#rivervale_lodge

Brekke gets back from Patrol... and finds Zane looking over some notes

"Hello, Zane," she says while closing the door. "Is all well?"

She seems to be in a pensive mood

"Well, Dagmar's out with the new guys giveing them a tour of sorts...I actually have free time and I'm not sure what to do with it" He admits "So I came here .." He notices the look "Maybe I should ask if all is well with you?" He gets up and starts to get her a coffee

"Hm." A nod as he begins to get her coffee, and she takes her seat. "All is well," she says with a bit of emphasis.. "As far as I know."

"Okay, let me change that up.." a tilt of his horned head. "Something is bothering you I think. Is there?"

She accepts the coffee from him. "Not bothered, exactly. But I do have some thoughts. Zane, you interact with a wider range of fae than I do, I think. Do you agree?"

"Yeah probably. Kiths aren't everything but satyrs tend to be more extra verted than trolls. You always struck me as an introvert"

"Well...yes, but I do not know that that is entirely due to my kith," she says with slight amusement. Then she sighs. "Zane, you are comfortable coming here to the Lodge, clearly. But...I know there are others who are not, such as some from the apartments. And I wonder...are there fae in Bergen whom I do not know at all because they are reluctant to visit a Gwydion hold?"

"oh not entirely sorry not what i meant," He blushes a bit, then at the sigh "Oh, the apartments. Well, that varies. But I wouldn't put it on you. RIkki had to wash dishes every morning for awhile. While she earned that punishment, it's hardly gonna make her want to come back here. Piper visits here... and Jonas too... but there are obvious reasons they won't be here collectively often with Siv." he says as if that is indeed obvious "As for the satyr sisters on the top stairs... at least one is unseelie and I think they don't like the idea of rules and restrictions but they'd get that from ANNY noble hold. For that matter any hold. Etsie made a bad first impression with Dagmar I think so she's happy to Jam at the apartments rather than upset the girl... Tikki and Eden are a thing still last I heard, but Eden is worried she only comes here because she's screwed up and needs help. Now Lyron, you remember him, big dancer? thinks you guys are cool. I know for a fact. "

"Charis well... she's kinian so maybe a bit cautious. And Edgar is a kinian too but also a real introvert"

She nods slowly, making some calculations. "If they are reluctant...then, greater chance of them turning to other means when they require glamour." A pause. "All those you mention are from the apartments? Do you know of any elsewhere in the barony that I do not know?"

"Chief, you sound worried.. I mean, others DO come thorugh here, sometimes when you're on patrol and the Hearth greets them instead. Nobody I know is stupid enough to Ravage in Rivervale turf. Your husband's a liam, you can detect liars and are a bad ass.... and heck, you even have a redcap who is LOOKING for an excuse to break skulls... don't tell Dirk I said that. Also don't forget the house on the lake you have open for some visitors when they need a room but not a bale. You get more traffic than you think I suspect it's just.. off panel?" A pause "probabl yu the wrong term. But well, you got a few folks who don't come by regularly sure. I guess no one wants to be a nuisance. I mean, Lucia's parents focus on their resturant and muse with food, that sort of thing. Doesn't mean you're failing them"

"Mm." She takes that in and mulls it over for a few quiet moments.

Then she leans forward. "Zane, your honest opinion...do many here feel that I am a 'snooty noble'?" She doesn't seem hurt by the description so much as concerned.

And the way she says it, it is clearly a quoted phrase.

"Who the heck? Look, anyone who takes five seconds to know you knows you bust your ass for us every day. I don't see most Barons among the sidhe walking around on patrols. They send others, now that would be snooty. YOu're.. kind of intimidating, maybe a bt aloof at first glance, but if some kithian walked up to you patrol you wound't and odn't turn them away. Your'e actually rather accessible. Now.. dislike of the noblity is another matter. Some folks frown on them .Heck, Sylvi was a real hard ass about it for a time before she open her views enough to realize they're people good and bad. Who said this to you?" She may not be upset, but HE looks offended "You've never acted SNOOTY in your life. You can have firm opinions and values, but that's different, and not really a failing."

She shakes her head. "It was said by someone whose opinion does not impact me greatly, so do not be concerned. However, it did make me wonder, so that is why I turned to you to confirm."

A sip of coffee.

"You're intimidating, not like you glare, but you are a legend, and you are ...reserved so that folk have a hard time getting a read so they're not sure if you're busy or not. I kind of figured though that's why trolls had 3 elders ... you supprt eachother in different areas. Also, you have to look at the other side. THe folks who do respect you know that you're probably slaying a dragon to save us all, or sharing the bale with a wounded kithain... so they respect you enough not ot pester you about small stuff. They don't want to impose."

