#rivervale_lodge

Tig sees Brekke and Vali there, and he has two choices, back up and hope they act like they didn't see them, or just go in and act like all is well. He could also just take it on the chin and likely will anyway.

Thanks to Vali's countdown, Brekke's attention is directed to the door, so there's no chance that she missed Tig's tentative entrance. He is greeted with a raised brow. "Thane Tig."

"Three" Vali mutters and snaps his fingers "Thought I had the timing right"

"Chief, Mountain" Tig moves on in and goes to get some coffee for himself "Can I get either of you a refill?"

"Yes," Brekke says, offering out her mug. Tig might notice this isn't her usual Please.

"Ditto" Vali adds

Tig refills each "There you go, fix the lack, that's what I always say"

"Subtle" Vali says taking his coffee

"Mm." She accepts her coffee. "Sit, and tell me of your recent activities."

"My most recent patrol just now went pretty smoothly, checked the water paths, the edge of the barony that is, and while there were some new chimera in the area that didn't seem to fit apples I think they're non predatory, more likely to get eaten. No thallian that I saw." A sip of his own coffee "Before that, as you probably know, I suggested to Lut we get some back up as our patrol patterns were suffering and you were in conference with the Count about other areas of Bergen and their problems. It seems to hhave worked. I was inspired by your search for new talent"

Brekke listens quietly. When he finishes, she takes a sip of her coffee, and then considers her mug a moment before looking to him again. "A question: do you have any concerns that putting out such a call for aid makes Rivervale appear weak?"

Vali arches a brow but lets the Storm handle that part. It's a defense and miltiant matter

" I think, Chief, we were already in danger of appearing weak. Dame Anne Marie is a fine woman, but she and many other boggans areound here will and do gossip, sometimes that has a down side. They know Sir Frank's out of town on a run. They know Dagmar and Piper were having a little quest.. they probably know Siv failed to show up at work for days at the Marina"

A brow. Then she puts down her mug, and reaches into her belt pouch, searching for something. "There is a thing, a treasure of sorts, that may have made a difference in this case...."

She pulls out... her dreaded cell phone, and holds it up for his display.

Tig looks sure this is a trap, then says "Well, I DID use a phone to call the DeBukes, but that's not what you're hinting at now is it?"

Vali grunts ("You are not this thick")

"I am pointing out that, had I received a message that this effort was underway, I would not have been unprepared to find non-locals on Rivervale patrols."

"Ah" the unseelie leaning twin says, then admits "I should have done that. In my defense, the DeBukes are allies. They're welcome at anytime. In a way, what I did was offer some of them a 'working vacation' and maybe in my head that, and our need, rationalized it into thinking it wouldn't be bad to show you that Lut and I are more than the old wallpaper of the lodge. GOOD or not, things change, and this way one of us guided it. I did neglect going to you, the hearth... the mountain... I think I caught a case of 'thought I was clever' itis, don't blame Lut. The guy hadn't been with the woman he loved for a week for more than an hour till now"

Vali spocks a brow at the old wall paper comment

A blink. "You feel like old wallpaper? Or that you are treated that way?"

"Treated? NO, I mean, Hearth Kerri means I haven't had to pay for a meal for months at a time. Vali .. pardon, Mountain Vali jokes with me just like anyone else. I just.. well, we're thanes. Happy to be thanes. We harvest a bit of glamour in lean times, and we guard or patrol. But, I guess when you see so many changes in other areas, good ones like changing of the guard or new plans for building on things, and you're in the same position, you start to wonder if maybe you're not contributing enough to the changes yourself. I guess I DO feel feel like old wallpaper, but that's on me. ANd this call to the DeBukes might have been a mix of wilder hurah and also wanting to take point on helping the lodge all at hte same time. I DID overstep, again, on me, not Lut. But I also think I read the room, recruiting ideas for Gerd, and other things. It seemed to be a green light of sorts and maybe I weasaled it but I would never do anything to hurt RIvervale. I Hope you realize that? If you're truly insulted, either of you, by my coaxing Lut into joining me on taking iniative, I do apologize. I guess it was a 'what's not forbidden is permitted' moment. ANd I should know that's not how we work."

Brekke considers him for a long moment. "Again...the greatest problem for me in this is that I was not informed. If we need aid, so be it...but it does not help if that aid gets the impression that the Chieftain does not know what is being done in her own Lodge." She doesn't seem particularly impressed by the if-pology he offered.

"Yeah, I screwed up there" He admits "Won't happen again"

Vali sips

She nods and takes a sip of coffee before continuing. "I do not disagree with your assessment of the immediate need." A glance to Vali. "Mountain, do you have anything you wish to add regarding this?"

