#rivervale_lodge

Kerri glances at Connor to see his reaction to that.

"Pretty!" Says Connor. Or something like it, through a mouthful of bread and cheese. "Pwerntty."?

He has not been wearing his watch the past while, his wrist empty of the previously treasured possession. Maybe he forgot it at the Farm?

"I'm glad they're kind," Kerri says. If she puts a slight emphasis on they're , it's hard to be sure.

Nadeen actually smiles ,and ssniffs the flowers. It's the first time in a few days she's given a true smile

"Miss Kerri, can we make cookies with sparkles? Heart sparkles? I promise to not feed pink sugar to the horses." This time goes unsaid.

"Oh, I think that sounds like a very good idea, Connor...but we want to make them close enough to Valentines Day so they'll still be fresh then. Speaking of which, I noticed the hearts you've been cutting out are very nicely made." She nods towards the main room and the collection of craft materials there.

"Yeah! And if you turn them upside down?" He gets an impish look and whispers in a giggly tone. "Then they are BUTTS."

Nadeen comes back from her reverie just in time to laugh softly a that

Kerri chuckles at that. "Oh, I added pipe cleaners to the supplies, by the way."

"They are too small to clean pipes." He says to Nadeen with a hangdog expression. "Just so you know. I tried and then they had to get a plumber out because the pipes were full of fuzzies. They shouldn't CALL them that."

"I explained that to you, Connor. They're for the kind of pipes people use for smoking tobacco, not water pipes." Kerri exhibits the patience of ten saints plus two some days.

She finishes her soup and says to Nadeen, "I'm glad you've got friends there."

"yes. " Nadeen says looking down at herself as if evaluating her wardrobe which she probably is "I really must thank them."

"No one smokes tobacco here. It's stinky."

"Pipe cleaners are fun and you can turn them into hearts and dogs and things." Apparently other things are less important! Dogs!

Having finished his sandwich (snarfed!) he plops onto the floor next to Nadeen and leans against her legs. "Will you make cookies and pipe-cleaners with me? We can find some that are black and yellow and suns are EASY because they are just all spikes in a circle."

"Oh I have things I should be doing Connor. Car Insurance checks and talking to the Count sometime to see if he needs me or... "

"Very true, Connor," Kerri says about the pipe cleaner options. "I'd like to speak with Nadeen a few more moments. But why don't you set things up out there?"

"And.. talking to the Hearth apparently" She adds

Kerri nods at that.

"Oh." He gives Nadeen's legs a HUG. "But we can play After?" Puppy eyes.

Nadeen surrenders, to Hearth demands and Pooka boy charms "Okay, FOR YOU, I will play. Understand, this is a great honor. Daughter of House Varich have a reputation for cold aloofness we struggle to maintain. We do no play with just ANYONE. So when we play later, you will have to have EXTRA fun to thank me for this sacrifice"

Said with VAST power of drama

"I'll make sure she has time, Connor." Kerri promises. And grins at Nadeen's dramatics.

"Yee! It's a promise!" He squeaks in joy, and nods, trotting out to go get into trouble elsewhere.

"Well, I'm comited now" She observes when he leaves

Kerri observes, "The immovable object surrenders to the irresistible force."

"You're a kind person yourself, Nadeen."

"Dagmar would want no less" She waves it off "he's her squire. And she's a friend. Some would say I'm just keeping diplomatic channels open"

"Some would. I wouldn't."

"But if we're going to go that route...I suppose the more bridges of kindness you secure to SilverWolf, the more chances of Connor knowing kindness there, as well."

"my great failure there' A frown "I can't pierce the full mystery, and I can't restablish that until I do."

Kerri takes a seat. "Nadeen, I know you have chosen to continue pursuing SilverWolf. Are you still..." she pauses and starts another approach. "Does that goal still intrigue you?"

"I should tell you this is not your business, but even if you weren't hearth you've made me and others your concern so we both know that's not true" A look at Kerri "You weren't there during the duel. He was magnificent , Kerri. he was... breath taking. If it were just physical this would be easier, but what he stirs in me is deeper than that, so much so I'm a bit scared by what I feel. If I just wanted to use him, like a rung in the latter, I'd be more sure. I'd have him and soon his hold and be well set while he played with the animals he loved ,and I? I ruled in truth. But.. " A frown "but now... I don't see that. I can' see it. I see a man with his hand in mine and us ruling together. My ambitions , self serving and grasping ARE Still there, but they're empty without having more than his hand, but his heart and trusting him with.. " A blush "I sound like a damn idiot. Suffice to say, I like Silverwolf."

