#bergen_county

Piper can't help a smile at Clive, a sweet talker!

She takes a moment to consider, remembering that names have power - but there is a nickname she hasn't used for a while, not since she was in a band back in San Fran, what feels like lifetimes ago. "You can call me Mel." She accepts Nova's hand in a shake.

"What was the magic you were working on the crowd? I felt it."

From the corner, the other woman speaks up "Open mindedness"

A brow raised, and she nods, slowly. "I see. That's good, you know, if that's all it was. Being open minded, willing to consider new things. Not so much if they were empty minded - that is, without a will of their own, or moving to the tune of a player, like a marionette. Right?"

"We don't do that" Devlin assures

"Coercian is frowned on by Cult of X" Clive nods

"Good!" She grins. "Because frankly, I think your music stood for itself - you didn't need to work any whammy to get people to listen."

"AND because we wouldn't like it if you did. Pretty big on free will around here, for mortals. They need to dream, and create."

"We need them to believe in the impossible" the woman in the corner says "I'm Heartbeat by the way" Of course, she's the Drummer

"In that, I think, we'll find common ground." She says, nodding, then asks, casually, "I don't suppose any of you are members of the Fellowship?" A finger taps her forehead, just at the base of one of her horns. The horns that mortals should not see, but it seems like maybe these folk.... do?

Clive says "Nope, but my trad.. that's my style of magicker? It's a sub group...and I've met a member. Hung with them."

She nods... on one hoof wanting to ask questions, but on the other hoof, not wanting to let it be known just how little she knows about them.

"Are you locals? Visitors? What's your ultimate goal here? If you're passing through, that's one thing. If you're setting up shop, that's another. Folk around here don't necessarily take kindly to willworkers muddling up the minds of our muggles, you see. Not everyone is understanding, like me. Others might get the wrong idea and think you don't have their best interests at heart, and that might cause... conflict."

She shakes her head! "I'm a pacifist, myself. I don't even eat meat! But since I'm the one who spotted you, it might be your lucky day, vs. someone who might have a protective streak and a short fuse."

An overall friendly and helpful tone. Piper knows she can't back up any sort of intimidation, so she doesn't even try that route.

Well, it might work on Devlin, he's a bit twitchy

Still, that's not how someone makes friends!

The only guy who hasn't spoken until now has been cleaning his Sax, he looks up "If it helps, we don't always agree with each other, but we still find common ground" She notices the cross about his neck "But we understand, persecution can rise even from supposedly noble causes. We're a touring band and will be moving up to New York state soon"

She admires the sax, Mama Vi has instilled an appreciation of brass in her daughter. "True. Tell you what, I'll lay a few things out to be clear, because I owe that much to the folk who run this part of town. One - don't do anything to the mortals that will hurt them, not unless they've done something to you first that warrants it. Two, don't go looking for any of my kind unannounced - some can be kinda prickly against folk that may seem to be magic poachers." An understatement! "Though if you're going upstate, and are interested, I can pass the word on to a cuz of mine who might want to meet YOU."

"And three... if you have time before you leave, you wanna have a jam sesh?"

They looks curious, worried, a bit defensive but then... they relax as the rules seem reasonable, then they looks pleasantly surprised at the offer... and finally? Out right delighted

"Got it!" "We won't poke around.. we're here to help people believe in what they always wanted to believe" "LOve to meet your cousin..." "Ha, you play? Excellent"

"I play, and sing. It's in my blood, but more than that, it's my personal passion." She realizes that the sound of the crowds has faded. "I bet my friends are looking for me, though - I don't want them to get worried. We can meet up to jam, here, or a know a few little clubs if you want to hit the scene a little more. I can probably score you a gig." Not Goldfinch, of course not, but there are plenty of venues around town that appreciate a little live entertainment and she knows a few names in the biz.

Clive holds out a hand "You got it. Nova can give you an email or number to text. SHe's our tech guru"

"Clive, Nova. Devlin, and Heartbeat." She smiles. "Pleased to meetcha." Exchanging information.

"Oh, and that's Rev" They look at the guy with the Crucifix

"It's a nickname" He says deadpan "My birthname is HIs Holiness Smith"

A nod to Rev. "Melpomene was the name I toured under, back when I was in a band. It's a nickname too. I'm not the person I was back then, but, hey, it's still a good name."

She raises a brow. "Rev sounds good to me." Grinning.

"It's good to meet you, Mel" Rev says "Don't worry, I mostly preach to THESE heathens"

She laughs. "I don't have a problem with faith. Have you HEARD most gospel choirs? It's when people use it as an excuse to be zealots that it's a problem."

"From your lips to the Maker's ears" Rev nods "I'll take a good hearted atheist over a false hearted believer for company anytime"

"ANd do" Nova grins

A few chuckles

Footsteps... and a voice is calling "Piper?" Siv

"I gotta go!" She waves, pocketing her phone with the contact info saved, and skips down the stairs back to the front of the stage. "Hey babe!"

Siv says "Did you get their autographs?" Swirling her up and around

A laugh! "I got names, and a number, and a promise to jam soon. I'll tell you more, once we're outta here."

"Jonas got a CD for Fu Fighters. Sorry they didn't have one for Muggleborn"

Siv guides her along as they head out

Piper is grinning as they find their way out, and looks for Jonas as well.

Jonas greets them, and throws each girl a T shirt.

"They were on sale" he says "Discount"

She looks at the shirt she's tossed, eyes widening for a moment, then she realizes - well, it IS in her size. A laugh, and she strips her shirt off without a care and pulls the new one on. "I Love it."

"I think I'm being told I talk too much " Siv says but does the same

Jonas blushes "Someone might see the two of you doing that"

"Sooo... promise me you won't freak out, okay?" Slipping a hand into Siv and Jonas's so she's walking in the middle.

"Oaths are serious business for we..."

"Sure" Siv blurts

As they continue walking, she reveals, "The Muggleborn band? They're not just musicians, they're a band of willworkers."

"Holy shit" Siv says "Uhm.. they weren't cold were they? "

Her head shakes in firm denial! "Not at all! In fact, I thought they might be fae at first, or enchanted. There was a glow to them, you know? That's what I wanted to check out..."

"Ah!" She says

"Even classic wizards are not always friends" A warning from Jonas