#anywhere

Adam blinks. "Woah." Clearly he had not made that connection.

"Zane.... Zane mentioned True, uh, Thomas. Kinain, but like superpowered?"

"I don't remember a lot... this was history class, you know? I remember that he was known as the Grand Bard of the Fae, and he recognized High King David... and that he had mighty powers. But not much else. Again, it sounds like you'd need a library... and in the SUMMER. Well, it's practically summer..."

"It's after Memorial Day!"

"Yeah but they're still making us study." Her nose wrinkles cutely. "And here you are, studying MORE. I'm hoping that they decide to change the classes to pass/fail. That may be my saving grace, I think. Otherwise Vali might call down a lightning strike, or a curse upon on my head for shirking, I'm sure."

"He giving you a hard time." Adam frowns, shifting to look at her.

She shakes her head. "No, not since the first time. He just really has a boner for getting a high school diploma and all that. It IS easier to study at home, I guess. Fewer distractions."

"MMm..." He grins, relaxing, and dips his fingers in the water to sprinkle a few air-cooled drops on her bare skin.

"Are YOU getting distracted from your studies?" She grins over to him.

"Depends on what I'm studying." He nibbles at that same spot on her neck.

"Mm. Did the Chief say anything else to you about your quest?"

"No. It was kind of a busy night. I did talk to her, though."

"I mean, about the quest with my family she wants us to go on."

"Oh, did you get a chance to see Ann Marie?" and then she blinks. "TWO quests? It doesn't rain but it pours.."

He nods. "Sent Anne Marie flowers, saw her, apologized to her, said I'd try to work with Dirk." He makes a face.

"Yeah, my quest might have morphed into a quest with my family, AND that has homework for -me- on it."

"What takes priority, though? Family quest, or our quest?" And then she laughs and waves it off. "Oh, I'm NOT trying to make it sound like them or me. I just wonder which the chief wants you do do first. Better to whole-ass one thing than half-ass two, after all."

"Ugh. Yeah. Ok, I'll ask her." He agrees. "So contact Siv and ask the Chief."

"Did you want to go over any of your other study stuff? It's starting to get late and my sunshine is escaping. " A frown up at the sun disappearing behind the tree lines - the water is still warm, but the air has a touch of chill.

"Nah." Softly, still holding her against him. "Let's pack up. We can keep going over stuff on the way home." A sigh. "See... I'm just not sure what I should tackle first, you know? There's so MUCH to learn about!" He hasn't moved.

She nestles back against him, welcoming his heat. "Well, you can relax a bit, I think. You get a year to learn AFTER chrysalis, before the Trials, Battles and Written Exams at saining."

"Huh!??!!"

She nods, eyes closed as she lays back with her head on his chest. If he looks, he can see the corner of her mouth twitch, though she tries to hide it.

"Don't worry, death matches went out of style in the mid-eighties, worst is a few limbs here or there..."

"What!?!?!?"

"Piper.....?" Suspicious.

A muffled giggle.

"Sure, don't you remember the trial of terrors at Nadeen's saining? Or the part where she was flogged with a horsewhip for getting a question wrong on the written exam?" She has to cover her mouth now to hid the grin.

"Piper......" just that much warning, and TICKLES!!

And she shrieks in surprise and yes, she IS terrible ticklish.

Something he might have guessed before but takes full advantage of now.

"Smart ass!"

She is laughing helplessly, unable to fight back through the tickles and she gasps, barely able to say, "Uncle! AHahahaa- you-win! Sorry!"

He takes his prize from her lips, long, slow and thorough. Although the sun is lower and the temperature is cooling, his skin is still warm against hers.

"I would complain but I deserved that." She says once she regains her breath from the laughter, and her lips from the kiss. "Would you be interested in seeing Fenix again? Or is it one and done for you?"

"Nah, I'd go back. Seemed pretty cool, if a little-kiddy."

"They're going to be having a troubadour competition, and it sounded fun... maybe play a little music, see if I can ob nob with other musicians..." Peering up at him under half-lidded eyes. "If you'd be my date, that is."

A grin. "Go together, learn some music? Yeah. I'd like to go -with- you." Slight emphisis there.

And she gives him a hug. "It's far... but it should be okay. For a short visit."

"I've been ok on the trods so far. And I'll bring my weapons and all. Just you and me?"

He holds up a hand to forstall. "I only ask.... I mean, -we- are going together but is anyone else coming with -us-?" Again, emphasis.

"Well, it's not like we own the trod OR the competition.. I mean, maybe I'll own the competition." A small grin. "So I don't mind if anyone else shows up. But you, I want you there as my date... escort... paramour. " A grin to him.

"Mmmm. I like that." Softly.

He squints at the sky with a sigh. "Time to go?"

"Yeah, I suppose so." And she shakes off her dried clothes and puts them back on. "There we go, now I'm armored up for societal standards."

"Overrated." He grins, having scooped up blankets and towels and sunscreen and books and laptop.

Together they walk to the car. "Histories, Houses, culture, all the -Court- specific stuff, music, dance, poetry..... Jeeze."

"I know someone who could maybe be convinced to teach you some dance steps. If you don't mind learning from a guy - though that does help sometimes if you're looking to master the male lead..."

"I'll take whatever help I can get." A wince at memory. "Tried to dance with Ms. Carolos and ..... ugh. I don't know what happened but I damn near stepped on her feet. Hooves."

"I'm not a -bad- dancer, but.... ugh."