#rivervale_lodge

And Brekke finds a new letter...

Curious, Brekke opens it to read.

To the Chieftain Brekke, having seen the fliers offering up a satyr boy as a son, I hearby express interest. how much time is a 'father' expected to offer? And as I will be living by the balefire... how often will I be allowed to partake from it? Will I have my own room or will I share one with the boy? other questions inquire in a fashion that doesn't ding the Gwydar, but certain grind against the sense of ANY decent parent even if the subject isn't their own child. This person seems to want to NEGOTIATE for deals regarding the boy. And there is a return adress

She winces, sighs, and seeks out Frank. "Jack's fliers are generating responses." She shares the letter with him. "I do not like this."

He reads it, frowns. "This seems....." He checks the return address.

Looks like some guy in Oakland

He shakes his head. "Oakland....."

"Mm." She frowns, and looks again at the name, seeking out if it stirs any memory.

"Oakland has been strongly Unseelie for decades."

Nope.. not the Desotlation crew

"Yes. Which...is not an automatic disqualification," she admits, albeit reluctantly.

"Not really a recommendation."

A hint of a wry grin. "I believe Olgar might disagree."

"Rest my case...." he mutters, but without much venom.

"Mm." A sigh. "What do we do about him, Frank? He is a good young man. And this offer...beyond being unworkable, it is attracting the unsavory here."

Frank exhales, shaking his head. "Every stable home I can think of here already has a full plate. Wayburtons, Jaymes and Tove, Kerri and, yes, Olgar, Thomases, the Lees....."

"Do you think we could somehow hide him at that apartment complex?" Another frown. "Although that brings up a whole new host of issues....."

"Well...yes..." She trails off a moment. "I have been thinking of reaching out more to them. Perhaps through the Hearth, though, at first. It is, after all, an interesting enclave. I would prefer to have them positively disposed towards the Lodge than suspicious of it. And that may undermine any influence from...him."

"Assuming that ship hasn't sailed...."

"A ship can be navigated. Redirected."

"Jessica has some satyrs in Renaissance. Although that might feel like an exile to him. -If- she agreed."

"Hm. She does...but he loves the gardens so, and I do not know if she has much green and growing in the midst of that city. Perhaps...the Farm?"

"Not many satyrs. And I hear they recently have quite a few new arrivals?"

"Of course, yes, seven new babies. Quite the spring for them." A sigh. "I am fine with having Jack stay here. He and Connor are good friends, I think, and he and Gerd get along well. But if he is so desperate to be adopted...."

Frank watches her seriously. "How do you feel about it?"

"It is strange...he wishes for parents, yes, but...with Dagmar I got a greater sense that she needed parents of her own. I do not get that sense from him....merely that he wants them."

She blinks at his question. "I...I thought we had discussed this."

Frank nods. "We have. I'm checking with you. Again."

Her brow furrows. "Frank..."

Eyebrow.

A deeply guilty look, but a silent shake of her head.

She looks away. "If he is willing to stay, as he is...as a ward of the Lodge...."

Frank nods. "Me either. Too."

A nod, still looking away.

Frank nods. "You don't think that will end up becoming an adoption-in-fact?"

A sigh. "I do not know. I do not know how the DeBukes do it. Adding 'honorary' family so easily."

"Perhaps they did not have a choice. They were very insular."

"But, that does not resolve our issue."

"No." She looks at the letter again. A sigh. "Either way, I must respond to this."

"I dislike it." In reference to the letter.

"Of course." A pause. "Should I speak with Jack before responding?"

"Probably." Without much hope "But I don't know how to approach him without dashing his hopes."

"Well, I have spoken with him before. I believe he understands it will not be us." Then a thought. "Perhaps first, though...." She takes a step away, tears off a small corner of the letter, and puts it in her mouth. She chews it briefly, gathering and focusing glamour on the letter, and also gathering her thoughts.

Frank is a little alarmed.....

Then she whispers, "The one whom you are from...what are his affiliations, whether house or court?"

He knows what she's doing, but still.

"Unseelie... unkempt, uncaring"

Frank's eyes go a little big. "Not.....?"

She looks to Frank, inviting him to ask the entire question.

"Was it a sluagh?" He whispers.