#rivervale_lodge

Frank makes his way towards tthe laundy mat...

He pauses a reasonable distance away, observing before he wades in. Are the mortals from the Croix house there? How do things look?

They're circling it... business looks low, three folks tops inside, one the owner

Frank, absent of any bag, box, or container for laundry and with his tire tapper up one sleeve, heads into the shop.

The big man makes quite an entrance.

And he can hear the owner "if that machine isn't working, use another"

"But it ate my quarters " The other man says "Why am I paying twice?"

"Didn't read the sign? Says I'm not responsnible for malfunctions" the owner points "Don't like it, go to anothee laundromat"

"The other one is too far away"

"Ain't that a shame?" The owner says, then nturns to see Frank

Frank digs in his pocket and produces a couple of bills; he hands them to the woman "Here. Laundry's on me." He glances at the owner.

The owner shrugs

The customer takes the money "Thank you, now that's Christmas kindness"

"Happy Holidays, ma'am." Frank nods respectively, then gives himself a little tour of the place.

Ill run , even a touch opportunistic. this is the part of the barony where the poor can (barely) afford to live and they can milked easily. As someonne said, it's very expensive to be poor

Frank scowls. As little as he likes it, though, letting the place get hit with a robbery isn't likely to better the situation at all.

He positions himself near the door, casually waiting for a ride, or similar.

"Can I help you?" the owner says "No loitering"

The massive blue-collar worker doens't look around. "I paid to do laundry."

"Whatever" the owner snorts

And, that's when the door opens, the earlier would be robbers coming in with masks

Frank straightens, which puts him right in their path at the door. He looms. "Make a different choice, boys."

One hesitates, but the other says "Walk away, big man." His hand in his pocket

"What's going on here?" the owner says

Frank shakes his head. "It's blown, guys. There's a problem now, and you're at the center of it. Surprise is gone. Just walk away."

"We should go..." A third man says

"I am tired of folks orderingg me around.. " And the gun fires through the jacket, grazing frank. the woman screams, the owner rushes for the back door.

Frank throws himself on the gunman.... and there's a lot of Frank to throw.

Guns don't work well when there's a huge trucker grapplingg you...the guy did not expect THAT, so Frank has a grab on the wrist with the gun with the gunman on the floor. Tthe other two would be robbers lose their nerve and flee

Not the first time Frank's taken a shot. Nor the first time he's gripped hard enough to break a wrist.

And the man screams as his wrist cracks annnd yes, he drops the gun

"Run." Frank suggests again, releasing him.

And he does, whimpering and craddling his limb as he scrrambles

Frank secures the gun, and looks around the laundrymat.

The owner ran out the back, the woman is huddled behind the dryer

"Safe now." Frank rumbles. "You have enough for the dryer?"

"Uh huh" She gulps "Thank you"

Frank nods. "Happy Holidays." he repeats, and leaves.... and heads home. It's a graze, but needs tending.

"Wait, what do I tell the polilce, your name?" It's a good thing she's not reaching for her phone, she might record' her hero'

"What police?" and Frank is gone.

*******

Frank escaped getting his 15 minutes of fame. he does hear police later but the would be crooks are likely long gone

And, he's bandaging the wound on his....?

Side... just a graze. But best to avoid infection

Yep, he is cleaning, disinfecting, and bandaging with his shirt in a cold water sink.

Is he at the lodge, or the Croix house?

Lodge.

Yep. Easy work.

"Mou... err Frank? " Sally Mae's voice

"Up here!" He calls from the safety of his room.