#rivervale_lodge

"Yeah?" Grin. "Did you say yes?"

"Well, yeah."

"Okay, yeah. Of course. You said you wanted to be more a part of things." She nods. "How much more can you be?"

“Can I have a Rivervale collar?”

"No. Rivervale doesn't collar people."

Adam eats; it really is good pastry.

“Oh.” He looks a bit down as though scolded.

"I think I could make you a tabard, Connor...and perhaps a Rivervale vest for Buddy? But you'll have to help me prepare for the contest."

She stops, and looks at Kerri to double-check she didn't overstep.

A brief nod to Dagmar, reassuring.

"Anyhow, you'll get to represent us. I didn't get to, last year - it's because we're helping the Chief."

And he brightens back up at Keri’s offer. “Do you need a taste tester? Or I’m good at fetch if you need a squire for the cooking contest.” A pause. “If Brogie won’t get mad.”

"We get to show off."

"Yeah, sure."

A frown. "What?"

"Didn't you, last year, Dagmar? While fighting on the wilder team?"

"I think Brogan will understand and appreciate the help, Connor."

“Are you a squire now too?” He asks Adam. “You’re a little old. But they should let you cause you’re not a dog.”

"No. I'm not a squire." He licks his fingers.

"We didn't get tabards - I mean, we repped..."

Connor finishes his bite of Danish and licks his fingers similarly.

"It was kinda unplanned."

“Squires have to do all sorts of chores. I do chores too but I don’t get a title.”

"Hm." Kerri looks thoughtful, and nods to Dagmar.

"Well, chores are part of humility, and that's a knightly virtue."

"Connor...." Kerri sighs. "You do know that Brogan was assigned to be my squire, correct?"

Adam nods.

He chews a mouthful of Danish, before answering. “No?”

"What are you gonna do when we're not on joust duty? There's LOTS of fighting to watch, of course... Tove's in a bardic contest... there's artists, too, showing off projects..."

"Well...I mean that he was a Squire whether I said so or not. And squire...it's a title of the nobility, Connor."

“Why can’t I be a nobility? Don’t I have pointy ears too?”

He reaches up and tries to straighten out the flop of his ears.

"Is...is that what you want?" Kerri sounds dubious.

“I can teach ‘em to stand up straight. And have good manners.”

“Oh, good nanners. Can we make nanner bread later? They’re getting all brown and speckly like they should. I know because I hid the so they get ready faster. Otherwise people kept eating them.

"Figured I'd just, you know, stay close to you. Unless you don't want me to. I guess I'd.... uh... I don't know."

"Well, sure we'll hang out!"

Kerri might look a little relieved at Connor's change in topic. "We can certainly make some banana bread later."

"Also, Kerri, I second banana bread. Connor is on fire today."

“Then you can toasted marshmallows by me!”

A chuckle. "So noted. I'll make some regular, and some with chocolate chips. I'll make sure you know which is which, Connor."

He wrinkles up his nose.

Adam nods. "Ok."

"I can't wait. Last year was fun - seeing a big hold is just something else..."

"-This- is a big place....."

Kerri chuckles. "By baronial standards, this is modest."

“You’ll like it.” Connor says to Adam. It was nice, seeing so many new people, and being able to talk to them. And make friends. I never see strangers when I have a a mouth ‘cept at the holidays.”

"He means Samhain...." And a bit of a frown. "Connor...you may not be able to go trick-or-treating this year."

“Oh?”

"We may need you to stay close to home. But...we'll have other fun, and I'll make sure you get to go to some event where children wear costumes."