#rivervale_lodge

The less Frank and Brekke fight the flow of gifts, the faster it will go. To be fair, most took into account that the couple will have only so much space to put things, so most gifts are small, but that doesn't dim the love behind any of them.

The gifts do threaten the urge to live sparsely, but each one is received with humility and deep appreciation.

Kerri asks Brogan to see to the care of the gifts and the clearing of wrapping materials.

The gift from Jaymes and Tove (And Dagmar and CJ) is both practical and mildly magical, a Toolbox of water resistant wood, lovely carvings, stronger than it should be, and.... bigger on the inside than the outside. It could hold as much as a troll sized shelf.

Brogan says "Yes, Baroness" And obeys promptly. It occurs to her now that she IS a baroness, her traditional squire is going to assume that's the right title for her as his personal liege

The toolbox is received as a PERFECT gift for them and their situation. "And each time we use something from it, your whole family will be thought of."

Kerri starts to correct him, but decides this isn't the time. She'll have to have that particular battle later.

As gifts go through, most NOT comical despite Vali and Tiffany being in the mix, they're cleaned quickly after. With every little drama. Some of the gifts are from folks who couldn't make it. Colton sent his and her battle mugs. Good to drink from or clobber folks with.

A chuckle and a nod of appreciation. She passes Frank his.

He examines it with appreciation; he also admires the toolbox.

There IS a box in the mix. No giver attached.

Eventually, the box with no name reaches Brekke's hands, and she opens it carefully.

Inside is a viking ale-bowl, intricately carved and painted. The two heads are dark-colored horses - one with a star on her forehead. Falcons (kestrels?) and oak sprigs are woven through the knotwork along the sides.

Brekke lifts it out of the box carefully, reverently. She turns it in her hands as if handling a true treasure, appreciating every angle, passing it to Frank. She knows Dagmar's skill and style, and so the maker of the bowl is not hard to determine. Brekke looks around the room, trying to spot her.

If Brekke checks the bottom, a simplified glyph of a halberd is carved there, and a dagaz rune.

The Gwydion herself? Is in the kitchen.

A grin and a nod as she sees the glyph.

"We will use this tonight," she says quietly to Frank. "For the boasts."

Frank, handling it carefully, nods. That they will.

Sylvi has been helping tote trays around, and she catches up with Dagmar in the kitchen. "Hey. You good?"

"Just making more coffee..."

"Yeah, but I mean...you okay?" A little more weight on the question. She's speaking quietly, close by. "Change, and all."

Her mouth twists and she shrugs.

"It's happening, ain't it? Could pretend it wasn't real before."

"Yeah. I figured. Listen..." a shoulder nudge "...'m here for you if you need to vent. It's gonna feel bad for a while, unfortunately, but...you'll get through it."

"You know how you can know something, but, like, not know it? Or at least it doesn't feel true, even though you know it is."

"The River of Denial. I'm well acquainted."

"Not... not quite. Like. I know it's gonna be okay, that she's not going to just disappear forever..."

"But..."

"Oh. Oh, yeah. Like...it feels so bad now it's hard to imagine it'll feel different later? And hard to imagine that the feeling might not be right?"

She nods.

"I know it can get better. Ever since I came here, things are better."

"Yeah. But...it's been good times and not so good times, right? But you mostly think of the good ones."

"After the fact, yeah."

"So. I just gotta get through this."

"Yeah. Like my mom has said to me, keep breathing. There's only so much life can do to you as long as you keep breathing."

"Heh. Your mom is wise."

"How are you holding up?"

"Well...I mean..." A pause, and then a chuckle. "I guess I'm just not thinking about it a lot, just yet. I mean...it's not like Mom grew a tail or something."

"She's still Kerri, and she was already one of the trio."

"Yeah. Exactly." She says it without enthusiasm, but then puts on her cheerleader smile. "Well, better get this stuff out there."

"Don't need to be a Gwydion to know that face. You're allowed to not be okay, too." She hands over a tray.

"Not today, I'm not," she says. "For Mom's sake. Thanks!" She turns and brings the platter out, ponytail swinging.

Siv has her plaster smile on, no, that's not quite right, the smile has some truth to it, but the eyes that refuse to show the impending loss of her parents being near are liars. Not that the boon helps with that

"Fair." And she follows - less 'cheerleader' and more 'stoic'

Siv also snuggles near Jonas

If Brekke is able to catch Dagmar's eye, she glances over at the bowl, and then gives a serious and grateful nod.

After dropping off her tray outside, Sylvi works the growing crowd, making sure everybody's feeling welcome.

She ducks her head, but manages a shy smile.

The gifts wind down.