#bergen_county

--------------

Greyhound busses are not the best way to travel for changelings. They're not always Banal, heck you might even pick up a dreamer down on their luck and almost eager to be mused, but the Knight's Heart cabs weren't going from Baltimore to here, the bus was. Despite their height, Rowan found they had leg space and head space enough as long as there wasn't a bounce. As always, Rowan got some funny looks. Not like a non binary person sporting a pink dye job that's shaved close on one side and draped long on the other, the wilder is wearing an ironic selection of army surplus clothing dotted with various pins and buttons doesn't catch notice. A few fellow passengers kept their distance like whatever Rowan had was contagious, and what an amazing world THAT would be if it were eh? Most looked once or twice, then decided they really didn't give a crap and minded their own. Hey, they're in Jersey now. Getting gear off the bus, Rowan looked around to see ... well, this part of Rivervale. Despite what they were told, it still is hard to believe somehow this green patch survived in this area of Jersey.

Rowan's found that the cure for being stared at is staring right back and smirk, and they've employed this approach a few times on the ride up. Now, at the bus depot, the smirk remains as they hoist the duffel bag over one shoulder. Geez, this place is the 'burbs, big time. Gonna be full of softies.

To their surprise, they may notice a troll nearby. Has the look of a Thane, no fancy spurs, but at the same time, the marks of Rivervale, the colors, are there in a band around his waist. He definitely notices them, indeed, seems totally UN surprised, "Hey. Need a guide?" He offers

Rowan peers at him over the top of the rose-colored glasses. "A guide to where, exactly?"

"Well, first, let me introduce myself" He looks around to make sure there are no unenchanted listening "My name's Tig, and I'm a thane of Rivervale. And I was told to keep an eye out for someone fitting your description by our Mountain. I thought he was stringing me along at first, but... you've got an invite for a guide if you wanted to visit"

A frown. Somebody alerted the Countess's Vali about me? Well...roll with it. They wipe the frown away with a return of the smirk. "Well, I'm Rowan. They/them pronouns. And, yes, guess I should take you up on that offer." If it's a trap, it's a trap. Won't be the first, won't be the last.

Tig nods, despite having some years on her, he rolls with the pronouns offering his own, "I'm a he/him...and thanks for letting me know or I'd have botched it. I'll spread word to others if you don't mind so they don't mislabel you, Rowan. Come on, I've borrowed the truck and we can strap stuff down in the back. Want help with carrying your stuff to it?"

A shrug and a nod to indicate the duffel bag. "It's just this, and I've got it. And do me a favor, don't make a big deal about the pronouns. I'll handle that, too." More fun that way.

"All right. " He shrugs "But SOME of them are going to be making a big deal over compensating with the nice. "

The truck looks solid, maybe the paint job needs a touch up, but it's one of those 'built to last' vehicles that actually sees work.

Rowan drops the duffel in the back of the truck, then climbs into the passenger side. The shades obscure some of their expressions as they check out the truck's interior for details about the owner.

"Tig, you said?"

"Tig. Got a brother from another mother named Lut who's more of a square. I'm the fun one.. just ask me" he says and starts up the truck. The interior IS clean, no junk in the floorboards or loose cans rolling around. Not fancy but clean. Looks like someone hung a wooden rune from the interior mirror and it sways.

They try to make out what rune it is. "How did you get stuck with chauffer duty for a nobody like me?"

"Made the classic mistake of answering a question, you know the one, one of the Lodge's big three sees you, waves, and says 'Hey, how's it going ' or 'doing anything'? and I , without thinking went 'It's good, and just hangin' and well, that's how they get you" He says with a troll smile, "Mountain asked me to do it, so I figured why not? Worse that happens is you're a no show and I 'patrol' near a bus station. Thane stuff. What brings you to Bergen? Besides a bus, I mean? Mountain didn't say why on that, just that I should look for someone fitting your description and give you a lift if you wanted it"

A pause before they answer. "You know. Checking out options. That's pretty much it."

"Looking for a home near a hold? " He nods "Fair. It's Jersey, so prices are not low, but there's an apartment complex that gives discounts to Changelings if you decide you want to live here "

"Where are you from if you don't mind me asking?"

"Couple of places," Rowan says offhandedly. "Funny...you hear the name 'Rivervale' you don't picture a lot of tacky little ranch houses." They're regarding the view as the truck passes through the less-affluent areas.

"Obviously you've never been to Center of the World Ohio" he says "We're proud of it, and , well, it is more than you can tell with just a mortal gaze. Winged horses, stones that give advice, and heroes galore. Lot of folks have come after Rivervale, they usually limp away a little wiser when they try anything jerky"

Rowan makes a mental note about the somewhat defensive tone in those statements of pride. "Well, like I said, you hear the name. The songs and stories get around. Kinda half expected to get off the bus and have to do battle immediately with some kind of giant chimera."

"Funny you should mention that, that HAS happened" Tig admits "Not our preferred situiation of course. One of the reasons we patrol, fortunately it doesn't happen often. " They move on and find an even greener patch... in this part of New Jersey? More trees, and more chimera... was that a fucking winged wolf flying by?

Half expecting a fuckin' lollipop tree or something. Rowan's already a little homesick for the grittier parts of Baltimore.

"Nice." Rowan's pretty sure this guy isn't a Gwyd -- mostly because he hasn't announced being a Gwyd -- and so won't be likely to detect the lie.

A glance over. "How long you been a thane here?"

"Yeah, a bit TOO nice at times, but we do have something of an urban core. That's more goldfinch area..and if you're used to a big city you'll probably think if you blink you miss it" He doesnt' seem to have read her mind, just filling in the other side of things "Been a thane for well over a decade. Time at the hold has kept me aging slow... My job actually had an expansion, of sorts. I show Fledges around the area, and yes, new comers from other areas if they like."

(Pause)