#rivervale_lodge

The sound of feet descending the stairs, and then Sylvi enters the kitchen. "Yes, Mom? Oh...hi?" Somehow she and Jonas have kept missing each other.

"Wait, who made a bomb?!"

"And yes, Everyone is okay" Sally Mae says "Margilita, the nocker girl? She made a bomb. Piper drop kicked it int othe air with a hopscotch before it could go off... Tiffany? Tiffany was agog with Marg's talent"

"Margalita, apparently," Kerri explains, still looking troubled. "And this is Jonas, who traveled with Siv back from the Dreaming. He is staying with us for a few days. Jonas, this is Sylvi, my daughter."

Jonas turns to Sylvi, "Greetings, Sylvi. Your mother has been incredibly accomidating and thinks I could rely upon your expertise in the local demographics"

"I...uh...wow." Sylvi's caught between both topics, and turns to her mother for clarification.

Kerri nods. "Jonas was offering to patrol, and I thought he could use a guide who knew where the trouble is and isn't." She adds, "Apparently, the trouble at Tiffany's house is currently being managed. Sally Mae, do you need a stiff drink?"

"Oh god yes" Sally Mae says

"Oh! Patrol! Sure...Jonas, do you have a weapon? I just need to grab my spear...."

"Coming right up," Kerri fetches a bottle and pours Sally Mae something strong and smooth and sure to settle the nerves temporarily.

"In point of fact," He says "I am the weapon. However, I do have a weapon as well." He draws forth a pen.

Sally Mae drinks it, "Thank you, Hearth. Those kids are... a handful. Foam's a sweetie but she doesn't stand up for herself. Ikenna is.. oh that boy is trouble."

Sylvi blinks...then shrugs. "Works for me, I guess. I'll be right back down, meet you at the front door. Back in a bit, Mom."

"Check on Mrs. McGillicuddy, Sylvi. Just to be kind." Kerri says this to Sylvi's retreating feet, so it's not certain if the message got across.

"Thank you again for offering to patrol, Jonas."

A slight gesture to Sally Mae, a wait-a-moment gesture.

Sally Mae nods

Jonas says "Quite happy to, Hearth"

Soon enough, Sylvi is back down the stairs, "C'mon, Jonas!"

Flopsy is at her side, and she holds her spear easily.

He clicks the pen, and it changes into a great sword that has the words "Less Mighty, but it works" on the blade. "Lead on"

Sylvi blinks...then laughs. "That's great! Oh, Dagmar's going to love that. Let's go."

"Thank you. Percy Jackson movies aside, I think it's relatively unique" He follows

Flopsy tips a salute to the older women and goes out on patrol with them.

Once they're gone. Sally Mae says "Not sure what to make of him."

"You're not alone. Siv is positively beside herself about how 'weird' he is." A bemused look.

"And sorry for stopping you before...I just don't want to air the children's issues in front of a stranger."

"Oh?" Sally Mae says "Siv fussing over things normally means it's well and truly under her skin"

"No need to apologize, " Sally Mae says "he's been helping with the kids and they knwo him well and vice versa so I didn't think it mattered but.. well"

"Exactly. There's likely more to come of it between Siv and Jonas, I think."
"I have to admit...Ikenna troubles me. Not sure we can keep him occupied enough to keep him from wanting to be disruptive."

"Ah, good point. I haven't seen him with the children much, so I forgot."

"Oh that eshu boy ist just a .. I swear he enjoys finding out what rules are just so he can break them. He set up a lemonade stand. I thought 'okay' that's adorable then.. where did he get that? Turns out he 'borrowed' it from another street when it was left alone"

"Claimed that because it was left deserted on a front lawn, then like any other piece of furniture clearly someone wanted it taken away"

"Oh, no!" She winces. "Was it restored to its owner?"

"He seems part Piskie."

"Yes, and he was made to apologize" Sally Mae says. "DeBuke training has prepared me for clever boys who aren't as clever as they think they are"

Kerri chuckles. "I'll admit, Lut and Tig didn't help me prepare for that. They were always mischievous, but they knew the limits. So thank you for being able to step in." She pauses. "I never think of eshu as staying in one place long, but I don't want to treat him like some people treat cats -- like he'll just naturally be able to take care of himself, wherever he wanders. How on earth does one raise a young eshu?"

"I'm not sure, Caspian .. I could ... Oh I could call Caspian, why didn't I think of that!"

A blink. "Well, I think you did. And I'm glad you did! Yes, please, ask for his insight on this."

"Well, he's an Eshu.. his dad a DeBuke who eended up in love with his Eshu mother and ...well, wanders with her still... If Caspian knows, maybe there's a mentor of the wandering folk..maybe his own mother"

"I can't imagine living like that. Maybe for a vacation, but not as a lifestyle."

"Truth to tell? My ideal traveling is a quick trip from one hot tub to another spa ... hope I can afford that one day " a smile.

"Lucjan & Lauge aren't really a problem. They compete with each other at being the better troll. Lut and Tig have actually been teaching them, call the boys the 'mini-we'. And Tiffany taught this this Code of Dagda Cadence"

"A...code of Dagda cadence ? Oh, I look forward to hearing that. I imagine the minis will want to stay with the Lodge. Or perhaps the Farm would be interested in having them visit?"

"Mmm I think they'll grow to be fine additions. I do wonder how they'd handle being separated for any length of time. I think desspite their rivalry, they would miss each other terribly. " At the hearing that, Sally Mae laughs "Hold on.. I actually know the song now. They sang it a lot. Here.."

And she repeats it for the Hearth's amusement.

The Hearth reacts in variations of amusement, amazement, and dismay.

"I don't know , but ..should we write that down so it's not forgotten, or hope that it is?" Sally Mae chuckles

"Oh, it's painfully brilliant. It needs to be recorded for an unwitting posterity. And possibly performed at Pennons." A wink.

"Oh my goodness... as a surprise for the Chief? " Wanting to know if she should keep it on the downlow