#bergen_county

"Or a taxidermy before she was dead."

"Cool... dude, that would be boss." A brow "Now what did you do to hook me up with Lupe? She said she was supposed to meet YOU? "

He winces - having hoped to redirect the conversation away. "It wasn't really my doing. There were these cupids... you know the little winged baby angels that shoot hearts? They were ALL OVER school, and one thought it was funny to shoot Lupe when she was lookin' my way. I figured it was better to redirect her your way, then give her some sort of slug plague that she'd beat me up for later."

"Well, it wore off... I think...and she's willing to go onanother date so... you know what this means? you bringing me and her back together like a cupid yourself?"

A haunted, somewhat disgusted look. "Ugh."

"Yup. Means you are a seelie 'love conquers all' sap... you should tell Anne Marie you'r eready to match make by her side, you've learned so much ha ha!"

He scowls, expression darkening. "You trying to start something? I'd watch who you are calling seelie..."

"It's funny is all " Chortle "Need to get you little wings and a teeny pink bow"

He snaps angrily at Dirk, "And what about you? Playing beck and call to a bunch of Trolls? Some unseelie YOU are."

The redcap's eyes narrow, his laughs end"I don't beck and call nobody... This way I get to slap folks around, something You oughta remember"

"I remember that you're acting like one of their pet dogs. Twobit, Browndog, Reddog."

"Those dogs don't BITE like I do! Dustsucker," His fists tighten and he pushes his chest against Symon, "Now shut the fuck up before I shove your inhaler up your ass and pump it so your eyes fall out"

He snaps his mouth shut, backing away. "Jeez. Sorry, dude. Didn't mean it." Sullen, shoulders curved in, a defensive, retreating posture.

"Damn straight you didn't" Dirk doesn't bother considering that the sluagh could be lying, could be saying what he wants to hear... the cap snarls and bites the mailbox of the Thomas family and swallows it, the metal rolling in his cheeks as he continues on chomping LOUDLY.. a reminder what he could do to a sluagh's face.

BUt at least he's leaving, and Symon isn't bleeding

Symon shoves his hands in his pockets and sulks off in the other direction, still rich with glamour but now with a black cloud hanging over his mood. Probably more suited to a sluagh, anyways.

If Syymon is black cloud, Dirk is a raging volcano looking for a place to explode

if Anne Marie where here, she might notice that both managed to hurt each other because they both matter to each other...

thank god she's not.

(LIES!)

And each one goes out, their Unseelieness no longer being challenged.

stoopid troll neighborhoods

(End scene)

_____________

Adam, clean and dressed, fidgets downstairs in the (nearly) empty house. The light is on at the door. He checks his look. Checks it again. Breath? Good.

A soft rappa-tap-tap at the door!

He leaps at it, opening the door.

A certain Imp looks a bit like a mini piper, but with wings

Piper is outside, grinning up at Adam. "Sur-priiiiii-iiiise!" She beams, and offers out - flowers! A wildflower bouquet, a riot of colors - and one matching yellow flower stuck behind an ear in her curls. She also has a small box of chocolates, heart-shaped as fits the season.

He laughs, and stands aside to let her in. He gives her a hug once she is.

Stepping inside, and then she reaches up to give his collar a tug. "Here, lean down..."

He does.

And she tucks a flower behind his ear too with a grin, and then pulls him in for a quick kiss.

Oh, he'll wear that proudly; flower, and kiss. "Hey. Good to see you."

"Sweets for my sweet?" She opens the box of chocolates - oh, someone already at a couple. Well, she did taste of chocolate - and she holds one out to Adam's lips.

He'll take that too, slowly and with direct eye contact.

"Mmm." She meets his gaze and a smile creeps onto her lips, fingers brushing against his as she moves her hand away. And then she notices Nab, and laughs! "Oh, you're looking GOOD today!"

"Thanks" Nab says "I was inspired"

Adam looks over at Nab, chokes slightly, then laughs as he swallows the treat.

"If he chokes , the date will not be so fun" The chimera declares but smiles

"I'm fine." He assures them both.

"So, is the place all ours? While I think your mom would understand if she came home, your Dad might think I'm corrupting his pure and lovely son..."

"Maybe the other way around." With a wry glance at Nab. "But... yeah." His eyes spark with triumph. "Folks are on a Valentine's dinner date and I gave Lily $40 and an Uber."

She looks thoughtful. "Not all night then... but, time enough for some fun. "

"Yay fun" Nab says

He takes her hand. "You could stay all night. I'd like you to."

"Tomorrow's Saturday." He points out.

"Won't your folks have a problem with a sleepover?" She asks, then shrugs. "You know, nevermind - I bet I can outrun them if they get fussy!" A laugh! "I've never been caught before." Then, a sly look at Adam. "You think you can?"

"Outrun you?" He grins. "No. But if I don't get fussy, maybe I won't have to?"

Nab whispers to Adam a bit too loudly "Did you tell her about the thing?"