#rivervale_lodge

"Mm. Yes. Dirk." A pause. "The Autumn Person will survive?"

Footsteps; Frank is returning.

"Oh yes. I'll have her relocated to a less people oriented situation if I can. But she won't return to the shelter"

"Good." She nods. "Then all is well."

She looks up to where Frank is coming back down the stairs.

His hair is less damp, indeed, and a few tucks and adjustments makes him fully dressed.

A slight grin as he returns.

"Sorry again about the timing ,Frank" She says apolgetically "And Cleo bellowing like that. She's.. slowly getting less shy, but I didn't expect her to go fog horn"

"Good lungs for one so small."

"Mixed blessing that. She still cleans almost chronically, it's her way of dealing with the trauma, but I've gotten her what help I can. And.. well, your Gerd talked to her. Thank you for sending that wonderful wilder and getting her to open up about her own eating disorder."

"It really helped Cleo to understand she wasn't alone in facing challenges of compulsion"

"Hm. Perhaps when Gerd is done with school, she might be able to work with you. If she pursues a helping profession."

Brekke quietly offers Frank back the list that he passed her before.

"However," she adds, "I did not send her. Perhaps it was the Hearth, or perhaps she went on her own."

Anne Marie dines on the juice and cookies lightly "That's possible. She DOES like being an emmisary. She's a bit worried about Connor, of course. The boy will be without either of his sister figures now that she's at Starbear and.. oh... you didn't? Huh. The way she said 'helping changlelings is lodge business' made me think you had.. mmm why that sneak. You trolls will sometimes do anything to dodge praise. Well, some of you " A smile

A bemused look. "I am pleased Gerd sees that her efforts reflect on the Lodge, and reflect well."

He takes the list.

And passes it to Anne Marie.

A slight nod to Brekke. Thank you... and, the same.

Brekke nods him toward Anne Marie: Give her your thoughts on this. Please.

His glance in return is rather bleak... but he pauses in offering the list to Anne Marie and looks it over again.

"If I were to rank these, without benefit of more information, I would choose the Kinain woman. Then the mortal Dreamer, then the turtle pooka."

Brekke nods approval of that order.

"thank you" She says "I've been so brain frazzled of late I... it's nice to get input I can trust"

"I didn't say it was that." mildly, handing the list back.

"Anne Marie, you do seem in need. I think you should stay here the night, benefit from the balefire."

A brow at Frank. "Did not say it was what?"

"Input she can trust. I would recommend discussing it with Sir Carowyn."

"Frank... Of course I trust your input" She says startled "Why wouldnt I? Why wouldn't anyone?"

Brekke blinks. "Frank. What do you mean?"

He shakes his head. "If I had faith in my input, I would not have asked to leave my role in the Triad of the Lodge." simply "I would recommend discussing the list with Sir Carowyn. He has valuable insight."

Brekke frowns. Deeply.

The boggan sits up, and looks ready to fuss then clamps down on her self and looks to Brekke "I think I'll go help Cleo in the kitchen"

A nod to Anne Marie.

Taking the tray she was given and the empty juice glass she goes in, leaving the couple to.. talk

Frank pours himself a glass of cider.

After a pause, she says, "So this is why."

He says nothing. Sips his cider.

"You have been cutting conversations short. Avoiding talking at all, even to those who need your ear and your words."

He glances at her.

She meets his eyes. "It is because of this? Because you feel your words have no value?"

"My words have caused harm. Not every time, not all the time; true. But on balance the harm is more than I'm willing to do. Unintended consequences."

"My words have also caused harm. There is none among us for whom that is not true. The answer to that is not to stop speaking, but to speak so that the good can find its way through."

She adds in a lower tone, "You should have told me."

"You have always been better at finding the right words than I." quietly "I didn't speak to you because I wasn't ready."

"No fault of yours; my own processing time."

She is quiet. And she is angry.

He clears his throat. "Work coming up."

Eventually she says, "Understood." A deep breath and slow exhale. "Your silence is more harmful than your counsel."

A brow at the redirection of topic.