#rivervale_lodge

bzzt Come to Big House, sticks and horses?

*bzzt* Ok.

And about 30 minutes later, Adam walks up the path from parking to the Lodge.

And knocks.

A small dog runs over and.., yap! Rooooo roooo! Wag wag wag.

Kerri opens the Lodge door. "Adam. Good morning. Dagmar told me you would be by. Come in."

Dagmar is dressed for work - jeans, boots, flannel. She's also eating a danish. Cheeeeese.

"Have you eaten? There's plenty," Kerri offers.

"Oh. Hello, Mrs Davidson. Thank you. Yes, I ate."

Buddy pauses at the doorway, wiping his paws. Notices Dagmar and her Danish, and squeezes in to sit and stare ADORINGLY up at her.

"Hey Sam."

"Buddy, danishes are not for dogs. Perhaps Connor could wash his hands and have one?"

"Hey Adam. Sure you don't want? They're gooOod."

A nod. "For people, yeah."

Kerri smiles at Dagmar's approval.

"Oh. Hey, uh, Conner." He looks at the Danish. "Well.... I guess."

A soft whine. He Wants One noooow.

"Well....A nibble for Buddy, a whole danish for Connor, Okay?" Sometimes even Kerri can be softhearted.

"Oh, uh, I should wash my hands. Too. Uh, Conner, where's a sink?"

Dag grins at Adam's tactic.

He (politely!) gobbles the tidbit, then runs to the kitchen. He pats the door with a paw before disappearing within.

Adam follows and washes up.

An approving nod at Adam if she catches his eye as he goes.

"Kerri, are you going to be competing at all at Pennons? Pies?"

Inside, a small boy is already washing his hands. He has some bits of leaves stuck in his hair, but mostly is splashing soapy water around in an effort to be done as soon as possible. “Oh! Hi Dagmar’s Friend!”

"Well, sometimes I wonder if I should bow out for a year, but...then I remember that I love winning that contest." She winks at Dagmar.

A laugh. "Good reason!"

"Adam." And he joins the younger boy. "You got some stuff in your hair."

"I have a few new notions, too. I'm thinking apple in pomegranate puree, with an almond-crumb topping."

“I know! The leaves are the best in fall, aren’t they? They smell like autumn.” He waves his hands to get some of the water off. “Miss Kerri makes terrible danishes. Only dogs like them so I sent Buddy to eat them so she wouldn’t feel bad. Try not to let her know.”

"That sounds fancy..."

"Uhhh... ok. Here, dry." He does the same.

"Does it sound too fancy? Maybe I should go for simple?"

“Oh. But they’ll dry in their own without gettin’ towels dirty. It’s rude to make more laundry.” He doesn’t appear to extend those concern to his own clothes.

"Up to you, dude." And Adam will head back out.

"Not too fancy - sidhe, right?"

He follows afterwards, wiping hands on his shirt. “What’s your favorite flavor for fall? I like cold water burbling in the creek, or wind over the trees, but probably the BEST is fire crackling at dusk.”

"Yes, but boggans are among the judges. They tend to prefer fewer unnecessary bells and whistles." She mulls it over for a few moments.

A grin at Connor. "We should have some more bonfires before the weather get very cold, shouldn't we, Connor?"

“You should make autumn pies. The soft dirt is schmocolate and with maple candy maple leaves and then there’s a candy worm on top.” Thoughtful. “Or a real one?”

He wags his tail at the Hearth. “If you want, no one will say no to their favorite hearth.”

"I just might do that," Kerri smiles. "If not for the competition, then for here."

"Oh, a bonfire could be fun..."

"Thank you, Connor." She passes the boy his danish. "Adam, please help yourself. How are you doing?"

He tugs a little on Adams sleeve, a little shy around the still new boy in town. Offering him the Danish he’s been given.

"Uh... oh, thanks. Uh, good, Mrs. Davidson, thanks." He eats a bite.

"Chief said she was going to offer you the chance to wear one of the Rivervale tabards at Pennons. Isn't that great?"

"Means you and I will be representing the Lodge for everybody to see."

He nods, "She said, yesterday."

Kerri busies herself with upkeep around the hall.