#bergen_county

"What's his face, at the apartments? He's a satyr, too.."

"Lyron?"

"Lyron, he's from .. OH i forget which Island" Tove says as Snow munches the plum

"Oh friend Dagmar is the best" MUNCH munch goes Snow

"Have a seat all of you!" Tove directs "I'll get some real food into you"

"I don't know what to ask first.. your story, Basil, or Piper.. how did it go in Fenix?"

TwoBit is sniffing at Basil and Piper's hooves, stubby little tail wagging.

"Basil helped fight off the nazi assholes." Dagmar snags cups and plates.

Basil looks down "I got friends with hair bigger than you" He pets the little dog.

"TwoBit thinks she's a real dog."

"It's adorable" Tove says "now , Basil, you helped fight?"

"Mrs King, I'd liked to tell you I threw down and slammed these wanna be Reichboys... but truth is, I only got a few licks in. Sam.. uhm.. Dagmar, and Dirk they were a force.. it was Symon who keep an eye on things.. least I think that was him... mostly I hit a guy with a sign. I didn't know it was like faerie folks running to our rescue."

"Oh man, Dirk and Symon will be a bit of a shock..."

"Dirk is a brutal hand to hand fighter" Tove says "And my daughter is the best Wilder Warrior around in this County"

Purple. "To-ove."

"The.Best." Tove says stubbornly. Loyally.

And Basil grins at that

"So, um... so, if satyrs are passion, and trolls are duty... sluagh, like Symon, are dreams of fear and redcaps like Dirk are hunger. Some dreams are dark, y'know? Doesn't make them bad, but the nightmare kith can be unsettling."

"Guess it's a bit hypocritical of me to be marching for some causes but not get to know folks" Basil says

Piper comes out of her daze. "Tove, I'm so sad you didn't make it to the contest. I didn't place at all, but your song went over a TREAT and got a standing ovation, so even if I'm not a blue-ribbon at the fair, Rivervale made a good showing of things."

"You didn't place? That's bullshit."

"I gave it a bit of thought, mostly over a bubble bath... and I think that was politics, rather than skill based. Which salved my pride a little."

"Oh I hate it when politics buts itself into what should be art." A sigh "That's the down side of playing in noble holds"

"There were like 6... or 7? Other contenders, and other than me and one other, they all wanted to position as Court Troubador. And I think they were all local to the area, too. So who do you have to consider for a prize - the girl repping your hometown, the only other Troll there and from a family allied with the hold, or the singers who'll be going to other local places and remembering how the judging went down? You can't play favorites... and you have to pick what's best for the hold. Sometimes it must suck to be in charge."

"Oh!" Tove says "Well yes, that does it explain it. They kind of had to take you out of the running as the top prize was a job there" A nod

Basil asks "Who got the top spots?" Curious

"Still sucks."

"Well, on the plus side, we get to keep Piper to ourselves a bit longer, before she partakes of another event and breaks out ... and starts her world tour" Tove does not say this in a mocking way

"Well, yeah. And with a new fledge..."

She sets down a plate of lettuce and sliced tomatoes, next tot he bread and cheese and cold cuts.... "Shit. Piper, is cheese and fixings okay, or do you want, like, peanut butter?"

"...not peanut butter with lettuce, we have jelly too... or banana?"

"Banana?" Snow looks up

A laugh at Snow. "I ate SO MUCH FOOD at the contest, I practically won my weight in cake. Just cheese and crackers is great."

Siiiigh.

Basil is offered a slice of meat loaf and some greens "Thank you" he says as Tove hands it over.

"The top job went to - Oh! Dagmar, you should meet her. A Gwydion Sidhe named Bevara. She played these fantastic older songs, lovely stuff really... and I bet it might sooth some of the other area nobles to have a more traditional type with the Countess's ear."

"AND a Selkie named Neema." A grin to Basil. "Maybe you'd like to meet her. A nod to the Ocean roots and keeping the court somewhat common-based, is my guess."

"I still don't know that many Gwydion. So maybe next time I head down? If we want to beach it?"

"Well, if you're not on patrol and your chores are done, I imagine your father and I won't object to you going" Tove says

Meanwhile, Piper is sneaking a banana to Snow. Softy...

Snow takes it..quietly! Then blows a monkey kiss

and while quiet, she wiggles delighteldy as she scarfs the banana

Dagmar builds herself a sandwich.

...or two...

Basil says "Islander huh? Could be cool."

Then he tries the meat loaf , his eyes nearly water, but in a good way "This is GOOD? " he stares at Tove

"Tove's the best cook in the county."

"Kerri's the best honey"

"All I know is it's good and I like it. i was expecting something a bit more.. " He struggles

"Bland?" She smiles