#rivervale_lodge

((When Conner wakes the next morning, in the kitchen as they're getting ready for breakfast and what lies beyond. The Mountain gravely asks Conner if he can have a hug. He kneels carefully, bending, and massive arms envelope the boy (if permission is given) for a long, warm embrace. A gentle back-pat, and they part to each address their day. This becomes a tradition, if Conner enjoys it.))

He is surprised, and a little shy at first - the big, silent man is somewhat of a mystery to the small boy - but he does accept the hug, and as this becomes a tradition, happily embraces it.

(...and Frank.)

(AND Frank!)

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In the morning, the Ailil is long gone, and folks are in a state of recovery, some back to school.. Siv? Siv arrives looking drenched and bedgraggled. The Kestrel has been returned. And the dogs bark to great the . .. many strangers.

Frank answers the dog-call..... "Siv??" Some alarm.

Well, five childlings

"Okay okay, people...the dogs are friendly and..." Siv looks up, "Hey dad, oh thank goodness"

"What happened??" He comes in from the kitchen, coffee in hand and socks on feet.

Two troll childling boys, twins actually smile a bit to see this place. Then when Frank comes in... they snap to attention.

A nocker girl is poking at the furniture with a stick.

Frank blinks at them. "Hm. At ease."

"I thought Connor could use some friends ..." The wet Siv says dryly "Hey now where's... there are supposed to be two more..."

Frank turns to quickly return to the kitchen, comes out with a couple clean dish towels, and hands one to Siv. He puts the other gently around her neck. "Don't take cold." He rumbles.

((Are the kids wet?))

In the kitchen an Eshu boy is clambering to the top of the cupboards, dripping water as he does, reaching for what must be the most promising cookies of all

Below him, a little Selkie girl says "You wanted me to look out?"

"yes," The Eshu boy says as he reaches

"Young man?" Frank says when he's in there. "Get down and come out to the main room, please. I'll get you all something to eat."

"Well. I see someone" The Selkie girl says

The Eshu book looks over, "Ah... a VERY nice place you got here, Richmon"

"He did it. I didn't want to do it... but he made me, so now w're both in trouble, but I didn't want to do it" the Selkie girl says

Siv says "They're victims of the hurricane dad... they were knocked way off course..."

"No one's in trouble. Yet. Come on out here." And when they do, he says. "Siv, keep them here a moment." And he gets towels from the downstairs linen storage. "Here...." distributing. Troll-towels, tents on the kids, but.....

Connor has, surprisingly, made himself scarce. If these new kids are causing shenanigans', isn't it always the pooka who gets blamed?

Some of the smaller kids vanish under the towels. "Kerishst, I'm blind" the nocker girl says

"Right uh dad, who is in charge of baby sitting? I thought Hearth..." She blinks as the two troll twins are elbowing each other in some contest "Though I can see the reason for Storm"

"Wait, Mountain teaches" She says "Whew"

"Daughter babysits." Firmly.

"Mountain hears what happened in detail and helps to feed and settle visitors."

"Daughter.... fine.. fine.. but Jessica may fuss"

"Siv." And with just that he goes into the kitchen. There follows the sound of some food prep.

"Oo, let me tell de story...." The boy eshu says "It gonna be a GOOD One when I'm done."

"I think dad will prefer just the facts. By the by, the man in the kitchen is my father... Mountain, Sir Frank, or Mister King to you... do not give him lip, you hear me?" She says with a tone of command.

"Aye Aye, Captain" the children say more or less together, though enthusiasm varies

"Long story short, dad, I had the ship 'away' as ordered. The Kestrel was handling things fine... decided to go to places I hadn't been before right? Traveled down the coast... and so on... kept above the crowds to avoid being spotted by mortals... and it was glorious you know?"

"Then, I saw ripples in the water.... and spray... and there were phantom images of a wrecked ship."

"I realized then that ship had somehow ended up crossing into the near dreaming...and now they were marrooned between worlds as it were." Siv says "Getting there was an adventure in and of itself let me tell you"

"I remembered what Uncle Olgar said.. look for the weapoints yadda yadda... and... well, I broke through. "

"I -am- letting you tell me." From the kitchen.

Siv sniffs, "Anyway, it's been full of adventure and trouble and it's a long stop nightmare where I got five childlings out of a maestrom that in the Dreaming is STILL going strong"

"But you didn't mention the monster" The Eshu says "And your caddence was rushed"

"Good work." Frank says as he returns with a platter of food in each hand. "Grab the rest in there, Siv. Thanks. Everyone comes to the table please."

They crowd up to the table at various speeds . The troll boys going last, but looking HUNGRY. The Eshu leaps onto a chair "Thank you very much, richmon, you be all righ"/"Bout furking time..." THe nocker girl says "and thanks" /The Selkie girl says "Is it dolphin safe?"

Siv sighs "Anyway...I'll call Anne Marie. She'll help them. She always does. " Siv is unaware that Anne Marie has the flu

Frank might know, as Kerri surely does and might have mentioned it

"Anne Marie is I'll, recovering. We can wait. Use good manners, please." That last to the kids, but they are welcome to eat what he brought. Looks like he raided Kerri's 'easy stash.

Siv says as she helps serve "She's ill? Oh... dad, uhm.. I'm pretty sure at least a few of these kids don't have parents, and they sure don't have ID."

"Well, they aren't going anywhere for now." Firmly. "Food, rest."