#rivervale_lodge

"Want you to talk to the Chieftess."

TXT : _ -YOU'RE - a mushroom_ and then has at his own cleverness. what a comeback. then he looks at Frank "Yeah. Guess it's her call where I get banished"

(Pause)

Frank walks with Dirk into the Lodge.

Dirk enters in

The Chieftain is sitting in her chair by the fire, looking disgruntled. That might have something to do with the stern look Kerri is giving her. "No," says the Hearth, "You're going to sit there, and I don't want to hear another....oh! Mountain. And hello, Peacekeeper."

Kerri's demeanor became far more pleasant on that instant. Brekke gives Frank a rueful but resigned look.

Dirk looks at his red shitkicker shoes

Frank nods, sternly watching Brekke. "Hearth. Good to see you."

"Chieftess, Dirk would like to speak with you."

"Uhm.. I really wouldn't" True

A brow and a nod. "Hearth, please excuse us...but I am certain that Dirk will be hungry when we are done."

"But you will."

"Of course, Chieftain. I'll have something prepared," she adds with a bit of a grin ot the teen.

Once Kerri is in the kitchen, Brekke gestures Frank and Dirk closer. "I suspect this is about the Raid."

"I'm always hungry.." he says True then scowls "Yeah.. I was .. " He shrugs then taps his back pack "I'm ready if I need to be banished, and I understand. I wanted you to know"

She regards the backpack, then shifts in her chair, wincing slightly as she moves to lean forward. "Put that down and come closer."

He lets it flump and comes closer and ..gets a stuborn set to his jaw, crosses arms but waits for her comment

She regards him for a long moment. "Tell me why you think you might be banished?"

"Cuz people are stupid and don't understand that when cold iron comes out, you just punched your own ticket on the 'better hope sidhe come back somehow' train. Cuz I did it. I'd do it again if things were the same. And you gotta do what's best for the lodge if you gotta do it... and that's cool. I get it. "

Frank goes to the coffee station/drinks cupboard.

A brow. "Dirk, did you think I was not aware of what you did? Of what you were about to do?"

A pause "I wasn't sure" He amdits, truth , so far he's spoken nothing but the truth "If you done it, folks wouldn't have understood. It might have hurt more folks, not just you but the lodge. But caps? Well, we're monsters what kill other monsters, which is what I did"

"I wanted to," she says simply. "I considered it. I chose not to. That was my choice. But you are right -- her use of cold iron made her claim to protection void. And...we had seen the evidence of her crimes." A pause as she considers him. "I could have stopped you."

A brow , STUBBORN "I got fast teeth. I mean, yeah, you could like make Redcap paste after but... well, I think I had good chances of getting a snap off first"

It's not a troll brow , though it's a redcap copy... a squint as if even his face is eating the air before it.

Frank brings Brekke a glass of heady mead.

A brow at Frank's offering. She accepts it, but does not drink yet.

Frank slips into the kitchen.

"I could have stopped you," she repeats. "I could have told you to stop. And you would have." She says this with utter certainty.

"this time? I don't think I would" Dirk says.. true..ish? Seed of doubt

"You would have, Peacekeeper. But...I did not tell you to stop." She pauses before muttering, "Perhaps I should have."

Then dirk blinks "hey, you're trying to put this on you aren't you? Damn it, Chief, don't do that! It defeats the whoele.. no, you're in the CLEAR on this! I'd swear it on a stack of bibles, Talmus, Korans and whatever the fuck it is atheists sswear on"

He ponders "Enycholepias maybe"

"I am not trying to do anything; I am speaking the truth of the situation. I knew what you were about to do, and I did not stop you. That was my choice. And you made your choice. But you made that choice with my permission. Now...you have a boast if you ever have need of it among your kith. But if consequences come of this -- it happened because I knew it was about to happen, and I allowed it."

"I never heard nothing from you saying I could. I never got one clue saying it... and if you sent one, well, guess what.." he points a thumb at himself "I'm was too slow to catch it" In a SO there tone "So I never got permission from you so this is not your fault. It's that pyscho rapist bitch's fault for what she did to all those women... for what she let the men do to those women.. and for cold iron and slaving... you and the mountain the hearth always tell me the choices we make matter, that how we live come back on us... and so I worked with the system, and it's been g ood... but it goes for the bad guys sometimes... that bitch is the one who made the choice. Maybe it wouldnt have been redcap teeth, but somehow it would have come back.... and I didnt' do it with your permission, I did it because I had to prote.." he cuts off before he says something mushy "Anyway, you know what I say I believe so we'll see who folks want to blame if it comes to that.. a legendary heroine who everyone NEEDS to believe in, or some punk cap with an appetite and an attitude, or a balor bitch on the road to deeper shit and more karma coming who made her own choices. Some'll say option 2, some 3.. but nobody I know of is gonna blame you. And I'm GLAD..." True! "So don't SHAKE SHIT UP AND RUIN THIS" ANGRY

and.. concerned!

A blink and, after a moment, a bemused look. "You are right. It was her choice to do what she did. And I have no intention of 'shaking shit up.' As far as I am concerned, the matter is closed. But if house Balor comes looking for explanations, will I not look weak if I say my Peacekeeper was beyond my control?"

He seems surprised by the switch then ponders "That's why I point out I'm young and quick, and grump trolls slow down. I'm not beyond your control.. I was just two seconds faster. Anyone can understand that. I mean..shit, if you ever wanteed to CONTROL me you could beat the shit out of me, probably even bare handed, or for that matter have the Hearth Starve me"

She shakes her head. "I could have stopped you," she repeats. "And I will not lie and say otherwise. But...for the moment, I am not concerned. The matter is done. If more comes of it, we will deal with it then. But you are not banished. We need you."

Again he seems surprised, more at the last part than anything "Yeah, shit's done. " Then "Well, you think you could have. I think maybe I could have faster than that... but it's done and..for what it's worth.. I'm glad it you didn't have to.. you know, do shit. You trolls don't dirty up right.." A shrug "Looks better on us caps... and you gotta leave us SOMETHIng. So. .uhm what do you need me for now? Patrols or... " Clearly taking the last as making sense only if there's a specific job she had in mind

She considers this. "Perhaps you should take my patrols for the next two days, and report back to me."

"Sure... I'll even do it like you do.. no breaking mailboxes or anything"

"Good. And of course, get something to eat from the Hearth before you patrol. And after. But first, Dirk..." She pauses and gives him a long look. "You have killed, now. I think it is your first. Am I right?"

"First sidhe" he says

"Your first mortal kill. First salt tears."

"Uhm.. " He squirms "is this going somewhere?"

A brow. "My first disturbed me for a long time. I want to know how it is for you."

He ponders then blushes "it was cold to swallow.. it was delicious... and some part of me loved it... but after that.. it was a cold lump. But I didn't .. I don't feel guilty too much... mostly I just don't want... "A a blush "Nevermind. I'm good"

Oh, she's not going to leave that alone. "Just do not want what?"