honor of, Connor?"

"And a fire? Oh, I know I won't get eaten up. The dragon only eats trolls. And then I can run the lodge how I want it and be boss Chief allllll aloooooone." Forlorn, but his tail betrays a little wag when they talk about a fire.

"Who's the honor of?" Wag wag, bouncing in his seat a little.

"YOU! It's a Connor-Plays-Hide-and-Seek-the-Best party!"

A whoop, and then he covers his mouth, and whispers. "Whooop! And because I defeated the Turrible Evil Dude in the Sparring ring. I'll go start on decorations!"

An encouraging look to Dagmar to join in.

"That too," Sylvi whispers back and nods.

"Sure!"

He beams at both of them, and gives Dagmar and sudden spur of the moment hug. "And I thought no one noticed that I triumphed! You're the best." Waving to both girls, he scrambles off to start crayoning up some paper!

Sylvi gets up to close her door behind him. "Whew! Okay...we need to make a certificate or something to give him later. Recognition and stuff. Poor kid...gotta be hard being the littlest in this place."

"...yeah."

A sigh. "He really is a sweetheart, though."

"Anyway...now if he says something about a party, we can say he must have confused something he overheard about this party? It...kinda works out?"

"He is. I wonder what he's going to be like when he's older?"

"I mean...you know, I hope he stays happy."

"Me too..."

"I think, maybe... I mean.... your mom is great with him, but maybe I think he would benefit from having a particular person?"

"Like.. like, y'know, how I got Jaymes and Tove?"