#bergen_county

"It ddoes have a flying horse, a one eyed cat, and a little bitty doggie" Lydia, like many girls, keeps track of critters

Hoofbeats down the stairs, and Piper arrives wearing a long t-shirt. short shorts, and toweling off hair that threatens to stick out every which way. "Don't tell Zane I borrowed his t-shirt, my stuff is all in the laundry - hey, Dagmar!"

"And a monkey."

"oh SNOW" Lydia says

"Hey Piper!"

"Guess what, I think your mom's song was the hit of the contest! I played her Ode to R-V, got all of the troubadours to join in, and the countess ACTUALLY stood up and clapped. She barely cracked an eye at the others!" A grin!

"Wow! That's great!"

"Thanks for rescuing Basil, by the way. I hear you tanked a group of mini-hitlers good."

Marsha looks over "Oh PIper, do NOT let Zane catch you in that shirt. It's one of his favorites" She's amused though

Grunt. "Yeah, assholes."

A grin to Marsha, "Yeah, but I look better in it. Where's he been the last few days? I half expected him to crash the contest."

"Wizard stuff" Lydia says "Oh and lessons at the farm"

"For real, ZANE is a wizard? " Basil blinks

She rolls her eyes. "Yes, and I'm a chart-topping Pop star incognito." A chuckle. "Which is to say, maybe someday if he dreams big enough. And doesn't get eaten by a newt or something."

"Dagmar - have you ever wanted to see Mexico?"

"Or the Pacific - you know, the real ocean? Have you been?"

"I went to Fenix a couple days back - escorted this Nocker harpist?"

"I didn't see the beach though, or get out and around."

"There you go about the ocean again..." Basil says

"Oh! I didn't know you beat me there! I guess the trod IS right on your doorstep. What did you think? You'll have to go back, the water is a bit cold there, but the waves are just- "And she sticks her tongue out at Basil.

"Girl you should be a mermaid is all I'm saying.." He stops "Are there mermaids?"

A touch of purple. "Dunno. Ain't been to the beach much..."

"There's supposed to be mermaids, I've not met any. There's Selkies..."

"They're, like, seal shapeshifters."

"We used to all visit the same beach house some summers. Way back when we were small." And she grins at Basil. "Baz, I can't wait to introduce you to one. Oh. I should ask. Do you mind if I call you that? You didn't care way back when... but hey, you're bigger now. "

She adds, "Some Fae take a common name, if they remember one from their times before, like. Not everyone does. Or others just make one up. Names have, like, power and stuff though. You'll learn that along the way."

"I'm not talking TRUE names, mind you. That's not for a year for ya."

"Baz is fine" He says "A year? Satyr classes last a YEAR?"

"Yeah, I've been Dagmar before. Couple times around."

"There's a lot to learn, but it's not too bad."

"Why do they always complain about a mere year and a day?" The prorfessor asks his wife

Marsha looks amused "You forget, I've met YOUR mentor"

"Ahem.. question withdrawn" The professor says

Eyebrow.

'So what have you been up to when not protesting? Did you ever take up an instrument?" Hopeful - she'll get that band together someday...

"Actually, yeah" he says

"Don't say lead acoustic..." She threatens..

"You're gonna laugh at me" He says cautiously

She looks SUPER curious now. "What is it? Bagpipes? Ukulele? Theremin? Triangle? COWBELL?" Grinning.

"Djembe" He says "It was a 'get to know my heritage' thing"

"Oh, those drums, right? Shaped like cups?"

"Yeah, West African" he smiles

"Can't believe my parents were all like 'black power' but screw the gays.. like there aren't any black gays" A snort "But at least they let me llearn that"

A laugh. "Do you know those were traditionally made with goat skin? No, that's awesome. They're heritage, and that's great and all, but pick up one of those and you can fit in with any drum circle at a fest, faire, or gather. It's not too far off from a bodhran."

"Yeah?" He says dubious "I'm like, not great. I just know some basic beats mostly"

"Drumming is different, though. I mean, that's how it feels to me. You can noodle around and play whatever beats in your soul, and as long as you keep to your rhythym, it all sounds good."

Brow-furrow.

"Sup, Dagmar? I don't think I've seen Tove play drums, but I bet she could carve a mean drum-body."

"Oh, I bet she could. Just.. yeah, dunno. Plenty of black folk got issues with gay people."

"Yeah, they aren't alone" Basil says "I get that. It's just.. I can't legitimize it for them. You know?"