#bergen_county

And, sends a text over to Sylvi - Wanna come check out my new digs? Just getting settled in.

TXT: Perfect timing! Just done with putting stuff away with mom. Be right there!

Right there means about 15-20 minutes later. Sylvi arrives at the semi-infamous apartments and peers at the buzzers for one marked Wayburton

There might be one marked, brand new, McCormick

"Hmm."

She texts: I'm here. Which one's you?

404D, 4th floor. Should say McCormick - maybe haven't labeled them yet! Sry, should have given address! 😜

McCormick's here. Forgot your last name! 😊

And the buzzer buzzes.

Buzzed up!

Piper fluffs a stray pillow and kicks her clothes from yesterday behind a chair...

Sylvi's not as massively built as Dagmar, but Piper can still hear her as she jogs up the last fight of steps. And then the doorbell rings.

The door is flung open! "Come in! There's not a lot to see yet, but it's here, and it's mine..."

"Hey!" A somewhat winded Sylvi accepts the invite in and looks around. "This is cool. You must be so psyched."

It's a small studio, with a murphy bed on one wall, a tiny desk, kitchenette with breakfast bar and a couple stools, and a balcony just big enough to step out on and maybe sit with a cuppa tea.

"It probably is about right for a troll-sized closet, but I'm tiny and it suits me so far!"

On one wall is a piece of art, and on the fridge (kitchen adjoining the living space as one big room) is a crayon drawing, and one lovely carved wooden chair makes up all of the surroundings so far.

The chair definitely screams 'Tove'!

Sylvi laughs. "Well, yeah, it would be a little cramped for me, but just right for you. Hey...who's this?" She gestures to the picture on the fridge.

"And... wow!...who made that chair? It's amazing!"

A grin. "That's the sweetest little countess you'd ever hope to meet. Ellie - Elanor... something something flowers. Pretty name, and for a sidhe, she was super sweet. Not at all bossy like you might think in a girl that age and position. I see why Countess Jessica likes her."

"And THAT is a Tove original. " A big grin. "It's still on layaway, so I have to be careful with it, but isn't it just perfect?"

"Oh, yeah, I heard something about her. Well, good, I'm glad she's not bossy."

"The map is from Siv." She taps the wall next to it. "She's off on adventure, and I don't know how she knew, but she's just the best, y'know?"

"Okay, I'm getting some serious jealous."

"I'm thinking I may look for a big double-armchair, or a small loveseat for that last corner. Some folk would probably put a TV there, but forget that noise, I want some troll-welcome seating, at least one spot."

"Maybe a really big bean-bag?"

"Oooh, that's fun too." And then she snorts, covering up a belly laugh! "Can you imagine the Chief sitting in a beanbag here?"

"Or.. or the Mountain?" The giggles cannot stop now.

A snort. "Oh, wow...now, I...yeah, I can see it!"

"Might almost be worth it just for the possibility!"

"Well, I don't imagine they have much call to visit here. Maybe the apartments, but there are social areas, and spots to grill. I think I saw a couple little grills on some of the other balconies, but I promised not to burn the building down, so I'll wait until the next meet and greet to check that out. OH, and they're putting in a POOL!" Excited bounce. "Or trying to..."

"A pool? Cool! What do you mean, trying to?"

"Oh, they ran into an issue with construction." Looking amused. "Apparently the super's daughter - you know that raccoon girl at beltaine? Rikki? She pulled a prank on the patriarch of the family that was lined up for construction, and now they're stonewalling a little. I thought maybe you might be able to help, to be honest." And she gives a grin. "I mean, after all, as a GUEST you'd be welcome to use the pool..."

Sylvi's expression gets serious. "Piper, you don't have to bribe me for something like that. Of course I'll do what I can. Which family is it? And has Rikki tried to make things right at all?"

"Oh, I'm just joking. I'm sorry, I didn't mean for it to sounds that way." Contrite, and she offers Sylvi a drink. The fridge has a 6 pack of lacroix in it... and that's all so far, but she offers a can of the bubbly lime water over.

"It's the Hayes family, I haven't met them. I think she'd LIKE to... from what I can decode, but she's banned from going near them?" A wince. "Apparently something to do with an animated toupe - on his wedding anniversary."

She totally accepts the bubbly lime. "I'm totally not offended," she reassures. Then a wince at the crime. "Oh, yikes. I can see how a toupe would be almost irresistible for a pooka, but still..." She sighs. "The Hayeses....."

"Well, I had been thinking about it. And you know that little countess? She had the prettiest long hair, all done up in dozens of braids, but I heard that she'd had it all hacked off in some sort of altercation before she got to Fenix. They got a little satyr girl in, a DeBuke if you can believe it, who worked spring magic to grow it all back, and I think even a bit longer."

The hayes wree complaining to Brekke not long ago about how construction was overly restricted in this fief.

"Ooooh! Wow. I haven't really tried on baldness. I mean...it should work, right?" She thinks about it. "Gotta be sure not to offend him in the offer...."

"And that must be Ariel. She's at Fenix now? Cool!"

"She's a troubadour there, the Childling Troubadour. And she's an awesome kid, with a great set of pipes. She wrote an entire parody song for the contest. Now that takes some thought, too!"

"If you were able to help, it would certainly smooth things over I think." A pause, and grins. "Or would that be, combs things over?"

Sylvi rolls her eyes. "Oh, wow, that's like the kind of joke my dad would tell!"

"Really? He doesn't seem the joking sort. He's always been so... dour, when I met him. But, he was on duty, so maybe he has to keep up the tough facade?"

"Well...I can try." She fishes out her phone and searches for the contact info for Hayes Construction.

"Yeah, everybody else gets to see Rover face. I get to hear Dad jokes." She says it fondly, though.

"He helped escort Adam and me over to Fenix. He didn't have to, but insisted on making sure we got there safe. It was really nice of him."

The contact number is found.

She grins at the nice news about her dad. Then, "Okay, got it. Gonna call." And she dials the number.

"Hayes Family Construction, Alexandra Hayes speaking"