#bergen_county

Music plays in the Thomas House, and Adam can hear it from the street

"Slow it down, good, " An old woman's voice says, "Just imagine drawing a circle with your ass," as the guitar continues

A bit of a laugh but "Like this?"

"Right, then when the music spikes, you throw up your hands..."

And singing resumes...

"Baby, take off your coat...real slow
Baby, take off your shoes...here, I'll take your shoes
Baby, take off your dress
Yes, yes, yes
You can leave your hat on
You can leave your hat on
You can leave your hat on"

The singing isn't as good, the old woman's voice gets the message across though, letting Brenda keep time

as she goes through the motions of the lesson.

Adam slows..... Yeah, maybe hell no....

"Don't do it man" Jimmy says behind him

The piskie says "Word is your mom is getting dance lessons as a treat for your dad. Do not go in there" Jimmy advises

"Jeeze!! Shit, Sammy, what the hell are you doing there?" He makes a face, and looks at the house. "Crap."

"Jimmy," He sighs as this particular thing is something he must endure, "I came out here to see you. Of all the thanes of Rivervale you're the one I know best"

"Sure thing. 'Sup?" He tries to ignore the music from inside.

"I was hoping you could ask the lodge to maybe patrol near my grandmother's house?"

"You could ask directly if you want. Hell, I'll patrol anyway. "

"Appreciate it. I'm not gonna be visiting as much, and I'm kind of worried"

"C'mon, let's walk." Adam leads then away. "How come you won't be around?"

"Quest" He says

"Oh."

"Not a big one. I mean, no fountain of youth or anything"

"Yeah, cool. I'll check on her."

"Thanks man, I appreciate it." he says

"So, how's it going for you? I hear you and Piper are semi regular?"

Adam grins involuntarily. "Yeah. Pretty great...." He stops and glances back at the house, then shakes his head and walks on. "Nah, she's probably having fun"

"CHangelings in the fam do change things" He says with a nod, "met your dad as a troll. He seems not a jerk." This is good praise for older parent figures

"He's not. You know. Good intentions."

A nod, "your sister is getting creepy though. She and that doll" SHudder "Sorry, I know she's a sluagh, but brrr"

"She's still my sister." Mild but firm.

"Got it" A salute motion "So, sports this spring at school?"

"Yeah." Casually. "B-ball. I guess I should stick with it."

"You're good at it. Assuming you still like it" he says

"Yeah. I can get in the zone. There's more interesting stuff, but....."

"Oh? What's interesting you?"

A wry if cocky grin. "You know. All the stuff I can see now."

"You want changeling sports? " he says "Not as many of us so teams are rare" He ponders 'But there are things"

"Yeah?" A little spark of interest.

"Sure... contests and challenges, usually one on one. Not just on Pennons"

"Huh." He walks a bit. "Yeah, but.... I guess Fae have an advantage."

"Depends man.. trolls got extra muscle, satyrs are hardy, and caps got teeth, but like..boggans? Heck, Eshu get into adventures and tell great tales but that doesn't help with a layup"

A thinking frown. "Eshu are tall, though, right?"

"most of them, not as tall as trolls" He says

"Why, are you feeling out classed?"

"Pffft." That cocky confidence. "Nah. But like I told Dagmar that time, not fair if she didn't give me a handicap or something. I mean, I can play. I wouldn't take you, or.... or Lily on without staking a few points. That's all I'm sayin'."

"Well, I can see why that would make Dagmar feel down. To her, it's as natural as breathing. Being strong. Telling her her being strong is a cheat might make her feel..well, bad. Even if you didn't mean it that way. We piskies? We're quick and agile. Good thing, or I wouldn't get away iwth my kletopmania as much"

"I didn't say -that-. Just, you know. She's taller AND stronger than me. If she took me straight out, would that be, you know. Honorable?"

"Well, I guess. BUt who does she have to play with? If she can only play even with folks her size?"

"The rest of the teams don't see her like I do. And... so if she wanted to use those advantages she'd have to Enchant them all, right?"

"I don't know, sometimes it seems like the way we fae work changes every ten years..." A shrug, "But I hear you"

"More like 20, I think." He says wisely.