#rivervale_lodge

Jonas and Siv make out near the stables. The Fiona slides her leg up against his outer thigh, holding onto him for support even as she and he share oxygen in a delirious lust inducing way.

Jonas, for his part, has cupped her rear with one free hand, enjoying the feel of it perhaps without thinking and also supporting her at the same time. He loves the press of her body against his. The soft and firm parts of her in equal measure.

What the horses think of this? Well, that's for them to know and others to guess.

Siv , surprisingly, is the first one to break this up, "Oo damn..too close to the lodge"

Jonas, normally the longer worded of the two, answers "Huh?"

"I kind of told mom and da I'd not.. you know take things into the lodge witout.." She blushes "You know, I wouldn't let it get too wild. It might reflect on the lodge. And while we're not IN the lodge..>" She looks apologetic. "I'm sorry, I know I just got your engine revved, lord knows mine is..."

He shakes his head "No, no. It's okay. I understand."

"You do?" She stops, "Really, you're okay with shutting down, just like that?"

He gives her a LOOK, "Are you about to be acrimonious about the fact I am not going all cave man and taking you against the side of the stable?"

Siv looks intrigued at the wording, and chagrinned that maybe she was about to get offended he was so cool about it, "maaaybe. I mean. .I am glad you understand but I hoped you'd be .. dissappointed? " A sigh "I'm sorry, I know I can be vain about..."

Jonas brows, then kisses her, and parts "What I WANT To do is very different from what I understand we SHOULD do. Does that help?"

"Greatly" She admits

"Now, can we go somewhere else besides the lodge? " he inquires

"Well I..." Her eyes light up with mischief "Aye. Let's slip into McGillicuddy's guest room" And she pulls him along

"What, just to .. to.." He blinks

"Because we can" A wink, and she laughs and pulls him away. "Won't break my word to mum and da that way"

"I think you should see a therapist about this weird need to simultaneously be a dutiful daughter and still cause trouble.." But he is dragged along

*******************

Nadeen enters the hold, a huff of frustration.

"Hello? Anyone home? I.. argh" She plops down in a chair "Aggrivating"

"Nadeen?" Kerri comes out of the kitchen, wiping her hands.

"Oh , Hello Hearth" She rises "May I make a request of the higher ups? You being one of them?"

A bemused look and a nod. "You may request."

"Next time an event where some young and OVERLY Enthusiastic Gwydion Count seeks to read the farm under the manipulations of a troll knight and her Beltaine Blade masters, perhaps inform your LIason to Caer Falken?" A sour look "I ended up looking less in the know than boggan gossip"

Indeed, the wilder looks mortified

"Oh, I apologize, Nadeen." Kerri takes a seat near her. "Really. It just all happened without warning. I think I thought in a straight line. Here to the Farm and back. You're absolutely right...you should have been informed. I should have spoken with you. I'm sorry."

"Well, I don't know who is supposed to fill me in these. Maybe i'ts not a Hearth thing? But we have lost such an opportunity." A sigh "A count, in our debt. I could have played that so well"

She pats Kerri's hand "And yes, my ego got a bit crushed when the boggan gossip came to the attention of the Count and he wanted to know 'more'"

"Well, I don't think we've heard the last from him, if that helps? Perhaps you might be liaison to his not-quite-established court?"

"Perhaps" She says "But he's too young for marriage material and has no hold..."

"Yet."

"Currently he's at Caer Falken as a guest." She says "I will attempt to ingriate him so he remembers his debt to Rivervale."

"Nadeen...consider Hemlock's court. If you were a young count, don't you think you'd appreciate having somebody closer to your age to talk to? He has some ideas about trolls to reconceive...you can help him there specificially."

"You think I should introduce him to Gerd?" SHe says "She's closer to his age"

"Even better," she nods. "A liaison of his own kith, accompanied by a girl his own age but of a different kith? It has the potential to be a change-making connection."

She raises a brow at something, "I confess, you're being much more ...politically savvy than I expected, Hearth. Not that you can't be, but I was sure you would fuss at me for trying to take 'advantage' of his debt? I don't see it that way exactly, but I thought you would"

A brow. "After he nearly agreed to overthrow a functioning commoner hold? He may be naive, but he's not innocent. I'm fine with you using what leverage we have to help him to see commoners as full and legitimate masters of their own fates." A pause. "If that's too much to ask, I'm at least happy to have you help him recognize that we are better to have as allies than enemies."

A blink "Why Dame Kerri, I do believe you are using me to further some reformist commoner friendly cause." A sigh "My traditionalist invitations will be slim" A tilt of her head, "You want me to modernize him a bit if I can. Or at least, have him respect other kiths traditions with more equity. "

"I don't expect miracles. And I don't want you to do anything you find morally impossible. But inasmuch as you've learned, he can learn as well." Then a grin. "I'll also confess to wanting to hear stories of you and Gerd functioning as a team."

"I admit, Gwydions are a hard nut to crack..they distrust Unseelie period.. but.." An admission "I find Gerd frustrating at times. She is less in awe of me than I'd like" A sigh "Seems a rivervale trait, but in her case she doesnt even humor me"

"And that is precisely why you'll serve as a perfect bridge from what he thought he could expect of commoners to a somewhat more realistic reality. Gerd will play that role just fine. And it's a far less dangerous awakening than he almost got dropped into."

"Yes, either successful and realizing his both a villain AND a puppet, or being prey to some very ANGRY DeBukes" Nadeen eyes Kerri again "Still you.. mmm " Realization "You would make a fairly good politiician yourself, Hearth" She means no offense

"Would I?" A completely unreadable little grin.

The wilder's eyes WIDEN as if she had just come across the surprise twist in a VERY good thriller

"I think I'm going to have nightmares" She finally lets out

"Oh, we can't have that. How about milk and cookies?" The Hearth stands and is half-way to the kitchen door.

"Oh sure, milk cookies, that's how you hook us" A mutter then more clearly "you do play politics... more defense than offense, but you're the reason the Chieftain and the rest of the lodge can afford to evade them"

"How did I Miss this?" She ponders and begins to pace "A knight, but no house loyalty. A hearth, but non trolls understand the import"

"I think you're making me far too much of a lynchpin by that measurement. But...I have my influence. Chocolate chip?" she suggests as she goes through the kitchen door.

"Well, yes, of course chocolate chip... raisins are a cruel trick" She humphs