#rivervale_lodge

She stops then says "But if I don't say Ma'am I'm disrespecting people" She looks geniunely confused

And Dagmar can tell that she thinks that's the truth

"Here, try this." Connor does a flying jump off the hayloft, his tabard fluttering as it lowers him gently to the ground in front of Dagmar. He does a pretty curtsey, then says, "Hello, my name is Lord Howlington. How wouldst thou like to be addressed-ed...ed?"

Ylva blushes "Hello my name is lord howlington? How would you like to be adresssed ed ed?" Taking this a bit literally

He sighs, she forgot the backflip, but his tail wags at her attempt as he waits for Dagmar to respond.

"Just Dagmar is fine. Dame is for, like, official stuff.". She flushes purple and rubs the back of her neck.

"I'm not a ma'am yet.'

"Right, Dame... like Madame.. or M'am, least that's why they said I had to use it back at the noble hold or I'd get a ..." Ylva definitely looks confused "Nevermind. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings uhm.. Dagmar."

Her eyes and mouth tighten. Connor recognizes how unhappy that expression is though her voice stays neutral. " Apology accepted.'

"Dame is not Madame. It's a formal title for my knighthood."

"Yes, but.. I apologize again, " She says still sounding confused "I'm not.." a soft frown "I'm not stupid. I hear what you're saying. But I was told it was the other way where I was from. And I get in trouble for NOT using it"

"But I won't use it with you" she adds "I'll try not to. Habit."

Her mouth twists. "It's fine."

"It's fine." Connor says.

"I wouldn't lie."

"Okay" she says clearly not thinking it is fine. "Uhm..." She hems

He leans against Dagmar, even though he only comes up to just about her waist.

At this point, Lady Ohmsford puts her head in reach of all involved, free to pet, or stroke, and to ease the tension

"It's almost like my Knight thinks she needs to swallow up all her unhappy so it doesn't bother anyone else. I don't understand that, though, when it's so much better to spit out things that taste bad. And then we can have something nice, like apples."

Reaching up to pat the Lady's nose.

"Lady Ohmsford likes carrots too and, of course sugar cubes, " She then looks to both squire and knight "But we have to go easy on the sugar cubes because too many aren't good for her" And she also pats Lady Ohmsford's nose.

The mare makes gentle soothing horse noises. Dagmar was right about her, she's great with kids

"We have apples. I'm gonna grab some." She retreats.

A sad look to Connor as Dagmar leaves "I think I'm still screwing up" ylva sighs "I wanted a place where trolls got to be trolls.. and I'm doing it wrong"

"Well, I did everything right here from day one. Why, I never got scolded by the SHACKLEBREAKER directly, even."

"I would LOVE to be scolded by the Shacklebreaker, she's a legend. She's one reason I came here," Then she grows thoughful, "Thank you for trying to help me, Connor. I really do want to.. I LIKE this place. I like the Chief, she's kind and wise. I like the Mountain, he's funny in a dad joke kind of way... the storm is scary looking but once you get past that he's not bad. I Like Dagmar.. she knows EVERYTHING about riding and horses" Admiration does leak out for each "You say you made mistakes? Maybe you could help me.. not do that so much? Like you tried to day?" She resolves herself "I want to be worthy of the lodge'

"You know, when I started here, I didn't even like horses." He admits. "I didn't understand why Dagmar and Not-Chief used to push me so much to ride 'em when I had four perfectly good paws of my own. I guess they saw something I didn't. You're gonna make mistakes, but you gotta ride with 'em as much as you ride a horse. It doesn't matter how many mistakes you make, as long as you learn from 'ems and try to get better."

"At least, that's for you. I just learn not to get caught." His tail wags.

She chuffs in a trollish fashion, then says "Uhm.. can I give you a hug? I'm trying to learn boundaries so I best ask"

"NEVAR!" he proclaims, then opens his arms. "Warning, you might find spiders in your hair." He says, apologetically.

She hugs him gently like she's afraid she might hurt the smalelr boy, "Spiders? I don't understand"

Somewhere in the shadows, Lily's eyes narrow

Dag returns with a bag of apples and a knife. She pulls out two and halves them. Her expression is still shuttered, hard to read even for those who speak (troll).

She returns to find one gentle mare who has been patted so many times it is amazing she's not lost hair, but she loves it.

Another Mare, THE Mare, Star, sniffs at the smell of apples

One half is halved again. "You two can have a wedge each."

Star shoulders Lady out of the way to get at both apples.

"Hey Star. Pretty girl.". Star is offered one of the halves.

A snort, she must be obeyed as HEAD MARE.

A cluck of the tongue. Star gets ONE half.

The OTHER horse, whether he be called Avenger of Bucky, has not been allowed into the paddock while Star was there. Flattened ears, flared lips, clearly saying she WILL bite him

Even now, she only just tolerates the Lady so far... though the Lady's pleasant disposition is starting to get even though to Star.

Avenger snorts

"Connor, do you want to take an apple to Bucky?"

Lady Ohmsford waits her turn

"Ylva?" She holds out an apple half and nods at the Lady.

Connor sticks his hands in his pockets. “10 is an awfully nice number of fingers…”

"That's fine. I'll do it."

Star gets a pat before Dagmar heads over to the stable. The open window does allow the stallion to poke his head out, even if Star has set paddock rules.

"Please, let me feed her?"

"There's an apple half for Lady O."

"Thank you" She takes that half for Lady O, and takes it to her