#rivervale_lodge

"Hey, little guy? You want breakfast?"

He inhales deeply, sniffing the air. "How come you're here alla time now? I mean, don't go or anything. Is that BISCUITS?"

"It is, and I am focusing on my college and my work here" She says "Also, it's Valentine's day and I am... well, valentineless"

"Miss Kerri is getting better. Will they take you back when she's up to 100 percenty again?" He leans in and whispers, "She doesn't make BISCUITS unless it's a special or sunday dinner sometimes. I -like- biscuits a whole lot. That's why they call them dog biscuits." Then, thoughtful, he gives her a hug. "I can be your Palentine."

"You're more jedi than sith" She smiles, then frowns "Oh my. I've been hanging around too many nerds"

He looks a bit perplexed, but wags his tail to go along with it. "Jaymes could give Buddy's Buddies little hearts on or a candy with for today."

"That's a good idea, you're turning into quite the business man," She says "But with a heart. "

"Stock prices are going pup!"

"Buy buy buy, sell sell sell. It's the cows and teddies!"

A fond smile "How are you liking your new job?"

"It's good. I like seeing all the things. I wish I could work more with Sir Carried When, but he works the bedtime shift."

"Yes," She sighs thoughtfully "He's.. very handsome, and also.. nice. "

"And how did you handle the big room by yourself last night? Was it lonely?" Tilt of head

"It's not all that bad. It's nice and cozy when you get used to it." He shuffles a bit, peering at the kitchen.

"I bet you were lonely. The first time I got my own bedroom I was bouncing, but some nights, it got so empty I didn't care for it..but you know, there's loneliness and there is solitude, one is sad, the other wonderful"

He fidgets a bit, and then offers. "It's good that Gerd is with her family."

"Some of her family, not all, clearly" A hand on his shoulder "Go on, eat up" His food is ready

He sighs, and reaches for a biscuit. "She has Edie now, too. So she's all set."

"Edie is a dog, not a sibling . Her dog. Not the same as her brother" Hearth firmness, "Now you know Gerd loves you more than some pet."

He gives Sallie May a solemn look. "I know. I know alots of things. I'm not silly-headed like brown dog." And he takes a big bite of the biscuit.

"I guess you're not, and I'm sorry if I was rude," She says "But I just want to make sure you know how special a person, a family member, you are"

"I know." He looks sad. "I broke someone's heart, once. I was a bad dog." His tail droops a bit.

"I know that your kith have a hard time speaking plain, but this is not your 'fault' it's not anyone's fault' it's life, and sometimes that comes with change. Not always good, no matter what Unseelie think, but not always bad. But I'll tell you what, if you want to see her, I can take you to Vali's house after school."

He shrugs a little. "It was someone else, a long time ago. ...I miss her sometimes. Not that it's not nice here. It's better here." He clarifies. "Even if Gerd lives somewhere else. It's still... still good."

She gives him a hug "You're being very brave."

"I gotta be. You don't hang out in the fruit drawer for a few years without picking up tips on how to be a blueberry." He hugs her back, and then holds out his biscuit. "Jelly?"

She lahys out more than one type of jam, jelly and butter "I'm such a slave driver I'll force yo uto pick your flavor"

He piles the toppings high, it's a messy consideration but he seems to be enjoying it. "Should we make Palentine's cards? I have 'struction paper, and glitter, and stuff. Sir Nightshift is new around here and might not have many pals yet. I should make a card for him first."

"Sure, why not" She says thinking she has nothing else to do, and at least she can bring some joy to someone.

And soon, they will be making cards and such. It's an important job.

Connor dives into the project with gusto, and will make a card for everyone! He focuses on Sir Caradwyn, then Gerd - can't forget Kerri and Olgar, and one for Oak because he's probably lonely. And then Dagmar, and His Friend Brogan, and of course Mr. Frank and the Chief...

And Tove! Maker of Best Pork Chops, and Boss, her husband. They cannot be forgotten!

And a smile, a wistful smile, breaks out on Sally mae's face "Very nice. I like how you picked slightly different colors for different couples"

He is scribbling on a last one, shoulders leaning so she can't see it. More glue, and reaching for the glitter.

As they work on the cards, Kerri appears. A quiet thank you to Sally Mae, and she looks approvingly at the card-making operation. "Connor, you get better and better at making cards every year."

"He's an artist" Sally Mae says putting on her best smile

"Can we make cookies with glitter on them too? Um. If it's okay. If you feel like it." He hovers a bit, a tiny protective guardian about knee high, giving Kerri a look of concern.

"Well, I'm afraid I already made some last night, so they'd be ready for the day. No glitter, but sprinkles. Let me see if they meet your approval." She brings out a cookie tin from a cabinet and opens it to let him see the pink-and-red-and-white frosted heart shapes.

A glance aside at SallyMae, though she makes no comment on the girl's expression at the moment.

"Ooooh! Those are all wrong though. I can help." And he turns the tin around to face the other direction, and giggles, "Upside down hearts are BUTTS." And then an uproarious laugh. He IS a small boy, after all.

Sally Mae chuckles at that a little at least

Kerri grins. "If your butt is some of those colors, you've got a problem."

And he laughs harder, almost falling out of his chair.

Kerri gives a bit of a chuckle, then selects a cookie for him while she puts the rest away for now. "We'll let you finish up your work, Connor," she says as she fetches him a glass of milk.

Sally Mae raises a brow, sensing a direction for her as well in that, so she nods "You've got this, Champ"

He beams at them both. "I got this." And works on finishing that last valentine, the one with extra glitter and drawings. Which Sally Mae will find left out for her later, once finished. ❤️

Which will make her smile.

Kerri looks to Sally Mae, "Help me here for a moment?" and leads her to the room she shares with Olgar (who is not there currently).

"of course" she follows, then when she sees it is empty, wryly says "I sort of thought this room would be in use today, begging your pardon for saying"

"Oh, trust me, it got a work-out this morning. But it's one of the few spaces in this Lodge where one can have a private chat. I don't want to leave Connor for long, but...you're looking sad, SallyMae."