#rivervale_lodge

"I know it, and I saw it.. .not long ago in fact. You went with me into the dragon's jaws, figuratively speaking. I wont' forget that."

A small smile.

A smile back "I ah, do wonder if you're feeling okay? I mean... this had to be kind of 'boom' out of the blue for you both. Still, first Squire. That's a big thing for knights"

"I don't... I don't think I'd be the best choice? Like, there's lots of other knights."

"But... but Chief asked, you know?"

"I love Connor, but he's not the 'best choice' for a squire either" Making sure he's not listening in "So enough with the 'best choice' on your side stuff. It works both ways. You're a good person and a great knight... you don't have to be best to be worth choosing." And a nod "And the Chief is..well, once you get to know her, you don't want to let her down"

"I sort of thought.. I mean, oathing meant a lot to me. Feeling the oath there is.. reassuring, yeah? Solid."

"I thought.. I mean, sometimes... I thought, maybe, having an oath would reassure him, too?"

"We're trolls. We recognize Oaths aren't chains, but a source of support, a way to connect a community" She nods "I suppose if I werent' a troll I might be more panicky about this... but I'm not going to apologize to anyone for what dream I am."

"No, I like being a troll - even if the cookie experiment was cool."

"Oh those yeah" Wistful "You know, I think sometime I need to go find out who GOT those this year"

"I heard a rumor it was Teaneck."

"Lucia was saying, when she was over babysitting CJ."

"Oh wow, you've got all the GOOD gossip now " Amused

"Well, Lucia has the goods."

"She does.. and she's swings a pretty good sword actually." Surprise " She's practiced"

"But, like, the Baron was a pooka."

"ooo was it a raven pooka? He takes that form a lot I hear"

"I'm.. not sure, actually."

"He took the excuse to prank folk, though."

"OF course he did" Gerd says Then she smirks "Oh geez. VAli's gonna get it, if he hasn't already. "

"Get what?"

"Pranked" He says "he's done a few on the Baron so... you know, payback"

"Ohhhhh"

"Yup." She says

"I may stay at the lodge for 23 hours where it's safe" Wryly

"I mean, fair."

"You do not want to get in the middle of a prank war. Tiffany, she's a pooka, she thrives in that stuff...And Uncle Vali is a bit tetched, but I guess I'm too trollish to want to endure it for THAT long" A nod ... a soft flicker of something over her head

"Oh I have a gift for connor, but I think I'll give it to him at the party.." She says . Whatever it is over her head gets closer. It's..fading in ad out

Eyebrow.

"I don't like pranks, much. I've gotten better about putting up with them."

"What are you thinking?"

"Oh, the gift for connor? it's based on that picture.. I'll give it to him later." A shrug "Wasnt' really thinking about anything"

Now it's only three feet over Gerd.. like heat rising off a road

"Oh... kay..." Watching.

"Why are you staring at my hair like that?" She says reaching to her hair ""I got something puffing up?"

"More like... something? A chimera, maybe?"

She tires kenning.

Gerd looks up

"See it? It's flickering.."

And then there's music and flowers falling

as the device, which looks like a tiny good year blimp drops flowers like confetti...

"Oh! Must be your nocker!" She grins.

The petals and flowers alternate, light and dark and Gerd gasps and laughs, then blushes "oh god, Wudlig this song is like.. ANCIENT"

BLUSH "Dagmar.. .please tell me no one else sees this.. ridiculous thing..."

Petals are getting in her hair

"I mean, I do. But Connor's gone off with Oak so - minimal witnesses."

"I dunno, I think it's kind of sweet."

"you are so lucky to have nadeen" A look up at the device "she respects BOUNDARIES" As if the blimp can hear.. maybe it can because on the side of the now visible football sized blimp are the words U R CORDIALLY INVITED TO MOVIE NIGHT AT THAT LAKE THREE NIGHTS FROM NOW... I WILL PROVIDE SCREEN, MOVIE- U BRING POPCORN AND URSELF! TEXT ME WITH ANSWER! THIS BLIMP WILL SELF DESTRUCT WHEN SONG ENDS

Despite her protests, Gerd grins like a fool at this fuss "A movie huh?"