#bergen_county

Adam show up on time at the Wayburtons for Piper.

Adam has been armed with knowldege by Zane

and Piper is getting a talk from.. an imp? Okay. Want to handle him solo?

Piper was digging through a messy pile of clothes - well, all of her stuff is pretty messy, but she claims to know where everything is - a sigh as she sets aside her favorite sundress, with a glare out the window as though Winter has set in just to inconvenience her. Picking out instead a nice sweater, one that helps make her top look a little less lacking - both warmth and softly clinging wool in a pine green that fits the season, and a nice pair of leggings. A final fluff of her hair to make sure it's in place, and she ponders the question. Hmmm. As much as I've enjoyed the ride-along, maybe I should? I dunno! Can he TELL you're with me? It seems a little sneaky.

Oh baby if it were purely selfish, I'd encourage you to let us rock his world and turn him into our love pet and he'd enjoy it, but I suppose I should think about this that perhaps normal starting relationships are ..healthier in the long term. SO tempting though. He can probably feel my aura, is he aware ? Not sure. But oh drat. I'm going to step out... much as I want more. Maybe I'll ask Marsha if I can possess her when she bangs her husband.

She laughs at that, less uptight about the idea of her relatives gettin' busy - must be a satyr mindset. Hey, Auntie Em is still spry! Can't hurt to ask, just spare me the details. Oh, unless she does something funny like squeaks if you lick her toes. I can always use more ammunition again Zane. An impish grin of her own.

A knock at the front door.

Ooo I like you And there's a pop, and the Imp falls out of Piper.

PIper no longer feels UTTERLY sure of her sex appeal, it is down to mere satyr levels

which.. is probably still better than your average mortal

She gives a little shake. "Ooh, now I'm all lonesome. Better go do something about that." She leans over to plant a smooch on Nab's head, mindful of her tiny demoness horns, and then gives a wave. "See you in a few hours!" Clip clop down the stairs to answer the door. "Helllooooo?"

And Nab whispers "Have fun, don't do anything I wouldn't do..lot of room there" and then she goes off before Adam can see her.

(Assuming Adam is invited in) "Hey, Piper...." admiring "You look great!"

She gives him a glance over - still wearing his school clothes?

Nope, polo shirt and khakies.

She reaches out to tap the little alligator logo on the shirt. "Cute. You look nice too - per usual. Did you want to come in and say hi, or ready to head out?"

"I'm ready if you are." Adam seems eager, and focused on Piper.

She calls behind her, "Auntie Em, I'm heading out! Won't be too late..." She snickers about some internal thought, as she steps out and closes the door, coat over her arm. "Brr! Where are we headed? Too late to ask the Chieftain about that Trod to Tijuana?

"The what?" As he walks with her to the car.

She gives him a big grin. "See, when the Dragon died, it like, I dunno... fwooosh, all this glamour just exploded out all over the place. New trees grew, sleeping changelings awoke, dried-up old balefires were rekindled, and old forgotten paths reopened, and GET THIS, one of the gateways goes from the Lodge to TIJUANA - and it would be WARM, and SUNNY, and SAND, and..." She turns a bit pink, realizing she has been kinda geeking out a little.

Adam seems to love it. "Did you want Mexican?"

"Oh, I'll never say no to tacos or nachos, but it's more that the cold here seeps into your bones. The trolls must be somehow immune or just too darn stalwart to admit that it's freezing here. Even in the summer, I bet that lake is chilly! I miss the sand and sea. But to answer, whatever you had in mind I'm sure will be good. Surprise me?"

A cocky grin. "Glad to." And with the heater on in the car, they motor off.

.... to

They park and head in, reservations not required; they are seated promptly, water and menus follow.

Adam smiles at her over the menu.

"Thanks for coming out with me, by the way."

"Wow, this place is nice! We didn't have to go all fancy, I'd be just as happy to hang out with you over fast food. But I AM glad to know it exists, I love a good paneer..." Admiring the decor! "Or do you take all your girls here?" A teasing grin.

"Just you." Warmly "I'm glad you like it.I don't know much about Indian food."

"Oh, let me order! I know the best... see, Indian is great because they have, like, thousands of experience making good veggie food, rather than just tossing a salad at you or a slab of tofurkey. And you gotta let me split this, this place isn't cheap."

A grin. "I'd love for you to order.... but this is a date. I'm paying." Confidant.

"Sure, but I'm on the date too! It's not the 1950's, no matter how many times they play baby-it's-cold-outside. I can pay my way, I have babysitting money and fair is fair after all..."

"It's a.... a...." scrambling defenses "Christ, uh, Yule gift."

She laughs and gives him a playful little push on the arm. "No, you're not getting out of that. I love me some yule gifts, even if it's just candy in a sock. I just had to see how you'd respond. Tell you what - you invited me out, so I'll let you get this one. But when I ask you, it's on me, is that fair? For next time." She winks at him, with a promise of a second date.

A BIG smile. "You got it."

The waitress arrives and Piper can order. Adam watches with interest.

"Ummm... lesse.... how about, I'll have the saag paneer, and chicken tikka masala for my date, plus naan and rice to share, oh, and a mango lassi?" She glances up at Adam, questioning. "Sound good?"

"Yeah?" He has no idea but is game to try it!

The waitress nods and is off.

"Soooo......" Adam takes a drink of water, leg bouncing in place energetically. "You started school during the semester, right?"

Her nose wrinkles up a bit, but she nods. "Yeah, I had to drop back a year to catch up. I'm ready to just be done, though, right? I mean, as schools go, Paschak isn't bad, but it just seems a waste of time, to be honest. Don't tell Mr. Storm I said that, then I'm in for some 'knowledge is power' lecture to be sure."

"Ok, next poker night with Storm I'll keep that on the down low." A cheeky grin.

"At least we moved over the summer, so I started with everyone else." Not without sympathy. "You moved from California?"

"Yeah, what they call Kingdom of Pacifica. Have you ever been?" A small, wistful smile. "White sands, blue seas - I swear you haven't partied until you've had a bonfire on the beach. And you've never swam until you've been in a warm ocean - I knew this selkie there, who could show you the most amazing spots if you could convince her to take you for a swim, but she got easily distracted and left me on a reef at high tide once..." And tells him the somewhat comical story that ends in the very repentant selkie coming back to recover her swim partner, several hours and a bright-pink full-body sunburn later...

"Never been, no; sounds amazing though." He chuckles in sympathy about the sunburn. "I've heard they do beach bonfires at the lake here."

"Yeah, Momma Vera always said that if I hadn't been given hooves, I'd likely have a fishtail, for all the time I spent in the water. Lakes are nice, I suppose, in their own way. And I guess you enjoy the bonfire more if it's a bit chilly out. Guess this is my first real cuffing season?"

"Cuffing?"

A chuckle. "You know, when the weather gets chilly, and people start staying in more, and realize that it would be nice to have a special someone to help keep you warm..."

Adam locks eyes with her. "Yeah." He breathes.

"Ooh!" The waitress stops by to drop off a glass filled with thick orange creamy liquid. Piper slides it over and takes a long drink through the straw, and practically wriggles in delight. "Oh, its GOOD. You have to try this, it's mango and yogurt..." Leaning over to tilt the straw towards his lips.

He grins at her enjoyment, and still watching he, bends and tastes at her offer.

"Mmm.... you're right, that is good."

A sly grin. "That's an indirect kiss, you know." A wink.