#rivervale_lodge

"I.. just asked something too personal. "

"About your quest?"

"More about the cause of my quest" He says sheepishly "Dagmar, let me tell you, you're never too old to put heart over brain and make a fool of yourself"

Kerri looks intrigued. "I tend to agree, but what's the occasion?"

"I have a quest." Buck says "Don't regret it"

"A heart-related quest? I'm intrigued." She nudges the snack tray a bit closer to him.

"Ah.yeah.. I've said too much, Hearth" Buck says "Not to sound kithist, but you trolls aren't crazy about... ah, some subjects. And I've already blown it"

An amused look. "Don't paint us all with one brush."

"Let's just say... my quest is something a man should be willing to die for, or none of it means a damn thing" Buck says, rallyinng a bit. THAT makes sense to him

"You love Clem!"

Dagmar IMMEADIATELY clamps her hands over her mouth.

"What? NOOOOO" LIEE.. mother of lies

Wince!

"Ah shit. Falcons " He seems torn on whether to complain o apologize "You okay?"

A bemused blink. "I'm sorry, am I supposed to be scandalized?"

"Fine, but that was a whopper, dude."

"Even I felt that one," she agrees with Dagmar.

"Look, it's..complicated... shouldn't be, but it is. I.. if she finds out that got out, she's going to be pissed at mee so keep it under you hats?"

Kerri makes a cross-my-heart gesture. "I have to ask...is this mutual?"

"I believe it. Unfortunately, that isn't enough"

"Is she pulling a Jessica?"

Kerri clears her throat and covers a laugh with her hand.

Her reaction seems to be about the Jessica comment, not about what Buck said.

"I.. don't know a Jessica well ennouggh to say?" He says then asks "Is Jessica convinced romance for her is a failure to her people?"

"Trolls can get their heads screwed on funny about love. My dad fussed so much about letting someone down, even though he was head over heels for Tove. And Tove was the same way..."

"Why are there so many of your kith then? I mean... logistically, it seems you should be rare"

Dag laughs.

Kerri doesn't point out the irony of Dagmar talking about other trolls having relationship issues.

"Trust me, not all of us run into quite the same issues."

"Well, that's a relief," he says "I mean, her approach was unorhodox. . I just wanted to see where it would go.. and next thing I know I'm on a three fold quest. Part of it rigged to get rid of me even if I get it done"

Sigh.

"Well, might as well tell you the whole quest.." He quotes "find something that helps the farm that no DeBuke would think to get but none can argue we need. Find a threat to the Farmhold and foil it, one no DeBuke knows. And.. I challenge you to finnd your REAL love"

Kerri listens carefully. "Hm...exactly what part of that is designed to get rid of you?"

"Well, I THINK she's hoping the third part is. Joke's on her. I'm willing to gamble that last comes full circle. "

Grunt. "Yeah, me too."

"Well...it's a high bar. But it sounds to me more like she wants to be sure that if she's going to commit, she wants to make sure it's to somebody who's going to commit right back."

"Well then" he says "I'm not going to let her do it. Even if it's NNOT me, I'm going to show her love is worrth fighting for. that she doesn't have to wear a mask to be with someone. Clem DeBuke has a right to the chase, the challenge, and the comfort of love"

Kerri gets a very sappy expression for a moment before she brings it back to something more purposeful. "Well, I can't say I disagree. It sounds like a very worthwhile quest."

"The worthwhilest" he nods with a grin

"So, okay. Silverwolf!"

And from the kitchen "Hearh? " It's Brogan..drawing her away

"Ah, sorry! Excuse me." She turns and vanishes back into the kitchen.

"So, Silverwolf" Buck nods to Dagmar "they can be reasonable?"

"Kay kerri"

"They can be, yeah. But formal. And Ailil are real proud."

Says the Gwydion.

"Damn. I'm not always good at formal. I'm a beer and prettzels and back slaps sort"

"Well, worth the effort there."

"Yep. It's go time. No guts, no glory"

He sips "Thanks Dagmar ... I didn't want to tell, but I know you and the hearth can be discrete. Ah, sorry about the whopper"