#rivervale_lodge

"Third shelf in the fridge, in the back"

"Appreciate that. How long do you think it would take to get something together I can show my parents as 'ready to move forward on'? I don't want to tell Ann Marie, she'll make a fuss about it, but I just... don't feel comfortable there with a cleaning demon hovering overhead and giving me those damn hurt looks. It's worse than a Dokkaebi."

"If I rush it, I might have something for you as early as tmorrow. I'll hit someone up for another healing to get started. But it could also hit a brick wall or two so could take longer. It will get done before the week though"

"And, uh." He brings out another bit of paperwork, and slides it over. Heeey! This one is addressed to Sam King! "Uh, I must have picked this up by mistake." He says, his voice holding no contrition or apology. "Two birds, one stone. I bet there's some scholarships there too. Foster sob story, that's a good angle."

"A biracial girl, with a history in the system, struggling to find a family and a home until she found folks willing to take her to hteir hearts.. and she worked her ass off in Athletics?" A smirk "By the time I'm done, they'll want to turn her into a hallmark movie." Then he crosses his heart "But I won't let them go that far"

"Good. Hate to make you into a sob story." He says, with a small smirk. "You know how to reach me."

"I do. " He nods "Don't worry, Symon. We got this"

A thin smile, and he heads out. The chili will have to age for another day, Mom made dinner.

Vali watches him go, and smiles a bit. The kids are all right He rises and gets to work. He has promises to keep. And paper work before he sleeps

(End Scene)