#rivervale_lodge

"Jack thinks he has shit parents, Connor keeps hoping that that Ailil dickhead will act like a real father."

Frank frowns.

"oh my" Sally mae says "yes. I don't know Jack... pardon the pun, but Connor has pushed away folks trying to straight up adoopt him before"

"Yeah, I dunno how to help either."

The grump nods. "He seems to believe, as many do, if he can 'act right' his birth father will love him and want him."

"That guy's an asshole who is mean to horses."

"Blood is blood" Sally Mae says "Hard to shake that. I think he might take a mentor or tutor or uncle, but... a new papa or mama? That'll take time. Gerd as a sister is good for him I hope?"

" think so."

"She seems to be." A sigh. "Truth to tell, we're running short on available grumps to take the childlings."

"Are we now?" Sally Mae eyes Frank

"Yes." Absently. He goes to his desk.

"I suppose, in the right circumstances, a mortal family could help..... tricky though." He shuffles through things on his desk, searching.

"Kinain?"

"Mountain, is there some reason you're disqualifying yourself? "

An eyebrow. "Pardon?"

"I'm saying you have raised two wonderful daughters, you and the chief. You are in a happy marriage. You seem a good sort...I'd vouch for you. You're not even aging quick thanks to the freehold. Why aren't you and the Chieftain on the list for adoptors?"

"Not the kind of move you make unilaterally, Sally Mae."

"Turned into a true blessing for Jaymes and Tove" She looks at Dagmar "Dagmar, sorry for using your folks as an example, but they both adore you"

"Um."

"Just saying, your father doesn't say much, but he gushes about you"

Now back to Frank, "So you're going to bring it up to the Chief then? Is that what you're saying? THe idea of you two adopting?"

The kinain girl is young, not fully troll, and yet for a moment, resembles her ancient troll grand aunt for a bit

A frown at a thought.

Frank appears to give the matter deep thought. Very deep. He takes a solid breath. "I'll think about it."

Sally Mae nods, and then says "Well, I'm off to the kitchen then"

"Need help?"

"Wouldn't say no" she says

"Kay." And so she follows.

Frank allows himself a faintly sour look hidden by the beard when the ladies have decamped, and grabs the journal he was looking for.

Sally Mae doesn't NEED the help, but it sure speeds things up and saves labor, and Dagmar knows what she's doing and how proving an excellent assistant. she whispers to Dagmar "The mountain is a patient man with me. I know I'm pushing my luck ,but I think he'd be a good parent to an adoptee, don't you?"

"I.. I think so. Yes."

A nod "And the Chieftain is a good mother even if she denies it"

"Very good. Still glad I got Jaymes and Tove."

"So am I. You all fit so well. Your Tove is a wonderful lady" Emphasis on your tove "And your dad's a good man. "

"Yeah. I'm really lucky."

"They feel lucky to have you but I know that embarrasses you"

"Mmmph."

"mm" ("Prove my point")

"Oh, get the bread out, and I'll garlic it up proper"

"Oh, no - Tove showed me, she has the BEST garlic bread..."

"Well, you want to do what she does and I leave it to you?" A smile no offense taken

Dagmar bounces around to prep - three kinds of garlic, plus oregano, enough butter to drown a rhino, and a dusting of parmesan cheese.

"Nice" Sally Mae nods. She would have done some things differently, but she's not about to get argue with the BEST Garlic bread, powered so by a daughter's love.

"The secret is the cheese."

"Good secret" she says

Olgar comes into the main lodge after clearing off his boots

Frank nods over the top of his half-moon spectacles.

Olgar looks at him "Busy night. But at least things are going slow. Sylvi's out with her mom" ANd he sits down. Unaware that Frank might get to eying HIM for material

Soon the smell of lasagna and garlic bread is flowing through the lodge.

A grunt. And yes, a certain amount of speculative examination, subtly.