#bergen_county

"Yeah.. I felt it..." Basil smiles "Felt good"

"Oh dear" Tove says "Ah, Basil, not every kith... you probably should let folks kknow when you're going to do it."

A smile and nod to Dagmar, a little sheepish. "I'd have given you a head's up if I'd realized. It's really a lovely thing - but you see, a lot of times wehn you have a tragos togerher and we're all a few drinks in and we let flow the gift of pan, the mood of the night might BE that folk want to get a little rowdy and ready.. if you hear me. So there's a bit of a bad rap that playing with Pan's effect on makes folk want to go on a wild bender with a bottle of tequila behind them - but it;s really just more, to me at least, about... relaxing a bit and letting things just... feel okay, and work out like they will."

"Well, I mean.... that wasn't so bad. The other times... I mean, it's usually not like you're blackout drunk."

"I think way back when some Eshu was at a tragos bender and told a tale that never quite faded from memory. It probably WAS some party..."

"And I mean, personal perspective? Sometimes it's hard to just relax and just be. So, dunno, the gift can be nice."

"Sure feels nice to me" Basil says "But it's cool.. everyone's got their own pace" A nod to Piper "Thanks, Piper."

"It even makes it feel less banal. Not that this place needs it, but there are definitely spots that can use a touch. So when folk - no one here, mind - talk about Pan as being like an orgy switch, better hide the kids - it makes me a little ticked, and a little sad."

"And then there's Jack." A shake of her head. "I don't know what he went through, but someone made him use HIS gift in a wrong way, and now he's shy about music at all. And that's just sick."

"Jack has been through some bad shit, yeah."

"Well, he's here now." A little clomp of a hoof. "So he's gonna be alright."

"You guys are like... an underground railroad for folks in deep shit aren't you?" He asks

"It does feel like it some times..." A small smile.

Tove says "Shh.. don't tell anyone. Stoic. Troll. Grim faced. Thinks of duty only"

"There's the next big thing - Rivervale Retreat B&B, come leave the world behind, rest and recover among the oaks in Apples."

She waves a hand as though setting the scene in a play.

"You'll be over run in a week and have to hire Dirk as a bouncer at the gates."

"Poor Hearth Kerri would drinking heavily" Tove says

A grin. "I dunno, I like that."

"I ever tell you, that's what I want to do?"

"There's this horse farm, down south - Liam run - and they take in kids who need a place."

Tove smiles

"You've already got a horse - well, two, soon. That's a good start. Maybe there are kids in this area that would like to learn to ride. Or foster kids or kids in the system that just don't GET those kind of opportunities." Thoughtful. "Like, getting to go camping for a weekend. Or ride a horse. Or even go for a hike."

"See, I was one of the lucky ones early on, like you are now, Dagmar... But I'd still meet up with groups for counseling, and there were some pretty bitter stories from kids that were too darn young to feel that way."

"Yeah..." She rubs the back of her neck. "I was in and out since I was four."

"My moms got me as a baby, so I only ever knew them. ..Maybe Anne Marie would know if it's a silly idea or not. But if there are kids that could be dreamers and they're just... well, maybe there's something that could be done. Not to volunteer yout time and lodge and all. But if nothing else, I could do like a music camp or something..."

Tove looks at the girls with an expression that might not make much sense to them. Pride

"Music, and horses, and maybe... dunno... crafts or cooking?"

"Like... Big Sisters, sort of?"

A tentative smile over at Dagmar. "I never had a sister, but the girls here DID make me feel welcome first of all when I moved to town. So that's not too far off the mark."

"I always thought the two Vs should have gotten another girl.. Zane says you broke them" Basil smirks

"You can't beat perfection." A smirk.

"I did wonder if they'd have Empty Nester symptoms when I moved out. Maybe they got like, a herd of shar peis to live in my room."

"Heh."

Tove says "That's why I'm glad CJ is a boy. Dagmar sets the bar too high for daughter"

"Mom!"

"Vera was talking about a pygmy goat to live in the garden and said she could just name it after me and feel the same... I THINK she was joking..."

"Is Viola gonna roll with that? "

Basil looks amused

"She might threaten to make a curry. She makes a MEAN curry..."

And a side-eye glance to Tove. "You ever made south Indian curry?"

"No, it's probably too much work. You have to toast like, 16 spices..."

"Sounds like a challenge..."

Tove puts a hand on a hip "Sure does. I think I'm being scammed into creating Curry"

A hand over her mouth in shock. "Innocent little me?"

"I mean, I could just move into that big ol' empty apartment... and I can cook granola bars, I guess..."

Her chin wobbles a little.

"And eggs. You can microwave eggs, right?"

"Oh good lord.. I'll be in the kitchen, and texting my husband to pick up some ingredients" She goes into the kitchen and calls out "And young lady, you will be paying me back in musical support for some of my videos where I need a duet or second instrument"

"Good one, Piper..."