#bergen_county

"Did someone drink MY soda?" Zane gapes into the fridge at the Wayburton residence

"I didn't know you had an exclusivity contract on the Dr. Zinger Cherry Crush." A suspicious slurp from the kitchen table.

"I SO do. I'm the only who drinks Dr. Zinger Cherry Crush" Zane says "It is known."

"Oh. Well, it is not known to ME, because nothing says "ahhhh" like a Dr. Zinger Cherry Crush." Singsong, as she recites the slogan.

Mrs. Wayburton says "Zane... be nice. It's not like your name was on it. I'll get more from the store later. Enough for two drinkers.. .she didn't know you liked it."

A grin to Auntie M, and then a teasing wink at Zane.

"But mom? I was 'aaahhing ' on Dr. Zinger Cherry Crush before anyone" He protests

"Somehow I doubt that" His mother says. "Now be nice. Piper, how's your room? Big enough I Hope?"

She beams. "It's great, thanks. And Z, I'm sorry I drank your go-go juice. Want to swing by the store later and I'll get you a 2 liter?"

"Naah, it's okay" He says, like most satyrs his passions rise hard, dim fast, "mom's right you didn't know. I'll live."

his mother shoots him an approving look "I'm off to Yoga. You two have fun."

"Have fun!" To Zane, "Did you know that baby goat yoga is totally a thing back home? They run around and jump on your back when you do cow pose. It's HILARIOUS." A little grin.

"I thought that was just on the internet .Weird. " A chuckle, Then "oh. I almost forgot. There's this party soon, kind of a rave. Wilders only... Kinain and Kithain both. you interested? "

Her eyes light up at the sound of that. "Oh, that sounds wicked cool. When is it?" Then, her enthusiasm dims. "Oh. I don't know if I should."

"It's later this week and.." He pauses "Why not?"

She shrugs a little. "Oh, you know. I'm still getting settled in, and probably need to review... schoolwork, and stuff. Make sure I have things ready..." It sounds weak, even to her.

"Weaksauce" he says "Sir Vali is already tutoring you...this won't mess with that. The kids are slowly being filtered out to either new homes or at least mentors. You're good."

"Who all's going? All of the locals?" It's clear that she's interested.

"Well ah.." Something there.. "Pretty much. Adam will be there.. he's cool but feeling down. Trying to cheer him up. Nadeen will be there. Couple of others at least. It's at the firehouse on Dewdrop lane? In fact, the theme is fire... colors mostly not open flame..."

"Adam... oh, that's Dagmar's friend, right? I don't think we've met yet. Ooooh, Fire! I wonder if it's too late to see if Sylvi could give me a flame pallet dye job. And I DO want to meet the lady sidhe who's managed to put up with you so far. ...will the lodge girls be going?"

"We'll see..." he sighs "For a time they wree on the do not tell list and that pissed them off when they found out" he confesses.

"Why's that? Are they killjoys, or just afraid that the Baroness would out the kibosh on your party?" A pause, and her voice lowered. "It -is- all on the up and up, right? ...nothing that they SHOULD be shuttin' you down for?"

"Not killjoys. they're great.. I mean, Sylvi helped me against Dirk way back. Like you said, the kibosh part...The Chief's great but grumps period can be downers and... well, they are the 'law'" Then he says "Not exactly... enchantment runs a bit free so the Kinain can hang... and gift of pan now and then.. nothing too weird right? Sometimes someone brings a joint or booze but even that is not typical... and we still follow the Escheat. A little musing, a little dancing... and so on"

She nods, but still looks a little unsure. "I thought Dirk was your friend?"

"Well, now he's not so bad, but back then ... well, a lot less directed. "

"Also we haven't told HIM about the party because caps play a bit rough" Admission

"I guess... yeah, I'd like to check it out. Cool. Thanks for letting me know." She nods, thoughtfully. After all, if the Troll Girls are there, how out of hand could it really get?

"Happy to... you hitting it off with the lodge girls eh?"

"Dagmar seems nice so far, and her mom is really cool. Sylvi's cool too... I don't really know em yet, you know? Siv seems nice, but she was acting pretty weird the afternoon I was there. Something about just getting back from a quest, though, so maybe she hjust was still settlin' back in."

"Dagmar's solid... she's been through some shit though, and it's left some cracks in all that solid. One moment you're talking to her, the next she's on the defensive and you're wondering what the hell you did wrong... but it's rarer than it used to be. Sylvi's just trying to keep everyone all together, but when the winter is on her? wow... she's pure Diva. Annoying thing is she's getting hot enough to compete with some of the more 'average' looking sidhe. " A grin "But just like Dag is looking out for the little guy, Sylvi is looking to help the community and such. Siv ? Siv's fun.. not very trollish sometimes, but she can get a bit 'extra'... and she leaps before she looks. She used to be a real flirt but after she lost Bancroft to HIbernia... well..that tamped down. Shame. "

"Sounds like a pretty tight crew you got here. Why's that annoying, though? Even if she's not for you, you can at least admire the scenery right?" A grin.

"Because her boyfriend is almost as strong as dagmar and has a glass arm that's tougher than steel and I'm not sure it will even bruise his knuckles if I pant too hard" Zane admits.

She laughs at that. "Surely he wouldn't pummel you without due cause. And suuuurely you wouldn't give him due cause."

"is drool due cause?"

"No satyr court would convict you."

"Yes.. mm too bad it's a troll country" He jokes

"Well, nothing to be blue over." She can't hide her grin at that.

"Ouch" He laughs "I joke anyway. Dad's all about how this place promotes strong reformer messages by having trolls ruling... I'm sure he sent you guys a copy of his book.. or three" Wry

She winces. "Don't let him know I used it to prop up the corner of my desk at home. I MEANT to read it, really I did... I'm just, y'know, not a reader. And don't tell him THAT either because then I'll get it as an audiobook lecture..."

SNerk "Wow, this is some juicy dirt to use if I ever want to... oh thief of the Dr. Zinger Cherry Crush" a chuckle "And yes, he TOTALLY would."

"I can make it up, honest. Have you ever tried a Zinger Float? It's the best with chocolate ice cream. Oh, don't make that face, it sounds weird but it WORKS."

Zane did indeed make that face, "I guess.. but ... weird." He says "Vanilla I could understand"

She pulls out a wallet and flips through the scant bills within. "Now I want ice cream. Someone mentioned there's a shop in town... want to get a cone, my treat?"

"Why not, Sandy's with friends." he says talking of his sister, "And I walked Sunflower earlier.." Speaking of their dog. Sunflower is a little over a year old and a lab goldie retreiver mix

"Awesome. Otherwise if Sandy came with, she'd want to bring Sunny too, and then i'd have to get them all cones."

"Come on then, the place is actually the closest thing we have to a bar around here" He grins and leads her off.

She clips along agreeably, enjoying the crisp fall air. "What are the winters like around here? Do I need a heavy jacket? Do you get a lot of snow? Oh, it would be FUN to play in the snow. We got a little now and then, but nothing ever sticks."

"Cold. Yes. Yes. It is. " A grin "Seriously though, we get REAL Winters here... they're beautifull, but enough to make a satyr wish they had fur all over."

"Maybe there's a cantrip for that. You know, there are some theories that Sasquatch is a satyr? ...After all, you know what they say about 'Big Feet'..."

"Big hooves you mean" he smirks and they head towards the ice cream shop, swinging in.