#bergen_county

Piper obediently spins, covering her eyes for extra measure. A muffled giggle as she wonders if she should count to 100, it feels like playing hide and seek.

"Hey, " the sassy looking girl's fae seeming almost looks like a make up job around the eyes in the form of a mask. She's wearing shorts, sneakers, and a crop top that says 'Good Girls go to Heaven, Bad Girls go everywhere'

"Oh, it's you!" She grins in surprise! "I recognize you now from Beltaine. Sorry that I made a fuss. Back where I grew up, the biggest wildlife we'd get would be seagulls. Unless you count the seals over at the bay. Come on in, I was about to join your pa for breakfast. Don't mind the clutter..."

"Hey, I understand... I won't make any comments on you being a nature wuss voted most likely to found screaming 'wolf wolf' as the French bull dogs stampede " She smiles and looks around as they go through the apartment "My name is 'my god why are you so mean' but some folks call me Rikki." She eyes the oversized postcard "Geezus, imagine the stamp"

A laugh. "Piper, if you didn't already catch it. And it's not my fault that most of my wildlife was sealife! I'm sure there would be fine forest critters over in the Redwoods, but I'm already sensitive about feeling short without being next to a tree that I would need to run laps around the trunk."

"Ah," Rikki looks down at the girl who is only two inches shorter than her "Yeah, I myself am afraid I might step on you." She looks at the chair with the owls "Oh what a piece of trash... you know, I can dump that somewhere for you clear that space if you like?" not bothering to hide envy

"Oh, not a CHANCE. That's my new favorite piece of furniture, it's a Tove King original. Though I bet she could make something similar!"

"Yeah.. yours seems cheap and stealable... sorry, it's my curse to use my inside voice"

"I think I understand. And I get it, the bandit mask is just for show." A grin as she digs through a bag looking for sandals, the decides to forget it and just heads out barefoot. "So you've lived here for a few months now?"

"Yep.. we got the drama twins hoofing it upstairs, big satyr news so you probably are out of the loop there... we got the sexy mcDance Bermuda shorts. with the 'ya man' accent... you met the old gray goat who's still what she used to be... soft and quiet.. and my good for nothing bro and my mother's love pillow. Right?"

"there's also Hello Nurse and Lord Fix" A nod

as they go down the steps she points in general directions

She puzzles over this. "I... think I know all them, and I've at least met your brother in passing. And I chatted with your da on the phone. Nurse and Fix?" That has her stumped.

"Squibs, one is a capricorn, the other is a touch butter ball... and our janitor...ancient and withered at his thirty years. ... the Capricorn...not all there but va va voom and boys get sick around her. Truth to tell, there this double X situation means there's a shortage of footballs and a surplus of barbie dolls." She shrugs , her tail swishing "course I'm related to two of them and Not Kentuckian"

They make their way down the steps rather htan taking the elevator. It gives them some looks out the windows into the green area. Gorgeous day outside

"I... huh." She listens, maybe filing it away to try to puzzle over later. One thing she thinks she catches. "I think there are a couple single guys who don't live her I might invite over if I have a housewarming...?"

"You're dating wonderboy right? What's his name, Linnorman?"

A laugh! "No, that makes him sound like a linnorm version of Batman. But yes, Adam's my beau. You haven't had any more sharks around here, have you?" Glancing at a vent grate as they walk down the stairs.

"Not since the guys gave the last one the shaft" Rikki says patting her on the back "But there are the stair eels"

"I DO have a cousin, he was here last night. Fresh Chrysalis..." A pause, and she says thoughtfully, "But, I'm not sure if maybe he swings for the other team. I hadn't asked."

"oo is he cute? In a "Daisy can judge Luke and Bo' way?"

She resists the urge to jump on the railing when Rikki casually mentions eels. "Mocha-latte skin with gold hooves and horns, and dark cacao fur, like the stuff for baking that's bitter-sweet. If he wasn't my cousin..." A grin. "Yeah, I won't admit it and swell his head, but he's a cutie."

"Oh I want to be the crazy he's afraid to dip it in already"Rikki says and they wander on down.

now on the first floor they head to room one, but they see Etsie's door open and there's the older satyr putting her axe away

"Good morning, neighbor!" Piper calls over.

"Good morning, Fresh" Etsie looks amused

A tilt of her head at that nickname, but she takes it in stride with a smile. "I heard the electric songbirds this morning, not at all bad to wake up to."

"Nope, and then you turned your back on a pooka" Etsie says.

"Racist!" Rikki gasps

Piper laughs! "I think I feel okay if Rikki has my back. She's cool by me so far."

"Well , " etsie says "At least it's not a kickme sign" Simply with a grin

Piper may remember being patted on the back on the stairwell

A blink and she turns, twisting, trying to peer at her own back.

Looking almost like she's checking a new dance move, or has a nervous tic....

Rikki sighs and takes the paper she put on off, and hands it to her "It's nothing personal, I also torment nuns" The paper says 'FRESH MEAT'

Etsie says "She probably does"

Rikki looks at Etsie "Snitches are witches"

At that, the old satyr tilts her head back and gives a cackle!

A laugh. "I AM fresh meat. And grass fed, organic at that." And she actually pockets the sign, holding onto it. "A souvenir..."

"Ack. I've been defeated by optimism" Rikki makes a face like a seriel villain thwarted

A grin. "Next time, give me a heads up, I can act offended if you prefer."

"I'm pretty sure my father would call this a teachable moment. Gah" The pooka says with mock disgust. "Breakfast?"

"Don't mind if I do, I just had some tea, and not even any proper milk and sugar in it."

"Do you guys live together, or you each have your own unit?"

"Have a good meal you two" Etsie says

Rikki sighs "I'm Dad's dragon. Brother's the moat."

"Watch out for the eels..." She calls back to Etsie, and walks on. "I... see?"

And they go t o Room One...which is a family suite. Door open, smell of bacon, and eggs

Osborn Dyer grins. In a more just world this man would have been a full blown bear Pooka. He's rather bear shaped, tall with a big belly but strong. One can see a family resemblence, not in build, between him and his daughter "Hey .. you found my little angel, thank you, Piper. "

"You must be Pa Dyer." Offering a hand. "Another tall drink of water in this unjust world."