#rivervale_lodge

"Mmm maybe that's the test" She wonders

"Do you want to be unseelie?"

"Nope. One thing mom and I have in common, neither of us is very happy Unseelie." A pause "Nice to have something in common with her."

"So, like..." A frown. "I mean, this isn't just about the House testing you, is it?"

"Should also be you seeing if you like them."

"Mmm, yeah. I guess..." A pause "Shit. Maybe that's what the Baroness is trying to do. Let me get a good look at it, all of it?"

"Maybe?"

"Maybe." She nods "Thanks, Dagmar. That's..good advice."

Shrug. "You should be happy."

"Folks don't always know when they're happy, but.. I am working on it"

"Yeah?"

"I mean, other than being tired - how do you feel about things so far?"

"I like it. I feel.. I fit, mostly. Mind you, in that grouop, I'm a bit o a prude ... but it's refreshing? You know? To be the conservative one? "

"Heh."

A grin, the first one in a bit "I Know, right? Like.. there? I'm almost a 'typical troll'. "

"Well, you like that?"

"I mean, here - I dunno if there is a typical troll..."

"More like, sometimes I worry I'm not GOOD at being a troll? So.. there, it's like it never even.. well, yeah, in this case I like it. But your'e right, here we have a pretty wide spectrum. I mean, anyone thinking Sylvi, you, gerd and me are interchangable is out of luck. Nevermind the grumps. Olgar is Olgar, no one else in the world like him. And Kerri is..well, Aunt Kerri is probably under the wiki page when you type in 'awesome'"

She laughs. "Oh yeah."

"Mmm" Thoughtful

"I mean, maybe Chief is, like, the Troll of Trolls..."

"Speaking to Choir there. Her style is very different from the Baroness. But I'm learning to respect Coradel as a leader too. She's.. sneakier than she lets on. It's like some folks assume Sparrow is just a pretty face when actually she's a warrioress AND a diplomat AND even a bit of a strategist? Sometimes I'd like to get mom and Coradel in the same room... just to see how they interacted."

"Dunno. I don't think well."

"Bullshit," A snort "SOme folks may mistake you for just muscle, but don't you fall for that. You have good ideas, and you notice things others forget. Heck, you caught me onto Mackerel, and reminded me that while House Fiona is testing me, I'm testing them back"

"Oh" she sighs "Sorry, misunderstood. Thought you were putting yourself down. Instead you were answering my question.. Duh. Sorry"

She sticks her tongue out.

"You need to relax some."

She sticks her own tongue out' How can I? mom's gonna 'talk' to me later"

"Talk? Why?"

"Because I was rude apparently"

"To Etsie?"

The front door opened as Siv was saying the last. "Somewhat, yes," Brekke agrees.

Harrumph.

"Ears like an owl" She doesn't bother whispering, what would be the point? "I'm sorry mom.. I didn't mean to be I was just.. really tired, and really.. annoyed with her."

True

She shuts the door and hangs up her cloak. "Dame Dagmar." A nod, then she goes to get a mug of coffee. "I understand. I did not appreciate the loudness either."

"I was running on three hours of sleep, and then everyone's making a fuss over this... " A sigh "I'm not sure I like Etsie. She's.. she takes up all the air"

A sip of the hot, dark brew, and a comfortable sigh as she takes a seat, not in her usual chair, but near her daughter.

"She is new here. Her air intake will even out. And she agreed to be more cautious about volume. However, she is an elder among us, Siv. I have seldom met a fae so long-lived. In this way, she is a treasure...even if a bit difficult to adjust to."

"Hmph."

"You like her mom, I could tell. I just.. don't share the affection" A huff "And she..."Then she hears the Hmph "And I'm not the only one who doesn't like her"

"I appreciate her." A gentle correction and a sip. "And...well, she knew Vegard." A tender note there.

"Oh," A pause then "I guess that would be in her favor. I know you miss him, mom. Part of me wishes I could have met him, but not if it means losing Gerd."

She shakes her head. "Having Gerd here is wonderful because of Gerd herself, and sometimes it is also a comfort to hear his words through her...but it is also good to remember an old friend through the memories of another."

"Regardless...this is a Lodge, and its balefire is for those who need it, not merely for those who live here. It will not always easy to be hospitable, but it is our duty." The last word has a touch of reverence.

"Sorry mom, I wasn't in..duty mode. Quite the opposite in fact" She hedges

Brekke nods. "Yes. Now...why so little sleep?" A concerned frown as she moves an unruly lock of hair from Siv's brow, a motherly gesture.

Either she missed the implication...or accepted it without missing a beat.

Dag listens, but doesn't interject.

"Had to pet my cat." A frown but not at the maternal gesture "Not a joke.. I...neglected Mackerel. Then I got the call after I settled down to go back to Earth Runes, another test.. and then... I came back.. and woke up to the concert under my window"