#rivervale_lodge

"No shame in feeling, and showing emotion, Zane. As I recall, Isaw Adam brought to tears as well, and more times than that Isaw him struggle against tears."

"Yeah." A nod "Anyway, thanks for letting me unload on you about my concerns. Uhm.. any Pillar work you want me to tend to?"

Frank is thoughtful, then asks "Do you know how Adam's parents are doing?"

"Yes sir..." he says "I've looked in on them"

"And how are they? And where?"

"Well, uhm Mrs. Thomas was PIISSSSED at Earth Runes, especially its Seer"

"But Dame Bondraste has been working to calm her down."

"Mr. thomas is throwing himself into his mortal work. And Lily? Lily is the one who adapted best even after their saining."

"As for 'where' it ...it varies. They have two locations... here in their old house and at Dame Bondraste's house in Missouri. But it's hard to say if they trust either hold"

"Hm." Frank scratches his chin "Zane, you are Adam's friend. Will you let me know if there is anything we can do for the Thomases?Idon't want it to... if they do not trust us, it might not be a welcome offer, directly."

"Well, Mrs. Thomas feels she burned bridges here from the start with her misakes..and she dropped her guard aroundn Earth Runes only to lose her son. Mr. Thomas is harder to read. Troll you know? But I think he feels he's failed to protect the family"

"I don't know if they'll ask for help but I do know Lily comes by"

"Not if they ask for help, Zane." kindly "If they need it. We can arrange to help them and they don't need to know it came from us if it would unwelcome."

"You are being sneaky?" Surprised

"Let's say I'm being more subtle than you might expect from a troll, but spiritually and emotionally sensitive to those in pain as befits my role as Mountain."

"It's the beard, no one can see past the beard" he muses "I really should grow one"

"Perhaps in time." Frank suggests "Satyrs are known for it."

"True, dad's got his own marxist goatee"

"And then there are goatees." Frank agrees.

"You'll let us know, Zane?" He pivots back on point.

"I will, Sir. In fact I'll drop by them tonight" He says

"Subtlety, Zane." He cautions. "They are hurting, from what you say, and distrustful."

"I know, but..weird as it is? I think the fact I don't have a position of authority of any kind relects well on me?"

"It makes you an independent actor." Frank agrees.

"Yup. And for Adam's sake, and the sake of his family? I will be as subtle or even flat out manipulitive as it takes"

"Zane......" Frank closes up the Rig and puts away his tools "Will you come inside? I could use a drink."

"Oh... uh oh. I said something didn't I?" A wince "yes sir" he readies to follow

Frank chuckles. "You have said things, yes, but nothing to regret. Let's get something." And he leads the way up, and in.

"What's yours?" he offers to Zane as they enter. Frank toes off his boots and hangs up his jacket.

"A pepsi or other soda is fine, thanks"

Frank nods, and goes into the kitchen. He comes back with a beer, and a Doctor Pepper. "Have a seat." He comes over, sits, and offers the soda.

"Thanks" He says after taking a seat

"Zane.... you expressed an intent in the parking lot to do whatever it takes for Adam's sake to help his family. I'm a bit concerned about that."

"Yeah.. it was something I said" he sighs "I don't mean chicanery on them... Chicanery is.. it's amazing, but it's not meant as a true cure"

"It is not." Frank nods.

"Trust me. I know, my dad's a master at it. Chicanery is most effective when folks want to believe or behave the way it encourages anyway. " A swig of the drink "Sorry you probably already know"

"I know. And I know you know."

A tug on his beer. "What did you mean?"

"Oh.. just that I am willing to play the upset satyr boy ready to break into tears, or act angry like they don't care.. or play guilt trips. the old fashioned stuff"

Frank chuffs with wry amusement "Take Adam's place, then?"

"I was thinking more like the Hearth's" He says "When she has to, she knows how to pull at the heart strings"

"The Hearth has many years of service at her command." Frank points out "She knows what she's doing."

"And I have many years of working my parents, teachers and other adults. I'm not a novice" He assures

"Fair point." Frank nods.

"But I'll be careful and I won't try pulling wool over eyes when honesty will do"

Frank considers things for a bit.

"Such... working and pulling at heart strings may be the way of a Hearth. I'm not saying it is or it isn't. What is the way of a Mountain?"

"Ah... Wisdom and lore offered freely to those who have need or ask as long as it does not harm them?" A wince

Frank takes another drink. "I'm going to let you sit with that a minute, and put it together for yourself."

"Sure.. sure I'll squirm right over here"