#bergen_county

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"Anyway, our little girl was great, helped me babysit those kids, her block show was a hit, thanks to the Kaiju, but something is bothering her," Karel tells Nessa, "I think it will take time to come out, but you know how she is... she smiles because we expect her to and she doesn't want to make things worse. I could kick myself for not nipping that in the bud."

Mrs. Novak frowns "I'm not sure you pushed it, honey, though you do sometimes do the same furking thing. I'm the grouch of us and I do gripe about things getting whined about. Just as likely me. I got no idea what to do with this but do what you did, let her know we're furking here for her and she can open up when she is ready."

"You think that Redcap girl is bullying her?" Mr. Novak says "Boy howdy, I hate to stereotype given we got Les and the shit he got back when he was younger... but they CAN be a lot."

A snort, "Maybe but I don't think so. Amity's got Redcap Management 101 lessons since she was 4."

"Speaking of Les, he ever talk about that busted lip and black eh?" Mr. Novak inquires.

"Hell no, but I left some liver in the fridge and he ate it after using it to cover his eye so... " The nocker shrugs "Les is a wilder now, stretch himself with stupid. I remember when I was a wilder.... some of the shit I tried."

"Flooding those sluagh warrens with daylight ala reflective mirrors was HILARIOUS," Karel assures.

"They did not think so," But Vanesa snickers. "And it was a dumb idea. Pissing off one wriggler can be bad, a whole nest?"

"You did have spiders in your hair for a week," Karel sayws "At least that's what you told me."

"Worse, they released my schematics for some big projects... to boggans! Boggans!" Horror

He comforts his wife. No nocker should lose their designs to boggans.

Les comes in, sees his parents hugging "You guys better be using protection, Two siblings is enough."

"Nunya biz but your father and I are good, what do you think we are, DeBukes?" His mother snorts, "WHere you been?"

"Out," Les says.

"You coming in long enough for dinner?" She continues.

"Yeah!" he says.

"Get cleaned up , it's in a half hour," She tells him.

"Fine!" He stomps up stairs to his new room.

"Good talk, Son!" Mr. Novak calls after the wilder.

A grunt from the redcap and he's gone upstairs.

Vanessa looks at her husband, "I love em, but somedays I think my Mom's curse really did stick."

Karel snorts at that, "It's because he's so like you in some ways that I love em all the more."

"Sap!" Mrs. Novak fusses her husband's hair with a scruff then kisses him, "Now go get to work on dinner. I got to prep for that solar panel instillation this weekend. IT's not a big project but it will pay the bills."

"Just be sure you show up on time too," He wags a finger.

"For DINNER," He clarifies.

"Yeah yeah, you ever know me to get lost in my work so I forget to eat?" SHe faux scoffs as she peels free and walks away.

Karel nods then blinks and he calls out "YES! Yes I do and yes you have..." But it's too late, shes off to her work station.

While Dinner preps...

Les comes out of a shower in a new T shirt and shorts. He knocks on his sister's door, "Squab, you in there?"

"No!"

"Well, Dinner is gonna be ready in thirty minutes, also did anyone warn you about sky wolves? They got sky wolves, but if they learn you're a pooka they shouldn't eat you because I guess their wusses." He assures in his comforting way.

He talks like they should want to take a bite, but not that he'd admit it, he wants his little sis safe. And if a Winged Wolf Chimera bit his sister? There would be lupine wings on the menu.

"Sky wolves? Excuse me, but I'm sneakier than the Red Baron. They fly like drunk geese."

"Sure sure, get cocky why don't you," But he can't hid the amusement "Drunk geese eh?"

"DUMB drunk geeze. They're big and fat."

"See now I'm getting hungry and we're probably just having pasta," He jokes, "Okay fine, you can outfly the puppies. Good. This place doesn't suck as much as I thought it would so maybe it will work out for us. What do you think?"

She shrugs. "Does it matter?"

"Yes, it matters. Dip. " He snorts, "You got a right to bitch you know? Mom does."

"Uh, it's literally a health concern. You ever hear about the nocker who blew up cause they didn't swear enough?"

"Yeah mom told me the story, Blistertongue or whatever she is." He shrugs audibly "But it's not just nockers who don't need to be all bottled up and repressed. You're a pooka, if you don't have SOME fun you're gonna molt and I don't wanna clean it up."

"I'm not gonna molt! You never saw it!"

"LIke the wicked witch with a bucket...what world what a world... I laugh at that part."

"Anyway, don't change the subject... if you're not having fun let me know, I'll take you some place where we can get you in trouble. I'll then deny I knew anything about it, of course."

"You make any friends yet?"

The pooka gift for getting folks talking is powerful and without thinking about it, he starts to answer rather than protest making him the focus, "I met some folks who don't suck. I wouldn't say friends. Not yet. You?"

"I know all the saps who will give me cookies."

"And I guess the kids are okay."

"Well, they better be or I'll hold them down while you dance on their foreheads," Les says.

"Doesn't matter, though."