#rivervale_lodge

"I..." she pauses. "I'm kind of hesitating to ask him. Like...he's got duty. I don't want to keep pulling him away. But...I've always liked it when we've quested for fought together."

"I know, but he can't now, too much going on I think" She says "like i said, the raids."

"Wait...you're not talking about the raids that have already happened? You...there's other raids?"

"Yeah? you didn't hear? Word is that on the Silver Wolf Darkgate border there's been a group of dross raiders ducking in and out... I heard it from Celia who has a cousin up in Smyrna, but HER room mate lives near Rome and well, she says that a quilting bee full of dross got sacked mongol style... and then woosh gone."

Here eyes go wide. "No, I did NOT hear about that." And she doesn't look at all happy about that fact.

"Oh crap. he's doing the BOY friend thing of not wanting to worry you I bet." A sigh "it's sweet and well intentioned?" trying to put a good spin

Oh, now we've gotten to frown-pout. "Yeah. Sweet. And really, really annoying." Hmph. "Well, now we need to talk to Nadeen about this. She's got connections there, now."

"Well looking at you ,making the connections, pulling the strings, getting it done, sorting it out...." her eyes sparkle with amused admiration "All because your snuggle bunny is under the misconception he gets to choose what you get protected from"

"Well, he might have been able to keep me out of it if he'd had the sense to tell me about it right off. But he's hiding it from me, and he should know better."

"You going to get offended If I say you reminded me of your mom just now?" Yup. She gets a win win on this. Teasing a friend while supporting her.

"Heyyyyyy...." Then, "Okay, fair."

"It's okay, I just know I'm gonna get my mama's hips one day" A sigh "But it is Not THIS day" Miming a movie quote "now you have nadeen snooping on Silver Wolf. That means she's not on the quest list right?"

"Yeah, and that might mean that Dagmar's going to want to shadow her, but I don't want to assume. How 'bout Dirk?"

"Dagmar will wnat to go n the big quest I think. Nadeen's done the trip alone to the Silver Wolf barony the last three times. So she'll be good. OR she'll tell Siv Siv owes her and will shadow for her. "

"Aand..Dirk" As if tasting the word

Sylvi bites her lip. "Is it bad that I kind of think of Siv as...well...not one of the crew? Like...she kinda aged out?"

"I mean, she kinda came late to the crew to begin with. And she is older."

A brow then a thought "I think, maybe she might be hurt to hear you say that, but.. I think I see what you mean. She's adventuring sure, but she's like a breeze even now.. she blows through and she's fun, keeps it cool, then she blows out. Not a dig, just ... you know she'll be all right even if she doesn't quest with you."

"And normally I'd be worried about a redcap in the Dreaming, but with Dagmar AND Symon there... and you, yeah, I think you can keep him pointed at the right targets. " She says "Besides, somehow you helped him turn around. to think, he was once just the assholebully"

"Honestly? I don't think he was ever just that. But don't tell him I said that."

"Well, for all my 'boggan senses' I never saw past that so..respect to the Sylvi dar"

A shrug. "Well...oh...heyyyyy, maybe we could bring the cauldron with us? Somehow make it easier to transport, and it would keep him fed?" She thinks. "Be a heck of a risk that we might lose it, though."

"Yeah, you know how useful that thing has been? the homeless shelter thinks some bored millionaire is dropping things off"

She smiles. "Yeahhhh...yeah, we can't risk losing it. So...we'll find another way. Okay, so..." counting on her fingers "Me, you, Dagmar, Zane, Symon, Dirk...oh! Gerd! She might be a lucky number seven, since she can flickerflash us." She bites her lip again. "Is seven too many?"

"Seven is doable, and there's something to lucky numbers" A nod of approval

"Ah, what about your Dad?" A nod " I Mean.. he guards the trods. Does he know we're going to do this? And if we don't want him to find out you might want to pick a time he's distracted"

"Well, I was planning on telling my folks. They can keep things quiet. And I don't even know if we're going to be in the Dreaming, for sure. I mean...I really don't even know where to start looking. So really, that's the first part of the quest -- figure out where those particular cookies come from."

"Oh wow. yeah, we're gonna need some lore heavy folks on this"

"Well...maybe Zane would know? Or...oh! His dad!"

"Professor Wayburton might"

"Should have thought of him right of the bat. But that means adding somebody else to knowing about the quest."

"Try Zane first then . If he doesn't know, he can poke aroudn his dad's books"

"Yeah, good idea."

"And it will SNAP him out of that damn play list" A sigh

"Win-win!"

A nod "You know, i'm really glad you've invited me. "

She grins. "Me too. You really helped me get started with this. Now...I have to go and scold my boyfriend. We'll talk tomorrow?"

"You got it" She assures "oh, let me know as much as you feel you can how it went? I have a vested interest in learning about boyfriend management"

"Boyfriend management? Wait...you started seeing somebody?"

"AH.. " A blush "talk to you tomorrow"

"Oooooh...You and I are gonna talk." Sylvi grins and waves as she goes to talk to Zane.

((Which is another story for another time.))

Oh yes.. they will.

(And End Scene)