#rivervale_lodge

Brown Dog is less cautious than Oak and Edie. His tail is wagging furiously!

Siv blinks "Ah, have we met? "

"Well, who's a good girl... boy...?" She asks, politely. And looks up. "Oh! Sorry, hi. I didn't know if there was, you know, a secret... handshake, or knock, or maybe a left-circle-right-jump-step-jazzhands along the path to disarm an alarm? I'm Piper - looking for Mr. Gardener? Sir Valiant, I believe."

inside the kitchen "Yes i studied metamophsis during a very..insecure part of my life"

"It seems cool. I'm not great at magic. I can make thunder, which is cool but not useful like turning into a whale."

Siv smiles 'No worries. I'm Siv. Sir Vali is questing right now I'm afraid. The rest of us are in the kitchen"

"VERY good for dramatic entrances, though."

Kerri is busily continuing to work, letting the younger set chat while they dry things.

"Oh, shoot." She frowns, thoughtful more than upset. "Do you think I'm supposed to quest after him? Or is he expected back soon? I guess, no rush, really." Following.

"No knowledge or skill is wasted," Jonas says "I could certainly see the advantage of weather manipualtion even on a small scale. I once had the honor of taking part in a rain calling ritual"

"Oh? What part did you play?"

Siv says more seriously to Piper, "Do not go after him. Private quest and.. a dangerous one."

Every once in a while, Kerri casts a glance Dagmar's way.

"A minor one, I helped serve as a part of a circle ... in truth my greatest contribution was my noiselessness" Jonas assures

She holds up a hand, smiling. "Don't worry, I'm not eager to go haring off on an adventure just yet. I'm still figuring out this adventure. I'm supposed to check with him about some sort of aptitude test for placement. Back at school." A soft sigh. "Was hoping I could avoid that, but apparently that wasn't in the cards."

"Oh, do you go to (Schoolname High)? Do you know how their music program is?" A wave to Dagmar, recognizing her.

"Folks, this is Piper, looking for Sir Vali. " Siv says "Have you met everyone?"

She glances around. "I know Dagmar, and Miss - or is it Dame, Kerri? Oh, I suppose it would be Dame Dagmar too, shoot. Sorry! I gotta take notes. And, oh... where did the wee ones go?"

"Jonas," The only male in sight says..unless you count some animals, "A pleasure to meet you, Piper."

"Well, technically, yes, it's Dame Kerri, but please just call me Kerri."

Siv says "Kerri's title here is Hearth. Place would fall apart without her oversight on finances, supplies, and so much more. And the band program seems solid but with some struggle for funding. Most of the money goes to boy sports it feels like. Good theatre program."

Kerri laughs. "Siv is my public relations agent."

"Hey, if i have to hop to it when you say hop, everyone else darn well better" Siv grins at the Hearth

She wrinkles her nose up a little at the sound of that. "I like a good game as much as anyone, but I'm more interested in the halftime show." To Kerri, and small bow and a nod. "Kerri, then. And if you say hop, I'll be glad to add a skip and a jump." A grin.

And noticing Jonas, she looks up, and up a bit more. "Hell-ooo to you too! A pleasure."

"Well, thank you, Piper. I appreciate hearing that."

"Just Dagmar. And the band seems good?"

Dagmar and Siv might both note a hint of restraint when Kerri speaks to Piper, but just a bit.

Jonas nods "Thank you". He seems to be focusing on work. He may use big words when h edoes talk but he has no problem receding from the conversation

The dishes are, miraculously, done. "Well...thank you, all."

"I don't think there's any marching strings... um. There were strings in the band for the musical? The whatsit?"

"Quite happy to assist, Hearth. Let me know if I need do this regularly. I'll know what times so I won't be tardy" He says

"Oh, if I can be in the band, or... maybe a glee club? I wouldn't really mind going, then..." Cheering up.

"Well...how long will you be staying with us, Jonas?"

"There's... the a-capella club, and show choir, and.. um..." She squints, thinking.

"Well, obviously the spring musical. I forget what it is this year. Sylvi'd know."

"It depends. I miss-like overstaying a welcome. Three nights I suppose is customary?" He says

Piper practically coos with delight, like some other girls might over a cute puppy. "Okay, is it Monday yet?"

"Three nights?" Siv says an expression that's hard to read.

Then she looks at Piper "Lucia might also know. She's a boggan. Got the school on tap"

"Three nights, certainly. I mean to ask if you have duty calling you elsewhere." Kerri asks Jonas. Piper's new enthusiasm for school gets a bit of a grin.

"Okay, so if you don't have your schedule yet - if you have second lunch, you should sit with us. It's usually me and May and Lupe and sometimes Symon, but sluagh get shy with crowds and noise...."

"Sylvi sits with the cheerleaders, so does Nadeen..."

Kerri's now moving around the (crowded) kitchen, wiping down countertops.

"Sylvi and Nadeen don't exclude the rest of you, do they? At lunch?" Motherly concern.

Jonas begins to assist in the cleaning almost subconsciously, "I am currently without either gainful employment or for that matter much purpose." He frowns as if this does not sit well with him

"Not any more than the girl jocks exclude them that I've seen" Siv grins.

"Oh, nah. But cheerleaders sit together." She shrugs.

"I mean, all the band kids sit together, too."

Kerri nods, reassured about the regular patterns of teen groupings.