#rivervale_lodge

"We could start with that. Get you up to speed."

"Sure. I won't be good at it I bet, but I'll try . Anything is better tahn going back. I hope I make friends. I don't know if I will."

"I will be your friend, if you like."

"Won't people make fun of you being the friend of a little kid?" Curious "I don't want you made fun of. You're being nice to me."

"I don't worry too much about what other people think." Evenly.

"Guess when you're big and strong you don't have to," He ponders then nods.

"I am sure you can tell, Jack, that there is another reason I don't pay too much attention to what others think. " gently.

he tilts his head then looks at him, "You smell a bit like an Eshu I knew once who betrayed a friend. I don't mean that racist like... there was something off about him"

"and iot's not a smell.. more like a feel?"

Frank nods. "I am of House Liam."

"Are they the ones with the Lion, or the Harp?"

"The Oak."

"Oh! There's one with a tree?" As if this were far more exotic than a Lion or harp "Cool. Why does being a Liam make you feel tilted wrong?"

"My House is Oathbroken."

"Does it hurt?" he says eyes wide

"No." Kindly. "Especially since I don't care about what people think. "

"Wow." this seems to impress the boy, but he says "i still think being big and strong helps"

"I am sure it does."

"I'm glad it doesn't hurt, " Jackflap says with a smile

"Me too."

"So your name is Mountain King?"

"My name is Frank King. My title here is Mountain. I am also a knight."

"WOW" the boy says "And I thought me going by Jack Flap was maybe greedy of me" HIs eyes widen "YOu're like... that's.. that's a lot of words to carry on your face"

Another nod. "It was a gradual thing. I got used to it."

"So.. I might get to be some more things as I get bigger too?" startled "That's nice.. uhm.. are you allowed to leave other names behind? The Chief says no one here will call me little shit. In fact, I think it makes her mad to hear those words."

"I think you are right. I don't like that those people were disrespectful that way to you. And yes, you can leave names behind. "

"then I'm leaving Little Shit behind. It always made me feel bad" A nod "I like Jack flap better... Connor gave me that, though I kept the flap because I know there are other jacks in the world"

Frank nods. "As you grow, you may find another name. That is fine."

"Thanks" As if he's glad for permission and believes it was very needful. "Who's Siv?"

A pause. "Our daughter. One of our daughters."

"I think Connor misses her, not as much as he misses Gerd, though Gerd seems nice... but a bit scary. Is she not allowed to wear bright colors?"

"She is allowed. Her choice."

"Okay. Well, Connor likes her and she does seem nice. Must be nice to just be able to pick up family" Wistful

"I will introduce you to other saytrs."

"I already met some" he nods "The professor talks a LOT... and about stuff I don't even... like . I know what the Escheat is, but what's an Escheatian Monarchy with Republic overtones?"

pure confusion there

Frank sighs. "Complicated." He answers.

"Yeah. I'm just a kid" He says with a self awareness "Maybe that's a bit extra for me"

"One thin at a time." Frank agrees.

"They say they'll have traggo events but I'm not sure how I feel about it' He admits 'They all act like the gift of pan is wonderful" A frown "But it wasn't wonderful. IT makes folks goofy and they drop their guard and maybe that's good sometime, but it can lead to them getting hurt or used and I don't wanna do that to nobody no more"

"You don't have to." The Mountain assures. "Not if you don't want to."

"Thanks. Everyone's so nice to me here and I can't stop..being worried it's a trick . I feel like i'm bad to folsk who are good to me. I don't mean nothing by it"

a blush , a guilty blush at that

"It takes time to learn to trust. We understand that."

A sip of his coco

"Connor and I are the only little kids in the lodge aren't we?"

"For now."

"You gonna have some?"

A faint smile. "No. My sister in law, Tove. She is having a baby."

"I heard" He says "And then you'll have really little kids" Then in a low whisper "They get loud"