#rivervale_lodge

Her jaw clenches.

Gerd's turn to give a squeeze of reassurance

“No? Well there was this man who came in and he was awful stinky, and I wanted to know why he didn’t have to get hosed off but Mister Boss said that he was fighting his own fight. But I think if I was that stinky, I might Want a bath.” Thinking back to the ragged man who bought a bottle and left.

“But I’ve been better about baths. Just ask our Hearth. Can I go now?” He seems unsure with so many eyes on him.

"It's okay, brother. We all just worry about how you're doing is all, we love you" Gerd says

she looks torn between apologizing for her blurt to the Chief, or getting stubborn because she's not sure she's sorry at all, so she just focuses on Connor

Brekke frowns. Something still seems off...

He had told the truth, but for that bit about the popinjay...

"Connor...is there any problem that I should know about? I will try to help you, if I can." Serious, concerned...and as gentle as the Shacklebreaker can manage.

"You aren't mad at Gerd, right?" Blunt.

Gerd winces at the bluntness.

A blink at Dagmar, then at Gerd, then she looks back to Connor.

He looks surprised, and shoots Gerd a look that’s a little guilty. “Not mad. And I’m not mad at Siv neither.” He says, honest, but a little sad. “Everyone grows up, and Peter gets lonely, that’s all. But he can find new lost boys, like in the story. I can wait for Tove to bring me a friend. It takes a long time though. Jaymes said I’m NOT to ask her to hurry up.” Solemn.

(True!)

A look at Gerd, a kind of 'see?' lift of her eyebrows.

Tiffany blows bubbles out of her pipe "Ahem hem... totally coincidental body sounds"

Gerd does look relieved "Well, we're still sibs and I'm still going to visit you a LOT"

“The popinjay can’t go to the ball until mice do her makeup...” he says, looking towards the door...

Brekke raises a brow at Tiffany. "Thane? You have something to contribute?"

"Elemental, my dear Chieftain," She says and approaches the boy, "Connor, if that is your real name, who else has been peeing on this elm?" She shows her phone, a picture of an oak on it

"Connor, please do not leave yet." She notes the boy's restlessness.

A sigh...Brekke hadn't been about to bring up that part in front of others, but.... "Yes, I had heard about that, as well."

He turns a bright red. Clearly embarrassed. “I want to go now.”

"And why, is the footprint there shaped like a cow?" Tiffany says

CLem raises a brow

Dag bristles.

He looks confused now.

"Hey now" Gerd says

Brekke blinks at the boy. "Wait. Stop."

She stands. "Connor...come with me. Excuse us," she says to the others, and starts upstairs.

"Don't hurt hiM!" A voice from the hallway to Gerd's room! it sounds like..Connor!

“Shhh!” He shushes!

But she stops at the voice calling out. She looks back at Connor. "Who was that?"

Connor wearing a Trunk t shirt and a cowboy hat comes out, to block Conner without a cowboy hat from being hit by the blue lady with the scary hand "Don't hurt him. I'll surrendre"

“Nobody!” (True!)

She tenses, frowning.

Only now does this Connor swallow "That's a lot of blue people" GULP

Gerd sits up "That's not Connor, he prefers superheroes and dinosaurs to trucks"

She blinks again at the new arrival, then quietly says, "I have no intention of harming him. Now...you look like Connor, but what is your name?"

Connor takes the hat from Connor and puts it on his own head. “You’re the Brave now. I have to poke cows.”

Pointing at the second

Clem says "I think even the cows would be confused"

Connor number two says " Icould never be brave. I'm a coward.. I just don't want them to hurt you"

(True)

Tiffany , however nods as if she expected this, "Another case solved. I'll have Watson send you the bill"

Connor takes Connor’s hand and squeezes it. “they can’t hurt both of us.” (Lie??) “... but they Won’t. I asked the Mountain.”

Slowly, Brekke says, "You are stepping out to defend a friend from harm. That is brave. Now...who are you?"

"I'm..." the boy says, as the fuddle fades under the onslaught of so much attention by such strong wills ...revealing a satyr lad, hornless yet, "I'm.. Little Shit, but..Connor says I can be called Jackflap"

True, but why wouldn't it be? He is after all, not a pooka

Brekke looks between him and Connor. "You...were hiding him from us. Why?"