#rivervale_lodge

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Olgar has been busy, something of a recruiting drive. He looks grumbly.

He moves stiffly

Kerri peers out from the kitchen, notices his movements, vanishes...and returns with a beer. "Sit, you." She hands him the bottle.

He sits stiffly wincing

"Is that fended-off-raiders-on-the-trod, or is it damn-I'm-getting-too-old-for-this?" she asks, moving behind him to rub his shoulders, gently at least to start.

A groan "The latter. Took the rookies for a day long hike , showing them autumn world bridges and hiking paths that need protecting too..." His muscles are tense "All day, used to be able to do that in the autumn world without a sweat. Well, not much of a sweat. By the end of it, I'm worn the hell out, but those kids are like 'and next?'"

"Mmm," she murmurs sympathetically, and massages a bit more firmly now that she knows he's not injured. "Maybe there's someone else who can guide them on whatever 'next' is? You don't need to do it all yourself."

"You know how masculine pride is a bane to a lot of guys?" Grateful for the massage

"Oh, surely nobody in this room," she says with ironic amusement.

"YEah, I was about to say, I'm one of them." A grumble "I can still do the job. I'm older, not decrepit"

"You can still do the job," she confirms, digging her thumbs into a tight spot. "But you don't need to prove that."

A grunt then a sigh in turns as she works him over... for his own good, of course.

"Maybe to the good looking joe in the mirror I do... I don't know. Other problem is, I'm getting recruits, but we're short of experienced sorts."

"Well, that's a different problem. Nobody at all could show them the ropes?"

"Nobody" A pause "Well, almost nobody. I could call in a favor or two, but I was holding onto those for a rainy day. Heh, you know the fun thing about working with Seelie sorts, you do a few goodies for them and they're on the hook for your next call for years if you want"

"Silly seelies," she says wryly, swatting the back of his head gently.

"mmph" but a grin then "Oh rats. Beltain is soon. I'm gonna get sappy again. Probably buy you flowers and a nice dinner out. HEck, I can feel the urge rising even now." He tests his shoulders which ARE feeling better than they would have without her

She grins and leans down to kiss the top of his head. "I think you've learned to hate Beltaine a lot less than you used to. And that makes me feel less guilty for enjoying you being sappy."

"Well... You are worth being sappy for. " He reaches up to pull her down into his lap

She chuckles and settles comfortably into his lap. "You seem to be recovering."

"I'm motivated" he admits "You're right. No harm in calling in one of those favors for a bit of help. Gives me more time to chase you around the kitchen"

"Well, yes, that's kind of my motivation as well," she murmurs, and claims a kiss.

She achieves her goal, and the kiss is hers, with extra

then when they part he chuckles "Downside is, you're a very duty bound lady and if I become too a big a hassle you'll just make me dry dishes"

"Oh, you poor thing," she intones, rolling her eyes. "You offer to dry dishes anyway, when you're around. So again, another reason to delegate some of the training duties. Okay, so...those favors you're going to call in, anybody I know?"

"Hastien, running his crew in Brightwinds. If he can't make it himself, he'd send me another who could handle the task." He ponders "I could also ask Jordan to help out. If that four legged snot were a troll I'd let him into the organization, and he can keep them going on a hike and the like"

She nods. "How does he feel about that? Jordan, I mean. Does he resent the troll's-only Rover club?"

"Little bit. I've talked to him, explained why.. he says he gets it, but he reserves the right to bitch." Amusement "I swear, sometimes he's enough like younger me I want to shake him... more fatalistic than I was, but he's got nerve in a good way."

"Well...if he can't 'belong' in the Rovers, maybe he can be the founder of an auxiliary of some sort?"

"Mm " He ponders this "You know? that's not a bad idea. I need to flesh it out, but no reason the Knights of the Way can't have support per se"

"And it might be fair to say that only non-trolls can be part of that group, to balance out the Rovers."

"YEh, petty works" A smile "Tell you what, let me shower, and I'll invite him over for dinner tonight if that's okay?"

"Tonight works," she nods.

"And tomorrow night, just you and me, you pick the place"

That gets a smile. "And you make sure to wear your dancing shoes."

"For you? Anytime" He kisess her even as he rises with her , so they can part while he showers "Gives me an excuse to paw at you to a beat"

She stands and gives him a wink. "I look forward to it. Okay, you wash up, and let me know if Jordan says he'll be here."

"Will do" One last kiss, and off he goes. Leaving her to pick where she wants to dine... and dance, tomorrow

(End Scene)