#anywhere

TXT: Adam, dude. Coming over. From Zane

Txt: nah

TXT: No Hablo

And soon there's a knock at his door

No answer.

And the door unlocks and in comes Zane

He's got a six pack of beer

Adam is in bed and rolled towards the wall.

"Hey , brah. Contraband beer, tastes better since we're under age. "

"Nah, man. I just wanna be alone."

"Adam, you're my friend, and I try to respect your wishes, but I'm betting right now you could use a friend. Someone to bitch to, drink with, and so on."

"Nah."

"Fine." He pops a beer open "Let me tell you what a day I Had" He says

Adam doesn't move; Zane can talk if he wants to.

"I helped some trauma victims... the ones we rescued? I helped one.. forget. You know? then.. suddenly Anne Marie knows about it.. and I'm working my ASS off. "

"But magic has a cost and I want it to last longer.. so I take..some of their pain on me" A shudder "Balance"

"Yeah."

"Yeah..." A sigh "I was an idiot. "

"My dad had to save me... chastised me for underestimating a person's pain." Mortiified "I'm good, but dad's been using chicanery longer than I've been alive. So I ended up holding onto him while he brought me back to tolerable levels. Some magician, eh? "

The last speaking of himself with a bit of scorn

"You do ok. Better than me." He sounds sluggish.

"Better than you? Dude. You're an action hero whenever the scene is rolling"

"Nah."

"FOUR redcaps.. ? " Reminder

"One."

"Welll, there were four around you.. and one on one is pretty impressive. Dude.. .you kNOW how dangerous Dirk can be. Other caps are not wimps"

"I guess."

"So don't sell your part short" A frown

"Not important."

"What is important?" A sip of his beer can

"Nothing."

"Nothing is important?" A brow

The lump in bed sighs. "Zane, appreciate it. I just want to be alone, ok?"

Zane sighs "Fine. I'll drop by another time or when you text me..which ever comes first. Just... I know you're hurting, and I'm sorry I can't help"

"I know, man. I'm sorry you got the shit end of the stick on that healing thing." Sincere but muffled by bedclothes.

"Thanks. " A pause as he rises "Would you like me to make you forget her for a time? Might last as long as an hour"

"No." Whispered.

For a moment the satyr seems not entirely just one person, as if one can truly believe that he's lived dozens of lives over centuries and he says with a soft whisper of knowing "No one ever really wants to forget the woman no matter how deep the wound." and he leaves.

The bedlump sighs.... and there are some sniffles.

Time passes and there's ak nock on the door

"Yeah?"

"Son?" It's his dad

A sigh. "Yeah, dad." _Come in. Is implied.

He enters in, then sits down "Couldn't help but notice you look bummed when you came back from visiting, PIper"

"We broke up."

"Shit" He sits down at the edge of the bed "Well, that explains it"

A soft grunt.

A frown then he sits for a bit. Seeing if his son speaks

He sighs, but doesn't speak.

"Veronica" his dad says