#rivervale_lodge

Dagmar rubs the back of her neck. "What if Chief tells Connor?"

"We might try something a little less...aggressive?"

A deep breath. "Dagmar...the invitation was for you. Maybe you should be the one to talk to him. With Gerd."

Dagmar frowns.

"Chief said she would."

Gerd takes a breath "uhm.. how do you possibly tell him that he SHOULD not see someone who sent an invite?"

"He'll fucking want to go, because he keeps hoping that this time that ASSHOLE will show him a shred of kindness."

"That's the problem"

"Then he'll wind up thinking that the douche-nozzle doesn't love him because something's wrong with him, when there's not a damn thing wrong or unlovable about COnnor."

HUFF.

"Douche-Nozzle" A nod

"I think...the Chieftain could tell him, and she can lay down the law, and he would be able to resent her for it. That would be easier, right?" A bit of a brow. "But if his friend and his sister tell him, gently...maybe he could hear it better." A shrug. "Or, I might be wrong. It's up to you."

Gerd winces "I don't think I'm good enough to do it right" An admission "I love him, but how could I do that 'gently'? what words?"

"Yes, it would be easier! What would be easier is not telling him at all!"

"Instead of asking me to rip out his heart by either telling him, and telling him not to go, or telling him, and watching that bastard grind his soul under his jackbooted heels."

Kerri nods. "Fair."

"RRrnnargh." STOMP.

"Dagmar...be kind to the floors, please. I know. This is awful. And I'm sorry."

Gerd says "I'm too goth to stomp... but inside..ditto" A sullen look

"Goths don't stomp?"

"I mean, you all - you, and Gerd, and Nadeen and fuckin' everybody just said I shouldn't go."

"Well, some of them... but mostly only when on the streets of Rome"

"I don't agree it's about me, whatever, nobody knows who I am outside of Rivervale. But oh, the honorable thing is telling the kid, and then he's gonna want to go, and then what?"

"What do we do then?"

"Dagmar...he is a childling. We can tell him, 'No.' And we can hope someday he will understand."

"If the Chief doesn't, then I will" Gerd sighs "I can't go around calling big sister cred without taking the lumps of it." Then a look to Dagmar "It's your call if you go. I think it's about you and the foal mostly but I don't want him as an easy target or prop if whatever he plans there fails, but either way you get me. I think Nadeen's a good pick for back up if you do go, but It makes me want to flicker flash there to act as a get away"

"I want to protect Connor, and I want to to protect Star."

"Mm. Another impossible choice. He's putting you in that situation already."

"We will find a way."

"This fuckin' sucks."

"Ailil are very good at that" She says "Xanatos might be an Ailil"

"Xanatos?"

"Oh, Gargoyles show... you should watch it just to see... it's for kids but like the bad guy... he learns how to win even when he loses half the time. And Goliath is .." A sigh "Kind of dreamy."

"And yes, we'll find away" A thought "Come on, I'll set up the Gargoyles show streaming in here while we work on food"

"Well, I'm not much for TV, but I'll watch an episode with you." She starts fetching the pastries out of the oven. "These look like they came out nicely."

"I... I think I'm gonna go riding."

"I think that's a good idea. There will be pastry for you when you get back. They're too hot right now."

"OK." Gerd says and "Oh." She hands an apple over to Dagmar "Tribute to Star"

"Okay. Thanks, Kerri."

"Oh, better take another apple for Stormwake. You know how he gets."

"Spoiled Ponies" Another handed over

"Oh, yeah..." She stuffs two apples in her pockets before stalking out the door.

Kerri watches her go and sighs. "Well, Gerd...show me this show."

Gerd watches her go a worried look, then "Okay, but understand I've outgrown this so if I APPEAR to be enjoying it I'll deny it." A bit of a smile

and she starts the show

(End Scene)