#rivervale_lodge

The next day, a courier drops off an envelope, FedEx overnighted, to Tasha Brown.

Within is a more formalized version of Aide's earlier offer - an elegant black and silver MasterCard, with Nadeen's mortal name embossed upon it. With a note - "Please use this as needed. It will not fix anything, but hope that it may ease mortal concerns." The rote paperwork that comes with describes it as without limit, and with 24/7 luxury card concierge... fancy.

Kerri is the one who receives the package on Nadeen's behalf. She may not be aware of its contents, but she knows who the sender is.

Indeed, it came from upstate new york, though by mortal means.

And she makes sure that Nadeen receives it...but only after the girl wakes up on her own.

Before then, Kerri calls AnneMarie. "I'm checking up on you. All's well there?"

Anne Marie fusses on the phone "Absolutely not! The boys got up to so much foolishness, and Bruce, Bruce of all people going around risking himself! I don'tt know what THEY did, but they did THINGS and I am nott happy about this, they 're all grounded! Even the.. no, ESPECIALLY my husband"

Kerri does her best not to laugh, though her tone may sound a bit arch when she says, "Yes, how dare they care about you and exercise their specific talents for the sake of helping not only you but also all the others at risk. The nerve of them."

"Exactly" Ah, the art of hearing what you want to

"Well...I'm afraid I need to call on your wisdom about how to manage some mortal matters again. Something I'd prefer to take off of somebody else's shoulders, as much as possible. But I think we should talk about it in person. Would you like to come here, or should I drop by there?"

"Oh, please drop by here. Rivervale's lodge is wonderful, but I missed my home. We boggans are terrible like that you know?"

"I completely understand. Let me just get a few things arranged, and I'll be right over."

"Thank you" She says

She hangs up and makes sure that SallyMae and Brogan are set and squared away to manage breakfast and the Lodge for an hour or so. She makes sure that they know about the Chieftain's recovery as well as Nadeen and Dagmar's troubled emotions. "Don't pry, but listen if they need to speak," she advises.

Sally Mae nods "Fair. " She's told Kerri of Carowyn and other Liam saving Dreamers from attacks . Pride in her voice. "I'll see to it they get comfort food"

Brogan has been thoughtful , a quiet lad at times, his House being at the root of troubles has not sat well with him.

"Perfect," she says, then pulls together a small assortment of breakfast treats on a covered platter to bring to AnneMarie. And she goes.

Anne Marie opens the door for her before she can even knock "Come in, Come in. I grounded everyone, so naturally they've headed out" A sigh "I swear, it's almost like they don't regret a thing they did"

"Defiance in the ranks? I don't know what you're talking about," says the Hearth of a Lodge where herding cats sounds like a light day's work. "Well, just as well that they're out, because these are for you, not for the ravenous horde."

A chuckle "Oh head strong wilders are your main trouble now eh? At least you have SOME Childlings. "

"And thank you" A pause "how are Connor, Jackflap and Brogan doing?" Speaking of childlings

"They're still at the Farm. We're sending word today to bring them and the animals home, now that it's over." A bit of relief there...then more seriously, "We have another matter to manage here. You know that Gildas killed mortals. Well...it turns out that two of them were the Browns." She says this gently, as she knows that AnneMarie knew the foster parents.

"Oh dear god"Anne marie's face pales

Kerri sighs and nods. "Yes. I'm sorry. I..." She shakes her head. "Apparently, he made Nadeen watch."

"And she didn't tell anyone?"

"Not until after the duel was over, as far as I can tell. She didn't want people distracted, apparently."

"Oh for .." the boggan makes a hands in the air motion "Were we ever so headstrong matyrbound when WE were wilders?" A beat "Don't answer that. Myrtttle Anne might have told you too much of my wilder days"

"I plead the fifth," Kerri agrees. ""So...Nadeen and Dagmar are both badly shaken by this, and they're both mourning in their respective ways. But of course, there's going to be the mortal element of this as well. I don't know what the mortal authorities know. And...I don't know who the other eight mortals were that he killed."

"I'll find out" The boggan says "And I'll arrange for a less banal transition for Nadeen. She could be an Emancipated Minor with paper work" A frown "But she doesn't need to be alone "

"No. I...have suspicions that she's about to have an opportunity open up. I'm not sure how I feel about it, but...I think the emancipation would be a good step to start."

"Open up?" A brow and.. interest "Kerri, don't hold back on me now. I've been gossip deprived for a week"

A pained look...she doesn't want to deprive her friend. "I'm sorry, AnneMarie. I really shouldn't say more. Not yet. But...I promise that, as soon as I can, I will share word with you."

"oh don't look like that. You make me sound like I'm the boggan version of a guy I used to date trying to get into my pants early" She shakes her head and mimes and rolls her eyes, 'But Anne Marie, I need you so bad it hurts' . I'll survive with lesser gossip I assure you. Okay... is this opportunity going to involve her moving? that might affect paper work"

Troll willpower is strong...but when AnneMarie brings up the practicalities of paperwork, she's more effective. "That's what I suspect. Moving out of the county. But I could be completely wrong, too," she qualifies.

"mmm I'll have some options of my own open then to make easier transition." she susses it out, speaking to herself as much as her compatriot to help organize her thoughts and commit to memory

Kerri nods. "Good. I'm also not sure how things work with resolving their estate."

"If I donn't move fast, the state will SEIZE everything 'for her own good'" A sigh "I'll prevent it. I know a few legal eagle who owes me a favor"

"I knew you'd know the answer," Kerri says with relief. "I'm sorry to add to your workload so soon after all this, but your skills are needed."

"Oh you know as well as I, sometimes having something you CAN do is so much better than feeling there is nothing you can do, even if the can do means a lot more effort" A concerned look "this isn't just on me though. I might have been the target, but everyone got the fall out, and that. .that aches me terribly. But you must be swamped yourself. Imbolc suddenly coming on, other holidays not far away, and so many of your ducklings not in their rows "

"I think we'll be forgiven for having a subdued Imbolc this year, considering. As to the rest...well, Rivervale ducklings seem to be very good at making their own rows, one way or another."

"oh tell me about it. Prissy and Dirk are... I think they're dating. Sort of. Possibly much more. " A sigh "Bruce had the TALK with Dirk. I suspect he threw a medical pamplet and a box of condoms at the boy"

Kerri winces. "I'm not sure who I feel worse for, father or son. Hmm...I don't suppose things went any better when he tried to have the TALK with Symon?"

"Try finding Symon for the talk. I tried to give him one once, turned my back and he was gone. " Amazed "It was like removing your eyes from a clurichaun"

"Well, he's a clever young man with a critical mind. I suspect he'll be able to unravel truth from fiction in whatever research he does."

"Sluagh or no, one day some young thing is going to catch him off guard, steam that his blood and he may throw cautioun out the window because he's not braced for those feelings. Wilders will wild and I... I donn't know" She humphs "I guess I do need to have faith. Anyway, Prissy seems a nice girl, she was just poor and desperate . " A pause "Okay, not NICE, but ther'es good in there, I know it"

And she gets her friend a cup of coffee the way Kerri likes it

Kerri thanks her, grinning at the comment about Prissy. "Sounds a lot like Dirk a couple of years ago."

"It does, doesn't it? The poor lamb. She doesn't understand why she's not dead. She's confused why she's been released from an oath "

"Hmm. Perhaps you should bring her to the Lodge at some point. I mean, if she's been forgiven for what she was hired to do, then we ought to be treating her as a Rivervale resident."

"She's rougher than Dirk was in some ways. He was a local after all. She.. well..she's got troubles"

"Anything you think you can share?"