He paces, "Okay, I feel like I should like emotionally support you and tell you that you and the Mountain and the Hearth are the best and like I'd mean it, but I think I'm more upset than you are. I think your'e the best of all the noble options"

A blink. "Zane, I did not mean to upset you. I thank you for your ringing endorsement." She means it.

"Sylvi is not the only one whose views have broadened over time."

"Well, yeah. I think your'e more flexible than you were when I was younger, or maybe I'm older and just notice nuance better" He admits

"Perhaps it is a combination of both."

He seems to be calming a bit "Sorry just, well, trolls aren't the only protecitve ones. Look, speaking about the wilders only? We're not going to have a party here save on holidays. It's not that you guys are old or out of touch, but ...well, heck, Siv doesn't even take Piper and Jonas to her own room out of respect for your and Sir Frank's sensilbities and she lives here. So I'm not going to break in here with a traggo, start passing out beers... and playing the music loud enough to cause an exodus of sluagh or folks over 40. Just feels rude"

"Well..." she clears her throat "...I believe the presence of wilders and their energy is beneficial to the Lodge...but it is true that much of what you describe is not my preferred entertainment."

"You want more of us around?" He asks

"I mean wilders ,not just satyrs"

"I think there are a large number of wilders about. We seem to be bursting with wilders. I merely wish to be sure that I am supporting all members of the barony well."

"Good thing Symon's not here... last thing I need is a whispered 'and so begins the culling' behind an ear" He mutters

"Hmph!" That does amuse her. "My intent is not to cull for my convenience, no." She shakes her head. "Well, thank you, Zane."

"Is there anything you feel that would benefit the barony?"

"Well, I think you're missing one other factor... with the wilders I mean?"

"Oh? Please...." she invites him to continue.

"We lost our leaders... I don't mean you're not a good ruler, but your'e not our leader, not socially. I sometimes can fill in, organize a glaoming... but Sylvi was that and more... and Nadeen, well, a bit off to the side, but she could still get us going... but they left and so what you're observing right now is a kind of gap that's filling in slowly. Lucia loves the diplomacy but she's not a leader per se. Siv is great, but she's also working her ass off on patrols, jaintor stuff, spy stuff, and keeping the family tied .. not that she needs to do the last but she's made it a mission. her free time after that goes to Piper and Jonas as it should. Jonas is too reserved. PIper 's got her bossy moments but she'd shy away if you told her 'take charge' like a deer in headlights. Dagmar? Dagmar's moral compass points true north from waht I can see and she's great with the kids, but among other wilders she's..w ell, you know what she went through, it's amazing she's as socially well adjusted as she is but she's not a wilder lead by nature. So we've got a aimless kind of ... thing going on. THat's not on you"

A blink. "I had not thought of it that way. I suppose...." A pause, then a nod. "Now that you describe it, I can see it." Her brow furrows. "Hmm."

"That sort of aimlessness seems prone to problems, to me. Do you agree?"

"I think it's great what she's doing in Dark gate. This Bridge thing sounds pretty inventive. but yeah... she was always the one able to rally the troop by hook or crook. I won't go into the crook but honestly she could out sly Symon some days. I take it this is no surprise to her mom or dad though. Nadeen? Well, you know Nadeen always wanted that hold of her own. I hope she gets Silverwolf.. seems a good fit and I think it'll be better for having her too, but we were braced for Nadeen to find a hold one day and be gone. Cept for Dags. Dags hates change like Connor hates brussel sprouts"

"Well, I admit, I never thought of it quite like that... problems I mean... " He ponders "I guess there is more trouble for us, and we don't have a peer to go to with our problems we ALL trust"

A slow nod. "I see."

"Crap I'm closest to it and that thought is vaguely terrifying, but even then no. I mean, Dagmar likes me, but if I told her jump she would look at me like I was nuts. And Piper is a female relation... there's no way I'm ordering her around and not getting a hoof up my ass."

A thoughtful silence as she takes another sip of coffee. "Zane, you have given me a great deal to think about here. And...I may have a notion to pursue. I must speak with the Hearth and Mountain," she finishes more to herself.

"Okay sure. I 'm gonna go chase some hot girls my own age. Sorry, all this wilder talk has me missing them"

And out he goes while the Chief thinks things over

An amused nod to Zane as he departs.

And then, yes, a long thoughtful time before the balefire.

((End Scene))