#bergen_county

"No, I meant me. If you wanted to show me what you're talking about, you could climb in and ride along while you did."

"Wow, you really do want an edge, don't you?" a smile though

"Well, yeah, but... Sally Mae is like me, right? Only.... she seems happier. Mostly? Like... she has it figured out. Being Kinain. Guess I would like to be like that too."

"Hey, happiness is a good goal. " She says, "Adam, you've got a lot to be happy about, not like 'how dare you want more' just.. you know, some good things are going on for you. The lodge accepts you and a lot of kithain respect you, you don't have to hide things from your family anymore, you've learned a bit of magic. All that"

"Not saying I'm not happy just..... Sally Mae knows more about being Kinain. I'd like to learn more. " Then a grin "You know."

"Huh" She laughs "Well, you know, the DeBuke farm apparently has like a bazillion cousins"

"If it doesn't work with her, maybe you'll find some one else to meet there?" A smile

"Oh! Hey! Good idea." He perks up.

"Of course they're in Iowa." She ponders

"Yeah, but Sally Mae said she might hook me up with odd jobs there."

"That's right, huh" A smile "Lucky duck."

"You're right, though. A lot of DeBukes there. " he ponders.

"I'd go snoop on the place, but the wards there are scary strong." She says

"They have wards?"

"Oh sure, rumor has it their Mountain is a powerful wizard, like in, more powerful than any kithain you know here. "

"Yeah?" Speculatively.

"That's the rumor" she says

"Huh."

After some time he shrugs, falling back into the pillows. "One thing at a time, I guess."

"Sure' she says and she sits on his chest "Oh, fair warning, Lily seems to be trying to scare everyone."

"Mmm." He traces a finger along her wings. "Is it working?"

"Well, she keeps making your mom drop things "

A handsome smile. "Better watch it. Mom has a temper now."

"I know," She sighs "ANd normally satyrs and I get along. I think she worries I'm corrpting you." A smile "But your sister will get away with it. Because well, her baby."

Adam chuffs. "Would we have been bound together if I wasn't already corrupt?"

"Ha! Well, she's your mom. She wants to think the best of you too I think. Sides, you're not corrupt, you're just very very interested in some things" A grin

H8s finger trails along to let her tail rest over it. "You got that right. "

Her tail twines among her fingers, "You're also knocking yourself out to help folks, very brave, and you care about your friends and even sometimes strangers"

Her tail's play pleases him and he smiles. The fingers of his other hand stroke her leg. "I wanted to belong. Never wanted anyone to -carry- me."

"I know, but trolls are," She sighs "They're good folk, but they're guardian dreams, and they can't help but want to carry sometime. You gotta roll with it, though I think most are coming to their senses where you are concerned."

"Good." Softly, and a little fuzzy.

"Sleep, tiger. I'll give you nice dreams" She wiggles

(bzzt) It's late at night, but cell phones never sleep... unless his is turned off or in silent mode?

"Ooo nix. You got a call"

Adam sits up and grabs it, looks.

It's from Piper! A text message - "U still up? 😘 "

The imp grins "My dreams can wait. Have fun flirting"

"Yeah!"

He texts back - Yeah, still up. 411?

"👀 out ur window"

He jumps up and charges over to peer out.

It's dark out, but he can make out a form below, barely lit by the streetlight glow that juuuust reaches this corner of the yard. When he peers, a faint light flashes, as she turns her smartphone screen to provide scant illumination enough for him to make out Piper's face! A wave!

Adam uses his phone to light himself and waves back. He slides his window open.

She calls up quietly once the window opens, "Adam, Adam, wherefore art thou, Adam? Deny thy curfew and refuse thy sleep! Or, if thou wilt not, be but my company for the night, and I'll no longer be a bored-ass Goat..."

Adam starts to climb out of his window. He -might- make it....

She watches from below with an impish grin!

Down he comes, and short of a brief slide on bark, he makes it! He hurries to her. "Hey. Answer to a prayer..."

Impulsively, he takes her in his arms for a kiss.

She bounces over to him eagerly as he slides down, and is in his arms before he can hardly reach out. "Can you believe how warm out it is? I mean, it's not WARM warm, but it's like, California winter, not like frozen hellscape for once!" A grin up at him. "I couldn't stay inside. Wanna hang out?"

Nab watches with amusement and pleasure from the window. Dream generation is all very nice, but if you want the best dreams, best to get inspiration for good bones to it.