#rivervale_lodge

"I did. You're not going to pick it up?" He asks.

"I thought" He adds, "You were supposed to help me. You have a problem helping folks?"

Ylva snorts. She can't help it. This nocker is acting just like the sidhe back where she left, only to be fair he's not able to cover it in pretty words. or behind a too beautiful smile. "No. I don't. I'm helping you by alerting you it fell. "

"I know that, I'm the one who dropped it" He reminds.

"Well, then my help isn't much, but it's there, and if you don't want the help I've given, I'll stop" She says "I'm learning boundaries, and just because SOME folks don't have them doesn't mean I won't. I think it's NEAT you helped. I saw the sucction cups. The ones you came back with. Majestix says they were used by the heroes to help. That means you helped the heroes. THat means l..." Ylva huffs "That you are worthy of resspect for doing a good thing, even IF you're a ... a .." a breath "Less than nice."

Otho actually laughs, "Here..." He picks it up himself, and gets another suction cup as well, "Look, your friend..."

"Who you owe apology to" Ylva says. She may have to take it, but Connor shouldn't have to.

"Who I owe an apology too," Otho nods then says "Sorry, Friend of Ylva"

"He can't hear your apology from here," Ylva says

"That's okay, he couldn't hear my insult to him either" The nocker states "Evens out."

Ylva ponders that, then says "That's.. kind of sense. " SHe's not sure though

"First, Nockers aren't big on the nicesties, we're not as bad as redcaps, but we insult each other all the furking time... you gotta know the culture you're going into. Didn't they have nockers where you came from?"

"They did. They were kept in the workshops and not let out much, we trolls were to guard halls and not interact. Segregation made things easier for the noble sidhe of the hold. They decideed how and when we mingled. while in the hold" Ylva says confused at the suddenly less hostile approach of this guy

"They furkin WHAT?" Otho sputters, "Of all the Cowardly Naarheaded, stiff assed fascist ..." And he cuses, not at her, but against hte sidhe nobles she mentioned, "Kid, no wonder you're trying the wrong approach with me so hard. You're not properly socialized are you?"

"I learned manners" She protests "To say ma'am to ladies, and sirs to fellows, and ... " She frowns then says "I guess I just learned what ot say, not how to adapt. I'm not good at it. My friend, Connor, he's trying to help me get better. And don't you say one mean thing about him to me" A GLARE "you just apologized. I'll take the hits and the slurs if I got to, but I won't let you insult my friends. I don't have enough as it is!"

"And there we go," Otho nods "See, that's the thing about boundraries, you forgot to respect them"

"I WAS TRYING to respect your boundaries" She almost yells 'Dumb ass' but bites down.

"You were respecting mine, you furking need to respect your own. If you give respect, but don't get it in return, then that's not a good situyation for you and you should give a big middle finger and walk. That's why you left that other place, isn't it? They saw you as a sothead automaton without feelings, just a program, and you got sick of it, right?"

"Yeah," She's startled as she realizes that's exactly why she left "I ..came here to be away from NObles who would try to tell me how to FEEL and..."She blushes "Well, not many sidhe here, but still some knights and stuff. I guess I hold some grudges."

"And those feelings got you in trouble cause you didn't realize you were still dealing with your own damn boundaries with yourself. No you shouldn't hate all knights, some of them are stand up Menches... but you also shouldn't suck up for every commoner. Treat others how you want to be treated, but THEN, learn how THEY want to be treated, and go from there. IF..." he motions

"IF it means I don't have to lose my own boundaries or self respect?" Cautiously

"YES.. she learns!" Otho says and keeps working on the gear, "Now, you still want to help me?"

"Maaybe," She says honestly

"Then try these suction cup kneepads and hand things on the walls and trees around here. I want to make sure they work as well here as the Dreaming and you look like you'll take a crash well if you have to. Also I figure you might get a kick out of it," Otho tells her, "You up for it?"

Ylva actually loves the idea, then catches herself "I would like that, but are you going to say please?"

"How about we compromise and I say 'Please, you cloudheaded girl'?"

"Then I accept," Ylva says, "And thank you... you surly bag of brains" A nod

"And now, you're speaking my language. Surly bag of brains? Not bad for a first try. " Otho grins "GO have fun, and tell your friend that I thought you did fine considering what a kvetching asshat I was being to you."

"I will" She smiles gets the stuff on, then stops "Wait, WHy WERE you such an asshat when you realized I was trying to do ..what I tried to do?"

"I'm a nocker, kid. I become part of a test, I'm gonna test the stressors. It's in my nature." He explains "There's a tale about a Scorpion and a Frog. Ask the Eshu about it. AFTER You tesst my gear"

"I will!" And she races off to endanger her young life should one cup come loose.

He watches her go, then smiles "Ah, that's the great thing about childlings, their broken bones heal so much faster"

.............

The Kitchen is BUSY.

But - Kerri has trained her lieutenants well. Dagmar, Gerd, and Tove know what must be done.

And Sally Mae, well, for Thankgiving she went to the farm

Not-Odin is on Dagmar's shoulder, but he's so tiny he's easy to miss.

"Who is that little cutie?" Gerd asks

Brogan huffs "I can do this. I'm her squire"

"Kitten."

"Well, yeah, that I can see" Gerd observes

Brogan says "You should even out the gravy"

"I don't have a name yet."

"Brogan, you need flour?" Checking in.

"A half cup would help" He says

"And thank you, Dame" A proper boy

"Oh." Gerd says "Well, he's adorable."

"Just Dagmar here." She hands down a scoopful for the squire.

Kerri has been delegating tasks to those who have learned her kitchen. And, for the most part, she's left them in charge of making it all happen. There's still plenty to handle, especially with all the newer folks. But right now she can't resist but stop into the kitchen and look around. "How's it going in here?"

"On Schedule, Chief!"