#rivervale_lodge

Vali comes in looking surprised, and perplexed.

Dag glances up from her homework. Eyebrow.

"Hey, Dagmar," He says still a bit perplexed, but nodding "How goes?"

"Fiiiine. But, uh - what's up?"

"Oh, nothing bad, Just.. uhm I need to get some of Gerd's stuff from her room"

"Oh?"

"Yup. She's moving out of her room here and into a room there." Vali scratches his chin "We've got the room, boy howdy do we. I was just surprised."

Dag... grins. "Good!"

Vali notices the look, then thinks it over, "Yeah, it is. I was missing her, which is weird as it's not like we've gone far. I just thought she liked the big room here. you? You seem less surprised."

She shrugs.

"We got some things in common, maybe."

"Might be why you two have butted heads one week then seem down right conspiratorial the next," A nod "But you're both pretty cool even IF you don't always realize how hilarious my jokes are." He faux clutches at his chest.

"We know exactly how bad they are." Smirk.

"But still. Good she's going home."

A thought , then "Dame Dagmar, if I were not a trusting soul, I might suspect that you gave her encouragement for a particular choice while no one else was looking."

"Gerd makes her own choices, pretty sure you know that."

"Uh huh" He says dubious, but a nod "I think she's still not sure what to make of Margalita. Margalita is only a few years younger than her, but sometimes that just means they have a gift for annoying each other. She might still drop by to get a break from the little nocker, or even visit your place. If you get babyied out, you know our door is always open too right?"

A gusty sigh.

"Yeah, yeah. Baby."

"Inescapable topic for you lately?" Almost by way of apology

Grumps.

"Sounds like" a nod, "Sorry, meant it as more as an offer of empathy and yadda yadda. So, I change the subject. Did I hear right that Star is now your horse?"

"Gonna enjoy what time I have left, that's all."

"And, yeah - Chief, I mean, she's still Chief's horse... but she's, like, my Knight-horse for doing work for the Lodge."

"And did you know, like, in the middle ages, chivalry - knight-stuff? - the name comes from having horses, so, like, having a horse can help me be a better knight?"

"Interesting, I heard it more like she was your horse and was just stabled here, but thanks for clearing that up- Still pretty cool. About to get myself a drink, do you want one?"

"We can't afford a horse..."

"..Dr. Pepper? Please?"

"RIght away" He gets one for her, and some grape soda for himself, hands her her soda, and then takes his own seat nearby "And I think you're a good knight, but there's always practice to get better."

"Can always get better." She nods.

"I want to be a hero, like the Chief."

"Tall order, even for folks our height. But she's a good role model" He pops his cold drink open.

She nods.

"I'd like to be able to offers something like this - I mean, maybe not a hold, I know those aren't easy..."

"But, like, a safe place."

"A haven," He nods "Now, that's interesting. Most folks admire the Chieftain for her freeing of prisoners ,or her warrior skills, and yes sometimes for her rule, but ...the fact she's made a 'safe place' is one that gets overlooked or at least taken for granted"

"Well, Chief, and Kerri, and everyone... but Chief IS the Chief, y'know?"

"The head cheese, numero uno, le Cahone le Grande, the Bearer of the Big Blue Britches, the Best Boss in Jersey since Springstein" He agrees

"And, I mean, she makes sure everyone that comes here gets a place."

"I think, for a time, folks thought Rivervale was isolated, not by geography, but by choice... and when the Chieftain heard that's what folks thought, well, maybe Gwydion pride had a factor, but she made sure they knew they were wrong. Now, Rivervale is the emerald in the Bergen Crown, green and sparkling"

"It was before, of course, but not everyone could see that" A sip

"Well, of course this is the best hold."

"I make it a point never to argue with a Gwydion with a pole arm" Sagely. "So this haven of yours, who do you hope to gather? "

"Kids. Ones who ain't got nobody."

"I was thinking I could be a foster mom?"

"That can be hard, some of those kids come in angry. "

"Course they do."

A nod "Got to keep your Gwydion temper in check for their sake, but if you can.. I bet.. older, probably much older you would make a great foster mom" yet another nod, "I'm sure of it. Teenagers and younger girls having a safe place to grow up, where they can sleep safe."

"Exactly." She chews on her lip. "Yeah. The temper is a problem. And, like... I'm not patient enough, and not... I mean, definitely not like Kerri or Chief."

"But here, like - Olgar was my first safe person?"