Kerri blinks, surprised not only by the content of the admission but also by Nadeen's willingness to share any of it. She shakes her head, "You don't sound idiotic at all. And...it seems that regardless of what you feel for the Baron, there are others at SilverWolf who also care for you," she nods to the flowers. "Much as there are here, yes, but...you have desires there, too. And...is he giving you indications that he returns your feelings?"

"Yes, I think so. Oh Ailil are masters at manipulation I know that, but I'm no slouch. And I.. " A look at her "His first resposne was to offer me shelter, resources, and all this .. on my terms. I have a credit card that could be used to BUY a new House ...and he asks nothing in return. If it's a long term game of manipuation, it's a risky one. "

"That...was something I meant to ask," Kerri ventures carefully. "The risk of having your loyalty purchased...it doesn't seem to be that, does it? As you say, Ailil are tricky for me to figure out." She really means nobles are tricky, but Nadeen might not notice.

Nadeen notices, and smiles a bit "You do realize you yourself are both a noble and tricky, Hearth? You use both for good mind you."

"Well...maybe. But I hope I don't hold debt over people's heads too often."

"No!" She says, surprised and realizing she might have worried the good woman "You speak from the authority that is yours, which is not the same thing at all. Indeed, your most common 'trick' isn't demanding repayment of a debt, but rather getting to accept your help by making it more digestable" She eyes the soup which is not quite done, then looks up at her again "Sometimes literally. Dame Kerri, simply relying on 'you owe mes' which you would dislike anyway on an ethical level it seems, is clumsy brinkmanship rather than true leadership."

"And your'e better than that, and have proven it repeatedly"

"Well..." Kerri's taken aback by this unexpected praise. "I...thank you. Thank you very much for that." She gives the sidhe another measuring look before saying, "Nadeen, I'm not sure how I feel about the Baron. I get the sense that the first impressions we all got of him here are definitely not the entire story. And you are not a stupid woman. However...you are young, and in this current situation, you are somewhat vulnerable. I know that makes you uncomfortable, and then combine it with being attracted to a man with power and...I'm sure the combination can get fairly overwhelming. I just want you to know...if things get confusing or complicated or difficult, please remember that you have friends here who can lend an ear and a shoulder when needed."

"You're welcome. Frankly you're so good at it sometimes it's a collassal pain in the ass but I didn't think you needed to hear that part" A bit of a sparkle in her eye, then at the part about the baron "Yes. he's damaged in his own way. And I know that there are dangers to a woman saying 'but I can fix him'" She frowns "But I'd be lying that the urge to.. to bring out the man I see more fully isn't there. I will try to remember I am allowed to draw on friends here but I am reluctant to do so. "

Kerri nods at the dangers of trying to "fix" a man, and then asks "Why?" about her reluctance.

"Because, I should be competent enough" she frowns "I have held my own in the halls of hemlock, I have observed leadership three fold here in the lodge. I've seen acts of heroism from knights and knaves allike here.I should have this figured out" A scowl , mostly at herself, then "Also I don't want to send mixed signals"

"Oh, Nadeen...do you really think any of us do this without having our own sounding boards? I test out my notions and uncertainties with people both within Rivervale and without. Not always, but enough. When I really feel I need the extra opinion, I find one. That's no shortcoming. In fact...the times when I've been determined to go it alone regardless of feeling overwhelmed generally have...well...ended badly. There's no shame or weakness in gathering others' thoughts or opinions or even just words of kindness."

"But for me there is. If I go to Dagmar, lean on her, I send the wrong signal, that I'm trying to..rekindle something" Wistful "And if I rely on others before her here, she'll think she's done something wrong."

"Ahhhh...." Kerri sees the light of Nadeen's thinking. "Okay...fair point. Yes, that part is...complicated."

"And NOT Dagmar's fault.. which is how she'd take it if she heard that"