#rivervale_lodge

Gerd takes a breath, and pours the tea just so. There's a ritual, sluagh know it, boggans know it, and at least one troll knows it.

The goth gear fits the season, but also her mood. Death hangs over the lodge like a shadow, or maybe it's just her imagining? But she has learned the secrets of the victorians, and the dynasties... of travelers on the road. Death may loom, dark times rise up, hope seems frail, but still there is tea.

From leaves come flavor, how fitting for autumn, she thinks.

Alone at the table, she closes her eyes and breathes it in. It's like meditation.

Why even the dogs are quiet!

Ahh...

And Sylvi comes down the stairs, a bit of a skip in her step, humming a tune. "Oh, hey, Gerd!"

The cup she was just about to lift rattles "ack"

And in comes Dagmar from outside. Tromp tromp tromp.

Sylvi's back to humming, unaware of having caused a disturbance. She plops her school books down on a table, then looks over at the door. "Hey, Dagmar. How's it going?"

Gerd eyes the tea and sighs.

"Hey. Okay, I guess."

Sylvi nods at her, then looks over at Gerd. "Something wrong with your tea?"

"No, the tea is..was...perfect." She sips it , nope, not the same anymore. "I had resigned myself to a solemn moment"

"Yeah, that's weird."

"We all deal in our way with the growing shadows of doom's announcement"

Eyebrow.

"I mean, we're all gonna die someday."

"Oh. You're doing that." Sylvi gives a bit of a grin.

"Well, kind of. I mean, part of us just keeps going 'round and 'round." Sylvi makes a circular motion in the air, and shrugs.

"That?" Lofty

"Yeah, true."

"That," Sylvi repeats to Gerd. "The Goth thing."

"Someone has to counter how obnoxiously chipper you've been, Sylvi" Gerd says "To all things balance"

She looks a little smug. "Jealous." A firm pronouncement, and she opens a notebook and textbook, humming again.

"Dagmar at least is suitably growly," A sip.

"Growly," Sylvi grins, glancing at Dagmar. "Think that sounds right, Dagmar?"

"Ain't growly." She grumbles.

"Hostile witness aside, I think I believe I've won my case" A slight smirk and another slow drink of tea

"Totally growly. Thought you'd be all un-growl-ified after Pennons and Adam and everything."

A grunt, jaw jutting a bit.

"I liked Pennons."

"you were awesome and Pennons, Colton too, though one hestitates to mention the latter least it start more giddiness on someone's part" A glance towards Sylvi "But why are you growly then, Dagmar?"

Scowl. "Ain't I allowed to have moods? Jesus."

Sylvi smiles at the mention of Colton. "He totally almost got you."

"Yeah, it was a good fight."

"You are, but we're allowed to be wanting to be nosy. Still, hey, you do you." An admission, "Geeze, when you hit his arm, it was like ringing a crystal gong."

"Damn good glass. Shoulda shattered."

Sylvi bites her lip happily at some thought.

"I think Bert deserves a lot of respect..." Gerd admits.

"Hell of a creation" She says then a slilght smile "And we helped. Powerful magic was donated"

Gerd then notices Sylvi's expression, and whispers to Dagmar "Twitterpated hard"

"Hm? You said something?"

"You're all schmaltzy about your boyfriend."

"Because I've got a boyfriend to be schmaltzy about!" Sylvi sing-songs unabashedly.

Snort!

"If I ever get this bad I may have to ask you to take me out, Dagmar. Quick blow to my goofy grinning head. " Gerd says with a shudder "it's Siv all over again"

"You ain't the only one with a boyfriend."

Gerd raises a brow at that.

"You have a boyfriend, Dagmar?"