#bergen_county

A sigh. "She hasn't had a chance to go through wilder years as a satyr so maybe she has all her crazy stored up." Then a grin. "I should remember to congratulate Zane. I was distracted by Adam at the time I'm afraid."

"No I can't escape my own failing as a mentor here" He sighs

"I think there's plenty of blame to go around" Marsha says

"Just because most of the local goats are kids doesn't mean that you should be saddled with all the blame." Her chin up, ready to defend her uncle now. "We all knew she was new. Maybe she could be,.. I dunno, punished with make-up work instead of tar and feathering. It might be plenty embarrassing on it's own to have to go meet up with younger fae for Kith and Kinain 101. Or.. or something."

Marsha sighs "Unfortunately, that would possibly harm Adam."

"If someone sheared MY legs to punish me? I... I dunno, I can't say that I wouldn't just want to lash out harder against it rather than learning from it..." She rubs a hand over a knee thoughtfully and shudders.

"You think so? Maybe. He's already bucking against them pretty hard. If his mom was taken down a notch, I can't see that he'd want to listen to her at all."

"Exactly," Marsha says and frowns "he's treating his mother like shit and if Zane talked to me the way he did to her...."

"AHEM" The professor says

"O h right.. shouldn't mention that to you. Nevermind" Marsha says

She frowns a bit. "I've tried to not get involved."

"I mean, it's not like he really wants to discuss them with me, or he hasn't brought it up. We don't really talk about things like that."

And now she looks vaguely troubled in another way.

"Best you don't. Apparently with Adam if you don't give into him you're oppressing him" Marsha sighs "At least that seems to be how he treats his parents. It's their first year and a day... he's expecting them to let him go where he wants when he wants and do what he wants at all times and without so much as a by your leave. I'm a kinian, and I don't know how to tell him that means he is NOT protected"

"Marsha.. Brenda and you have been getting close, it's possible you're a bit biased" the professor says

"PErhaps" She admits with distaste

"In a way... our relationship is... maybe... more of an escape. We don't talk about... my past. And I try to keep him from dwelling on the stuff that makes him upset.. so it's more, enjoy the now then worry about the past or whatever is weighin' you down. Is that such a bad thing though?"

"No, no, it's not" Marsha says "As long as you're honest about what it is"

"Adam's a good fellow in a lot of ways" The professor says "A LOT Of ways.. but yes, laying out expecations with each other sometimes smoothes future bumps. "

"I've been feeling a little guilty." She admits. "We agreed to keep things open and nonexclusive, and I DO like to be able to play the field a little... but I felt a bit jealous seeing him flirting with other girls at Beltaine. If I hadn't had a distraction of my own, I'd have.. hm. I don't know. " She sighs. "I know it'd be hypocritical to ask him to do as I say and not as I do though. Oh, I know... Things are always silly complicated."

"Oh." Marsha says "Well.... now that's understandable. I mean, your uncle educates those co eds..." she says "but I laid down some rules with him."

"Some of which I thought were silly, but that didn't matter, they MEANT something to her, and that . . symbolism means something" THe professor says "For example.. I might take other lovers, but unless your AUnt is also interested in joining, I don't dance with them in front of her unless it's socially expected. "

She nods thoughtfully. "Maybe it's a conversation I should have with Adam. That makes sense. ...does he know that Bre- that his mom, is going to be put on punishment tonight?"

"I don't know.. " Marsha says

"...I guess... he probably shouldn't? I mean. Satyr business."

"Let his mother text him if she wants..." Marsha sayhs "Enough things have gone wrong because folks got impulsive recently"

She nods. "Maybe I'll wait to call him until after then. I don't want to lie to him if he asks."

"Well, after we said honesty was important in a relationship I don't suppose we can fuss too much" They nod

The time passing, it seems Piper's aunt and uncle have their own opinions . She can tell Uncle Cornelius is troubled and perhaps blaming himself for Brenda's actions. Marsha just wants it done, swept under the rug for everyone... given some of the alternatives. Neither is happy.

“Maybe Adam should be invited.” Piper can’t help but ponder. “Isn’t he... kinda Satyr kinain now? In a way?”

"We do that, Brenda will bolt and complicate her situation," Her Uncle says

Zane comes in looking miserable "We doing this in the back yard? Shold I start the fire pit?"

"yes, that's probably best," The Professor says

“I’ll help.” She accompanies Zane and gathers some wood. “What do you think of this?”

"I think my best friend is going to hate my guts one way or another" Zane says "And that's selfish of me, I know. I do know we need to do some working of some sort for the violation of Beltaine. A working to balance things in the eyes of Da'an, but not sure what's the best procedure.. the best means. I am kind of pissed at Leya too... I mean, both sisters, but dammit, I LIKED her and I was just a meal ticket? We're... I talked to her, she seems sorry.. but like.. damn... just tell me I'm not your type and ask me for a twenty right? Then Brenda pulls that scene out of a Teen Hazing horror movie .. llike Christie 4: Bad Girls Bite back or some shit... and I can't even ..."

"I don't think he'll hate you." She argues back. "Adam should understand that she did bad and needed to face the consequences. I mean, he was PISSED too. And it's not like you're the headman around here choosing what happens. We're just wilders who are here to witness."

"Maybe the Pillar of the Mountain thing got to my head... but there is power in holy days, ceremony, magic.. the stuff that's MY Passion.. I insist folks recognize it... and they do.. well , then I'm kind obligated to help in that in. this is dangerous.. the Dreaming itself could turn against us. And all because two 'good night kiss' bandits made the mistake of goign after a Gung ho grump not ready to deal with anger issues... this snow balled so bad on all sides it can't be as simple as mom wants.. she wants everyone to kiss and make up."

She frowns. "This is beyond my paygrade."

"I'm sorry, Piper. " Zane says "What's your take on this? I should ask. "

A tap of her foot. "I'm ticked off that she went full vigilante on the twins. I'm upset that she didn't even consider her son as adult enough to fight his own battles, and I'm extra ticked of the way it was done and portrayed. And I'm unhappy about the... the necessity of all this."

"All valid points" he agrees, "Though I suppose I didn't consider the 'letting Adam fight his own battle in this'. shit. Maybe I'm not that good a friend." A frown "He's a kinian.. and he gets ..disregarded because of it. Pisses me off. His own mom did it whether she meant to or not. But then, Adam doesn't always relate well to his folks so.. I don't know. Maybe they need to see a family counselor?"

"That does sound like a good idea. If he's willing to try it. He's... he has his pride, so this hurts him. Sidhe blood, I guess."

"I guess.." A sigh

Piper looks over the yard. "Normally I'd say we should have some snacks and drinks for company... but it's not really a happy social get together, is it?"

"Nope. " He says "Drinks and food after it' resolved" He starts the bonfire up

She watches the fire start to burn. "Well, let's get this over with then..."

The others arrive, Lyron, Etsie...then, Leya and Lola looking VERY Nervous.

A reassuring nod to the twins.

"Suprised anyone's talking to us" Leya says to Lola

"They're not talking yet" Lola says