#bergen_county

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Jaymes is at the foot of the stairs looking up, then down at ground level to see if his daughter has returned

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At the Thomas Residence , Adam finds life has been... his parents are being kind of.. well, hands off. WAY hands off

And someone approaches the door

Kerri knocks brusquely, her mask over her face as much a matter of social courtesy as anything else.

Adam answers it; parents have checked out, anyway.

"Oh, hey, Mrs. Davidson. Hi."

"Adam, hello. I was wondering if your parents were home?"

"Uh....."he sticks his head out the door and looks in the driveway for cars.

Their cars are here

"I guess? Sorry, come in." He backs out of the way. "I guess......" he leans to look into his father's office and/or mother's poetry workspace.

Kerri follows Adam through the house, taking off her mask.

"Adam, is someone here?" Brenda's voice can be heard

"YEAH MOM! IT'S THE HEARTH!" he suddenly turns to Kerri "Wait, is Lily ok??" Immediate concern.

"She's fine," Kerri nods. "Come, I'll tell you at once." And she follows Brenda's voice. The Hearth's expression is...set, serious.

"Are we going out, do I need a weapon or anything?" Adam follows, anxious-sounding.

Brenda comes into the hallway, "Why Kerri, what brings you?" the make up is a little heavy. Especially for yoga pants

"Well, Brenda, I was wondering if you and I could speak for a moment. Is that possible?"

"Let me make sure Kyle is okay with it," She says demurely "One moment" And she moves back to her bedroom

Adam fidgets restlessly.

A blink. "Make sure Kyle is...oh, no no no no no...." the Hearth mutters as she folds her arms. Definitely a frown, now.

"What??"

"Adam," she says quietly, "have your parents been acting oddly for a while?"

"Huh? Uh, no? I mean.... oddly how? Mom's got goat legs and dad's blue." He points out.

The blue woman standing next to him gives him a look. "I mean, changes in behavior."

Adam notices his dad has been wheeling and dealing more, and mom has been... helping despite it not being her job. Details may elude.

A helpless shrug. "They lost it over me having alcohol, grounded me, then checked out like they didn't care, which is fine with me."

Kerri sighs. "Okay. So...they grounded you, then stopped participating." A pause...then she knocks on the bedroom door. "Brenda, Kyle, I'm afraid I have to insist," she calls.

Moments later, "yes dear, thank you. " Brenda returns now wearing a more suitable outfit for company if more suitable is june cleaver "Oh, sorry, Hearth. I didn't realize I kept you waiting so long. Why don't you go sit down in the kitchen and I'll get us some drinks"

More fidgeting.

A deep breath. "Kyle is busy?"

"Well, I didn't think you wanted him too, Hearth" She says large eyes "Can't I help you? I don't like disturbing him"

"No, let's speak first. I'll just have a fruit juice, thanks. Not in the mood for anything stronger." She goes to take a seat in the kitchen, giving Adam a nod to stay with them.

Adam really does look concerned.

She gets orange juice for them both, serving Kerri, "Yes, Kerri? What brings you by?"

As Brenda returns with the drinks, Adam may notice that Kerri has a focused look, as if she's trying to look through his mother.

"Well, it's about Lily. First of all, we were hoping she could stay overnight at the Lodge."

Oh my.. there is.. definite unseelie energies about the woman

"But she's ok?" with some urgency.

"She's fine, physically," Kerri nods, not looking away from Brenda.

"Well, sure, she can stay over night" A shrug of apathy

"Physically? What about other ways?"

Kerri turns to Adam briefly. "That's a very good question, Adam. Brenda," she turns back to the satyr, "can you tell me something about how Lily has been acting lately?"

"Well, she's quiet , but that's typical for being a sluagh I thought? I make sure her food is aged. She knows where's it kept and all." The mother says but she does sound a bit concerned? Oh thank goodness "What's wrong with her?"

"She's been eating ok, like, for a sluagh I guess?" Adam volunteers.

"She knows where it's kept? You haven't been feeding her yourself? She's still a childling, Brenda...perhaps we didn't give you enough help with transitioning into your fae lives...."

A patience gesture to Adam

"Good" Brenda says "I was worried... and.." then Kerri speaks "Well, I asked her if she could get herself. It seemed to be fine with her," Brenda says "I put it in in a box every day before hand, not so different from school lunches"

"I've been helping her. Why?"