#rivervale_lodge

"One of them made the bread."

"For that matter, one of them might have made the cheese. And the cider."

"And I think Adam would be willing to let it go.... Oh! Sir Franklyn, I did bring something from Earthrunes, it's in Adam's car though. I don't want to interrupt... but I'll bring it later."

Frank nods. "Ok. From EarthRunes? What is it? If I can ask."

"Ah, score!" Gerd grins "Fruit salad!"

There is also, of course, quite a bit of tasty mexican food in the fridge.

"A bottle of smokey mead from Jack, the bartender there. Siv thought you might like it."

Frank glances at her, nods. "It sounds interesting. Thank you."

And piper is glad to take a plate of fruit, sniffing the bread, "Yeah, it is good fresh stuff! None of that store bought." Butter, and she eyes the pizza as well...

"Take a few minutes but I can heat the pizza up." Frank offers.

"Oh, I was just wondering if my eyes are bigger than my stomach. There's a particular joy in cold pizza too."

"Little bit of this, little bit of that, pause and see if you're full then" Gerd suggests

Frank pours cider for three.

a grin to Gerd. "I'm getting chonky with the lack of exercise. I was hoping to patrol with Sylvi more, and get some movement."

And she thanks Frank, surreptitiously watching him a little as he moves. Just.. curiously.

Gerd says "Well I won't lecture anyone on weight. I have an eating disorder. But Sylvi can show you the ropes"

"Oh. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, uh..." Looking dismayed.

Frank brings the drinks over and sips his own.

"Hey, no.. don't walk in eggshells around me" Gerd says "Just saying why if you're wanting input on somethings I'll pass" A smile "it's cool"

She nods. "I don't know much about these things, but if I put my hoof in mouth, just let me know." A sip of the cider. "This is nice... is it made here?"

"Kingdom of Apples for a reason" A smile

"Do you grow apples here? I thought that was a Michigan fruit."

"Apples are grown in Apples. Further north, usually, for mass production but there are smaller orchards in the area."

"I mean, any fruit trees here, like in your woods." a smile.

"Big Apple tree near the lodge... " she says "Sometimes the dogs protect it from Snow.. Connor barks"

Frank nods confirmation.

"Actually" Gerd stops "You know, I think the Chief kind of considers the Apple tree one of the few food things ShE handles. I've heard her humming when she plucks them. maybe the Hearth does it too, but I think she sees it as mother nature adding to her garden." A look to Frank "I got that right?"

Frank nods slowly.

"That must be nice in the summer. We had an orange tree growing up, and we'd make marmalade with all the extras..."

"I would LOVE an orange tree but it would freeze it's peels off around here" Gerd says

Frank nods again. "Apples need a cold snap to produce fruit. Oranges can't take too much cold."

"mmm mental note, find west coast orange vendor buy cheap, sell to Piper for major profit"

said out loud with a sly smile

A sad nod. "The oranges here taste like nothing.. and don't get me started on the tomatoes..."

A low voice "hey, don't mock the tomatoes. Jack will be crushed."

"Wait till the garden comes in, Piper." Frank rumbles. "We do ok."

"Oh right... Jack and Connor want gnomes"

"That's too cute! You should see if they make plain ones they can decorate."

And she gives Frank a tentative smile. "Nothing like a tomato fresh from my momma's garden... but I bet that yours would come close."

Frank's beard moves. "That might be more the fact it's from your momma's garden.... but we'll do the best we can. You garden?"

"Mm maybe the gnomes can be hand carved..."

"The chieftain, she carved all the woodwork in here?" She asks, though her gaze is towards the door... a little fidgety with concern.

"Most of it, Tove does it too but her stuff is newer. And Frank does too, he and the Chief worked on..well, a lot"

"Tove carved me an ocarina..." A smile. "When I first got here. It's lovely."

"I saw it" Gerd says "How's it sound?"

"When I play it? Not great!" She laughs. "Winds are my weak suit... I'm so used to wanting to sing along, using my breath for an instrument isn't what I'm used to."

Frank might be just a little purple around the edges.

"The Chief did the bulk of the work. I did some of the heavy lifting."

Gerd smiles at Frank "that's not how she tells it, Mountain"

EYEBROW.