#rivervale_lodge

Dag hangs back, arms folded in a stance that is somewhere between "parade rest" and "on guard" - lurking protectively, but in a way that hopefully doesn't spook the fledge.

She does sit, and says "Well, i'm no Eshu. But..." She takes a breath "For over a week before it happened, I felt like I was dying under the limelight. I felt like I was the object ... not a participant? I took shop lifting too. I didn't know why then. I do now. And I got awway with it. Because my folks are semi famous and well off enough. The irony isn't lost on me. When the big 4th July kind of situation arose... I was suppose to go join my folks... but I felt drawn to the .. it's hard to explain but.."A brerath

Kerri gives Dagmar a comfortable grin and nod before returning her attention to Serenity.

She listens quietly, not interrupting the pauses.

"... I went the otherway, into the crowds, hoping to be overlooked, just one OF them you know? And it worked. More and more I felt part of the culture... rather than a display? It probably sounds like a sad fantasy to you, but for me? I never had a chance to be myself, just a character in a script. "

Kerri nods, showing that she understands, but also inviting her to continue.

"Any way, I felt SO happy ... and that's then the Dream Dance begain. I remembered a bit more of who I really am, and got a backpack and a rapier... which is nice. Then, Tziporah, the eshu came to greet me" A breath "Then a huge ugly carriage without aa driver pulled up, grabbed me with a whip like thing, and I was yanked in and KIDNAPPED"

A blink. "A carriage? As in, something drawn by horses? Or did it move on its own?"

"No horses, though it looked like it should have had them. It seemed to roll on it's own. It sensed me and then it took me. I don't know where I was going ... because I was held fast, then this Scimtar slid through the top. Tziporah the Humble, she says she's trying that out, had come to my rescue. I managed to use the blade's edge to cut free, and then she got me out of the top and swung me to safety. We could have died, or at least gotten our legs broken, but Tizzy almost whooped. Me? I almost peed myself" A weak admission with humor "Are all Eshu like that? Just... figure they'll go for it?"

A slight chuckle. "That's about par for the course. You're lucky she was there to help."

"I was" she says "We followed her feet, which I'm not sure I understand, and came to this area. Then we went to Dame Dagmar's house... and Tziporah explained it was Dagmar's DESTINY to protect me" A lowered voice "Between you and me? I think Tizzy went a bit over the top, but she was doing it to protect me. Also, Dame Dagmar is pretty awesome. There's this story Tizzy told about her that was just .. I mean, wow"

"Well...as much as you might doubt an eshu's story, it's never wise to say so out loud." A wink. "But yes, Dame Dagmar is definitely awesome, as she has proven time and again." A pause. "You said Scarsdale, right?"

Dagmar is purple at the mention of the story.

"Yes' ma'am" She nods "Tizzy lives there but so does my family so we wanted distance"

"Mmm." Kerri nods, then moves to flip a few roc steaks. "I've met some other fae from that area. They no longer live there."

"Some of the Earth Runes crew, right? Siv's spooky friend, and the Baron..."

"Yes, those are the ones I'm thinking of. Clearly there are others who live in Alabastar Hollow, but...I think you're right that it's not the best place for her to go back to just yet."

"I think her family could be banal, yeah. Anne-Marie might be able to help, I was thinking?"

Kerri gives a low whistle. "Trickier, because of your fame," she says to the piskey. "Which is interesting. Piskeys slip from people's memories easily, but I recalled having seen you. Curious."

"Well, some guy named Jimmy is being contacted to mentor me? They say hes really good at it. Maybe he could teach me the trick?"

"Might mean we just need to keep her low until she's Sained?"

"Like, it ain't in full force until she's got her name?"

"Might be." Kerri nods, but she's frowning, now. "Serenity...may I ask about your relationship with your family?"

"Theyre not abusive" She says "They don't hit me or anything" Obviously there are other forms of abuse "But sometimes it feels like I'm not allowed to be anything less than perfect? And I don't like the job" Yes, she sees being part of the family as a JOB, "Not sure if you've ever seen our show, Its me, my sister and my brothers. Sis seems to love the limelight, frankly it's made her a bit of a brat when the camera is off. She's closer to my age. My brothers mostly just roll with it. Mom and dad... mom's.. she's got the best poker face you've ever seen only it's a smile. The house could be burning and she'd smile about the weather. But she's ..business oriented? She loves us.. tells us she does. Dad? Dad's a hard worker. He handles a lot for the show, goes out to get supplies. Sometimes doubles in tech"

She talks of her father as if she doesn't REALLY get to see him much, when the camera is off

On the show, they are like a wholesome Brady Bunch meets little house on the prarie in modern times display. SOME find it a bit saccharine but most just oo and aww and talk about how that's families are supposed to be.

Kerri listens thoughtfully as she checks the meat in the smoker.

Dag wrinkles her nose a bit.

"Oh crap, I did it again" An embarrassed look "I think I took something from your lodge. I'm very sorry, but it was interesting. " She puts out a stylized salt shaker "Do you need salt? I'll put it back"

"Piskies see with their hands. Honestly, wait until your head spins in circles with a pooka. We all have our stuff. Sticky fingers can be resolved easily enough."

"Well, it's not very mannerly of me" She says with annoyance, "First your family's coaster, now this."

Kerri nods at Dagmar's comment. "We all have kith qualities, to one extent or another. Most important thing is to be aware of them and work with them when they become problems, not pretend they don't exist."

"Jimmy might have advice? He always gives stuff back, for sure."

"Eventually," Kerri agrees. "And yes, I think it would be a good idea to have Serenity meet him soon." She doesn't mention her embarrassment at having forgotten Jimmy in this conversation. "And we'll want to keep an eye on what Serenity's parents post over the next couple of days."

"In the meanwhile...I could use some help with getting these plattered and then into containers. Dagmar, could you show Serenity where the large platters are and help bring them out? If you get some more meat tongs from that drawer, you know the one, then you two can help me move things around."

Whether or not Kerri actually needs the help is debatable.

However, Dagmar might recognize the tactic -- service and purpose is a good way to interrupt worry and anxiety, at least for a bit.

A crisp nod. "On it!"

Serenity perks up "Sure" She rises ready to follow Dagmar "Reminds me of Season 2 episode 3, 'Hands for helping' I was really young so I dropped somethings and they had to do a reshoot, but now I'm more nimble. That won't happen" And she moves to follow the knight and is indeed HAPPY to help . Piskeys, like boggans, aren't afraid of hard work

Kerri grins and nods, then returns her attention to the cooking. Well, most of her attention. Her mind's beginning to run through ideas about what will need to happen to support this new fledge.

(end scene)