#bergen_county

Adam approaches the Lee Residence. Dr. lee works too much, and is missing this one, which means they can talk fae. His parents asked him if he wanted them along.

Nope. He'll do this on his own. Nab got a GOOD kiss good bye, though!

Nab waved.

And now, he knocks on the Lee's door.

The door opens and Dirk greets him, looks him up and down and says "Kitchen"

Adam -looks- like he wants to respond, but he doesn't. He steps inside and figures out where the kitchen is, and goes there.

Entering the Lee House is a bit like entering something that seems almost stepford wife in the main areas, and Bates Motel in the corners.

He can feel eyes on him the whole way

Dirk follows him close..uncomfortably close. HIs back is to a redcap, and while Adam feels no fear, some part of his brain is still aware how dangerous that can be

And Adam, wearing only mortal gear, is aware and alert.

Still, he sucks it down.

The kitchen is found and he hears a voice "Over here, Adam, please come in"

Adam enters the kitchen. "Mrs. Lee?"

She's waiting "Right here, Adam, have a seat. I'm just fixing up some brownies."

"Thank you for the flowers by the way. They're lovely"

"You're welcome. Mrs Lee, I'm really sorry for what happened." He stays standing. "Dirk hit.... like, he hit me hard. And I hit back but.... What I said was wrong."

"I'm sorry, and I hope you can forgive me." Contrite.

"Wait, what?" A pause "Pardon me... Dirk HIT you?"

She pulls out the brownies "Adam.. I am told YOU threw the fist punch and went after Dirk. Are you saying that's not so?"

Nearby, Dirk's jaw grinds

"Oh. No, ma'am, no, I threw the first punch. Uh, sorry. I meant that... what he said really hurt me. It.... Nevermind. I shouldn't have punched first and I shouldn't have said what I did. No matter who started it."

"I'm sorry."

"Oh my word," She clutches at her heart "Adam, you...really need to use more accuracy in your apologies... and less excuses if I may add... thank you for clarifying. " She lets the brownies cool, and says "Do you drink milk?"

"Yes, ma'am but...." he shuts up.

She gets him a glass of cold milk, and a small brownie plate.

"You know, I think you and Dirk don't get along partially because you're so much alike"

Dirk sputters

but clearly is under orders to try to be on his best behavior

Now -Adam- grinds his teeth but says nothing.

"Both of you want respect, need to be respected, by those around you, and mostly by yourselves. And when something causes you to lose that self respect," She takes a sip of her own milk, "It makes you panic inside, just a bit, lash out, to try to find a substitute. I could show you papers on the studies, but I do suspect they'd just bore you. Now Adam, you insulted me... were you really thinking of ME specifically when you did the insult? It's okay if you did, but I'm curious."

"No, Mrs. Lee, absolutely not. It just.... it was, like, a knee jerk reaction? It just came OUT of my mouth, and I really wish it hadn't. You're super cool."

"Sweet of you to say," She says , "But the truth is I can be selfish as the next soul. "

Dirk snorts at that.

She gives Dirk a look, then looks back at Adam "it's true. For example. Dirk does not tell, but I am not happy with how you treat him. He's one of my boys, and I'm protective of them like any mother might be"

Dirk blushes

"Now, I understand he scared you on your first encounter in school... wrong of him, however good his intentions, but really, Adam, return all debts should have meant you dealt back with it once.. and it was done. Instead you and he have escalated. You've trash talked him constantly, sought out confrontations with him... and of course, he's not innocent about getting in your face. And it led to this. Now I like the apology, but how do you think we can keep this from happening again.. YOUR part. The only one you can really control is yourself" A look to Dirk "Dirk, how do you think YOU can keep this from happening again.. YOUR part.."

"You're killing me" Dirk gapes at her.

Adam clearly has THOUGHTS but is struggling to keep them down.

"Then have some milk" She pours Dirk a milk and a brownie "And die with your mouth full of something that tastes nice"

Dirk sits down at the table

Adam stays standing. "I'll stay away from him. As much as he lets me. I get that .... uh, sometimes people ask him to do stuff."

"Do stuff? Man, you make it sound like I'm SNUFFING Somebody in an alley for hire" Dirk snorts

Adam does not respond.

"Dirk, let's not assume the worst," She glances over at Adam "Adam, what 'stuff' is it you thinks folks ask him? I know Gerd asked him to test your ability to feel fear. She's already called me and apologized about it. It explains a lot mind you."

"Oh. Well. Yeah. That." He admits. "And if that, probably other stuff."

"Such as? Be specific, please, Adam." She says "What is it you think this 'other stuff' is, exactly? Examples"

"I don't know?" Mystified and slightly defensive.

"You don't?" She says surprised, "oh my. Yes, I was afraid of that. Dirk also spoken about YOU out of resentment and ignorance also. Maybe if we can get rid of the latter, we can get rid of the former" Anne Marie nods. "You two have very similar tasks."

Dirk wonders if he can hide behind his glass of milk

"Both of you have kept an eye out for Chimera that might hurt other people. You enforce the Escheat on behalf of the Lodge. You keep fights between Kithain at a minimum when you can, and you resolve them faster when it can't be avoided. You see, Adam... for Dirk it was originaly Peacekeeper, both of you ended up as Crashes of the Storm... but you two are brothers in duty."