#rivervale_lodge

Thanksgiving was a triumph, with Dagmar, who had hoped to avoid too much praise despite Symon and she coming back from a quest, getting a lot of praise in the next day or three for her work in helping Kerri. SHe's not alone in that praise, but it does come.

The refugees depart, bit bit bit, with full bellies and a memory of kindness. It turns out that Goldy's parents love her so much they're easy to enchant, and get told what's going on ... they'll forget again, but a part of them accepts that their daughter is alive and with them and that's all that matters. It's the beginning of a lot of healing for her ...

Majestix bids all well, and shares every story and song he knows with the singing stone as a gift before making his way on mortal roads. He would prefer not to by trod, and soon the charming young man is hitchhiking in winter recklessly but happily. He promises to visit sometime in a year or so, if his feet don't lead him sooner.

When news of Derva's coin collecting comes up, she finds herself bombarded by charity. More than a few grumps either were or knew someone who was into the hobby and are happy to help her out where they had quit the same a while back. Siv has lots of currency from various countries, particularly Norway, and is happy to give them up.

Tokens from a local pizza arcade are also provided. Derva blushingly admits "Normally I'd feel guitly about this much charity, but.. uh.. I WANT these" which gets a laugh out of the grumps and wilders

Gutter works a few odd jobs, before getting enough money to head towards the coast where he hopes to work with the longshoreman union as a guy who breaks strikebreakers! Most agree this is about as close to the 'good guys' side as Caps are likely to get. While more shaken than he lets on about his cult brainwashing, it is clear time in Rivervale helped him heal. He and Dirk beat the shit out of each other as a kind of farewell

Which , frankly, infuriates Serenity after, even if she watched the fight itself with a kind of unhealthy and embarrassing interest

Otho is surly, rude, and opinionated... and despite the fact he nearly made Ylva cry, the childlings are going to miss him! Not only does he provide suction cup kneepads and gloves for kids to climb buildings with (LIly was a bit irked to find 'her' turf intruded upon), there is also a Flubberized Pogo stick, the world's most ridiculous ever reach Rubberband that would not break, and kites that , when flown, look like Pegasi, Dragons, Wyverns, Gryphons and Phoenixes! It is not kite flying weather, but come spring, expect a mythological parade sure to alarm the Skywolves. He also greats 'room temperature roman candles' for the kids to shoot at each other... as was said, the childlings loveit! Their PARENTS and GUARDIANS however, not so much. There is some relief when, after Pudge gets more work out of him, that Otho ends up moving on... but not far. He has a six month job with Hemlock's Toy Company.

It is ironic that perhaps his greatest contribution among the wilders and Grumps is that the nicknames "Scamper and Hauls" seem to have caught on with some for Symon and Dagmar, though with gentle humor.

Symon, ever dignified (or at least attempting such) does not respond to any such moniker. Harrumph.

This doesn't stop Olgar from using it now and then with a grin on his marred face

SO DIGNIFIED, LA LA DID NOT HEAR YOU

Dagmar seems unbothered by "Hauls." It usually gets a grunt and a Brow, but, well - trolls.

It is Pudge who will be the most missed. Pudge, who went beyond the usual boggan call of the needy and just decided to repay everyone boggan style. While he sees that EVERYONE gets off safe and provided for, he's the last refugee to leave. In his time there, Pudge did the following 1) Because the assistant to any cooking or cleaning folks wanted done without insisting on the lead. 2) Helped Jonas and Anne Marie, to the point where Anne Marie's backlog was not only caught up, she got ahead of it... and she is now confused what she will do with her free time as Yule closes in! 3) Spruced up the Lakehouse 4) Found a safe spot near the lake house to use and , using deadwood, created a clubhouse for the kids, complete with flat spot on the roof so Otto and Connor could 'snoopy' lay on the top of it (Another thing for warmer days most likely), and a door sign that flips from 'Visitors welcome' to 'Kids only'. 5) and just geniunely seemed happy to lend folks a bit of emotional support.

Why he even made a sock doll full of tiny balls with bells, that a certain Kitten LOVED terrorizing.

Biscuit it, and it rings and you can feel things move UNDER Your paws

But leave Pudge does, with quite a few folks hoping he drops by soon wherever he is going. Where IS he going? It's not like the gossipy boggan to be private yet after he departs, it may occur to folks they never did get a solid answer on that.

And just like that... it seems they're all gone. And a more 'standard' Yule on its way. Indeed, while some confuse relaxed with banal and boring, a lot of folks are relieved to be taking it easy.

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

It's a weekend - of course it's a weekend, as school has kept Sam busy. But today, she is patiently brushing Bucky after a good long trail ride. No fighting, just a chance to build familiarity and peace with the stallion.

Kerri approaches, a Dr. Pepper in hand. "Good ride?" she asks, offering out the drink.

"Hey." A smile. "And yeah. He's been really well trained. No behaviors to correct, really. Very serious fella."

"Not too serious, I hope?"

"Well..." She considers, frowning. "It's not bad, being serious. But I don't think he's just... had fun? Not for a long time."

"Hmm. Is that anything we need to remedy? Or is he doing okay like that?"

"I think... I think it'll take time. For him to feel safe, and that he's allowed to be silly."

"Lady O and Star know that that's true, so I figure they'll help a lot. And interacting with people will help. It'd be nice if he had a more regular rider than me, though."

Kerri considers Bucky. "I've ridden, but it's been a long time."

"He's steady. He wouldn't be bad for you."

"Star will certainly bear you, same with Lady O."

"How are the mares interacting with Bucky? Some of that tension eased down?"

"Some. Star is The Boss, so..."

"I think she misses Stormwake. But she hasn't bullied Bucky much, either."

"Boss is fine. Bully would have to be addressed. So I'm glad to hear that."

"I'm afraid she might be as bad as me about change, sometimes."

A grin. "Well, hopefully she'll learn, as you have, that change isn't the end of everything."

"It's not. It's still hard, but hard things are worth doing. Right?"

"They can be, yes. And doing hard things that are worthwhile are how we grow."

"I suppose." Something a touch.. wistful?.. there.

Kerri's quiet, listening when Dagmar's ready to share.

"Y'know, I don't know if I thanked-slash-apologized about sending a half dozen refugees at you."

"You know that's not necessary. I'm glad you did, and I'm glad we were able to help them."

"Me too. But things are settling back to normal?"

"For a certain value of normal," Kerri says with a chuckle.

"Well, this IS a freehold." She grins.

"Exactly. Now, if you're asking if I know about any incoming chaos, no, I don't."

There's a knock at the lodge door

the dogs bark

"...y'know, you could get riding practice, and use one of the mares to have company. I do think Bucky's best saved for wilders or grumps, for the most part, but the girls? They could handle childli-" Dag tenses. "Hello?"

Despite her tension, she forcibly settles herself to give Bucky a reassuring pat and make sure she has a steadying hold on his bridle.