#rivervale_lodge

"Yes, but their comfortable was cut off from you because you didn't comply right? so.. not really a factor of support for you" A frown then thinking to the pretty part "I guess it's not so bad for me? I mean, sidhe take it to supernatural levels even when mortals can't see it really? But I Know Sylvi's had guys lose their brains around her, which can be funny... but others lose their sense of her being a person and treat her more like an acheievment in a video game. For you it's got to be worse"

"I've.. there were a few stalkers, back in KC. Back when I was living on my own."

"I was working as a desk person at a hotel for a while, and had trouble holding on to myself. Objectively, I am doing much better as a ward of Earth Runes."

"You think you're a ward?" SHe seems surprised "Sorry, maybe I have the definition wrong"

"A dependent?"

She shakes her head. "I'm not proud of it."

"I think they'd be surprised and maybe disagree if you told them that. But, it's not my place to push. I can tell you you'd be an asset to any hold. Heck you brought us the facts and more to help those people in Pearl River. Sir Franklyn sees you as a House sister he respects. It's just hard to tell he approves under the beard" She makes a chin jutt and strokes it

A soft laugh.

"I'm very grateful to Sir Franklyn."

"There was a time I was ashamed to be Liam."

"Yeah, the Mountain's solid" then "Yeah? "

"Yes. Not everyone is so accepting of the house as Rivervale."

"That's true. Though Fenix is really becoming kind of a stronghold for it there. Duke is Liam. Jessica , of course, supports them, and they've got like 3 liams there I think at least on the street level. Not saying it's safe but things do seem to be better for the House"

"Well - it's the kind of place that attracts us."

"We are called to protect mortals, for one. And we are often unwelcome in... less challenging places. You will find few Fiona seeking places full of crime and poverty."

"Did you just do a kind of humble-brag there on behalf of old House Liam?" Eyes teasing just a bit "The Mountain does that"

"Maybe a little."

"Well, it's a legit one. It's like you guys make gold from straw"

"you sure I can't get you some food in you besides just coffee? I'm no where NEAR the Hearth or Sally Mae, but geez I can flip pancakes or make toast or something"

"Ooo... toast... I feel like toast is underrated."

"It SO is." She rises to go to the kitchen "You can join me in here or stay seated. I can talk thorugh the open door
"

Sparrow follows. "So - other than struggling to prove you're a wilder now, how are things going?"

"Well, my therapists only sees me once a month now, and we might even go to once every two. So that's good" She says tending to the toasting as she talks

"Connor , I worry I left him too soon.. I mean, I live with my uncle in his house. Which is.. actually good. I mean, Tiffany doesn't try to push herself on me, and Margalita's not really a bad kid... eeven if I find her interest in explosives worrisome"

"Nocker, hunh?"

"And Hearth Kerri made me an Ember of the Hearth which.. you know, felt good. She said I might make a good hearth one day if I really wanted to which is mind blowing because, if you knew what a bitch to her I was for a year..." A nod "Oh yeah Margilita's a nocker... Tiffany's kind of a super big sis slash mom to her at times. She can be a tag along sometime..but hten so was I."

"Nockers have a thing for explosives. All of them, no matter their craft."

"I could see you as a Hearth. You're a caring person."

"Well, Tiffany used to disarm trhem for a living so now I guess she's got a way to keep her skills sharp" A dubious look "I don't know if I am. I am profoundly selfish at times. Like, I had a bad encounter with a jerk sidhe boy... but now taht I'm mending.. I'm like 'are there not ANY boys my age who know I'm like.. a girl?""

"So.. kind of selfish during time of plague and civil unrest" A blush

"No, that's called being a person."

"It's okay to want love. That doesn't make you selfish."

"Love is Beauty, and Beauty is Life."

A blush "You wouldn't be a bad Hearth yourself. Thanks." She says "I would like a little attention from a guy just to feel I was worthy of it"

"Is the Lodge still mostly girls?"

"Oh yeah. We amazons have them outnumbered troll wise. Though Sylvi is SO off the market so to speak with her visiting colton so often. Now , we do have Symon, Zane, and Adam... and they're recognized by the lodge as part of us... but it certainly feels like a shortage of the wilder guys." A pause "oh, there's a new satyr, Bastian.. he's like the son of one of Piper's mom's sisters? Definitely non nucular that fam. And the Apartment complex has plenty of folks... mostly satyrs, a few pooka. Have you heard of the apartments?"

"I haven't, no..."

"And speaking of Colton, I understand they have the opposite problem - it's mostly wilder boys."

"Maybe next time I visit, you can come along?"

A smile "I wouldn't mind."

"you know, I hadn't thought of it, but it IS a lot of boys there. I guess i think mostly of Colton when I think of there and he's smitten hard with Sylvi. "

"Yeah - his last letter, he was telling me about this new Bannerhouse... Dougal based."

"Yeah? I swer I didn't know about those really until Truthbranch .. Dougal has some too?"

"Most houses have one or two, it seems."

"And, near as I can tell, they're usually aligned with a secondary house. Not sure what this new one is allied with. House... Catcomb? no... shoot.."

"Cat Comb? must be a long hair" A smile

"Well, Colton is thrilled with their efforts to help shield the hold from mortal notice."

"They hide holds? Okay that's..useful" She says "Not saying Truthbranch isn't just..I ca nsee why they'd be called up for that area"

"Truthbranch has a different focus, sure. And it is less directly related to Changeling matters. Well.. " Hand waver. "I believe the welfare of Dreamers is tantamount to our survival. But not everyone sees that."

"I've got a nice cozy balefire open to me 24/7... " she nods as toast is handed out and buttering and a section of jellies and jams is out " But you get no argument from me. too many don't."