#rivervale_lodge

"You think it's safe to leave the Lodge empty?"

A sigh. His person is right. Duty first. He takes position. He is a good boy

"Tell you what. I'll stay too, and when someone comes home we'll go." Frank offers.

Wags! He's got a good person too!

Frank nods, and gets a glass of cider to sit with.

This is nice too

After an hour, Siv enters in. She smells of surf and sun.

"Hello Siv." Frank looks up from the book he got to pass the time with. Oak's tail thumps the floor.

"Hey dad" Siv rallies a smile, but something is bothering her

Head tilt. "Everything alright?"

Siv sighs "Not so grand. I'm.. i've stuff I need to suss out in my skull"

"That can be taxing." Frank agrees. "I'm here if you'd care to talk. I can listen."

"While checking out the islands Jonas used to call home, beautiful waters by the way, we came upon this ship under attack by Merrow..marrduchka however you spell it. Mer tthallian. Nasty bastards those Merrow." She explains "This sidhe lady and her crew were fighting fierce to protect a treasure from them. Sounds like a day in me own life almost. Anyway, their ship was taking on water fast! The three of us leap to the rescue! Oh Piper was inspiring, and Jonas turned into an Orca. All grand ' Then she sighs "I really felt I was doing good. We got them aboard our own ship. I got to talking to the other captain, we hit it off .. common interests you know? We land on the island, and nearly get jumped by this jackass calling hiself Muldoon. But with her and her crew, we turned it around and saved the day, though it was close. Battle born friendships twice over right?"

Frank nods. "Sounds like it."

"Right.. we go to the hold on the less damaged island , hurricane's being nasty even years later, and we get healed. Healer offers to heal this new lady's eye and she says you can't heal it. And shows under her patch blind but glowing red eye. She's a twice damned BALOR" A scowl "I didn't even see it. She was brave, fun, loyal to her crew. But ..a balor. Well, that backed me up hard.. but Piper said I shouldn't judge by her house. I ..." A scowl "Am I crazy or should I NOT be on guard against that House?"

Frank considers the question gravely. "You realize I have my own biases?"

"Aye.. and I don't like Leanhaun either and your bias there is even more rightfully earned than mine"

"Mm. In general, without other circumstances, I would say yes, be wary about House Balor. All the Unseelie Houses, really. Unseelie in general, in fact."

"Those are generalities, though, as we know there are exceptions."

She makes a note "Well, Uncle Olgar is Unseelie"

Frank nods. "He is. We've never gotten along exactly.... but we've learned to manage."

"Is this because he can't grill as well as you?" A bit of a smile. Truth she can't taste the difference, but loyalty is loyalty and she'll stand by her dad

He has to chuckle. "Thank you. And no. The roots go deeper than that, but they aren't important just now."

"But there's a point here; if Olgar can be an exception to one of my own biases, perhaps this other Captain.... did you get her name? Perhaps she could be too?"

"Not sure I should be saying it, mind you. Balor deformities aren't always visible, or subtle."

"I did. Her name is Zenevieva. . And no, they're not.. met more than a few that were mad"

"Do you think she is?"

"Nope. She's got a physical deformity.. the flickering eyeball"

Frank raises an eyebrow. "Are you certain Balor have only -one- Dream-cursed deformity?"

"Well, I was.. then you did the dad brow thing" A brow of her own

Frank nods. "I would be careful, Siv."

"So I'm better off NOT trying to be her friend, just safer?"

"I cannot say for sure. For that, Emmitt could give you a stronger Soothsay than I can."

"Ah, nothing ventured nothing gained .. but I don't think I'll be inviting her to Rivervale proper if do stay in conact. Mom gets enough stress"

He nods. "That would be.... very wise."

"Yup. It's why I don't tell her about Hank the Leanhaun"

"Hank?"

"I'm yanking your chain, Da" her lips twitch in a motion that, if she had a beard, might move it

"That House is not really a joking matter. For me."

She looks apologetic "Sorry, Dad. That was insensitive of me. "

He nods; agreeing and forgiving in one economic motion.

"Can I get you more cider?" She offers

"No, thank you. I promised Oak a walk. Or patrol. Do you mind staying a bit?"

"Oh poor Oak." She rumples his ear, the nods "Happy too, Dad. You two have fun . Spring is in the air"

"At last." he agrees.

"At last" she nods

Oak is UP and by the door so fast he leaves a shadow

"Let me hit the bathroom, Oak. You can wait till we're outside." Frank chuckles and excuses himself.

And Oak waits attentively

Siv smiles "You're the son he alway wanted, Oak. A kid who listens"