#rivervale_lodge

The day after Samhain in Rivervale.. and the fire seems to be merry enough

Indeed, this year it it almost as if it has snapped back quicker from the mists and unseelie energies. It is not weaker than last year, but it is as if it had someone or something sharing the load

Kerri stretches a bit as she puts out a post-Samhain brunch...folks tend to show up at various times as they recover. For herself, she feels as though she might have overlooked something....but nothing horrible seems to have happened, so there's that, at least.

Anne Marie comes in and nearly face plants "Oh my goodnesss"

"Oh!" She quickly helps the boggan to a chair. "Goodness, you look like you had a rough one. Let me get you something. Tea?"

"Please," She sighs "It's a bit of a blur, but I think last night I ended up having to take on two abusive parents of ap urely mortal boy Goldfinch found. Seth, that's his name, was raised by some 'spare the rod spoil the child' types. A better term would be 'if I don't use the rod a lot I fear I've lost control of the world and that makes me anry and our kid will pay for it'

"

Kerri frowns as she sets about pouring AnneMarie a cuppa from the tea she prepared just a few minutes ago. "People like that should be neutered before they have a chance to destroy a child."

She serves the tea and makes sure there's a platter of breakfast finger-foods within reach.

"Agreed, oh dear.. Unseelie still hanging for you at all?"

"Hmm...no, I don't think so. Maybe a bit around the edges, but mostly no. I'd feel that way about such parents regardless. But how does Goldfinch figure into this? Sylvi didn't overstep boundaries, did she?"

"Frankly I'm not sure I could remember if she did, but beyond sending mroe eyes out ,I don't think they did. They found the boy or he found them, then they found out. The parent are shaken... but that actually made my job easier. I don't think ingorance was violated, but they scared them a lot .. and that allowed me to have the parents under review for mental stablity. Seth is currently under the care of a kindly older man who has helped us before. "

Kerri nods slowly. "It's probably a different approach than some of us might have taken...but then again, maybe not, considering the parents in question. I'm glad it worked out on our side. I guess this boy is somebody we should keep an eye on, if he stays in the area."

"Might be a dreamer, some of those who go through tragedy can surprise you. I'll keep an eye on him. How's the food supply? New Mountain empty a larder and call it spell components?"

"It's a bit less of a concern now that there's the Cauldron...but I should probably double-check," she adds with a wry grin. "I feel as though I've been sloppy somehow, overlooked something. But that could be something from Samhain, and...well, I'll just have to accept that I might not figure it out."

"Well if I can help, let me know," She says "Something you usually do for Samhain and didn't this year?" Curious

"Not that I can think of...."

"Well, all I can suggest is take stock like you normally would ,see what's different. Check with your daughter when you can. Though right now she's at skill"

"Pardon, School"

"I don't want her to think I'm hovering..." she says tentatively. "But I'll check in. Now...how about your boys? Are they still in bed?"

"Symon went out with Dagmar somewhere, and I have no idea where he is," She sighs "Dirk had a blast. He has cuts and bruises.. I found some blood on him, and he tells me 'pretty sure it's NOT MY blood, mom'" A sigh "I love that he calls me mom now, but that's not sentence I was hoping to be a attached with it"

"I've heard Siv say the same thing to the Chieftain, more than once," she confides wryly.

"Oh dear" A chuckle "I hope that trio did all right. Siv doesn't like going unseelie. Not her best, but Piper is more flexible about courts. Jonas? He's hard to read. Sometimes I think he uses bigger words to hide his feelings, but he cares for both"

"I think they all knew intellectually that they were going to have a tricky relationship going into it, but this year seems to have presented more struggles than they were expecting. I hope they come through it all right."

"I'm more worried about Dirk. I fear Prissy is about to Break Dirk's heart.. curse of boggans. We can pick up on things. Oh she cares for him, he's made her feel like she's worthy of love and respect... and she'll be grateful, but I think she's thinking maybe it's time to be her own person and make sure it's not just him that makes her worth loving. And when he asks, I'm going to have to explain she's doing what's best for her, as she sees it, and that's not a damn mark against him." A sigh "Yes, lots of drama in the wilder set. I'm very glad to be a grand dame and know who my heart partner is. It may not be hollywood movie worth, but I'll put our constant seemingly sedate fires against wilder fireworks any day"

"Oh, I'd been wondering about Prissy. That's a shame, but I can see how she would need to do that, of course. Send him on an errand over here if you feel like he needs something to do to get his mind off of it. We'll tag-team him to help him through his struggles."

"That's a wonderful idea, thank you" She says "I think it might indeed help him burn off some of his heart hurt.. you know, if we..." And plans and ideas are shared between two mothers and two good friends

(End scene)