#rivervale_lodge

"Sorry hearth" Lut says

"Could apologize to me too, you know, while you're there" Tig grumbles to Lut

"Tig, there's nothing wrong with having many lovers, if that's what pleases all parties. But sometimes, the things that please us...change."

"Hey I get that. Lut's settled down. I get it." he says "And the Mountain role has switched. I supported Frank AND Vali"

As WOOSH.. somehow , despite Tig's heeight, that goes right over him

Bemused, she says, "I agree, you did. And know that, if it ever comes to you making changes, we'd still support you, too."

"Thanks" he says "But seriously, that Isla ? Real nose in the air, right?"

"Mm. Maybe. But she does seem to say some memorable things." Sip.

"Oh yeah, I'm sure she puts them down in her report to her boss. Smith safe. Datajack secured. Thane Tig snubbed. Each with a check beside it"

"Perhaps. But I'm talking about the parts you've apparently memorized. Word for word."

"Meh" he says "I'll forget her in a week"

"Oh? Hm. How can you be sure?"

"you met one woman who think she's all that, you've met them all. You mark my words. She keeps blowing people off as less than they are, she's going to end up as one lonely grump one day with friends that drift, no family to see tomorrow, and no one to be with whe nthe world gets cold." He looks towards the fire "She'll be miserable"

"She will, hm?"

"Yup" He says nodding "Can't say I didn't try to save her"

Kerri gives Lut a glance. He's really this dense?

Hapless gesture. Perhaps not normally but this time? Yeah seems to be

A bit of a sigh. "Tig...how old are you now? In mortal years?"

"Twenty..eight ish?" He says

"Thirty" Lut interjects

"Oh right.. I mean, mortal years. I look.. younger. Feel younger"

Kerri nods and finishes her beer and sets down the mug. "Well, as I said...nothing wrong with playing the field...but mocking those who don't want to play along with you? Seems quite a bit younger than that, even."

"Excuse me, gents?" She stands and collects any empty mugs.

Tig looks stunned, even a bit betrayed, but then says "No problem. I was just heading to bed." He grumbles a bit "Thanks for the beer" and he heads out

Lut winces "Ouch. Not that you're wrong but ouch"

"Travel safely, Tig," she says as she goes. Then a shrug to Lut. "He could stand a bit of self-reflection. But listen, you...if he decides that settling down is not for him, I hope you can still make room for him in your life?"

Lut nods "I think maybe I have neglected him. I mean, Gray and I are so happy that I just... well, I lost track of some things.. " A sigh "Maybe important things. We DID invite him more than once over. Honest. So, just me or is he obsessing a bit ?"

"More like projecting, I think. He thinks he needs to measure against the standard you set, and since he's doing things differently than you, he's judging himself harshly...but putting it in your voice, or Gray's voice, or Isla's. That's my guess, anyway."

"Oh geez. That's.. oh that meathead"

A grin. "You've had the occasional meathead moment, yourself. Be kind. And give him time. He needs to process."

"If we're talking about the time I ended up calling Frank for a lift from Kalamazoo, I learned my lesson about Pooka plans"

"But yeah, I'll look after him. "

"Good man." And she takes the empties to the kitchen.

"AH Hearth? is it okay if I enchant Gray for Thanks giving and have her over? I'm having two of them... thanksgivings that is. Here for the day, her folks late at night. I'm gonna burst but hey"

"Well...it's a little out of our ordinary, but I think we can arrange for that. I'll check with the Chieftain." A pause. "Sounds like this is getting very serious."

"Ah " A blush "Yes. I want it to be. "

A smile

A look of fond concern. "You know relationships between fae and mortals can be challenging." It doesn't sound like she's trying to discourage hi, though.

"I know. Hey, let's go in the kitchen, I'll tell you about her..." And in they go. To talk, mostly he talks, of what she's like.

(End scene0