#rivervale_lodge

Brekke lifts a brow at this, and looks to Frank for his response.

Frank shakes his head. "You are not the first, Kyle, or the last. I take no offense."

"Well, perhaps you don't, but I inquired about a bit, asking others. Almost to a man, every changeling I spoke to said you were as good as your word, kindly, and dedicated. That you had never turned a sincere request for help aside even if the advice you gave didn't always make them happy. Some confessed your house did not set well with them, but even those declared you 'one of the goodones' which.. may not sound flattering to you, still I think speaks of respect in its way"

"Thank you for that, Kyle."

Brekke presses her lips together briefly, then turns to Kyle. "My husband accepts the burden of his House as a matter of course. However, I appreciate your effort, and your attempts to find out more."

"While I am glad you appreciate the efforts, thanks are needed- I did it for some selfish reasons, well, that and because of family. I'm glad to know my son will be in good hands visting you all, as might my wife and daughter." Ahem "also Brenda says we can't afford to alienate neighbors if we ever want to have a Kihtain Couple's night where we invite folks over for a board game or dinner or something"

Frank's beard betrays no emotions.

While Kyle is a troll and more reserved than some kith, it is clear that 'happy spouse happy house' is a factor in his life even now

A slow nod. "She is wise in matters of society."

"Darn tootin" he says with somber agreement, then he looks at the path "This could use shoring up"

Frank nods. "We were just remarking on that."

"Yes. Would you be willing to assist?"

"Sure. I'm not expert, but I used to take Adam hiking every few months. He likes sports better, but I made sure he knew the important things, don't litter, how to set up a camp... and treating the paths well. " He bends down to see how to best do that

"Probably want some supplies; we have them at the Lodge. I was thinking some four by fours, railroad spikes, then fill in with top soil."

"Mm. You have more interest in the wilderness than I had understood."

"But we're not anywhere near the shore. OR the train." A voice pops up, and Connor peeks out from around a bend in the trail, back aways from the way that Kyle had come.

"Oh not so much" he says "I take the family trails usually, even when alone. " he turns when he sees Connor behind him, "It would appear here is your real tracker. Hello, Scout." Somber nod

"I'm hunting rabbits." He grins up at the trio of trolls. "Unique ones."

"Connor," Brekke nods with a grin. "Silent as ever, until you are not."

"Ah, yes."

Frank's beard twitches.

" I hear you hunt domesticated rabbits the tame way" Kyle says, as a father trained in bad puns.

Connor laughs delightedly. "Yes! Yes I do!" Then a thoughtful look. "If there were any domesticated rabbits, they would be at the barn with Dagmar. She likes us critters."

Frank nods agreement.

"Or they critters. She likes me more when I'm people, but likes critters more than most people. It's confusing."

He throws up his arms in the air. "Women!"

Perhaps, a little less tee-vee?

Kyle's lip twitches at something

Brekke raises a brow. "Please explain, about women."

Straight faced.

He gives a mighty huff. "If I could, then I'd be a billion-illion-aire. But I know the womens here are darn-tootin' smart. And the men are smart enough to not think that the women are anything less. So we're better off than more folk. They get into all SORTS of dumb fights on the shows for no good reason."

Brekke nods. "The shows are not the best stories, in general. The Mountain or Tove or Torrin can tell you better stories, Connor."

"Pee-Bee-Ess shows 'All in the Family' after my cartoons. Miss Edith is smarter than he thinks though. Archie is NOT always a nice person. Oh, will they?" His tail flashes. "I don't really WANT any in-person stories unless people are bored. But they're not bored because everyone is so busy, and I would just be in the way."

"When you become a man, if you're very lucky, Connor, you'll have a woman in your life who makes you realize that the shows get it wrong. It's not about a man and woman fighting with each other when t heyr'e in love, it's about how they have each other's backs when the world seems ready to go after either of them. Of such marriages legends should be made, but so seldom are"

"I'd be happy to, Connor."

He listens to Kyle, and nods. "I thought it was a good thing that the show had the laughing built in, because I didn't get the jokes sometimes."

A brief furrow of her brows as Kyle begins speaking, but then she nods. A glance at Frank.

"And you never call your lady a dingbat. That seems RUDE."

"What kind of bat is that, anyways?"

"Oh, I am sure a chimeric one has been encountered at some point, though I have never seen one."

"I would not call -any- lady a dingbat." Frank corrects slightly.

Kyle looks curious at the term Chimeric but nods in agreement with Frank

"Or a meathead!" He giggles though. "That one is funny. Like your head is made of meat. Like a meatball. OH. Maybe we can have meatballs?"

Frank's beard hides a smile. "I think we should definitely ask Kerri."

"I like the way you can squish the meat in your fingers. It's as much fun as making mudpies, 'ceptin Miss Kerri doesn't let me make those in the kitchen any more."

"Given how Connor made sure I didn't get lost, a reward meal of some sort might be due. " A nod

His tail flashes and he perks up. "AND stories?"

Frank nods. "And stories."

He moves over and reaches up towards Kyle, offering him a hand. "Maybe there are stories I'd like that Mr. Adam would like too. About chimerical wolves that might eat the unique rabbits, that he might see out here. "

To Kyle he explains, "They like Dagmar best, but are NOT pets."