#bergen_county

A lopsided smile. "Okay."

A thin, toothless smile, and he's heading over to Cairrean. They stick around a while longer, before heading out - if Dagmar is still watching, they go separate ways.

Some mortal friends here , ones invited by the various kithain, are unaware of the strangeness all about them. One 18 year old dreamer guy grins clueless that chimerical butterflies are adorning his hair like a pretty princess. A sixteen year old friend of Gerd's has a chimerical bubbles coming out of her mouth everytime she says a word that starts with B. A skywolf watches from a safe distance.

Sylvi's efforts to locate Zane prove fruitful when she finds him.... (?)

Zane has a mortal girl flirting out rageously... as he is performing stage magic and she seems to like it

"How did that money even GET in my bikini?" The girl gushes a bit airheaded

"I told you, as a Taurus, you're good with finances .It affects my magic" He answers

Oh, this is too good to interrupt...she leans against a tree to observe.

His satyr charisma keeps it just this close from being cringe.

What might be cringe is how ...what is her name? The blonde girl is setting the movement to fight blonde jokes back two decades

"Oh my gosh, I've never had anyone read me so well before... do I like, have magic potential?"

She can't help it. She face-palms

"Well, there are ways to find out..." Zane says pondering "But they require a degree of ..intimacy that... no no.. magic can be a burden. You're better left locked" Then with concern on his face "Safe"

"No no.. I WANT to be unlocked. Please unlock me!" She bounces

"That's the kind of trick that maybe happens later, after the party?"

A helpful smile to the blonde girl.

"Oh hey, Sylvi" He turns, looking unashamed, then says to the girl "Tell you what, Maykala... you give me your number, and we'll get together when the stars are right. This isn't the perfect time to unleash your real gifts"

"Right, celestial alignment, like tires..." She gives him her contact info , and then flounces off after leaning agianst him playfully.

He watches her 'flounce and Bounce' and mutters to himself "it's good to be the wizard"

Sylvi manages to keep from laughing. Barely.

"That was impressive. A little horrifying, too."

"WELL, in my defense, if I need defending for having game" A smirk "There is power in certain tantric arts. They're amazing but can be a lot more draining than you'd realize" More seriously "You need me for something? I saw you head over"

"It's a good think I know you treat mortals okay," she says quietly enough not to be overheard. "So, anyway...yeah...I had a question..." she hesitates.

"I do not live ONLY for my own pleasure. I get too much enjoyment bringing delight to my lovers for that. It's kind of ego driven still but hopefully better than pure selfishness" He is not offended but he wants to assure her. "Now shoot"

Bemused by his self-assessment. Then she takes a breath and says, "I'm hearing rumors...and I swear I'm really reluctant to ask this, but...is it true that Colton is dating Kelby DeBuke?"

"YES and no" Zane says

A brow. "How is it yes and no?"

"First, before I get into the details and talk about one of my friend's private romantic life... may I ask why you're asking ? I thought you had moved on"

A sigh. "Fair question. So...it's one thing if he's dating somebody I don't know. But if he's dating one of my friends -- admittedly a friend I've kind of fallen out of touch with -- I'd kind of like to know the lay of the land before I go visit that friend's family during the summer."

"So this isn't a jealousy thing, or a 'hey, our exes are off limits' thing?" Zane inquires

"Definitely not an off-limits thing. I don't want to play that game. As for jealousy...honestly, I'm not sure. Maybe a little. But really...I don't want it to be that. And I sure as hell hope it's not intended to make me feel jealous."

Zane nods and motions her to pull away from the bulk of the crowd to a tree for a bit of shade, and privacy

She follows.

"Okay" He cranes his neck up to look at Sylvi, "THey did date, but it is not serious. As you know, kelby and I were dating. It was good. Real good. But it was also a bit ...of a problem for Kelby. I'm a satyr. And she was worried I wouldn't stay loyal. Some satyrs can you know? Heck, Piper's making it work thank to having two flavors of romance totally good with it. But I get it, satyrs have a rep. SO.. how do you keep a girl from getting a rep for being dumped and used by a satyr? How do you stop the boggan gossip from getting mean?"

"Yeah, I was kind of wondering about the Zane-and-Kelby aspect of it, but figured I'd just missed a memo somewhere along the line." As a matter of kindness, she takes a seat on a nearby stump so he doesn't get a pinched nerve in his neck. "So...you broke up with her to protect her reputation?"

"Nope. I let her break up with me... and we used a date with Colton as an excuse. They DID go out, and watched a movie, had dinner... but it was to throw folks off their tracks. Not many boggans IN the lodge, so it was enoug hto make sure the gossip the boggans got was already what we wanted them to hear. Zane was flakey so Kelby broke it off.. 'fondly' darn it... and Colton asked her out . Honestly I think Colton felt it was a bit weird but he played along. And she worried she was crossing al ine with you but...they hid it for show. They are not, far as I know, into each other."

"That's...crazy."

"Which part?" A smile

"Like, I get it, but talk about convoluted plotting and planning."

"The ways of wizards are subtle and sublime" A smirk "And Satyrs have been granting release to lonely trolls then helping keep it on the downlow for ages. Come on, Sylvi. You know it's true. Satyrs are the ones who don't judge. Who trolls can turn to when they just want to be touched, to be WITH someone. And we offer ourselves up as scapegoats to protect the other's rep because ours is already somewhat set. We don't mind, as it does mean we meet some amazing giants in some very pleasant ways. The plan I just gave ? It's nothing compared to what some satyrs have set up and do every other week. Our kith is about passion, and we KNOW our way around those passions. How to make them work, how to roll with the consequences, and make sure that folks feel safe to express them with us again and again. " Zane smiles "I'm sure some would scoff, but some days I think we satyrs are a gods damned community service. You trolls are welcome" A wink

She rolls her eyes, but grins. "Well, if I'm the representative for 'we trolls,' I can't say you're wrong. I guess...I've always figured that reputation was something satyrs liked. Never thought of it as...well...a service to protect the reputations of others." A pause. "Or am I just falling for the Zane Silver-tongue Wayburton art of self-justification?"

"It's possible for it to be both" Zane says confidently , "Sun satyrs, seelie ones, believe in honor just as strongly as other seelies.. just we express it differently. This is one way we can. Protecting the honor of our friends and lovers. And at the same time, if you were to fall onto my silver tongue of self justification? You might just enjoy it" Devlish grin.

She laughs. "Noted. But I think your dance card is full for the near future." She nods in the direction of blondie.

'And part of your honor includes not being a follow up to just anyone" A nod and smile "I get it. Anyway, keep the bit about Kelby and Colton to yourself until you talk to her, please? I hate to see all my devilish scheming come to naught"

"Not quite what I meant, but..." A shrug. "And yeah, I won't mention it. I appreciate a good cover story." She stands again. "Thanks, Zane. I appreciate it."

"Hey, you'll always be the girl who went to my sister's toy rescue to me" He offers his hand "And a Wayburton does not forget when someone looks after his family"

"Hey, you gave me my first chance to face down and outsmart a redcap." She winks and shakes his hand.

"It was Dirk, and back then? Outsmarting? Not a high bar" A grin as they shake

"BANANA HAMMOCK TIME!" Siv can be heard wooping