#bergen_county

Adam listens.

"It's Disbelief yeah, but on a scale that's hard to quantify - it's anti wonder? It's the reduction of the miraculous to the meh. It's one of the reasons kithain seem so extra, over the top. Because it's better to burn out than fade away."

Adam nods, chewing.

"Most sidhe, not all but some, are extra vulnerablle to it. "

"How come?"

"Something it's because of the body jacking thing... see, we became changelings in the first place to survive. The kithain, by merging our souls with human ones, have a buffer that pure fae souls wouldn't. Sidhe don't have a mortal soul with them..maybe that's why they have less protection?"

Adam thinks, and nods slowly. "Makes sense.... like.... like vaccinations."

"YEah, not a bad metaphor... I mean, not perfect, but not bad."

"Now.. sluagh..well, folks don't always trust or like them, but they trust em more than redcaps"

"And they've got to whisper. Poor guys can never speak above a whisper. They often get drowned out...fortunately for them they've got good ears so they can hear each other"

"Trolls? Trolls gain strength with their oaths... but breaking those Oaths , enen small oaths, robs them of their might."

"That's why everyone at the Lodge wanted me to Oath."

"Not really... " He says

"They wanted Oath to uphold the right of Ignorance dude. That was for the Escheat, and for you. It's not like THEY get weaker if you break YOUR oath"

"Yeah, but that was the first place thier minds went." He points with a fry.

"Mmm " Unsure if he should say more

Adam stuffs the last of his burger in his mouth.

"Dude, their first thought was probably a mind wipe"

"It -was-." He admits, drinks some coke. "At least, that was the worst thing they could think of."

"Well, I could go on on how much worse others would do it but you've heard that before"

"Yeah." He sighs. "Ok, so.... you were on Selkies."

"Well, like I said earlier.. Selkies have to protect their skins... and they feel a pull to the sea. "

Adam nods, finishing his fries slowly.

"Who else? Well, there are other kith but those are the main ones you're most likely to meet"

"Any questions?"

Adam chews slowly, thinking.


"So... when I'm not enchanted, Right? Chimera can't hurt me, I can't hurt them. I can see 'em but.... right?"

"Right. It's a rare gift man. Most Kinain are either off or on"

He nods. "So.... like, what's the worse that can happen if I dont have any enchantment? Like, ever again?"

"You could die" The satyr says

"They can't touch me." He points out.

"Was your mom enchanted?"

"N....no." puzzled.

"Some Chimera can enchant or even affect the unenchanted... they can feed on dreams. When you're not enchanted? one might be able to hurt you, and you not hurt them... it's a dangerous world, you've just had your eyes closed to it."

"Yeah but....." he protest trails off "... but now that I -know-..... not like they would leave me alone."

"You also have to deal with the fact that we're half mortal. If a bad kithain wants to shoot a human, he or she can get a gun"

"Why would anyone want to shoot me?!?!"

"Far as I know no one does." He grins "I'm just saying you act like the things and people of the dreaming are helpless if you're not enchanted .. and hey, flesh and blood too for some of us."

"Mmf." Adam sighs, wipes his hands, and then runs his fingers through his short curls.

"Adam.... this is a lot to load on you, I know, but you seem offended when folks don't tell you stuff... so I'm telling you stuff. It's a wonderful world but wonders can be dangerous."

"M'Not afraid."

"Never said you were. But no shame in caution right?"

A shrug. "Guess not."

"You worry about what others think about you don't you?" Zane says

"Not really. I mean, what difference would it make?"

"We're teenagers, everyone wants to be their own man or woman, and everyone wants to belong. I figure grown ups must have a knack dfor avoiding that weird dual need... but right now? Dude, we're all mixed up. Kithian, Kinain, and the Clueless"

"Maybe. Mostly I get frustrated by all this Fae stuff, and confused by girls." A sigh.

"Oh preaching to the choir there on that last especially. I mean like... they get mad if you make a play for them, and yet they sigh about being without a boyfriend. They tell you you resent being in the friendzone then you're selfish, but for them it's 'unrequited love'. A guy doesn't know if he has to buy all the dinners , or if that will offend her. And they expect us to read their minds, and want to read ours even if when we say 'fine' we actually mean it. If a girl says 'fine' she means 'I am mad as hell and you should know why'"

Adam shrugs. "Nah, I just wish they'd, you know. I mean, girls here -date-, right??"

"Which one you got your eye on man?"

"Dunno. Amira's nice, I like her." A grin. "Sam went out for ice cream with me, that was a good time."