#bergen_county

Jonas grabs Siv and Piper up in his arms as they get back to the apartment. The spell has long worn off, so piper is again her petite hoofed self. Siv is big again, yet somehow he sweeps both up in his grip and almost lifts them, "I was increasingly alarmed at your lack. Were you two hurt? Are you uninjured?"

"Not - oof!" She pats at Jonas's back awkwardly. "Not a scratch on us. A little drained, but more like a good workout than anything else! We're okay, honest."

"tis true" Siv says and she puts a hand on his chest, "Damn you're solid in all the right ways" then a cough "See, no cuts or bruises. We had a good run and escape scene, even a bit of a tan." A huff at Piper "Course Cali girl tans better than I do. My darn Norwiegan blood has me go from pale to crispy pretty fast"

"I like you, pale, medium, or well done."

"It's the medium I have trouble getting and staying at," She smiles though

"You do sometimes sizzle like nordic bacon" Jonas agrees to Siv. He rewards each girl with a deep kiss, "Sit down, I can't cook like the Hearth, but Anne Marie taught me a few things and I can make you both something"

"First he compares me to bacon, now he makes me some. Men are so fickle" Siv smiles though "You sit downn, Piper, I'm going to shower"

"Go, go." She grins. Once Siv is in the shower, Piper looks around the snug confines of her little abode, and frowns a little. "Jonas, do you think maybe we should get a bigger place? I mean, not that I mind having you over! It's cozy. But I know it's a tight fit for you both. Siv's going to get a crick in her neck trying to get her hair wet in the shower, for one..."

"Mmm " A look then "Siv has her own room at the lodge anytime she wants, and I get by" He glances over "PIper, are you feeling guilty that we're tall? That's not your fault."

She moves over, and steps up onto a chair to give him a smooch on the forehead. "Not at all. I love that you're tall. If you were different, you wouldn't be you." She wonders at that 'get by' remark. Where does Jonas live? Surely she knows the answer to that.

Well, there's that tree house but given winters here surely he doesn't live there full time? Where DOES he live?

"But I am different a lot of the times, sometimes I have four legs," A reminder of his metamorphsis mastery, "But that's being pedantic I suppose. I like you how you are too. But I wanted to make sure you weren't feeling pressured or crowded by our visits here?"

"Jonas... I worry about you. I know you're the most excellent shapeshifter, but you're not a wildcat or a moose or whatever else you've turned into. You're a man, and you deserve - no, you need to have your own home to return to. I'm not pushing to move in together or anything, though that would definitely be something to think of, but either way, you need a place of your own, and not a drafty tree-house either, even if it IS a lovely one."

A troubled look, then "Let's not trouble ourselves about me, and let's not bother Siv with this. I have places to go. The treehouse is just one."

She cups his face in her small hands, so that she can gaze into his eyes. "What's wrong? You know you can talk to me about anything."

"I mean, if you have someone else out there, say, there's a wife and kids that you visit on the weekends and you can't let them know you have another set of girlfriends, I mean, we can work with that." She says, only half joking.

"I would never.. no no, Siv would disembowel me and I'd deserve it if that were the case" the troll looks troubled "I am faithful to you both. It took me a while to wrap my head around our number but I told myself you were both wonderful women and I care for you both. It's just well, Ihave been using the tree house a lot, and there's a few places I squat. the lodge lets me use their shower anytime I like as does Anne Marie so so far I've parsed it out enough not to trouble anyone and I don't think they've caught on."

"But... why, though?"

"Geez, you know that anyone here would be glad to have you, and you're certainly not a freeloader. There's space to be had, or when there isn't, a good ol' fashioned barn raising. Unless you don't want a permanent place, like, Eshu-wandering-feet style..."

"I've found that when women learn of a man's endeavours to gather resources for her sake without her approval, she is prone to irritation," he coughs into his hand, "Double that situation, and I confess I didn't want to trouble either of you"

"Gather resources?" She looks puzzled.

"That's what I'd like to know TOO" Siv says from behind him "The hell?"

She is wearing just a towel, two towels actually, one for a head wrap

Jonas winces, then says calmly "While I love you both, each of you has had tthe advantage of supportive family there for you. For many changelings not of means, a transient squator life style is NOT that uncommon. Now I do have funds, my jobs for Anne Marie have made me decent enough money but she is not made of wealth. Therefore, it behooves me to spend as little on residence as possible so I might be better ready to provide for you both in the future"

"It's not UNCOMMON, but that doesn't mean it's necessary. If it was a life you chose because you wanted the freedom, sure? But I can't say I like you being left wanting, that is, LITERALLY out in the cold, for our potential future sake."

