#rivervale_lodge

"I have to admit, I'm a bit shy about heavy lifting. I mean, not just that I'm kinda weeny next to you folk, but I worry that if I were to break a finger or sprain a wrist or something, I wouldn't be able to play."

"That is fair."

"I don't mean to be a shirker, though."

"Piper, I've seen you kick your Cousin in the rump to get him moving. You do plenty"

"I didn't think you needed a dedicated rump-kicker. Thunder-down-under-of the Lodge, I expect my title next Beltaine." A snicker.

Frank chuffs.

Gerd laughs, then she says "You know... I wasn't joking about flicker flashing some oranges. Maybe I can drop by your moms and pick up a basket?"

A soft sigh, a bit of a hitch in her breath. "It's so weird. All the time I had run off, I could have gone home whenever, but I didn't. And now that I can't, I just miss them so much."

Gerd gives her a hug "Guess that's proof we're all half human"

A laugh, and a hug back.

The Mountain sips his cider.

"Maybe when the travel ban is over, they might come out for a bit. Uncle C mentioned that's why he was opening up some guest space."

"I'd like them to see the Lodge, and meet everyone here."

"We'd like to have them, Piper."

"I could see Momma Vera getting on with Tove like two peas, and Viola would settle right in with Miss Kerri..."

"I'd love to meet them myself. " Gerd nods

Eyes flickering to the doorway as the muted sounds of raised voices. But she plays with the cider glass. "I hope they work this out. I don't know if they'll be friends, but it's been weird."

"Tense too" Gerd agrees

"I know he's not... the way he acts around me, isn't the way he is here a lot of the time. He gets riled up, and lashes out, and it's not how I see him being otherwise.... Is that a Fiona thing?"

"I think.. it's an Adam thing. I'm sorry. I've met plenty of Fiona who are stabler tahn that" Gerd says "Don't mean to trash him, ,but you asked"

"No, you're right, I asked. I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to know." A nod to Gerd.

Frank clears his throat. "I do not know if I have done good service to him, in my role as Mountain." He admits.

"In hindsight, I could have seen signs and given him better guidance. Even through a proxy."

"Had he really had a chance to settle in, really? Without being constantly dealt a new upheaval every plot? I mean week?"

"He avoids you, Mountain. That's his choice" Gerd says, then looks at Piper "I admit, he got thrown in the deep end of the pool. But when we tried to keep him on the shallow safter side he took it as an insult... or that's how it seemed"

A grunt. "Fiona."

"Yeah, THAT does sound Fiona" She admits

A small bit of fidgeting. "Mountain... Mr. King. I'm... sorry, if I've avoided you. I'm not used to... " She tries to think of a way to say it. "I know it's not your fault- that there are these heeby-jeebies. Maybe it gets gotten used to over time?"

He nods soberly. "Maybe. I am not offended, Piper. You are very polite."

"Just because you don't say rude things doesn't mean you're being mannerly. Momma Vi mighta bitten off my ears for the days I came in your home and avoided you. I'll try not to - I'll try to behave better."

Gerd says "Vali says the secret that Liam vibe is to treating it like a large spider crawling on your arm. One that Doesn't really bite and means you no harm. At first you want to flick it off... but if you hold still, it's actually kinda neat."

And Piper literally DOES flinch at that, "Ugh!!"

"Uhm.. you know, Uncle Vali's metaphors aren't for everyone"

And a subconscious brush at her arms. "Not a HUGE fan of spiders, gotta say. Even if they're less bad then those... the ones with the legs that you find in the bathtub. The house centipedes."

"Now Centipedes are nasty."

Frank sips his cider again.

"I gotta go check on Connor... but might be back" She says "Hang in there , Piper"

Frank tips his glass to salute Gerd.

"Oh, yeah." A glance towards the outside. "Don't want him comin' in on an argument like that. Poor kiddo."

"It's ok, Piper. Brekke won't let Adam come to harm. Physical harm. Connor either."

A nod to Frank, and out she goes to check on Jack and Connor

"No, I'm sure she wouldn't - just remembering that the last time there was a kerfuffle with Adam, it ended... uh, violently. And the Pook didn't take it so well. "

"Fiona." Glumly.

Piper gives him a confused look at that. "I don't think I follow?"
(paused!)

Frank sighs. "Perhaps you can confirm what I have gathered elsewhere? There was a conflict between Adam and his family and he left the house. He did not take his car. He wandered around town a bit. Ended up at the bus station. Unknowingly encountered a Will Worker. The Will Worker switched bodies with him. Adam tried to pursue him but was unable to keep up in the new.... that is, older.... body. At some point he made some phone calls to his family, you, and the Lodge. He encountered a mortal whom he tried to help. They went to the St. Jude shelter, where they ate and made another attempt at phone calls to alert us to the Will Worker. Eventually they went to the Bahama Mama halfway house where they got more information about the Will Worker, and where you found them." A deep breath; this is EASILY the longest speech she's ever heard from the Mountain. "Am I correct? Do you have anything to add?"

She just stares for a moment, this sudden speech taking her offguard, and not expecting the shift in conversational direction. "I was just there for that last bit, but that sounds like what I heard..."

Frank nods. "The evening ended with a Will Worker here in the Lodge at the Balefire, injuries for several of our Fae and Adam, and the Will Worker thwarted and removed." Another deep breath. "There are elements, specifically, and also taken as a whole, that remind me of House Fiona's trademarks. Reckless, fearless, and only touched by fear when those and that they love are threatened."

A small frown. "I don't think I see it. I don't think he's ever seemed afraid that I can tell. Not even when the willworker threatened the lodge. Not that he doesn't love this place I'm sure. I mean, who could not?"

"I have heard of the messages he left here, and at his home. Do you have a recording of the message he left on your phone?"

"Um.... should I have kept it?" A frown. "I... had to delete it, because it was kinda.. creepy. Like it's Adam, but not his voice. But it was... sad, and upset. Like, he urged us to warn the lodge, and said that he loved me..."