#rivervale_lodge

She takes it "Mmph ...so do I beat it to death with a rubber mallet?"

She might be a bit irked at the trouble it caused

"No, they can be useful. Valuable, even. Nockers can use them, of course, or you can launch them into a good storm cloud. You'll get wet, but a WtF can turn into a storm sylph."

"Oo" suddenly a bit less irk and more intrigued "Which do you think I should do? Which would help the lodge more?"

"I'm just getting home." he points out, dusting off his pants and hands before picking up his duffle "Ask Kerri or your mother."

"Well, you seem to know these things pretty well," She says "I wouldn't have a clue"

A smile "And I'm sorry, you DID just get home" She gives him a hug "thank you so much, welcome back. We missed you"

"Thank you." he hugs her back, one-armed. "Everything ok here?" Frank calls nightly, but things can happen.

"I think so, I found a really good bakery, makes fantastic custom donuts. Mountain Vali did get a bit stumped on some research. Not sure if he got over the hurdle there or not. Oak's missed you terribly, but you knew that. The gang at Rutgers, I gave them a visit. They're a bit down I suspect but i hope the donuts i brought them cheered them up. "

"I'm sure they did." He stretches a bit, a small backbend. "I'm going to go on up, clean up and unpack. You ok here?"

"I am now thanks to you" SHe says and eyes the jar then smiles at him, "Be lost without you even now it seems"

"Now go in clean up. Treat yourself and rest. Dinner is Spaghetti"

"You'd have been fine; you know people who'd have found it." he assures her "Spaghetti sounds good." and heads up to the Lodge.

She shakes her head "Oh yeah ,i can see that... 'dirk my car doesn't work can you help me?' one hour later, after he's eaten the engine 'found something'" A grin and she puts things away

Kerri's in the main room when he enters. "Frank! You're back!" A grin. "Good run?"

"Yes, not bad. How're things here?"

"Well enough. A bit strange, not having Sylvi and Dagmar doing things around here, but Connor has been working extra hard with the horses. Chieftain's out on a patrol, but she'll likely be back shortly."

"Spaghetti in about twenty minutes. And garlic bread. Sound good?"

"Sounds -AMAZING-."

"I'll go clean up."

Kerri chuckles. "I don't know about amazing, but it should be satisfying. Enjoy!"

Frank takes the stairs, and after some time reappears, freshly clean and dressed.

He meets Brekke at the bottom of the stairs, about to head on her way up. She gives him a pleased look. "You are back."

"I am." his beard moves "Dinner soon. Would you like a hand?" he glances up the stairs, and back at her.

A blink...and a slight blush. "I would not object," she says, her eyes twinkling a bit.

He stands aside so she can move past him, and follows her up.

Siv has found herself, after own cleaning up, in an unusual spot. "You want ME in the kitchen, Aunt Kerri? I mean, I don't burn water like AUnt Clem but..."

But with Gerd in Alaska, Dagmar and Sylvi at Rutgers, Sally Mae on a date, and Brogan doing a book report, it seems Siv finds herself as Hearth help for the first time in awhile. Either that or she's being kept out of the way of her folks

Brekke moves past him and up the stairs. And what they speak of while, ah, cleaning up...well, that's between them.

"It's spaghetti, Siv," Kerri points out. "I think you can be trusted with spaghetti."

"Have I shown you how to prepare garlic bread?"

"Ahhh.." She thinks it over "if you did, I forgot. Honestly, Jonas does most of the cooking for Piper and I now." A look at her aunt "And suddenly I' mwondering if admitting I missed some lessons or forgot them is wise to admit. You DO know no one is going to think less of you as a Hearth if you have ONE wilder get through who can't cook so well right?"

a bit of humor amid the fuax dread

Kerri chuckles. "Well, they can't all be winners," she says to Siv with a wink. "Now, let me show you so that, even if Jonas is doing most of the cooking, you can contribute to the process a bit. Everybody loves garlic bread. Well, except for vampires."

"Fine fine... show me , please, but I just know when Sally mae and Brogan get back it'll be 'Siv who?' once more. Oh the drama"

"Oh, well, if you want full time hearth training, that can be arranged...."

She starts showing her the best way to make garlic bread.

"Yikes pass but huh.. oh, I see, you don't apply the garlic DURING The..." She says

and Siv maybe mouthy but mostly because she's in a good mood. Her dad is home. And mouthyness aside? She listens intently, and asks a few questions how to cook or make foods that Piper and JOnas both love

"...yes, exactly like that. And listen...there's nothing wrong with getting convenience foods if cooking isn't your strength, but there are ways to doctor even convenience food to make it feel a little more special." And the secrets are passed on.

(End Scene)