#rivervale_lodge

"But it... I..." Trailing off with a frown. "I dunno. Do you know a lot of Beaumayns?"

"We're not a big house, but a few yeah. New Kid in Silverwolf shows some potential. I'd steal him for my squire but I'd have two sidhe nobles and a nocker go after me if I tried" He says "I think I get it. It's part of that culture stuff, it's not just for kith, and it's good to have some others who understand the gifts and challenges you have"

"I just... I dunno, maybe I'm curious." A little shrug, trying to be nonchalant in the way teenagers do when they care too much.

Tiffany nods "ALl I know is ALL Gwydions LOVE pooka" PING "Because there's never been a more honest kith " PING "And we never ever make fun" PING "And never cause trouble in Court" PING "And golly we don't pester" PING

She squints, rubbing a temple. "Gee, thanks." Dry as the Sahara.

Tiffany beams

Vali fights a smile, then says "Well, we'll see if we can get that curiosity satisfied." A beat "And, if he wants, you can invite Symon along. IF you want. And if he does. We know you got it on your own if you prefer"

"Well, Symon's part of me. Folks'll figure that out soon enough."

"We're planning on going to the Dreaming over fall break. Bit after Samhain."

"Noted" He says

Then a smile "And yeah, we'll figure it out"

"I dunno, I think folks here figured out we were a set before we did." A rueful grin.

"I didn't want to say but I'm pretty sure Kerri had you down pat fast. Siv too, but she's a Fiona, they think EVERYONE is in love"

She laughs.

Tiffany gives her husband a kiss, whispers something in his ear, then says "Later, Samwise. Let me know if you need my reading materials for fluff romance and firefighting" She has the full books of guidelines and succh

"Thanks, Tiff."

She gives a thumbs up sign and heads out.

Vali watches his wife go, with admiration, love, and a bit of worry "I am so going to pay for those Vanilla wafers"

"Oh yeah."

"Oh well, still gonna be worth it" he decides "Okay. Dagmar, is there anything else you feel we should talk about? I appreciate you sharing your concerns when I ambushed you over your first cup of coffee"

"Mm."

"...Ylva's doing okay?"

"Well, I get the feeling she didn't apologize to you yet, which means I'm a bit annoyed with her. She promised me she'd make it up to you" He frowns at that "I THOUGHt she was getting better"

"She sure has been working hard, and she's been more careful with her words"

"I think she's apology cleaning."

"Apology.. huh" He pauses then "is that good enough in your opinion? "

"Yeah. Apologizing can be scary, and she was trying to be polite."

"Well, the weird thing is, she's doing better with her fellow kids. Cleo needed a friend and they're bonding over the cleaning. Makes me wonder if, once again, the Shadowpaw is working behind the scenes"

"Oh, Shadowpaw is always on the move." Proud.

"Well, I have to say your squire is possibly the best influence on the other childlings, and if he doesn't have it handled someone else he knows does"

"Exactly."

"You're proud of him" Vali states the obvious "You have every right to be" ALso obvious "Lord HOwlington is a heck of a leader"

She nods. "He'll be a good knight, someday. With how time is for him..." She wavers her hand. "I'm not sure if that's a thing I can do, or if it'd be a Baron, or...." She shrugs. "His heart is already there, for sure."

"You never know how the world will turn , not even when you can see glimpses, but you've done right by that kid."

"Trust me, it's mutual."

He nods "I do not doubt it."

"I'll leave you to your second cup of Coffee. I have to get some other Mountain stuff done" And he sounds a bit regretful that he must.

"Sure thing. Seeya, Vali."

"Seeya, Dagmar" And he gets to work on Samhain plans and more. Dagmar? Dagmar gets to have her next blend of coffee in peace by the bale

(End Scene)

Pumpkin Carving goes on, and Swilla is in her element! Careful cutting, but with ruthless force

"Let your Imagination inspire you" Gerd smiles as things are emptied "And yes, Swilla, you can eat the pies we make from the guts"

Cleo works hard "It's SO messy" Her own nerouseis at risk

"But it's messy because YOU are in charge and doing this, Cleo, you got this" Gerd assures. GOt at least two of my fellow nutters in here. Been there kids. But you control the food, it doesn't control you. You got this She thinks real hard

Lily follows surgecial techniques on her pumpkin "No mister bond, I expect you to die."

Well, she's just a sluagh Gerd observes

"It's okay" Ylva nods "We're allowed to get weird with these. No one does that better than us"

Gerd blinks, "Well, boasting is a troll tradition in small doses. Roll on"

"I want scary, I want scared, I want wicked and fun" Gerd tells them "Remember, this isn't just for us. Others who can't afford Jack O Lanterns in the area get a Jack and a pie."

"The down trodden deserve the blessings of fear as well," Lily nods