#rivervale_lodge

The hold feels a little sadder, a little emptier... Sylvi being gone.

And then, a door opens. the one from Fenix

a message is delivered. Left for others. Then gone

Frank finds it in the normal course of his day.

It's a letter from Fenix mentionning a young troll who might visit frequently for training. Named Holger.... details are as much as Jessica would think he'd need!

(And is more of a request/question than an announcment of impending visits.)

(Whatt? no 'Head's up, Dadio!'?' 🙂 )

("LISTEN POPS...")

The leter is a request, truth, but there is an underlying praise for the boy

A note is returned to Fenix, after due consultation.

---------

Dagmar slips into the hold after a long afternoon out with the horses.

"Hey" Gerd says

Grunt. A greeting, likely. She heads for the kitchen.

Gerd nods "I was going o make some tea, you wan some?"

"Um. I guess tea's okay."

"Thanks. I need to practice. Let's see.. " And she sttarts to make some tea, choosing a blend she THINKS dr pepper drink will like, or at least toelrate

She blinks. "I didn't know you mixed your own. Fancy."

She brings down the cookie jar, checking for goodies.

"I'm learning how .. had some tips given from a friend, the one who got me started on Tea actually" She prepares "More types of tea than most folks know"

"Right. Like... hot, iced, and sweet?"

"Tove drinks.. um.. cham...chamomile, sometimes, before bed."

"Oh more than that.. herbal, green , chai, black, and yes, Chamomile is very relaxing"

"It smells nice. Flowery."

A nod "You know? I actually like the smell of coffee? I'm just not as enamoured with the taste"

"Well, it needs cream and sugar. Too bitter, otherwise. Sally Mae, she makes fancy ones."

"She does.." A bit of a chuckle "Did you know she tried to make some fancy stuff for the Chief when she first came? Oh poor Chief. She sighed all morning"

"Naturally Sally mae, when she realized how much the Chief hated it, switched right back. I know I shouldn't find it funny, but wow"

The tea prep continues, as if this was as much ritual as beverage making

"Well, I liked the fancy stuff..."

"Well, I hope you like this, it's on the fancy sweet side" As she finishes up the batch of blend "And you know Sally Mae might make you whatever kind of coffee you like bestt, or even teach you how."

"Oh, I mean, the regular stuff is fine. Nobody gives me guff for adding sugar."

"Yeah but now and then, a special treat is good now and hen too. Try this.. if you don't like it, it's okay" She pours her the tea cup "It's been crazy. We deserve a few treats to ease the rough parts"

"There's those ginger cookies. The soft ones, not the crispy ones." Offering over the jar.

She takes it and opens it, and lays out some next to the tea cups, laying in the saucer "Now that is plating"

"Sure? Fancy." She takes the tea and gives it a sniff. "Is this milk tea or lemon tea?"

"Milk tea.. since you like cream I figured" She says

"Cool. I added milk to tea once and it curdled."

"Oh... yeah see... " She explains why and waits o see if it passes the Dagmar approval

A sip.

"That's okay. " Approval, and another sip.

"Good." A nod "Thank you. I need to practice and not everyone gives tea a try"

"Well, we're a coffee lodge, mostly."

"I know" Gerd nods "And that's okay ... How are you ... how are you doing?"

Sullen shrug. She eat a cookie.

"Yeah, me too" She munches "I came this close to grabbing Sylvi's leg andn telling her not to go"

A sigh and a sip

"We got in a fight."

"Yeah?" A sympathetic look

Shrug.