#rivervale_lodge

Dirk comes in a bit sour looking, his knuckles are scraped, but no doubt as they say 'you should see the other guy'

And he washes his hands in the bathroom sink muttering

Piper comes around a corner and almost runs into Dirk. "Oh! Sorry!" She starts picking up the basket of laundry that she dropped.

He doesn't stop washing, but does look surprised "Piper? What the hell are you doing here playing suzy homemaker? at the lodge?"

"Rikki has been hanging out in the laundry room, and the last time that happened, all of Jonas's shirts got dyed bright neon pink. I think he can rock it, but..."

She grabs a last stray sock and drops it into the basket. "I didn't think Kerri would mind as long as I restocked the detergent."

"Nah, she won't give a shit" he shrugs

"Are you okay?" She asks, tentatively. "I think there are some band-aids..."

"I just need the disinfectant" He shrugs "I had to take care of something"

"Oh. How's the, er, the other guy?"

"Symon? He's acing everything while bitching about it. Pretty much same as usual." The Cap gets some disinfectant "He's going places. Got a future yadda. And he's annoyed dad who can't believe he wants to deal with dead folks instead of healing the living, so winner right? How are you? Still hitting the music circuit now and then?"

"You beat up Symon?!" She squeaks!

"OH.." A laugh, his mood instantly improved "Oh that'd be fun! But no...I misunderstood you. The other guy? He's spitting teeth. "

"Oh. That's... better? What did he do?" She dares to ask, not sure she wants to know.

"Turns out Cleo had a bully, decided to shove her around. As a redcap I respected that happens, you know? But she's still a Lee. So I didn't want her scared to go to school. Now I'm not gonna hit a little kid, even a miserable shit of one... so I tell her.. the bully, to stop it, or else. She doesn't stop it. Okay. So I pay a visit to their family, dad, mom, and little girl all enchanted... and I bet the shit out of her dad to explain if she comes after MY family I come after hers. " He says this matter of factly, "Was a good fight. "

"But I think when her dad's teeth ended up on the floor, and I asked the little girl if she really wanted to live in a nightmare where Might makes right, DID She? She promised not to do that. There's more to it than that, but that's the general gist. No one fucks with my family" Dirk says plainly

"Oh, no. Not that little girl with the duster? Who would mess with her?"

Piper looks a bit shocked at the extent of Dirk's punishment, but she swallows and manages to say, "Ah, well, that's... Good! That's good."

"SOmetimes Cleo gets on MY nerves." He admits "But when you rob her lunch money, you're robbing from my mom and dad. No one does that and without a limp. I'm a little low on glamouur after that but they'll remember"

Changing the subject! "Did you hear that there's some big post-pennons party going on in Upstate NY? Siv mentioned it... I guess it's like, a dog and pony show? Not really my thing, but I bet a few folk from here will go out..."

"Yeah, really? Huh, probablyy make hungry. But I respect some of htemup there. They had this little nipper with attitude.,.. heh, Redcap childlings are hilarious. It's like Chucky walking around. And they had this troll fledge I got to pound on for a bit. Man she could take a hit." Somehow the subject immediately comes back to violence, but then... "You oughta go. I know you're not a fan of animals, but they'd probably like some music in the background, and Nadeen maybe all Snow Queen now but she can throw a decent event. Or you could just spectate "

"You think? I'm not much for big fancy noble Sidhe parties."

"Give me a bonfire and a cooler of beer..."

"I hear that" A nod "I don't know, it might be kind of prissy, ,but if it is, make an excuse and leave? "

"Are you going?" Curious

She considers, "I haven't been able to get Jonas to take a break for a while. Maybe he'd go as my date. But I don't want to leave Ann Marie understaffed either... I guess it's just for a day..."

"Jonas kept mom from Burn out. Your boyfriend..does not ssuck" A shrug "He deserves a day off even if you go elsewhere. Not sure I'll go. horses and dogs arent' my thing and the hawks make me wonder what they taste like. Never had hawk"

Her nose wrinkles a bit. "Probably like chicken, but more work."

"Probably not worth it" he agrees "As a rule predators aren't great eating. " Smile at that "Means I probably taste terrible. Ah well. No, didn't know about the event till you told me. Bet Dagmar goes if she can. She loves horses and dogs and stuff"

"Well, if I go, you are welcome to come along - I think we'd be taking the trod, and another warrior along for THAT is never unwelcome."

A nod "Sure, if I go I'll let you know" He says

"Thanks!" she says, and inches past him in the hallway. "I gotta get these in the dryer."

"Oh sorry" He moves so she can

"Hey, do me a favor, don't tell my folks or Cleo about that whole 'beat up her bully's dad' thing. Or Frank. I don't want any of them giving me that look, you know?"

"My lips are sealed." She promises, trying not to imagine too vividly how Dirk might react if she DID.

"Thanks" A nod "You want something to eat while you're here?" he says from the kitchen

She perks up. "I wouldn't say no! It's been take-out the last few nights."

"Whoa, you really DO need Jonas to have some free time. I thought he fed you and Siv" Kitchen sounds come on "Don't worry, I learned a little cooking from mom. SHe's not as good as the Hearth and will admit it, but she's good. Still vegetarian?"

As if that's something someone just snaps out of

"Mostly." She admits, "I backslide now and again with a fast food burger, but those are barely food, let alone real meat..."

"HA. Okay. I got enough veggies and.. huh.. yeah I can do this. "

Soon sizzling sounds

clanging

and smells of.. is that pineapple?

"Dirk, you can cook?" Surprised! She tosses the laundry in the dryer and peeks into the kitchen.

"Compared to the Hearth or Sally Mae? No."

A stir fry is going, she can see chopped onion and chickpeas falling into the rice and steam

She sniffs the air. "It SMELLS like you can cook!" Impressed!

"Well, mom said everyone needs to learn the basics. And sometimes she gets so damned busy I end up making a bit for her now and then. Nothing great, this is just your average every ordinary day Teriyaki Pineapple Fried Rice with Veggies. Any moron can make it"

"You're not allergic to peanuts are you?"

"Too late, theyre in" He moves on more sizzling "Gotta have SOME protein"