#bergen_county

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Chieftain Brekke visits the BAR apartments, in search of Lady Sparrow. Hopefully somebody lets her in the front door....

She finds Sparrow in one of the upstairs hallways, dancing to her headphones as she works on a stand of birches.

She tries to get Sparrow's attention without alarming her, trying to move into her peripheral vision.

"Oh! Hey!" She pops out the earpieces and smiles. "Ba-...Brekke!"

A slight grin and a nod. "Hello..." and then a puzzled pause as she's not sure how to address her in a mundane context.

"How shall I call you here?"

"Julia."

"Ah, of course. Julia. Hello." She takes a look at the birch stand in progress. "Very good."

"I was given a lot of freedom here. It's been fun."

"I am pleased. I should tell you that I am hoping to enlist your assistance for mural work at the YMCA building, perhaps leading young people in something collaborative."

"That will be, of course, when we are permitted to resume activities there."

Feathers fluff. "Really? That sounds wonderful, I'd love to!"

"Good. It may need to be planned remotely, and then multiple small groups working in shifts...does that sound possible?"

"Well - I'll need to lean on your hospitality again. Or talk to Caesar about a short-term rental..."

"But yes! I like working with kids."

"Good. And we are glad to have you here."

"I...did have another question for you. Something of a task to undertake, if you are willing."

Piper comes down the hallway, and spots a winged back. "Oh - Miss, um, Baroness - Der- Derew..." Trying to remember her name, and then in surprise, "Chief?"

"I always like visiting..."

"Hey Piper!" Sunshine smile!

"Hello, Piper." A nod.

"Oh, if I'm interrupting, I can check back later? I just wanted to chat with - our painter." That's safe! "You can come by my apartment later if you're busy?" She offers.

"Sure?"

Piper nods - a little curious - she lingers a moment, but then after checking for mortal goons, gives them a quick bow and clips back upstairs.

"I will release her to you shortly, Piper."

"Unit 404 - " She calls back "Take a left at the rock music and up the stairs. No rush!"

"Sure thing!"

Brekke waits until the hoofbeats fade away, then says quietly, "I wish to be clear that there is no obligation to this. There are other options. But you seem a likely possibility." She checks to make sure there are no mortals nearby. "Lady Sparrow, I know you already have experience with guiding squires, and you have done well in this role."

She smiles. "Colton turned out, didn't he?"

"He turned out very well, yes, and I had my doubts about him at the start. You brought him around. Thus...I think you may do well with another. I do not know if you have met one of our locals by the name of Adam."

"I've heard the name, but haven't met him. Kinain, isn't he?"

"Kinain, but of a very odd situation..." and she relates the situation with the Djinn and the wish and how it almost came to fruition but not quite.

"I expect that his full nature will emerge in time...but right now, he is struggling."

"That's... wow."

She nods.

"We anticipate that he will be fully Fiona, and while you are Liam, you have trained within Fiona."

"I take squiring very seriously - I would require an oath. And given that gravity... I think I'd have to meet the boy before I can answer you yes or no. I was fostered Fiona, and my soul-mother and brother are both Lions."

"I would not ask you to accept the role of his mentor sight-unseen, no. And...you may wish to consider how well an oath would hold on him. But he has learned to be dutiful, and that is important."

"And I am Liam, and so - Oathbroken-marked. He might not care for me."

"Ah." A nod. "There is that, though he has learned to adapt to the Mountain's mark. Let us find out. When would you like to meet him?"

"Perhaps tomorrow?"

"Good. I will send him here to meet you. You should know...he and Piper have had a relationship that ended very recently. He is still very troubled by it, when last I spoke with him."

"Romance is hard." Wisftul regret.

"Mm." Acknowledgement. "Well, I thank you, and now I will leave you to your work."

"Thank you, Brekke. I look forward to meeting the boy."

And with that, Brekke departs.

And she starts to put her headphones back on.. then... "Oh! 404!"