#rivervale_lodge

He yips in enjoyment! "You're still a troll! You'll always be able to toss me in the air - or in the lake!"

Dag grins quietly.

"Yeah well... that does make me smile" She says "now.. bed time I think for both of us. You want me to read you a story?"

"Can you tell me again about the winged hussars?"

Dagmar curls up sideways on the loveseat, feet hanging over the edge.

"SUre sure... but it always ends the same way..." ANd off she goes to tell about the Ottomad Turkey Empire and the Winged Huskies... well, okay, some may accuse her of watering down history but he's a kid!

"Night Dagmar..." ANd giving him time to wave before she steals the young pook

Dagmar lets herself doze off by the fire, amongst the others.

And Connor enjoys the story, even if he always falls asleep before they get to the end.

(End scene)

"It was ugly, Frank" Vali says "On our side too."

Cleaning up the truck, soap and water...

The trailer interior -did- need some work, and beggars can't be choosers. Best to make sure it's evidence free.

Frank grunts. "Brekke was hurt worse than she let on."

"I figured" Vali frowns back "Cold Iron and Balor." A scowl

"She's ok." Frank sounds like he's been thinking/saying that a lot.

"She told me how it went."

"Grim situation"

The grump nods. "Thank you for being part of it."

"HOw could I not? You and I, we've seen things close like this... but some of the wilders... watch them carefully, Frank. They just landed face first in the suck"

Frank glances at Vali. "You think they'll have after effects? Dagmar.... she's seen grim stuff. Been -in- grim stuff. Gerd..... ok, good point. I'll talk with her." He pauses, thinking, then nods. "I'll talk with all of them."

"Gerd and I have already talked.. she's seeing her therapist again , more than once a month. Between Connor running off and this.. she's;.. shaken" A pause 'Though this nocker boy is distracting her" A frown " He seems kind of free with the gifts"

"You'd rather I stay away from her?"

"No, no, I'm not .." A thought "I just thought you should know of the other factors and influences." A pause "What aboutthe non trolls?"

Frank nods. "It -is- good that I know, yes. Non-trolls?" He considers it. "Well, I said I'll talk with all of them. I'll know more when I do. Adam didn't seem overly bothered but that was in the moment."

"Mm well, the operation included Dirk, Symon, Zane, Piper, Eden... Tiffany was rock solid but then she used to disarm bombs in Afghanistan"

"Do you think she needs someone to talk to?"

"TIffany? No" he says "I Hope to marry the girl so... I figure I'll hear about it if she has a problem"

Frank lifts an eyebrow but just nods. "Ok."

"Just, this is definitely different to the Rivervale of even ten years ago. The diversity of kithain is, I think, over all a good thing, but it challenges in new ways"

Frank nods. "Well. Hopefully I can serve non-trolls as well as trolls."

"I know you can, Mountain, " A fond smile "Magnus swears by therapy sessions with you and he's a sidhe"

He sighs and shakes his head. "Therapy......."

"Hey, apparently you did make him feel better," Vali says "and I'm only now coming to appreciate how complex teaching is now that I am one. I stepped wrong with Piper big time"

"Is she a student of yours?" Frank, without children of his own in school, might be a bit out of the loop.

"I try to look out for all the kids at the high school" He says "Piper was letting her grades slide, skipping school a lot."

"I tried to light a fire under her, instead offended her and probably drove her further away. I think my own ignorance of satyrs was a factor. I used troll methods to be FIRM... and satyrs are not..well" A sigh

"You have to tailor your approach to the person, yes."

"Which means I need to take the time to get to know the person and not just their situation" A sigh "Maybe that's why I'm glad to confirming you'll be talking to some of them. I'm not sure how good I'll be at it. You have a patience in you that I wish I could master half as well"

"I think my House helped teach me that patience." He reflects. "And, age."

"Somedays I fear I peaked as a childling" Bemusement

A soft puff of amusement. "I doubt it, Valley."

"Well, I have doubts but thanks" He says "I have to say being a graybeard.. or grump is different. I'm rolling with the necessities better, but it's the oddest thing. I'm not that much older than the wilders, so how come I find myself stunned at how full tilt eager they are to risk themselves? And over such small things?"

Another chuckle. "Perspective, Vali."

"I've been seeing visions of the future on and off since my early wilder years..." A sigh

"Somehow that perspective, while heavier, is easier to read at times."

"You have more experience at it."

"So you're saying there are .. levels to grumphood? " He scratches his chin "The longer you are a grump the more you learn to manage it.. use that perspective?"

Frank nods. "It can happen that way. Some folks might not use it that way, but it could be done."

"mm I want to be helpful to them, the mortal students, the lodge wilders ,and the wilders of Rivervale period... the childlings too. " A nod "Guess learning patience will take patience" A frown "Which seems kind of rigged when I think about it, but it is what it is"