"And we don't need ..take care of" Siv explains

Jonas looks at both, "It is necessary, and sometimes yes you do" He answers "I worry about you both. Consider this my way of alleviating my worries. Siv, your work for the Baron of Teaneck and your own lodge are invalable. You are a spy no one expects. But what pray tell is your day job?"

Siv gapes at him "What.. day job?"

"Exactly, you are vulnerable to banality, so of course your mortal life is a bit distant. If this were a more just world, you'd have a mansion by now for all you do that no one knows about, but that's not what yo useek. You are provided in food and shelter and you've earned it twice over. You are contributing, but we are changelings and sometimes I fear you maybe heading to bedlam."

Jonas does not raise his voice, but it is FIRM and there is an intensity, then he turns "PIper, you love your music, Siv and I both think you will be amazing. I'm glad your DJing a that strip club pays you regularly, but your big break may take a bit and that's fine. Of course I want to have a safety net for you. I love you both"

Siv head rises as if she were struck

Piper frowns! "I... it doesn't make sense. You want to look out for us, take care of us, that's all well and good, but... why is it so crazy that we'd want the same for you? Is this some macho he-man thing where you think that your needs must take backseat? Can't you see that you being taken care of NOW is just as important as what may happen in the future? I'd argue, MORE!"

"And I can look after cares of bedlam and the like me self, and certainly don't want you living like a caveman for my sake" Siv says coolly "PIper's right. This sounds a bit macho"

Jonas throws his hands up "I do not suffer. I get food a the lodge anytime I like. I can visit the DeBukes or even Fenix for an easy room.. when trods are up. My now is fine. Your futures are more important"

"You may not suffer, but I will, worrying about you." Little hoof stomp. "Why are you being stubborn? You can have a home and still plan and save. You really think that the Lodge would begrudge you a room? You MORE than earn room and board with your patrols and everything you do. I mean, I can't speak for the Chief, but, SERIOUSLY?"

"The lodge is wall to wall with Centaurs right now, which is fine. All spare room is taken," he reminds "I am not being stubborn, I'm being logical"

"I have a room that's PLENTY big" Siv fusses

"And it upsets your folks when we share it. i will nnot be such a poor guest as all that " Jonas says, stubborn and probably SURE he is the voice of reason here

"Then you live here." Piper says, firmly. "If you can deal with roughing it in a treehouse or on the street, you can handle the occasional balcony raccoon or Satyr up in your business. I'm not saying you have to be here all the time! You can stay in the treehouse, or wherever. But... Jonas, if only for my sake, for our sake. It would mean a lot to me to know that you have a place you can call your own to return to. Please."

"Charity seems..." He starts to protest

"For the love of god," Siv hisses, "First ,I will be talking to my parents about how I love them but they cannot be surprised if I have the people I love in my room from time to time. Secondly, take her up onn the offer. If you feel so bad about it, then pay for part of her rent.. not more than half mind you, Piper's a big girl and provides fine for herself"

"And if you pay for half the rent, I'm putting it aside for our futures. I'm not saying you can't save and provide for us! Hell, that's sweet of you! But that means that I can do the same."

"This is.... this is gettingg complicated" he protests

Siv rolls her eyes "I had to be bi, Lesbian would be SO much easier I'm sure... only one gender to want to kick in the shins"

"Siv.. Piper... I am ... the season is such that the tree house is VERY nice"

"We will use it, some, all THREE of us" Siv says "Now take piper up on this. She's being nice. And besides, we all want to feel useful. You, her, and me. So let her help you, you nimrod"

"You know, Nimrod isn't the insult some cartoon rabbit made it to be, he was actually a great hunter in... "Jonas starts to explain

"Don't care" Siv huffs and pokes him in the chest, "Tell Piper tthank you and accept"

Piper tries HARD not to roll her eyes as Jonas goes off on a tangent, but can't help a smile.

And then she can't help but tease, "I think one of the centaurs is staying around, and they'll need to find lodging for him. If you don't want to stay with me, I can put HIM up in my apartment, and you can have whatever room they were going to get for him."

She adds with a grin, "He's a musician."