#rivervale_lodge

Lucjan & Lauge., the 'younger' troll twins work hard at the clean up, and fetching drinks. The twin boys , unlike Jack Flap, are okay with not having parents and Lut and Tig have been training them in trollishness when others aren't. Right now, they help construction mostly as gofers. their stoic little faces set into focus, they seem to be less competitive with each other today.

"Nice work," Gerd says to the boys

"Thanks" One says "Yeah, thanks" Says the other. But they're not very emotive today.

"Not having fun?" Gerd says "I thought you guys would get a kick out of outdoor work"

"it's nice" Lauge says

"Very nice" Lucjan says

"Good work for our age" Lauge says

"Yup... our age" Lucjan shares a look with his brother.

The two sigh, and pass on the brownies Gerd made.

Gerd looks at her deserted brownies. Something is wrong. And she needs to talk to Kerri

Brekke approaches and takes a drink of water from the cooler. A nod to Gerd. "Thank you for helping."

"You're welcome" She looks at the two boys "Ah, Chief. I think we have a problem with the twins. Err the younger twins" She looks at her brownie tray "They just ignored brownies. Now I don't cook them nearly as well as... well, a lot of folks, but they're still good. And two boys just walked away from them. They're not even competing while they work. They always compete"

Brekke's brow furrows. "Your brownies are fine. I am sure that is not it." She watches the boys for a minute as they work. "Did they say anything? Do they complain of illness?"

"No, not illness. I asked if they weren't having fun. They gave that empty 'it's nice' and then said they said they were doing good work... for their age"

"Hm." A nod. "Thank you, Gerd." Another drink of water, and she goes back to work, assisting the construction crew. She keeps an eye on the twins, though, watching their behavior.

Well behaved. But they definitely lack their usual enthusiasm or oomph, and might even be accused of going through the motions. Though they're not slacking per se. Lut and Tig have been their tutors and taught them well though Lut's love life means he's been distracted.

Everyonce in a while, they look at each other, and give an almost melancholy sigh. While more familiar with girls than little boys, the XY type of mini troll is not alien to Chieftain Brekke. They are feeling sorry for themselves?

She finds a reason to work with them for a bit, helping with lifting, moving, measuring, marking. Showing them how to do a task an easier way.

"Thank you, Chief" Lucjan says but it's clearly just manners. "Yes, thank you" Says Lauge

"Mm." She nods, then gives each boy a look in turn. "You seem unhappy."

"We're fine" They chime together. Ah, Fine. One of the earliest attempts to evade Gwydion boon and authority figure alike. For Fine can mean merely suriving if they twist it. Sadly, for it to be true, you have to BELIEVE it. And they don't. It pings

In stereo

A brow. A brow that clearly expects further explanation.

Lauge and Lucjan trade looks. "It's just" One says.... "We thought we would be doing something else" the other nods "SOmething.. for us" "Yeah. It was..selfish"

"Hm." She is puzzled. These two do not shirk, normally. She scans the work zone. "Perhaps that will change. For now, you are needed here." She indicates the portion of work not yet complete. "I will return to check on you soon."

Thus saying, she excuses herself and returns to the Lodge.

They nod, and do put MORE energy into what they do. But it's a matter of Duty winning over melancholy for now; the melancholy remains

Returning to the Lodge, Brekke checks on a hunch, looking in a book of records kept for her by Kerri. After leafing through pages a bit, she sighs as her concerns are confirmed...and goes to locate Tig.

Tig has a casual sort of patrol going. He does not slack (No pun intended) but his patterns are more random.

But the Chief knows his favorite spots, even in a pandemic

and soon finds him

"Tig. A moment." She waves him over.

He moves over promptly, sometimes it's amazing how time has grown him. When did so many boys grow to men? So many wilder boys bloom to grumps and near grumps?

"Chief?" He says making sure no mortals are about

A brief grin at the young man, but then she grows serious. "I think there may have been an oversight, unless you have something planned. It is the boys' birthday today."

"The boys ? " A blink then, the blink stops and his eyes widen "Oh holy shit. L&L! "

Tig facepalms "Chief, I totally dropped the ball on this."

A brow at the language, but she lets it go. A nod. "I have made the same oversight. I think this can be salvaged yet. I have a suggestion. It is...not entirely legal, by mortal standards."

A pause. "No, not legal at all, by mortal standards."

"Thus, it should more than make up for the oversight."

She quietly makes a suggestion to him.

He listens, then grins "That.. the entire place to themselves?"

A brow. "I expect you will supervise and prevent them from getting into too much trouble. Also, some creatures will be less active, perhaps...though some will be moreso."

"Do you think that would suffice?"

He nods "On it, Chief. It'll be the highlight of their month. I know it will."

She nods. "I will have small gifts for them. Expect a cake from Kerri, I am sure she will make time."

"I'll work with Gerd and the Hearth to organize it" He looks apologetic "Chief, I'm really sorry about this. I'll make it up to the kids. I told Lut I could pick up the slack while he worked on his new place and relationship, and then I slipped. Won't happen again" A beat "At least not in the same way"

A huff of amusement. "Understood. Go."

And he turns to do so. Somehow the Chief is confident that the kids are going to have a blast. And Tig will probably enjoy it too come to think of it

And later, the boys will find wrapped gifts for them. When opened, they reveal two hand-carved wheeled toys of jousters on horseback, armed with lances. Both the jousters and the lances are separate, and if the horses are rolled towards each other, the jousters can attempt to unseat each other. The workmanship may be a bit primitive in style, but as crafted toys they are solid and will last many collisions.