#rivervale_lodge

She blinks, and puts a hand on her hip. "And what if it was?"

"THen I would keep your trust, but be worried about the fall out of secrets kept eventually coming to light. They usually do in time" he says honestly

"Oh." Mollified. "Well, thank you for that."

"I'm Mountain, with that come certain responslbities that rely on your trust"

He shrugs

"It does seem a little bit overkill to get a 2-troll escort, I've been on plenty of trod travels. But if you say it's needed, then I trust your judgement."

"Well, You can leave Dagmar behind if you want. Just Olgar. It's his expertise that you need" A pause "Unless he thinks Jordan is ready"

"no, Dagmar is coming." Firm!

"I need her!"

"Okay" he nods

"I'm curious why you need her specifically besides her natural warrior skills but you'er under no obligation to tell me" He nods "Like I said, I can spring for plane tickets for two, IF olgar doesn't want you along on the trods with him"

"I mean, I could buy a plane ticket. I -do- have a job. I just figured trods would be easier. Most of the time. I bet there's a bus, too." She gives him a look over. "You're a dad now. Shouldn't you be saving for a college fund, and not just... helping out wayward wilders?"

"I think I can manage both. Besides, I'm an oracle and the next superbowl is gonna pay off SO Swweet"

a beat "I might be joking on that last part"

"I'm not certain, but I bet da'an frowns on those who use visions for personal enrichment. It sounds like one of those stories that ends up being a morality check."

"Well Da'an AND House Beaumayn. Seriously, we got some rules that are buzzkills I'll tell you what" A smile "Point is I can swing the tickets without bankrupting my kid's future"

"On a teacher's salary?" She raises an eyebrow. "Actually, there's that saying about a gift horse... Let me check with Dagmar, okay? She might not like flying, or something."

"She might not. ANd yes, if Olgar wants to take you along tongiht that's his, and your and Dagmar's biz" A pause "And I am also a writer. I .. have a series. It was turned into a video game? Does no one read my stuff around here? That's hurtful"

"Well, sure, but there's that thing about starving artists... sorry, sorry. I shouldn't assume." A smile.

"I belive the corrrect thing to say should be 'Thank you, Sir Vali the Gracious, for the generous offer." Only slightly tongue in cheek.

"Sir Vali the Gracious? Mmm I like it. Bit long for my personal plate, but I like it" A look "Now family, this is clearly something you're looking forward to. SOunds like it coudl be good news for you whatever the details and I hope it is"

Leaving her to share more if she likes, but still wishing her well if she doesn't

"Well, I didn't really want to chat about it much. In case, you know, it bombs. I might not find the person... for all I know, they could be-" She doesn't want to say, clearly, and shifts to "...Or they might tell me to go stick it. Who knows? I have to deal with my own expectations... it seems too much to answer everyone else's too."

"That's fair" He nods "But you do know, good or bad, happy ending, comedy or tragedy, you got a support net work here, not just Siv and Jonas. We've got your back"

"So if it all goes wrong, we're there for you. If it goes great, we'll celebrate with you - if you allow" A nod "Okay, change of subject. HOw's the music going? Siv says earlier this summer she took you on a tour of sorts, you worked a few open spots? Were the audiances big?"

"Middling big, you know - even if I thought a COULD be a great - and to toot my own horn, I think maybe I could - I don't want that sort of attention. I'm past the "Kiddie Birthdays and Block Parties" stage, and we played a few clubs and an outdoor concert venue. A couple hundred at the bigger one, but that was a festival and there was an entire lineup, so it's not like they were there FOR me." She warms to the conversation.

"Plus, to really make a name, I would need to write my own songs. Which would take time away from Goldfinch, relaxing in the sun, and my lovers. Or, sell out to a label who would write songs for me, and what's the point of singing if I don't FEEL the music? It's gotta resonate with ME." She taps her chest.

"I get you. It's why I passed on a ghost writer. I don't want my name attached to something like that. I do think it's great you got to hang around with other music acts. Sounds like a nice way to connect "

"Speaking of connecting - I hear a lot of scuttlebutt these days about Rutgers. Is that your doing, too?"

"Interest was already shown, I just smoothed the path for those going that way. " he spreads his hands "Also your Uncle has been an ally too. "

He doesn't mention all of Symons' reasons. SLuagh as a rule are kind of fussy about their OWN Secrets

"It DOES have Uncle Neely's feel about it, a bit, now that you mention it. I just worry, y'know? He tried to push Zane pretty hard even though Z knew he'd found his passion."

"And you're worried you're next?" He asks

"No... I'm worried about someone else, for a change." A bit of a Hrmmph.

"Zane's a big boy, He can stand up for himself. Besides, I think he's going for theatre, which is not his passion, but he said something about ceremonial magic and stage production?"

"I know we'll agree to disagree, but I don't think college is the right path for everyone. I just don't like seeing it get pushed on people as "do this or you're wasting your life, your potential", you know? Not pointing fingers, but everyone knows that's what people say, so when I see someone like Sylvi who has a great gig going, or Symon, who swore on at least one public occasion that he'd never go, suddenly all signing up?:

She shrugs. "Going TO College can be giving up on a dream too."

"I don't suppose you'll believe me when I really tell you that I didn't push any of the folks you're naming? I learned a lesson about doing that too hard when I tried to get you into classes"

"I do believe you, believe it or not. That doesn't mean I don't worry sometimes. People worry about me enough, is it so odd that I care back a little?"

She smiles, though, not offended. "I'll let you know what Dagmar says. I'm going to try to track down Jonas now... later!"

"No, it's not odd. I hope it goes well with you and family."

And he watches her go

A bit of pep in her step! A far cry from Piper of years past.

A proud look. He knows he was often the wrong side of the fight with her, but they bot hwanted her to prosper.

The kid is all right He notes

And he rises to tell Olgar he MIGHT have tag alongs. Won't the big guy love that idea.

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