#rivervale_lodge

Rowan listens from behind those round, red lenses.

"And non-trolls are members, unless you're saying Tiffany or Anne-Marie are any less-than."

They're about to say something, but then direct their attention to Dagmar's comment. "What's the official word, though? Members or allies?"

"Members." A stubborn set of her jaw.

"It's true. Dirk is our Peacemaker, and he's a redcap. A role made just for him. He's more than an Ally, and so is Symon"

Rowan looks from one to the other.

A flicker of something when Symon is mentioned.

The little goth bird flicks its wings, looking content.

"But Lodge culture is different from other freeholds - Hearth and Mountain and Storm, like... like Rome with the Triumvirate, instead of the Emperor."

"And the fact you don't seem to know this Rowan, shows why lodges are needed . There are lot of trolls who don't know about how we used to do things"

"And still do"

Rowan leans back. "Sounds like you're calling me ignorant." An amused quirk to their lips.

"Oh, now, we're just two podunk locals."

"Hm." Rowan tilts their head at Dagmar, not agreeing or disagreeing, just...curious.

"Everyone's ignorant" Gerd says "it's just a matter of in what area."

Gerd seems to be at ease about this

She meets Rowan's gaze, not at ease.

"Just so you know..." Rowan says to Dagmar "...whoever pissed in your Rice Krispies, it wasn't me."

She narrows her eyes, a soft puff of anger escaping her nose.

AND thats when the food comes in "Sorry if we're a bit slow tonight"

A look to Gerd. "She always like this?"

Lucia sets it all down, it 'looks delicious

"Oh, hey, great. Thanks, Lucia."

"Looks good."

She grips the edge of the table, staying quiet.

"You're welcome, table 3 got kind of nuts but all squared" Lucia smiles "Let me know if anyo of you need anything"

"Hey, the bread is as good as I was told." A grin. "I'm sure the food'll be good, too."

"Oh it will, no idle boast" Lucia says seeing no requests for more changes she looks them over. Boggan senses taking an initial read

Rowan seems at ease and interested in the food. Possibly ignoring tension.

Dagmar picks at her french fries.

Gerd gives Lucia a LOOK "Thanks, Lucia"

Rowan digs into the calzone. "Oh, nice. Perfect balance of cheese and spinach. Easy to get it wrong."

Lucia beams "Thank you, Rowan. I'll pass on the good words to my parents" She inclines her head and goes

Gerd now turns to her food

Rowan nods, then waits for Lucia to depart before turning back to Dagmar. "Good fries?"

"Yeah." She frowns.

Gerd says "Well, the lasagna is wonderful"

"I'll have to try that another time." They display a healthy appetite. "So it sounds like you two both like this place so much you'd never leave. Makes me wonder why other people did leave. That's the word for why there's vacancies, as it were."

Her mouth twists.

"Rowan, why did you COME? I think it's great, but what about the offer attracted you?" Gerd inquires

A shrug. "Curiosity, mostly. Like I told Tig, the name Rivervale gets around, especially among us height-enhanced people."

She listens for a lie.

Nothing pings.

"It's not actually that big a pond."

"You want glory and tales and songs, you'd be better off staying in Baltimore, or going to New York. "

That amused grin again. "Do I seem like the glory-seeking type to you?"

"Fair, curiosity is as good a reason as any. To answer your question ... actually, many of us travel now and then. Siv refers to Rivervale as her home port. Dagmar goes to college in another area. And I? I happen to be a mistress of Wayfare"

"Home port? You've got ocean front here? I thought you'd be too far inland."

"Siv Waveborn has her ways."

"Well, okay then." Another bite, unbothered. "Wayfare must make it easy to get around."