#rivervale_lodge

"Thanks.. feels like I've been gone for weeks. What's been going on since I've been gone?" A look to Tiffany "I heard something about Kids"

"Hm. We have been beset by young people. Siv rescued, and then was rescued. She is miffed about the second half of that. And now..." A pause, and she sighs. "Well, a number of our wilders seem to have taken themselves on an adventure, and have not yet returned. Siv appears to be among them -- she is gone, as is the bottle with her boat. I do not think it is time to be concerned for them just yet." That may be as much to reassure herself as anything else.

Tiffany looks a bit sheepish at something.

"Did they leave a note or anything?" Vali says raising a brow . Tiff's expression is not lost on him but he's not sure how to get her chatting.

He has yet to put hand on the sword.

"She did. It was full of confidence." Her expression clearly indicates that the confidence may only carry so far.

"Vali...I have Speaker. Who will wield Gram, in your thinking?"

"Whoever wields it, needs to face some truths... Chief, the sword won't let you lie. When you hold it, you can't lie, and if you hold onto it when you're lying to yourself...it hurts to hold onto." He says

"I'll be backing away from the kryptonite now then" Tiffany steps back

"Mm. Dangerous indeed. But powerful, and necessary against our foe."

"I guess the question is, who out of your hearth, storm, mountain combo can handle the truth? And YES movie quotes are racing through my head. Who can face their own lies and handle it?"

"Mm. I would be willing, but again, I am armed. Beyond myself...it depends on the particular Hearth and Mountain. That has not yet been decided."

"Then who should wield it isn't really decided either, but we have it." He says "There's one more thing..." A sigh "When and if Skallstryke is slain, it must be returned to the Dreaming."

"Where in the Dreaming?"

"In any stream, well, or river therein. Water will convey. How I know that I don't remember, but I do remember the fact of it"

A nod. "It will be done. Please wrap it well until we decide upon its wielder."

"Then you recognize my quest is done?" There's something formal in his question.

She reaches out to rest a hand on his shoulder. "Sir Vali, you have ventured to seek a treasure, and that treasure you have found. You have returned it here where we may use it to defeat a foe. You have done well. Your quest is complete."

There's a rush of..something cold leaving him, and he smiles, "Thank you, Chieftain. I'll put this away." He gives Tiffany another odd look, "Be right back." Yup. Vali is wondering what his Girl is NOT talking about.

And he goes.

Tiffany looks at the Chieftain, "Damsels.. yuck" Everything she says is a lie, but her smile says it all..but yes there is something she's nervous/confused about

Brekke looks to Tiffany. "Something preoccupies you."

"Pfft? Me? I just.. you know... uhm.. ANne Marie... she's no longer on fire I hear? So.. she'll be working on clearing out..the bratbunch. All of them."

She bites her lip at the word 'all'

"They need homes," Brekke agrees reasonably. "Good homes, with guardians who can devote attention to them. Nurture them." She gets herself a mug of coffee from the urn. "What are your thoughts on this?"

"Please, the one thing Vali and I have always agreed on is that I WANT to have Cankles so big they have their own zip code as I puke my guts up" A snort.. then "Good homes?"

"Mm." Some slight amusement. "Try pregnancy on a sea voyage." She sips her coffee and claims her customary seat. "Good homes, yes. Guardians who care for them as individuals." A measuring look at the pooka. "Whom do you think would suit each of the childlings?"

A smile at the mention of the Sea Voyage and a sympathetic "Wuff. I'd be worried about being harpooned." Then "I just.. you know, Margilita's... she's got nothing to learn from me.. I mean, what nocker is interested in booms, bangs, and how to handle both? But... well... she's kind of like a rash"

"Kind of like a rash....?" That seems to be the only part that the Chieftain has trouble decoding.

"You know... it's there and then.. it gets huge"

"Ah...you mean...in your life, she has become bigger than you expected." A nod. "Have you spoken with Vali about taking her into your family?"

"Theyr'e like doritos, he's gonna say we can't just crunch one.. and I think you know, he prefers sun to moon? And it's not .. it's what he... but how do I? I'm gonna look like I'm in a bowl of cereal here. Hermones, folks will say and laugh and you know how pooka hate to be laughed at"

Yup. She's troubled

Sally mae enters "Chief, got good news about the kids. Anne Marie thinks she can set them up at some holds with no trouble. And I was just there so she brought a list. Now my Aunt... Caspian's mother? She's an Eshu so she'll be happy to mentor Ikenna and we know he's the real trouble maker. BUt there's this cooperative in Mexico that will be happy to have Margilta... and..."

"Dame Tiffany, please..." But then Sally Mae comes in. The Chieftain nods, "This is good news, especially about Ikenna. He would not be happy here for long, I think. As for Margalita...from what I understand, I believe anybody would be lucky to have her join their home. But how would the cooperative support her? She is still a childling...would any one person be willing to act as her guardian, or would it be a communal upbringing?"

"Communal mentorship from what I understand, one person teaching her one thing, then another that thing.. not sure how nockers work it" Sally Mae says

"Hm. Perhaps good for a wilder, but I am not sure it is sufficient for a childling." A sidelong look at Tiffany and a sip of coffee.

Tiffany frowns "Wait, they just treat her like a cigarette in a girl's room?"

"Pass her around, light her up, snuff her out, until they want something else to buzz stufff for them?" TIffany says touchy "What the hell? "

Sally mae looks confused, "Tiffany?"

"I mean, you helped watch her? Does she seem like the sort who would like to ... just ... be a cog in the machine?" Tiffany says

Sally mae says "They've only been taking apprentices in one form or another another among the kith for centuries, Tiffany."

"This is true. And perhaps it would be good for her to learn from so many. But I cannot think it would help her form attachments, to have no one guardian to call her own. But...if there is no other option...." A resigned sip of coffee.

"Well, the only local nocker we have in the fief is a wilder who does seige engines and she's too young to take on apprentices..." Sally mae says "There's always Goblin Town in New york, but it's pretty unseelie and the only fellow willing to mentor there right now has a shady reputation which is why Anne Marie thought Fenix would be better but if you want her closer..."

"GOBLIN town? Down down, with Julie Brown? Hell no!" Tiffany says "They'll turn her into some mustache twirling jerk off! And you know how sensitive young women become about facial hair, Sally Mae, YOU above all other people!"

"We are underserved in terms of nockers...." Brekke notes.

Sally Mae blinks, and yes, she checks her own upper lip "me over all other? HEY... I do not have facial hair"

Oh, yes, Brekke seems very interested in sipping from her mug. It's the easiest way to hide a grin.

"So we import..we order them on Glamazon dot comhere" Tiffany paces "What about glassman?"

"Betrand?" Sally Mae says "Sylvi's friend? Oh good idea, we can see if his family is looking toa dopt.."