"The Mountain input on this would be much smaller, though I might say that if I had planned to start rationing dross or gathering glamour for a big working while the balefire was having less pull than normal, this would have completely shot that working to hell." A look at Tig , who winces, but Vali goes on "But no such plan was made. I do think you might owe the Hearth an apology, Tig. She Had prepared for fewer mouths to feed, and rationed things accordingly. The DeBukes, while welcomee, didn't actually come with much food. New Hearth and all there. And suddenly she's got new grocery hunts and finacial stuff.. because she didn't know either. We're going to get a lot of faces coming in here, shortly, ones that may or may not fit and that's for the Chief to decide and us to advise on. Tig, if you're feeling you and Lut are staying in place while others move forward...you should have said so. It is not a betrayal of troll hood to admit some disatisfaction with a duty if disatisfied you are?"

Brekke nods agreement. "Now that it has been mentioned, I wish to address it. In what way can Rivervale support your needs, Thane? You and Lut have been with us since your youth, and if you have been neglected, that must be remedied."

Tig did wince at the idea of crossing kerri, offend the storm, well, bones knit, offend a hearth, might be awhile before you eat and all your laundry is YOUR Laundry and you take it to a place that uses quarters. Then the rest sinks in "Me? Negelcted? Disasified?" Surprised "No, I'm great. I have regular amour who I dare not name, I have a steady job at the greatest lodge in Concordia...I'm fine" An odd mix of truth and yes, lies. He doesn't feel neglected, but perhaps he does feel in a bit of a rut

The half-truth makes her eyes narrow, not dangerously but as if working out a puzzle. "You...need more than a 'steady job' though."

"I'm doing what I'm best at" that he believes

Vali says "That's not exactly what was asked. This started when Gerd got the emmisary job. " Vali stops then "Tig, are you feeling passed over and a bit.. well, envious?"

A brow.

"I.." He thinks about it, then "I didnt think so? I dont... not of Gerd" A pause and frowns "Maybe more a general envy. I ..don't like this line of thinking " Tig finally says as he's forced to deal with self introspection. Lut was always better at that than Tig.

Brekke doesn't help. She merely nods for him to continue.

Tig briefly wonders if the Dreaming might swallow him up now would be good. But barring unleashing, it's not likely to happen, "I think maybe I resent or worry that everyone else is trusted with bigger and bigger things, or finds bigger and bigger things. Lut has love on his way, make or break, the guy is moving on to the big wedding stuff. Meannwhile my lover and I ...it's a weird slap slap kiss kiss thing- and I like that but.. " Blushing "it's not exactly proof of how far I can go as an adult. Gerd becomes Emmisary. I saw Siv go from new gal to Lady Captain...Vali's Mountain now. Sylvi's a freeholder. And If Dagmar isn't being groomed for future Storm I am way off my game. FAR future. And believe it or not, I cheer for each one of them ' True "I think it's great, but sometimes I wonder if I'm lacking in some way that I'm unchanging"

"Hmm." Brekke considers this (after a brief uncomfortable expression at the description of his love life). "You may be correct...you have been reliable and relied upon, but not given many opportunities to surpass your current position. I think I believed, for a long time, that that was your preference. I now know that is not the case." She leans back and frowns a bit. "I am not certain how to resolve this, but I will give it thought."

"I'm sorry, Chief, I honestly don't know what my preference Is. I thought iwas this too. THis is probably nothing mroe than what the Mountain guessed, some weird Envy... mixed wit ha desire to show off." A scowl, not at her, but himself "Can we leave the self introspection in the future to others in the future? Its really awkwaard"

She shakes her head. "Apparently not. To do so means that you act in a way that potentially causes difficulties for your Lodge." A brow.

"Hm. It is not a long-term solution, but as the Mountain notes, we are about to have an influx of new trolls. I believe you would be a wise choice to put in charge of their introduction to the barony, the Lodge, and the work done here."

At that, Tig stops "Yeah? You know I actually liked showing the ropes to some folks before. I mean, RIvervale is the best"

He believes it. Tig for all his questioning of his position, loves Rivervale

Vali looks over "I think we just found our tour guide " A look to Tig "Tig, up to the Chief of course, but I think you've got yourself wrong. You're not stuck in a rut. You're the old pro. And... old pros show rookies and new comers the ropes. When the DeBukes came in, I organaized patrols, but you gave me suggestions... and when they had questionss or looked lost, you went up to them and told them the lay out more than I did"

"I've been patroling these paths since childlng hood" Tig says "Easy to do"

"Easy for you" Vali says then looks at the Chief "You see what I'm seeing here? You're onto something, Chieftain"

Brekke nods. "You have expertise, and we can rely on you for that. I assign you, Thane Tig, to act as trainer and guide for our newcomers." It is done.

Tig looks, touched "Thank you, Chieftain. I'll take it seriously, I promise"

"I think you've doing it for some time" Vali nods to Tig "It's just been formalized"

"And acknowledged," Brekke adds.

Tig nods "Well uh, that being the case, permission to take a shower? You may wish I did so the lohnger I stand here "