#anywhere

"no.. I don't get... what are they DOING to you ? So far you told me your mom blitzed out at Beltaine.. yeah.. sucks what she did, but that was to the Sisters. So.. what do they do to YOU? Because I'm not.. I mean, if it's just lectures then you're hardly alone"

"Point could be made that it affected everyone.... but whatever. And yeah, lectures. They don't hit me or anything, and they sure as shit don't touch me any -other- way."

"Well.. then I'm not sure what you put up with that every other wilder with parents doesn't?"

"But why should I? "

Zane ponders this "My dad might go into a comment about cultural stabilization being reliant on a certain generational cycle within reason... but..maybe it comes down to honor. You know, Honor is a personal thing, but it's not JUST a personal thing.. for Seelie, it's also how you treat others in your life. Our parents can be dicks, or jerks.. or whatever... but they love us, and theyre looking out for us... and while it's hard to believe, they've been in their own younger years, they've seen shit that's coming for us.. not the same, never exactly the same... but if they're not warning us, then tehy're kind of failing us. Parenthood I guess comes with innate duty... and they deserve our respect, and the honor we can give them.. " A shrug "Look. I'm your friend, but it sounds like you're asking why you shouldn't get away with whatever you want with them and they never tell you to do anything ever again. Ah, man, it don't work like that for ANY Of us. Siv, me... Dirk for crying out loud... if you're parents aren't there to try to guide and warn, then.. they're not parents at all. And if we treat them like they're just shits we can ignore whenver they say something don't like... well, then we're not very good sons or daughters.. .or people for that matter"

He looks thoughtful "Philopshy is not my strong point.. and I have butted heads with dad... AND mom... but did you ever think maybe your folks get hurt when you act like they're the enemy if they don't agree with you?"

"So what? I just suck it up and do whatever they tell me and .... like, give up my life? What -I- want to do? -My- goals and ambitions?"

"Did I say suck it up? I said honor and respect them... you can still make your case. But you have to be ready to have them say no sometimes. Pick your battles. Like, if I want to go out some night, and they want me to stay in.. I do my chores, and studies then explain why I'd like to go to such and such.. and they're like... 'but what about?' and if i have things covered, they consider. And sometimes I lose. And sometimes it turns out they were right." He frowns "I nearly got into a bad scene until mom warned me about the signs"

"Signs?" Adam seems dubious.

"That dealers would be there, ones who used dangerous substitutions... Folsk who slip things in drinks or worse"

"Well, we already had that happen, so......"

"Yeah...and not crazy about THAT either... but the sisters just take your wallet. Others will hook you on shit and peddle your ass. you'd be surprised at the demand for teenage boys"

Adam gapes at Zane. "Dude. How did we get -here- in this conversation?"

"Because it has to do with me listening to my mom and her saving my ass," A pause "Litterally. Now, if my ass attracts and I like who it is attracting, my ass is definitely up for some consensual consideration.... but I don't want to give it up for my next fix"

"And you think -my- mom's gonna save -my- ass somehow? Have you -met- my mom?"

"Not as well as I'd LIKE too" He waggles his eyebrows

"DUDE!"

"I know i know off limits ... just joking. " He says "Though that IS anonther reason to hang around them. Maybe they need you for more than say mowing the lawn?"

Adam stares at him. "What?" He reaches for an explanation. "They want me around to keep you from jumping my mom? Have you met my -dad-???"

That makes him laugh "Not what i meant. But point"

"Not sure I want to know, but what -did- you mean?"

"That an extra set of eyes that have seen a bit more than they did could come in handy. That's you, dude. Your dad is strong. Your mom is quick, but neither has fought as much or seen as much as you in this world of ours. Weirdly enough, you've got some experience at being a guardian."

Adam sits back and folds his arms over his chest. "They seem pretty damn sure they can handle it."

"Hey, if you can be wrong about being able to take on anything, so can they" He says "Point is, famliies surive better than loners. True in nature, true with us"

Adam looks at his friend skeptically. "You gonna live at home your whole life?"

"Nope, but you can bet I'll be trod hoping when they need me"

"Well, yeah." Obviously.

"Look man. I got to go to the traggo but uhm. .I'm your friend, okay? "

"Yeah, I know." And he sounds very sure.

"Have a good traggo."

A weak smile "Let's hope" And he heads off

Adam looks after him, frowning.

With a sigh, he stands. He winces a little; it's none too warm and the temperature is dropping and he was sitting for some length of time.

And his phone rings. It's his mom?

Adam looks at the number, grimaces again, and shoulders his backpack. He starts walking, and then answers. "Hello."

"Hey, Adam. I hope you're okay, of course" His mom says "And I'd like you to come home. But..that's not why I called exactly"

"I'm fine. What's up?"

"I',m going to the traggo .. tonight for.. well..it's a resolution by some very old customs. I dont want you upset with them..with anyone. Okay? This.. I got upset and protective about you and made things worse for everyone. I don't need you not learning from my msitake. Okay?"

Adam walks and talks. "This about what you did at Beltaine?"

"Yes. "

"But it's a satyr situation so... don't feel it's because you're kinian."

"Ok. I get it."

"Okay. I love you very much. Please come home as soon as you can. Your dad is going to beupset with me"

A pause.

"Love you too, mom."

"Thanks honey. Bye.. I should be back by dawn at the latest" She hangs up.

He tucks the phone away. "I won't be." He walks on.

And Adam starts to get hungry

After a walking (quite a while) he pulls out his phone and checks his Knight's Heart app for where Eden might be.

Not far off actually