#rivervale_lodge

"CJ, look, it's Cousin Siv."

"SIV! " He waves frantically, trusting his sis not to drop him even when he forgets to hold steady

"CJ!" Siv waves back

Brekke looks over at Siv and her partners, catches sight of the shirt, and chuckles.

His trust is well placed. She has a secure hold on her little brother's ankles.

Vali comes in carrying his own son "Happy Fourth all."

Gerd comes in carrying fireworks

Kerri greets Vali and Gerd and the baby. "Tiffany can't make it?"

Sylvi shows up having driven Etsie and her gear over.

"She's on fire fighter watch for another hour but she'll join us later"

"Good, good...." A nod from Kerri. "Help yourself to what's already out. Gerd, do you want to be in charge of setting those up?"

The Hearth has seen Siv, Piper, and Jonas arrive, and is trying to read their dynamic. For that matter, so is Sylvi. Mother and daughter have very similar does-he-know? expressions.

"Magdeline is ..."

The nocker girl beams "Furking let me!"

"Oh, so sorry, of course!" Kerri smiles at the nocker...and then gives Gerd a private look of mild concern.

Gerd makes a slow nod ("I'll keep an eye out")

Piper is with Siv and Jonas, yes, and seems very much glued to their sides.

Kerri mouths thank you.

Sylvi comes up to Dagmar and CJ. "Hey. Hi, CJ."

"Hey Sylvi:

To those who have been here longest, it must seem as if things are busier than ever! Brekke in particular can see how much all has ..grown. So many new wilder faces. New children. And yes, even new grumps to settle in.

Yes, much has changed...but many of the traditions still remain. Her trueheart and Olgar are casting venomous looks at each other from their respective grills. All is well.

Well, almost all...

Her expression grows a bit more serious as she approaches Dagmar.

Brown Dog sits close to the grills, patient and hopeful!

A faint grimace, shoulders tensing.

Sylvi notes the dynamic and fades back just a little.

"Hello, CJ" she first says somberly to the boy.

CJ says "Chief! Hi. My sister is hommmmee!"

Symon lurks in the shadows - well, it's still daylight, so the best he can do is the porch of the lodge, out of direct sunlight. He is wearing his nicer shirt, the brocaded button up. It's washed AND dried without mildew stank, courtesy of Jaymes, though it is quite wrinkled. Alas, Symon has yet to learn of an iron, or perhaps to see the point.

"She is, indeed," Brekke says to him. Then to Dagmar, "I am glad you are here, Dame. Today is for celebration, but briefly...you have made some progress?"

Dirk stomps near Sylvi "You and Dags good?" He says it what he thinks is quietly but he's a redcap

She lifts CJ from her shoulders and plants a kiss on top of his curls. "Go check on Mom, okay Ceej?"

Sylvi makes a hushing noise at him, casts an innocent smile at anybody who may have heard, and then nods to him. "Yes," she says quietly, "pretty much. You?"

"I... well, I asked for help. May will be coming to Sylvi's party tomorrow."

Jess is there, but seems content to stay in the background. After all, she's been there overnight.

"Okay, sister!" CJ says and when he's dropped on the ground gently and he races over to his mom

Brekke nods approval. "This sounds like a step in the right direction. You will tell me how that goes." A statement.

Jess has been enlisted into some of the prep & set-up work, so she's earned the right to take a background role now.

Dirk grunts "Huh? She's good with me far as I know. I didn't do nothing wrong"

"Just wanted to make sure you were good with her," Sylvi clarifies.

Dirk mmmphs "Worried but we'll see"

"Yes'm. Lupe will be there, and Symon and I talked."

Kerri moves over to talk with the trio. "Jonas, it's so good to have you back. Sorry I didn't say so before, but I was focused on Olgar."

Jess is, of course, more than happy to help if needed.

Sylvi looks a little surprised that Dirk admits to worry, but doesn't say anything.

Jonas says "No, quite understandible, Hearth. I am glad to be back"

"Good," Brekke says to Dagmar. "That is good."

CJ wanders from his mom over to Jessica "Hello. Do I know you?"