#rivervale_lodge

School is back in session, and all's quiet on the Lodge front. Connor wanders down a familiar, well-worn trail and finds himself at the King household - Barn, not Lodge, that is. The Ironhawk homestead, for clarification.

Ears perks and nose twitches, and he gives a polite "Woof!" aloud, even on two legs, in case Brown Dog or Two-bit are in attendance and would wish a greeting.

Odin 'mrowfs' and leaps to a High Spot no Dog can reach.

He watches Odin amusedly, but does not approach. The pup has gotten a swipe or two from kitties in the past, and learned a cautious respect!

Twobit barks and greets!

He can hear Tove singing inside

Edging over to the windowsill, he leans against the building, ears perked to catch the sound of her voice in song.

"Mad is the captain of Alpha Centauri
We must be out of our minds
Still we are shipmates bound for tomorrow
And everyone here's flying blind

Oh, we must believe in magic
We must believe in the guiding hand
If you believe in magic
You'll have the universe at your command" Humming as she cooks.. oh her food is so spicy but the meat smells SO good

A soft sigh and his tail thumps lightly against the siding as he listens, enjoying the sound and smells of this Home.

"Mad is the crew bound for Alpha Centauri
Dreamers and poets and clowns
Bold is the ship bound for Alpha Centauri
Nothing can turn it around"
Then she turns at the light thump "Hello?"

"No-buddy here but the chickens."

"Oh, Connor, come on in, how are you?" She smiles

He hesitates in the doorway, wiping off his feet carefully, before stepping shyly in. Of the homesteads of the lodge area, this is one least familiar to him, though he looks curious as he peers around the entryway. "Hullo Miss Tove. Something sure does smell awful."

"Oh thank you," She says "You like pork chops?

He gives her an incredulous look. "Do I?! I'm actually the pork-chop eating cham-peen of Bergen County. I have a medal... " He pats his pockets. "Sure I have it around somewhere..."

"I see... my usual spicey, half that, or do you want it like my husband who likes very little spice at all?"

"Um, um...." He looks curious, and unsure how to answer. "Yes!"

"Right." SHe smiles and goes for half her usual to play it safer

He follows behind her like... well, like a puppy... tagging at her heels. "Actually, Miss Tove? I thought maybe you could be helpin' me with something, maybe, iffin you're not busy and all, what with the pork chops..."

"What can I Help you with, Connor?" She says "I can cook and talk at the same time"

"I'm looking for a... a bird."

"What's this bird look like?" She asks knowing with pooka you have to give them a chance

"It's about this big..." He taps his palm to indicate something small that could fit within, "Made out of wood, and when you give it a little kiss, it will sing, like..." And he gives a soft whistle.

She beams "Well, I may not have the specific one you're hoping for but I do have something..." she turns the heat down a bit "Wait here, don't touch anything"

"Wait, wait, it's a SPECIAL bird."

"Only I can hear it. Oh, and Two-bit. And Brown Dog. But no one else. Well, maybe Oak and Edie..."

He calls after her, and then turns his eyes to the chops in the pan...

/roll 5

BIC: "Oh a dog whistle? I.. oh sorry hun, I don't have one of those" From the hallway she's fishing something out

She was only gone a moment, but Connor IS very polite. He has his hands behind his back and is just admiring the cooking meats.

"I don't have a dog whistle, I guess everyone can hear this..." She hands him a small wooden object "But you might like it"

"Oh. Do you know where I could find that bird? It's 'portant. Or can I make one? I don't have any money, but I can find good sticks."

He accepts the object and turns it over in his hands, sniffing curiously at it.

"Here, let me show you" She takes it and shows him how it can work, making a whoops slip sound with it

"And... would you like me to buy you a dog whistle when I go shopping?"

He pulls it and his ears perk UP as it makes the sound, and he laughs! "This is a GOOD bird." He looks up at Tove, and he shuffles his feet a bit. "I don't think I'm 'posed to ask people to buy me things. But I can't GO to the store." He sounds a bit sorrowful about this, but then adds, "Also, I don't have any money."

"mmm" She tries to gauge what's true or not, but then.. the poor boy's appearance keeps him from so much

He offers, "It's a bird for a flower. Flowers are pretty but they're all delicate, and might get broken or hurt. But if they have a bird for a friend, they can have the bird go Twittery-twee twee if help is needed. But it has to be a QUIET bird, because Flowers have sensitive ears."

"Well," She says "How about you do some small chores for me, and in exchange I buy you one?"

His head tilts as he considers this. "It's okay? Really? Not just 'cause I'm cute 'n' all? Because I CAN help. I am a good helper." His voice somber, and sincere - the confirmation apparently important to him.

"I know you are. Jonas says you're a very bright boy, and apparently your wood skills are getting better and better. Gerd boasts about you, but as your big sister she might be biased. However, when enough folks and my own eyes agree, I have to go along. You're a fine young man. How are you with sticks?"

"I'm pretty good at chasing and chewing, and I know how to find the ones that will burn dry and hot, and the bendy green ones that don't burn easy because they still have the wet inside, and you can play Native-Peoples-Guide and make smoke signals but only if you're SPECKFUL of it, or sometimes you put marsh-a-lows on them." He offers.

"Handy, I would like you to gather some... they're cluttering up our drive way after the last hard wind and jaymes is very busy and keeps meaning to get to it. I nearly stepped on one the other day. Can you clear off the drive way? Pile up sticks on the side?"

"Yes! I can do that! That's FETCH. I'm EXTRA good at that. I can do it now?"

"You do it for fifteen minutes, as much as you can, and when you come in here, you will wash your hands... bothsides, and then eat a big porkchop for taste test... and later I will buy you a whistle only special ears can hear"

"Aye aye!" He scuttles out the door, and is soon hard at work collecting sticks! He gets distracted for only a moment when he finds something a little odd, and sets this stick aside. Soon, there is quite a heap of sticks and branches set mostly-neatly to the side of the driveway, and he even has swept the dry leaves to a pile as well.

And soon enough "Connor, come in, wash your hands"

He comes in, with a stick carefully held by the edges. "I found a thing. Is it a winter-house?"

"I thought it was leaves at first and almost swept it up and away..."

Tove takes the stick carefully