#rivervale_lodge

"There's gonna be lutefisk, if you didn't smell it from the stables."

On Dagmar's left horn ridge, a little bird gives a faint whistle, bobbing up and down. A decrepit feather drifts off, but fades away to dust before actually falling to the ground.

With this, Symon shifts slightly so that the light falls on him, bringing himself into view. "Mm." An appreciative sound.

"Oh! Symon, didn't see you there." She sounds pleased, not startled.

"Hey, Symon" Siv says as she puts up the 'Journey with love' Banner not really looking his way

As she finishes the parts of the rice dessert that can be done ahead of time, Kerri takes a deep breath and looks around the kitchen as she wipes her hands on a dish towel.

A small, secretive smile, pleased at Kerri's remark.

The onions are dumped into a large pot with butter - low and slow for now.

Dagmar and Symon might catch it (Siv's busy, so not so much)...for a moment between tasks, Kerri looks nervous.

Symon watches Kerri for a short while, though his hand lingers in place on Dagmar's back. If he catches Kerri's eye, he gives a small, encouraging nod.

Soon Siv has the banner up

All three of the trolls seem to be focused on Doing Their Duty and Keeping a Stiff Upper Lip and they are Very Happy For Them, Really.

A microexpression of: I wish you hadn't caught that but thanks I appreciate the support.

The door burst open and in comes Piper, Jonas in tow holding the larger of the two babes. Whereas the Trolls have their Stiff Upper Lip, the small Satyr looks to be on the verge of tears. "I can't believe it's actually HAPPENING!!" She bewails.

Symon slinks slightly farther into Dagmar's shadow, wincing at the high note Piper hits.

"Okay, so...!" She rubs her hands together, ready to get on with Doing The Things...when Piper comes in with the almost waterworks.

"Hello, you two!" Kerri waves, trying to overlook the wail of dismay. "And...you seem to be down a child."

Piper turns and displays a carrier on her back, with little Frankie. "Look Ma, no hands."

A soft sigh, and Dag focuses on Caramelizing. Very important, that. Onions.

"Hey, loves" Siv calls out, her smile reaching her eyes!

"Ha!" Kerri grins. "I remember those days with Sylvi. She owned the world from that perch."

"Greetings" Jonas says to all. Valr in his hands.

The little fellow gets jostled lightly in a way he seems to enjoy.

"Mmph." ("Has she ever stopped?" - affectionate.)

A chuckle at Dagmar.

"Oh, I set up the playpen for the kids, for when you want to put them down a bit."

Symon observes the onions cooking, then surveys the other ingredients. He looks thoughtful, then starts slicing apples. His slender hands make very quick work with the knife, making delicate, exact slices. To Dagmar, he whispers, "If there is any fig jam, spread it on puff pastry along with the onions and apple with some cheese. Brie if you have it, but other stuff will work. Mom taught me this one."

A relieved smile to Kerri, and Piper plops the babies in the pen - then hops in herself, becoming a satyr playscape for them to crawl over.

"Ohhh, that sounds fancy. Good idea."

Kerri notices Symon cooking alongside with Dagmar, and her eyes twinkle a bit as she goes about cleaning counters.

"It would be better after a week or so..." He says, with a slight smile.

"Make sure to set some aside for aging," Kerri says to Dagmar. "I've got extra containers you can take."

"We're gonna save some." A nod.

Jonas watches as Piper is crawled on, amused

Kerri makes sure her hands are clean before taking a moment to go say hello to the babies and, by extension, Piper and Jonas.

Siv finishes up "Okay, so Riskrem?"

"And we've got some snacks from last week that Tove set in your cupboard. So you should be set for tonight. You can have my share of the lutefisk, too."

"Riskrem!" Kerri agrees, pointing Siv at the kitchen. "Dagmar, can you tell her what to do?"

"Uh-huh."

Dagmar's been the recipient of this, and has seen it often enough that she recognizes it: Kerri's asking her to help Siv keep busy with a new task to avoid focusing on sadness.

Siv nods "On it" And prepares to help Dagmar and take her direction.

((Which might also be a way of keeping Dagmar from focusing on it, too.))

Jonas shoots Kerri a grateful look and grunts ("Thank you. It is hard for her, more than she admits")

Piper pipes up, "What's a Riskrem? Is it vegetarian?"

"It SOUNDS like a pokemon."

Kerri nods to Jonas, then says to Piper, "It's a rice pudding-ish thing. It's got dairy, but no meat. Is that okay?"

Piper beams. "Delicious! And the babes can eat that too. Frankie is doing SO WELL with purees, and Valr will eat anything he can get his hands on."

"Oh, I think they'll love it, yes."

"Okay, Siv, you gotta get the milk and that big tupperware of leftover rice from the fridge..."

"Cow Juice and Paddy turds it is" Siv jokes and tends to it

"My bigger concern is Valr will try to eat NOT food things" Jonas admits "I dropped a pen the other day, and he eyed it"