#anywhere

It's been a couple weeks since the raid - she had promised to come back for dinner a few times a week, but things have been... weird. Piper stands now on the porch of the Wayburton house - taking a moment to wonder whether it's still appropriate to just walk in, or to knock? Or maybe she should have called first?

The door opens , and Lydia beams "PIPER!" HUG

expressive fam, the Wayburtons

"Oh!" And she hugs back just as fiercely. "Sorry, I wanted to stop by but thought maybe I should have called first?"

"NOOOO ..." she says "Thsi way i'ts a surprise!" Surprises are good right? Well, to Lydia. "Sides, I'll tell them" She turns 'MOOOOM DAAAADD ZAAAANE PIPER IS HERE!"

A grin at the girl, and following her in.

"Piper, come in, come in" Marsha says "We're just watching this telenovela with a satyr star... Zane learned about it while in Fenix"

"Eyyy, Zee, how are you doing? Just the cuz I wanted to see."

"Hi Auntie M. Room for one more at the table tonight?"

"Of course, of course," She smiles "There's plenty of salad!"

Zane comes in "Hey, it's the girl with apartment... not that i'm jealous" then a grin

She grins. "I actually wanted to run something by you. I need to make sure that's it's okay with the Lord of the Apartment realms, but... how would you feel about a post-raid party to help everyone wind down and relax a bit?

Zane says "A party?" Innocent look "Is that a ...social activity of some sort?"

She rolls her eyes and continues. "Some of the gals suggested a post-breakup girl's-only pool party... but the place is big, and there's ALSO the whole rooftop garden where people can hang. Maybe rooftop party for you and your bros? And I thought that if you menfolks wanted to come by and have your own shindig, then everyone gets to party. And... maybe there could be mingling for after-party for anyone who wants that. I know Rikki has been bemoaning the lack of fresh manflesh around."

"Rikki scares the guys" He says

"But..." A smile "Not a bad idea.. girls below, guys on top? "

"Rikki is a nice girl." She argues. "She just is a bit hard to understand at first." Sticking up for her new neighbor.

"A guy dating Rikki is likely to get his legs shaved" He says "Possibly with a funny message"

"Yes, but he might have fun while she's down there." She adds back.

"She says snarky things" He counters

Nearby, Aunt Marsh a rolls her eyes

"She's also a good climber, so she could visit even upstairs windows for nightime shenanigans." A grin.

"Are you trying to set me up on a date, or asking me to find her a guy who is willing to risk humiliation?" Zane asks

A shrug. "I'm just saying, she's nice, and it was because of her hard work - really, don't laugh - that we got a pool at all."

Dubious look, "I'll consider the Rikki thing. However, as for the party, that's a definite can do. So.. three or four hours sex split... then we guys get to invade the pool?"

"And girls get to go up on the roof!" She grins. It fades a little, and she comments, "I was hoping... I don't think Adam wants to see me. But I don't him to feel excluded... so I thought maybe he would still come, if it was something like this... is he still holed up in his room?"

"Well," A pause "Nab has been staying here after he seemed ot push her out.. I told her she's not reading him right" he looks upstairs

"But she's not listening." A sigh "I think Adam is on the mend"

Her gaze flicks upstairs as well. Then back to Zane. "That's good. He gave me a letter... not to spill or anything, but I'm just not sure what to make of it all. Maybe I just need some distraction.. parties are good for that, right?"

"They are" He smiles, then he says quietly and growing serious, "Look Piper, Adam is my friend, but you're my cousin.. and ... I don't want to take sides but you're BOTH Allowed to be happy. Just.. don't expect him to go from boyfriend to just friend smoothly. It would be nice if guys were like that, but... well, it's a hell of a downshift to his world. And don't beat yourself up either. Kay?"

She nods. "I feel a bit guilty. I don't think he meant to make me feel bad, honest. But I hope HE feels better soon."

"Me too, and If he comes to the party, he does, if he doesn't he doesn't" Zane says "I think maybe starting it off apart might be a good way to let him decide how long to stick around?"

"I mean, if he wants to party up top, but isn't ready to be near you as a friend.. that's cool, and his choice?"

She nods! "I knew you'd get it." A grin.

A grin back

"And I am looking forward to some girl time." She admits. "I'm not ready to think about being with... anyone, for a while. But I still need the social juice, to feed my inner goat."

"You're a performer, Piper, you love the light of the crowd"

"Guilty!"

Sniffing the air. "Something smells good, Auntie M. I spent all my snack money on a tattoo."

"Well, I could have told you that" Marsha says nearby

"Mom, eavesdropping really?" Zane says

"She asked about my food so it's ok." Aunt Marsha says

"it's her house." Piper grins.

"Have a seat honey, we've got pancakes plenty"

"When you're in a satyr's house, all cakes are pan cakes."

"Hey, I also do Devil's food, and Angel... you know, Angel food cake, the other white meat" For some reason Aunt thinks she's being very funny for she chuckles "Come on" And she starts to set out a plate for her favorite Neice

Basil waves "Hey" He's still eating his

"Hey Baz! How's Goat 101 going?"

"Crazy," he says with a grin "It's like mythology, history class and US government... well, Concordian...all together."