#rivervale_lodge

Siv may get a bit too much ale in her, "You know, I don't even like Alice's restaurant..ss'overated"

Jonas switches her to coffee and hopes Piper didn't notice

"Your... face is overrated!" Says Piper, also in her cups.

"Well, I like it. It's funny.". Dagmar opines.

"Seee! Dam....Dagdar.... Madg... SAM likes it!"

That gets a laugh from the troll. Overall she's doing really well!

After Connor slips off for SECOND DESSERTS, Symon slides down from the rafters to join Dagmar.

"my face is ADORABLE, and people don't get bored with it after the FIRST ten minutes of rambling eexpossure" Siv says

Dag finds somewhere out of the way to snuggle up with the sluagh

"Lovecraft deserves, like, all the chicken she wants."

Symon snorts a little. "She doesn't even really eat it. I don't think she needs to eat. The little glutton." He whispers affectionately.

And Gerd takes 'second shift' so to speak so Dagmar and Symon get their snuggles on

At least, she was going to.. "Get over here and EAT, you sothead" Magdeline fussses at Gerd.

"She hates us," Tiffany mock sniffs

"It's good, Gerd, why not join us?" Vali says

"Becuase it's about time I did some work around here," Gerd grins "Give me ten, and I'll see if Brogan has it"

"Like.... dross snacks? I dunno. You should kenn Brown Dog, too, when you get the chance. Seems they had one hell of an adventure."

Vali nods.

And Gerd gets to work

Kerri keeps an eye on the redcaps and makes sure some more food heads their way when they look restless.

Swilla loves food, it's a comfort for her.. she eats as much as the adult or near adult caps. Gutter is impressed, DIrk looks... speculative?

If Kerri catches Dirk's eye, she gives him a curious look: Problem?

He makes his way to her while folks are mingling "Sec?" Asking if she has one

"Absolutely. I need a breath of fresh air." She leads him out the door.

Dirk says "Gerd asked for my opinions on Swilla. Kid's a fat mouthy little shit" He says it without rancor, "And its good she's seeing a therapist, but the therapist ain't a cap and doesn't get our instincts. We're always hungry but that's not all it is with Swilla. "

"I'd been wondering. What are you seeing?"

"She keeps eating cause it feels good. It maybe the ONLY thing that makes her feel good. She was

'allowed' because she is a redcap. And that's whwat her Corby told her redcaps do... then she's sold to a sidhe, and he thinks she's not much good for anything else... and won't let her TALK... or bite anything BUT food. I wonder if she's hyper focused on this is who she is, what she's about. You mind if I make a suggestion?"

Kerri listens, then says, "I'd welcome any advice you could offer."

"Well, give her gum and other things that let her mouth stay busy sans calories, I'm not a nutritionist or whatsit, or a therapist, but she's a cap, and she needs to know that she deoesn't have to eat things to bite things. Sure, she nearly took Olgar's finger off, but it's still meat. " He scratches his chin "Maybe let her learn how to carve wood like Tove or Dagmar do? But with teeth? It's ...maybe anxiety, like someone chewing their shirt, but you redirect it, instead of nixing it."

A piskie watches them from the window, Serenity does that, watches out for Dirk, because's a neanderthal who needs help

"I suspect gum is close enough to food that she'd just swallow it regardless, but you've got a good point. I'll work on that. Have you mentioned this to Gerd? She's Swilla's mentor, and might be able to influence her more directly than I can."

"Gerd was busy tonight" he says "And she asked me to look into it. I'll pass it on to her then. Just, you kind of asked so I'm telling ya" He ponders "Actually figured it might also take you off whatever's got YOU so jumped up tonight"

A blink. "Jumped up?"

"You clearly want to go to the kitchen and do your usual thing. I get it, Dagmar likes doing that instead of being too deep in the party, but not sure why you AREN't? Is this cuz you're Chief ?"

Oh, good grief, if Dirk's noticed then probably everybody has. "Well, yes. It's my role to be front and center, the face of the Lodge. I thought I was doing a good job."

"You're doing great , I guess, but why is that your job? You're Chief, but you're also Hearth. Brekke still kept her huge ass axe around during celebrations, she never had to give up being storm. And she wasn't always the social one. You're CHIEF, but you get to decide what that position entails don'tcha? I mean, I don't remember Brekke tapdancing on the damned tables last Thanksgiving... not that you are but who says being chief means you got to do more than do the toast? It ain't even a fae holiday, not like you can't make your own traditions. See, power is funny, good people worry about abusing it even when they shouldnt feel bad for using it. And bad folks don't give a damn and use away. You ain't bad just because you got preferences. "

"You're not wrong, and thank you for putting me in the 'good people' pile." A sigh, and her voice gets quieter. "Brekke might not have tapdanced, Dirk, but there were many events were the last thing she wanted to do was be the one everybody looked at, even for just one toast. Not all the time, but often enough that it was noticeable. Still, she endured and played the uncomfortable role. I guess that makes me feel like being clearly the Chieftain is important. Does that make sense? Anyway...I have been checking in on the kitchen, but Brogan and Dagmar and Gerd all know the work so well, they don't need me hovering over them."

"The fact they didn't need you is your own damned fault for teaching them so good" he says with a snort "Done that to yourself and them. But see, that's what i don't get. Normally you ARE more social than others. As Hearth you give advice like it's overflowing from your cabinets. Now you're Chief and you're feeling shy? Don't try so hard to be CHIEF Kerri, and just be Kerri, who happens to be Chief. SAme Kerri who sometimes eats at the table while Sally Mae is cooking"

A deep breath and a slow exhale. "I suppose. Seems like I'm a bit slow to learn how to make this all work, both for the barony and for myself."

"To be slow or fast, you'd have to have a comparison of other drivers, and as you're the only Chief here, then you got no basis. That's what i'm saying YOU set the speed how you want as long as it doesn't hurt your people. I wasn't around when Brekke became Chief but I bet she took time to get her pacing too. Knowing her she probably DID beat herself up about it, you trolls do that, and speaking as a redcap, it's really gotten ...what's the word, tedious? So I'm biting this off at the start. You're doing fine. You'll do even better. You are allowed to change shit and allowed to pick and choose what Chief means ESPECIALLY on a non fae holiday. We got your back. "

Despite his chastisement, hsi tone is one of..bordeerline warmth

A bemused look. "Dirk, I'm beginning to suspect that you're aiming to become Mountain someday."

"Oh yeah, a redcap Mountain, that would be hialrious... Wild Hunts Every holiday" A snort "No thanks. Peacemaker is my gig, and I got a lot of latitude to make it what I want it to be. Cuz I may not be the smartest guy, but I know what works for me. Now we go on in there, I nod like I've just learned some important lesson, and you give me that understanding 'so glad you get it, look' and we set the peons and pissants and friends and family at ease. Won't fool mom but she's a good egg. She'll play along." he motions to the door

A chuckle, and she pats Dirk on the shoulder. "Good plan. And thanks again for the advice about Swilla. It's good to have you as my boots-on-the-ground for the barony." So saying, she opens the door and steps in.

He puffs up "Boots on the Ground? Cool, like a soldier, or a terrorist, or a soldier terrorist" And when they go in, he nods like he just learned some important lesson from the wise Chief.

And Anne Marie hides a smile

And Kerri can check on the kitchen without guilt, or enjoy her meal some more

..(End scene if folks want)

Kerri is able to give a genuine 'glad you understand' look...and returns to the party. The observant will notice her posture is a bit more relaxed for the rest of the feast.