#bergen_county

"...you're sure you want to? Even now that you know?" A pause. "I wouldn't blame you, if you didn't want to talk to me. I won't make a thing about it, goats are dramatic but we can keep things in when we need to." Frowning. "I don't really want to be in my own company right now either."

A blink. "Piper...you're not the person you were. I mean, the Piper I know is nothing like the one as you've described who did all that back in Cali. I like you. And I don't think I'm fooling myself into that, and I don't think you're fooling me. You're not that person."

She sniffs, rubbing at her eyes a little. "A run sounds fantastic. Rome wasn't built in a day, I guess I can give myself at least a little time to mull on this and figure out who I am... or who I want to to be."

"You're doing good, Piper," Sylvi says, resting a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm.... I'm trying. And I'll keep trying." She nods.

"That's good. That's the best we can do, right?"

"...Right. Is that what you learn in Emissary college?" A small smile as she tied up her skirt around her hips so that she can easily keep pace on a run.

"Hey, on-the-job training yields results sometimes. C'mon," And she starts jogging. It's not a pace that would challenge Piper at all, but it's a good pace.

Piper takes after her, and after a bit. "Do you think Dirk will be okay? It's hard to tell what he's thinking ever."

Sylvi doesn't answer right away. "Honestly? I think...I think it's going to give him legitimacy with his kith. Badass. And...he needs that."

She has to think about this for a while. "I can see that. He doesn't want to look soft, or maybe that would be like, acting like prey or something." "Do you think I should tell anyone? I wasn't going to say... I mean, it's not my place. This was the Chief's mission, and any report to anyone should come from her."

"I think...no. Not yet. Give the Chieftain a chance to report. If she doesn't report about that in two weeks, then...well, let's talk about it, then."

She nods. "Thanks for listening to me now, though. I think I've got a lot of soul searching to do."

"It's okay. You can talk it out more if you want," she adds while they jog.

It takes a few minutes. "I think... I may need to break up with Adam."

Sylvi gives her a curious glance. "Can you spell it out for me? I'm not seeing how we get from successful rescue raid to gotta break up with my boyfriend."

"I just... I think maybe I need some time alone. He's striving to turn into something greater than he is... and I don't know who that would be, or if that's someone I could be with. He's fun... and sweet... when he wants to be... but I need to figure out who I am. And not just someone using him as a booty-call or when I need physical comfort - or using that to distract him from things I don't want to talk about. Maybe he hasn't been a perfect boyfriend, but I haven't been really fair either."

A pause. "Is that what it's been like with you two? Booty calls and avoiding stuff?"

Hesitation. "Not always... but... there's a lot I haven't want to talk about... and he never presses. I don't know if it's because he's polite, or that he doesn't want to hear it. He never says no when I change the subject. When it's just the two of us, we have good chemistry... but maybe it's me having a hangup - who ever heard of a satyr with jealousy? Even over a chimera... But around others, sometimes it feels like he forgets I'm there. Tonight, I was feeling pretty lost... and the first thing he asks me is about Nadeen, of all people. Where does that come from? I dunno. Maybe I'm just over thinking things. But I think I need a... to be on a break, at least. And he can tell me what he thinks of that..."

"Oh...oh, Piper...I think I saw that. I think he was trying to make sure that Dagmar was okay." She keeps up the pace. "I can't believe I'm going to say this....but...be gentle when you break up with him? He's kind of had a hell of a year."

"I... I had thought.. maybe I should hold off... stay with him, because... you know, he really needs someone on his side." A glance over at Sylvi. "But that's not fair, either... is it?"

"Not if you're not being honest about it. I mean...you need time. And yeah, he needs somebody on his side. He's got Nabuni. and he's got Zane to hang with, and...well, you're not breaking up because he's bad, but he's just not the person you need, right? Then...it's better to do it, I think."

"Yeah. I'll talk to him... and who knows, maybe it will just be that, a break. But I think I do need some time to think about myself. And that may be selfish, but maybe not as selfish as keeping him on the hook while I do that."

"I gotta ask, though...have you told him when you're feeling jealous? Or...when you need to talk? I mean...he can be a bit dense."

She nods. "I've tried to, and he feels bad, I think, and wants to know how he can act differently so I'm not upset.... but it's like, I don't think he Understands WHY I'm upset? If that makes sense? Maybe I'm just bad at explaining. I'm a music goat, not one built for debate."

"Okay...I mean, you have to give him that shot before you break up, I think, but it sounds like you did." She sounds like she's getting winded. "Anything I can do to help?"

Piper slows her pace a bit. "You already have, a lot. Now I think I have to do some thinking... but first, probably sleep is the ticket. Do you think you're good to go back to the Lodge, or do you want me to see you back there and get a ride? I think I could just run to the apartments from here, if you're okay getting home."

"I'm fine. I could escort you there, too, if you want. You know, troll thing."

A smile. "I think I'll run the rest of the way. Wear myself out, pass out, and worry about the rest in the morning."

"Fair enough. 'Kay, listen, check in by text when you get there. Just to be sure."

She nods. "I will! And thanks.... thanks again." And with a wave, she takes off, kicking back her heels at satyr speed to run off a little more energy before sleep.

Sylvi slows to a walk and paces a bit to get her breath back, arms over her head, then turns around and heads back home at a slower pace.

And a text to Sylvi once there. "TY - you back home?"

---------Night!---------

And a text to Adam the next morning, not too early. 🐐 Hey, are you free?

Piper heads up to the roof with a couple drinks, and picks a bench somewhere in a sunny spot. The indigent satyr has moved on... for a moment, wondering how things are going with her and her dad... and waiting for Adam.

And, 15-20 minutes later, Adam takes the stairs up 2 at a time and out onto the roof!

Piper gives him a wave, sipping from her thermos of hot tea. "Morning, hun - or is it afternoon?" She squints up at the sun. "Suns out, that's all that's important, right?"

"Hey!" He beams, delighted to see her, and rushes over to give her a hug.

And kiss.

"Yeah, sun's out and we're out to see it!"

She returns the hug, and the kiss. "Want to tell me about your part in the mission? You seemed distracted last night."

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that. I was worried for you." He touches her cheek. "It was no big. Four redcaps showed up at the loading dock but we handled them. Then we loaded the truck and left."

"Boring."