#rivervale_lodge

"The Hearth at the new Lodge, Sir Connor is storm at." A bit... irritated. "I'm better than he is"

"But it was suggested I go and assist him, help shore him up," A breath

"If you don't want to play another game, try changing the rules?" He sips his milk. "Show them what you can do. And then if they don't 'precciate you, stop helping and show them what they're missing out on. Then if they STILL don't 'precciate you, then they're just being dummies." A pause and he twitches an ear. "And sorry if that's mean to say, but it's TRUE, because you're GOOD at things."

"Why aren't you a decade older?" She smiles at him, then strokes his hair, "I have a lot to think about, and I wanted to ask Mrs Kerri's opinion for I burned any bridges or played any games. It'll wait though. Imp[ortant thing is she gets better. Now, I need your help for something else. You've watched Dame Dagmar. What do you think is a great snack or dessert to make for her that says I'm sorry? I owe her an apology, and I don't know about you, but sweet things are good apologies to ME. "

"I could be. But I'm still just lil' ol' me. It's the only me I know how to be." He says, enigmatically. Then, he rubs at his chin, thinking. "She's prickly 'cuz she thought you thought she couldn't handle things? I don't know if a food fixes that. But it never hurts. Maybe... " He pauses, brow furrowed up as he thinks deep thoughts. "Maybe something she can make. A treat, and the recipe? Cuz you know she can do it if she tries it out." And, slyly, he offers, "I think she's par-ticky-larly partial to cinnamon rolls." Naming one of his favorites.

"More because I began to blame her for something that was not her fault. She had a right to be ired," then a smirk at the mention of Cinamon rolls, "There's a bit of the grifter in you. Maybe I will teach her how to make those. And a treat besides"

"What about dog treats?" He mentions, then quickly clarifies, "Not for me! But the way to a dog's heart is through it's stomach. And the way to Dagmar's heart... well, one way... is through her animals. She loves 'em something FIERCE. Oh, or horse cookies. Can horses HAVE cookies? I bet they'd like them."

She sits up right, "Oh my gosh, Connor, you're a genius!"

He looks startled, but pleased?

"Of... course I am?"

"I know recipes for horse treats and such, how to make them for long trails, and... oh my word. She'll love that"

His tail wags! "Connor, SUPER Genius!"

"Just leave that poor road runner be"

He laughs! He's seen that cartoon. "I'd rather be the road runner. Meep meep!"

She smiles at him "Well, you be the road runner then. "

"I AM learning to run super fast." He confides. "...and not run into things at the end. That's the hard part."

"I bet," She nods.

"Do you want help with cooking? Otherwise I think I'mma go finish that nap, I guess." A frown, though, something still bothering him.

"I've got it," She smiles Then pauses "Are you okay?"

"Well..." He shuffles a bit. "We didn't get any fruit for Hearth Kerri. And flowers ain't good either you said... so I don't know what to do to help her feel better. Everyone else is cookin' for her, and helping out. I wanted to get a present. But I don't know what would be good."

"Oh really? So... Olgar telling me that you've been warming her feet and trying to keep her company like a pillow, risking your own health I might add, is not true?" Brow

He blushes a little bit, looking sheepish. "It's okay, 'cuz dogs can't catch people colds."

"Well, s tay in dog form while your'e there, it MIGHT help, but you might also get sick. You don't think that's not doing something? Risking yourself for a loved one? Connor of Rivervale, you're not fooling anyone but yourself if you don't think you haven't done a thing for Kerri. Now go play, or nap, or what not, but do not blame yourself when you've been quite the hero."

He gives her a little smile, and his tail wags. "Okay." And, he scrambles off towards his room, but not before commenting, "Oh, and No Raisins in the cinnamon rolls! That's IMPORTANT!"

A nod and she's totally unsure if that means definitely or none. Lies can be opposites or exagerrated. SO she'll make a set of both "Of course"

And he's off, to nap and dream of pastries.

And Sally Mae throws herself into work, and makes sure to get those horse treat recipes

Food is well under way when Adam comes into the lodge again. A veritable storm of smells of all sorts, and all of them pleasant

He raps at the door.

"Come on in" Sally Mae's voice

Adam does. "Hey Sally Mae. Chief around?"

"Afraid not, Count wanted a report from her directly. Something about the fish, err prisoners who tried to steal the horse"

"The..... okay... "

" I know, confused me at first as well. It was a group of horse thiefs, three of them. Dagmar stopped them, Jonas turned them to fish to keep them prisoner. Seems they've tried robbing other nobles horses before so the Count is going to interogate and learn more etc." A sigh "Hearth Kerri's still sick but I think on the mend"

"Ok. So, uh.... who's in charge?"

(Connor, obviously)

"I'd say me, but that's dubious. Mountain is out too so... well, I guess right now it is me, as there are only so many of us here in the lodge." SHe says "I can pass on notes or something."

"I don't have notes or anything. Just, there was a thing at that organic grocery store and I thought someone should know."

"Go ahead, I'm listening. Wait, is this about the Soup Can?"

Adam nods. "So I went to the store...." he relates what happened".... but, like, in the end? I mean.... He was only protecting the store? And I saw him, like, kick the self checkout machines and people went to a real cashier and, like.... that's jobs, right?"

"I've heard about this, yes," She nods "Thank you, Adam. What you have here is a chimera born of some worker's fears and annoyances. Maybe the dragons' death helped it come about. It shot at snow .. we may need to lay down the law on how muc hforce should be applied, but it doesn't sound malefic per se."

She actually DOES take notes down, hastily, "Flopsy might be able to talk to him"

"Yeah, like.... He was a smart ass? But it's not like he shot at me when he saw me, right? I could talk to him."

"If he shot you there would be hell to pay, rivervale takes care of it's own" A nod and she writes this down too. "Thanks, Adam. "

"Yeah, but he didnt." Adam reminds. "Ok, so. Cool."

"Connor ok?"

"Connor's fine, he was worried for Snow, and is worried he caused troublek, but it sounds like the trouble maker WAS Snow" She says "I think Connor wants to do more, and is unaware of the good he does do."

"He's a good kid."Adam grants.

"Yes. Glad he and Lily are hitting it off. How are you doing?" curious "I ask, because as a kinian, I know what it's like in a kithain world"

A shrug. "Fine." Beat "Mr.... Sir Vali called me a thane."