#rivervale_lodge

"You were ready , you were there" A stroke of her cheek "not in the fight, but you're always there to put folks together"

A bit of a blush and a smile. "I do what I can." She nuzzles his nose.

"I still feel guilty I wasn't here" He frowns "Did the dross and stuff we sent help?"

"It absolutely did. I mean...." A glance to the Lodge, a guilty look before she admits. "We had a near miss with the Chieftain."

"I hadn't heard." he says

"Cold Iron," she murmurs with a frown. "And she was trying to heal others on top of it, and...she forgot for a few moments."

"If I end up half the Storm she is I will surprise myself pleasantly indeed" concerned admiration "Was the cold iron gotten rid of? I know folks who can forge it to be rid of it"

"Dagmar took it to the foundry. The Chieftain has an arrangement with the owner to melt down bits and pieces she brings."

"How are Storm duties at the Gate?"

"A lot more homework than I expected" he admits "i'm reading books on war, small unit tactics mostly, Sun Tzu's the art of war, other books on strategies and tactics, the art of leadership..." A blush "I have a 'voice of command'"

She smiles. "You do, huh?"

"I'm not foolish enough to think it would work on you" a grin

She beams. "Well, don't use it on me unless you absolutely have to. But it's worked on others?"

"You have to sound confident, you have to use it with firmness and in such a way they start doing it before they think of it."

"Hmm...sounds like cheer voice."

"Actually, yeah," he nods "the principles are probably very similar."

"Make people want to agree with what you're telling them to do so they don't question it. It's...kind of manipulative," she admits taking his hand as they stroll a little deeper into the darkness of the treeline.

They move deeper , just a bit, and he watches the way the shadows and light play across "Yeah, you intimidate, mislead, guilt trip, or whatever you have to keep your squad alive... not a lie."

"Yeah. Means you have to have good judgment, though."

"And it's on you when it goes wrong... you demand obedience, you take on more of the conseuence" A nod

"Wow, sorry, this isn't romantic talk at all" Apologetic

She shrugs. "It's okay. I mean...it's our lives, right? I want us to share more than just our bodies, y'know? Although...." she stops and moves to face him again, "...that's nice, too," she says with a mischievous tone.

"Well, no reason I can't alternate... talk to you.. share my thoughts listen to yours, then use my mouth for not talking..." A kiss "Then talk.." A kiss on the neck "Then not talk again,...Lower and lower"

"Mmmmm....I like this agenda...." she says with a slight giggle.

"Well, " A grin "Going to be hard not to smile while discussing leadership and serious matters if I get to follow it up with tasting you"

"Better practice. Tell me something seriously important and leader-ish." She tries to get her own smile under control as she pulls slightly away to look at him.

A tilt of his head "A leader should never risk the lives of his troops lightly, but if he freezes out of fear of the wrong choice, he risks them anyway. One must be bold to leads." He takes her hand and lifts it, then kisses the inside of the wrist.

A little catch of breath and a sigh. "See? I didn't hear a smile," she whispers. "Too dark to see, though," she admits.

"True... your turn"

"Oh...mm..." She clears her throat and takes a breath. "Always allow for the possibility that a conflict may be due to communication failure. Strive for clarity and compassion first." Then she leans in and nibbles softly at his neck.

"you're.... "A soft gasp "Very right and it is VERY hard not to smile at this..." flushing lightly

"Mmm, your neck is warm...and your cheek..." as she kisses there "...let me check your earlobe..." nibbling "Yup, warm too."

"that.. this bring me to another point about ..tactics... " He checks her earlobe back nibbling back "Through intell is a must"

"Oh....right...t-tactics..." she tries to return to a serious demeanor.

"You have to know the terrain" A hand cups along curves , Serious features but his eyes light

A stifled giggle as her hands stroke his back. "Will that give you an advantage?"

"Oh, i think it's very advantageous ..to know how fast to take the curves , the best paths to take to a wonderful mutual victory" hands play and stroke and a kiss, trying , on trying not to smile.

A shuddery breath at the words, the kiss....and then her hands dive down abruptly to give his butt a squeeze. "Surprise attack," she explains.

HE LAUGHS then "Damn it ." he smiled oopenly first

She joins in the laugh. "Victory is mine!" and she claims another kiss.

Hot kiss returned, seems he doesn't mind being conquered.

Some leaves may get shaken

She's quite ready to abandon the Serious game in favor of more sincere pleasures. And a summer night in the dark woods is a delightful place to...well...shake a few leaves.