#rivervale_lodge

"A day of danger if the two who were fighting for it try to claim it. Better to do it now."

"So, uh, does anybody wanna see pictures of CJ?"

"Indeed, one would try to see the fae world ruled by firey kind, the other does the dark work of a court of shadows," Mazu-Morkata say "I confess, I can think of better masters"

Gerd "more than anything right now"

Piper looks around, and offers her cup to Nabuni. "I don't know if they have cups small enough, but if you want some of mine..."

Brekke hesitates. "Mazu-Morkata...after you are freed, would you stay and tell of this servant of the Shadow Court?"

Dagmar pokes at her phone, pulling up pictures - CJ asleep on Jaymes, CJ in Tove's arms, Odin looking miffed and mystified at the Baby...

Oh, Kerri served Nabuni from a doll's-sized tea set.

Kerri eagerly looks at the photos, commenting with appreciation.

Nab smiles a bit " I.. well not all of you know..." She grows to..five foot 4 inches.. "Tada"

Gerd ignores the growing Chimera "ADORBS"

Looking at pictures

"Hey!" Kerri says. "Well, that's new."

Yay, distraction!

And Piper offers her the cup.

Mazu-Morkata looks at the Chieftain then says "Who are you to ask favors of me? the wielder of the lamp, but by what deed to you ask for extras?"

"I... this is too stressful. Someone, text me when it's over, I just need some air." And Piper slips out to pace outside the lodge, or perhaps onto a nearby trail within earshot.

Nabuni took the cup, then watches her go "Oh geez.. poor Piper. She's really got it bad"

Brekke raises a brow. "I ask you to choose to do this thing of your own agency."

She frowns at the back door. "Poor Piper."

Then a deep breath. "I state my wish now: I wish for you to give some researcher the discovery of a safe, affordable, accessible, and ethical cure for this COVID-19 virus that plagues the mortal bodies of the world." A pause. "Can you do this, Genie?"

Kerri sighs. "Ladies...do you want to go with her? She may need the support."

"Woah."

"I don't think... I dunno... Piper is Adam's girl."

Mazu-Morkata looks surprised then says "I.. could muse one, encourage, but to merely bestow a cure in the knowledge of a mortal man or woman one that shakes the Destiny of millions... that..." The genie says "That is beyond my power. ... I can... encourage, perhaps speed the process."

"I could do that as well, as could many of my kind." A challenge to the genie.

Mazu-Morkata bristles "What would you have me do? Slave side by side with a mortal researcher of good heart and be his CONSTANT Muse? Making what would take tens of years take merely years? What might take years take months?"

Nab says "Hearth I might be the last person to chase after her right now"

"Huh?"

Brekke raises an eyebrow. "Is that what it would take?"

"Yes" He says And..truth "You know the cold of the world. They despair for a cure, they do not 'wish' for it. Too many are lost to Winter to wish with wonder anymore"

Brekke gives a slight grin. "I will bargain with you, Genie. I will find a fae, or several fae, to do the work of the musing if you tell me which Dreamer to muse for this result. But as this frees you of the actual work of the wish, you must grant me another."

"If not this, then I will make the wish and chain you to musing for possibly years."

"YOU DARE? " He FLARES "I am Mazu-Morkata! I am of the Third Ring! I have fed Sultans who tried to trick me to their own harems! I have turned a vain man into a palace others put their feet upon daily! you truly risk my ire???"

Gerd listens in and her eyes widen

Dagmar looks over at the door, alarmed.

Brekke does not flinch or back down. She looks at him steadily. "I am Brekke Grimhand, Chieftain of Rivervale. Do you risk mine?"

Kerri shifts towards the door, looking like she might be ready to burst back in against the Chieftain's wishes.

Mazu-Morkata scowls but seems to ..de puff "Very well.... there are five names of five mortals... and where to find them." He gestures... and a scroll appears "They have the best chance of this cure through musing. Now, you have that." A growl "Let me have a wish that frees me"

Brekke takes the scroll and reads it carefully. And she reads it again. And again.

She seems to be committing the information to memory.

"Hearth!" she calls out.

Gerd opens the door for the Hearth

and.. by doing so, gets to listen and peek better

"Wait here," Kerri says to the others and heads out, a nod to Gerd as she passes. "Chieftain?"

"Take this," she offers the scroll. "Copy the information from it quickly. I do not trust the scroll to remain. Go."

Gerd waits.. but the door is now open and held that way

Kerri grabs the scroll quickly and goes back to the kitchen. "Close the door, Gerd," she murmurs on the way back in. She grabs the grocery list off the fridge and starts copying. "Somebody with a camera, take a picture of this please," she says hurriedly.

"damn" Gerd says but obeys

In the main room, Brekke now nods to the Genie. Then she looks to Adam. "It is time."