#rivervale_lodge

Something is up, Symon knows it. Anne Marie has been giving both he and Dirk looks. Appraising, worried.. but also resolute.
...
Pushing the last few bites of greyish scrambled eggs from last week around on his plate, he finally glances up at where his mom is drinking her morning tea. "Is something wrong?" He asks across the table.

A sigh "The Chieftain is having some trouble..." She says

He blinks at her, waiting for her to continue.

"And Dirk has been restless..." She admits "it turns out there are these human traffickers. Horrible people. Violent. We're trying to learn more, stop their plans."

"Trafficking humans, or trafficking fae?" Another small mouthful of eggs.

"Mortals we believe, girls and very young women... however, some might be fae... waiting... kinian.. unechanted, and, well... dreamers are easily stunted"

"Sic the cops on them, or the FBI, or whatever. News says that the police are largely sitting around with their thumbs up... twiddling their thumbs because there's less crime with people quarantined."

"The police may miss somethings" She says "Also.. well, the idea is Dirk can shake some cages. "

"Well, maybe I'll offer him the task and he'll decline" She says

"He's not exactly... subtle." He remarks.

"Oh he's a sweetie... who gets remakralby violent and enjoys tormenting people..." She concedes "I admit, he could use some guidance in subtle parts of this"

"I don't think redcaps are built for subtlety. You want that, you go to, I dunno. An Eilunid. Or a boggan, for that matter." A small smile. "Or some slugs., but they're less subtle then.. invisible, if they do their job right."

"Do you know any who might help?" she asks as she putters about the kitchen

"Chieftain is the one who is the breaker of chains and all that. Isn't this more her style? Come swooping in like a Valkyrie to avenge the helpless, etcetera?"

"Yes well, Chieftain is rather busy ruling and handling the fae side of things. Mountain is hip deep into some things as well... and I will not risk Kerri, she shows up to my Card games"

He snorts a little, disgruntled. "Aren't Liams the ones obsessed with protecting mortals? Send Frank, or that sidhe that has been hanging around. I mean, I'm good at scary ass vengeance dreams, or hiding while someone else does the heavy lifting. I've never really tried my hand at direct recon."

"Mountain is handling it from other angles I think.. but that's okay. Dirk's a big boy" She goes back to chopping some food

He frowns, shoving the curds around on his plate. "...If he's gonna go either way, I guess I could tag along."

"He may tell me no, but the way he's been champing at the bit... I doubt it"

"If you don't find something for him to do, he's gonna move up from mailboxes to toolsheds soon." He agrees.

"oh good lord" she sighs "I have warned him about Mailboxes"

A snicker hidden behind his napkin.

"Mind you, McGillicudy is asking for it.. but don't tell him I said so"

"It's rude to ignore such a request." He says with proper sluagh politeness.

"Thank you, dear" Fondly

His tongue flicks out to slurp across his plate, wiping away the last traces of egg scum. "Thanks for breakfast."

She's learned not to look while he eats. "You're welcome. I'll probably tell Dirk later tonight about the ..request of the Chieftain"

"Okay. I'll stick around so that you can tell me I should go too. That way it wasn't me choosing to horn in on his party."

"Mm not a bad point. For now, I need to clean the dishes." She nods "So if you want to work on your miatures or that... rat you're putting bat wings on..." She says "go have at" His taxidermy proceeds apace

He grins. "I could put a little lace bonnet on it if you like?"

"Then it will be a lady ratbat."

"I'll make you a little lace bonnet for " She offers "Provided I get to pick where it isn't"

He covers his mouth to snicker, and nods. "It's a deal." And internally makes plans to trim the claws, adjust the face to cover the rodent's snarl, and put larger, 'cuter' glass eyes in place of the beady red ones he had picked out. Oh well, someone will still like it.

A chuckle "So creative. Disturbing, but creative." Even the disturbing is..well, kind of flattering.

A nod, and he clears the table before retreating to his workshop.

A mutter as he goes. "Hmm. Maybe pigeon wings instead..."

Score... more roaches caught in his trap ready for de shelling... slowly his dreams of a coat made of them are advancing.

(Presumably for minatures or something else SMALl.. an not an actual human sized coat that .. that would be weird... but...well, presumption)

(Well, it would take much longer.... but... it's good to dream)

............................

Rivervale lies in ruins... the damage too extreme. The devastation too vast. The marks of battle are everywhere.

The dogs fought bravely... okay, Oak did. Brown Dog hid

Blood red smears soak the carpet

also blue splats and green globs on the walls

"This..." Jack Flap gulps "Was a horrible, horrible mistake"

THey looked like toys. Pump action ball shooters.

Paint ball shooters

The paint isn't fading

(TBC)