#bergen_county

"Please leave, I need to compose my temper and inform my wife" He rises

"I do not believe that is the intent...."

A moment, then she nods. "Of course, Professor."

Her own jaw tight.

She turns for the door.

"Good day, Chieftain" The stress on the last syllable strained and he strides away without any further to say, and he has gone into his house deeper!

A creak as the door opens, and Piper gazes out warily.

Brekke departs without looking back.

Oh Uncle is pissed and gone...

and the Chieftain just left

She watches her go, and glances the way that the Professor has gone. "Maybe I can talk to him..." A sigh, and she shakes her head. "...after he calms down, maybe."

And she heads in the direction of the Bridge.

~half an hour or so later~

Piper knocks at the door to the Professor's study, a short while after the last of the grumpy sounds have died down. "Uncle C? I make some tea, do you want some? It's herbal."

"Yes, dear, that might hit the spot. I'm afraid my nerves have taken a jangle recently" Fair warning given, satyrs often state how they feel so folks can anticipate. Of course, those moods can shift. Still, he sounds calmer

She opens the door and hip-bumps it the rest of the way, and then steps in with a couple mugs. "Sounded like your meeting with the Chief didn't go well?"

"I am, to say the least, quite disappointed in our normally reasonable leader" a huff "She over stepped some boundaries and as a parent I would have thought she'd know that"

"What'd she do?" Handing over a mug - steaming chamomile, a calming mixture, sweetened with honey.

He sips "I'm surprised you didn't hear, oh wait, you were practicing, as you should . Music, respectable." mmph grumble sip 'Ah, after implying I did not listen to my own son, she mentioned that not only have they encouraged this notion of his of chasing after occult research as a true path to passion, that apparently a troll has taken him on as an apprentice for it. With no question to me, or his mother regarding how that might deflect his already regressed quest for true passion's song"

She sips her tea. "Mm. I can see why you'd be ticked. But if Z really thinks it's something that will tickle his fancy, why not let him try it? If you're right, he'll peter out in a few days, and they'll see that they just wasted everyone's time, and maybe learn not to stick their noses in next time."

"When you have a faun of your own, you might see the insult more keenly. Coming in here, calling me a neglectful parent and then stepping over marsha and my's parental tasks? Or at least allowing it"

"It didn't quiiiite sound like that. But I admit, I only heard a little when you got your dander up. I mean, she found out that Zuzu was moonlighting over at the farm - so she came here to talk to you about it. Seems respectful enough to me. Though, I admit - I'm waaaaaaaaay far away from ever wanting any little hooves pattering around ME."

"Not quite like that? how else would you call it? I ..." A brow, he is an INTELLIGENT Man, "If you heard that much, it sounds like you heard more than I thought. "

"Well, you DID start yelling." She answers with a bit of a smile. Satyrs understand that heated response.

"I did, didn't I?" Almost sheepish "Well, yes. I can't deny that. We children of Pan are not tepid."

She scoots over to sit on the edge of his desk, in a spot not covered with papers. "Uncle Nealy - you didn't get a chance to see the cantrip that he put together. It was... like nothing I'd seen before. He somehow cooked together... mmm, I don't even know. Lust - fuddle, maybe - enough juice to affect not just one person, but a whole crew. ...and it hit them HARD... and not even someone he knew, or had even seen before. I have some tricks, sure I'm no expert, but I can't hardly get a second glance from a stranger without throwing in serious juice. And he wasn't even THERE. Whatever else he has going on... he has talent, and power. And... well, if he doesn't find a way to put it to use, it's like blue-balling him. Least ways, that's how I see it."

A thoughtful look, "Just a mix of chicanery and realm... sounds like. Not unheard of or even rare."

"To affect a dozen strangers, remotely, to the effect that they would all shag like bunnies despite being on a mission in a dangerous place? And then there's the tree..."

"Tree?" Brow

"It grew up where the bomb went off - full grown almost right away. And the fruits there, well, I heard that they are like an aphrodesiac on steroids." A bit of a blush and a grin. "I was trying to think of a way to finagle one to try for myself."

"Wait, what bomb? I thought it was a cantrip"

"It was - kinda? Not like one I've ever seen. He built it in layers, all wrapped up into a bundle that went off on being triggered. I've never seen anything like it. Like a... a magic burrito."

"Did you witness him throw this bomb?"

"He wasn't even there. He gave it to me, and I threw it. So I saw the effects first hand." A bit of a smile remembering. "It was... fun to watch."

Her Uncle blinks, and takes off his glasses, a sign of intense surprise rather than the transformation into superman.

"He sent you with a loaded yet unlaunched casting to the farm, and it exploded once thrown... much much later than he gave it to you?"

She nods. "And we were expecting... well, rather, it was a last ditch attempt if the Dragon headed to the farm, to distract it. So it wasn't even meant for a group of fae - including a noble."

He begins to clean his glasses "Extraordinary."

" A delayed group cantrip...amazing"

"Yeah, I know, right?" She hides her smile under her mug as she takes a sip. She might have not succeeded in leaning on him to reconsider ignoring Zane's activities as a passing fancy, but he's at least interested in it, which is a start.

"So what's this I hear about more Satyrs coming to town?" Eager.

"Oh? Oh!" He snaps out o it, and goes with the second subject, a sign he's not as sure of the first "Well, with Brenda here. And you, it seemed we might have a traggo... dancing, music, debate, etc. "

"But still a bit short. So we put out word. Trying to help less forunate kithmates that might want to settle here. I can introduce you if you like"

She nods eagerly. "I haven't wanted to say anything - I mean, I'm so glad that you and Auntie took me in. But... I've been missing..." A sigh. "Not my old trag', specifically. They ended up being... toxic. But, being IN a tragos... that sense of closeness, and where they all understand you..."

"Yes, I know what you mean, it's nice being part of a circle, someone drumming, two folks areguing...everyone takes a turn at dancing... or whatever, open to passion without judgement and..." He grows thoughtful for a moment, the mmms

"Yeah. Not that your home hasn't been welcoming." She sips her tea. "But I should get back to my practice. That 4th chord just keeps escaping me. Maybe you can listen in later if you have time? I can't get the note to sound right. Or I could go ask Tove, maybe."

"Tove has a talent" he says "Pity she wasn't born a satyress I.." ANother thoughtful look, almost annoyed at some annoying fact, then he says "I think Tove has the better ear, but I would love to hear it as well. Be there later?"

"Sounds great!" She smile and heads off, leaving him with those annoying thoughts.

He gives a nod, and sips his tea, brow troubled.