#rivervale_lodge

"So it's obvious that Buck is playing for Clem's heart," Kourtney shares with Gerd, and anyone else who is in the kitchen "I should't gossip, but it's out now. A real Donkeycorn, or maybe a Unidonkey?"

Kerri grins as she prepares some meat for marinating. "I wonder where he found it."

"In the Dreaming most like, but it's holding up well on the farm . Gentle sweet thing. When it's horn touches the oats, it goes up a grade. to sweet oats and such"

Kourtney smiles

"Oh, lovely! That's a real boon, isn't it."

"It is" She says "But sounds like he's getting more just to be sure"

Gerd is stunned "I didn' even know Clem was dating"

"Neiher did we. We figgured she gave up on men after Cadman went back to thhyle" Kourtney admits "Course, he's a centaur so tthere's some raised brows"

"I hope nobody's saying cruel things," Kerri tsks. "Kourtney, what's your sense of how Clem feels about him?"

"I wish I were a boggan for just an hour..." She admits then says "She's been in a sour mood since he left. She's the one who gave him the quest she admits, she also says she gave im a chance to back out. Says he's a stubborn fool... and then gets mad if any of US say he is a fool. Never seen her so moody"

"Well...it might not be for me to say, but it sounds like she's being stubborn herself. She may have set the quest, and he may have accepted it...but I don't think there's any firm rule where the Dreaming would prohibit her from going to him to talk about it. Maybe rescind the quest, if she figures out that she really does care about him."

"Oh she can't go to him, " Kourtney shakes her head "It would be seen as backing out of the quest and robbing the farm of it's benifits, also biasing the resultts. Like putting thumbs on the scales. tain't done"

"Hmm. I suppose not," she agrees mildly as she puts the tray of meat in the fridge.

Gerd raises a brow "Kourtney, sometimes you DeBukes really make things harder than they need to be"

Kerri grins at Gerd. "I mean, I can see the value of the narrative, but..."

"Well, what do you think...has he met the criteria of the quest yet?"

Kourtney shakes her head "Nope. Clem made it three fold, even IF this counts for one part."

"What are the other parts, again?"

"She won't tell folks. " Kourney says "First part is to get something for the farm we didn' even know we needed. that's all I know"

"So...you think she'd even be able to resist a pooka's curiosity about the matter? I mean, if one were to be curious?"

Kourtney blushes at something

Gerd seems to tune in, "Kourtney DeBuke... you're trying to sic our Hearth on YOUR Chief. that's what this is all about"

Deeper blush on Kourtney "I really couldnt say"

"Pretty sure I keyed into that about fifteen minutes ago, Gerd," Kerri says with a wink.

"I'm still a novice " Gerd's turn to blush

"And to be honest, I am curious. And it does sound like Clem could benefit from a chat with somebody who isn't farm-folk."

"I was thinking the same" Kourtney admits "And I suppose I should feel sorry about it, but if I'm to be hearth I should study when to send in someone right for the job"

And with that admission, they fade to gossip, and suggestions on when to catch Clem between Chores

(Fade to plotting)