#elsewhere

Piper is bored. Siv is off having Serious Talks and Jonas is so serious about his duty to patrol. It almost makes a gal wonder why she fell for the big blue lugs. Almost.

There’s homework... better than it used to be, but still work. Nothing worth watching, news is still all election stuff, and social media is a landfill.

She flops onto her chair and pouts.

a whooopie cushion goes off as she flops

And she flops past it onto the floor with a thump. ‘So I eat a legume heavy diet! It’s good for you!” She can’t help a laugh, sore butt and all, and looks out the glass balcony door, expecting to see a ringtail there, in some form or another.

Rikki has a ring tail, but is in her human form, "Whine whine whine... no wonder you cut the cheese"

“Come on in before you freeze out there.” It’s in the 50’s - FRIGID. “and... speaking of wine... feel like being a guinea pig instead of a trash panda for a bit?”

"oh, racist slurs eh?" But she smiles glad to get warm "Brr... experimental?"

“How was your Samhain?” Now that cheese was mentioned, she gets out some snacks. SHe’s gotten better abut keeping food around - she can manage what she calls “cheat-cuterie”, some cheese slices, crackers, and a few handfuls of dried fruit. Maybe it’s not humboldt fog and emmentaler, but pre-sliced pepper Jack and American is tasty too...

And with a mental apology to the Treasure, she pours in a bit of the inexpensive (okay, cheap) white wine she had in the fridge.

"Samhain was fantastic. How well I remember the screams of the guillible, the lamentations of the innocent... Yours?"

She proudly shows off the Grecian looking amphora. “I found a treasure! Well, Siv and Jonas helped. Buuuuuut it claims to be able to affect those who drink from it. Like, make them, tell the truth.” A sly grin to Rikki. “Want to put it to a real test?”

"Truth is so last year.. what if it breaks me?" Dubious look

“We tried it out on Siv first. She recovered and is as saucy as ever, but she’s may be a master of the seas, but you’re the one who makes rhyme and reason your personal plaything.” Grinning. “I mean, if you’re chicken, I could go find Tikki, or see who’s around farmtown...”

“Not like they grow much of a sense of humor there. Not unless that’s a new variety of squash.”

A wriggle of her nose "I'm being baited I think, liquring up my pride Fine fine"

She claps her hands with a delighted squee! “okay, first - what’s your name, age, and, mmmm, what color is your underwear?” Asking first. “Muggle name, that is. We need Control questions. That’s SCIENCE.”

SHe has not drank yet "I am Franchesia Pretensia ap Varich.. polka dots.. and 65"

Piper gives the vessel a swirl, murmuring into it, “Truth!” And then offers it to Rikki for a sip. “and Dare.” Grinning.

She takes it, and gulps. Burps "Okay...hit me"

“Muggle name, age, and color of your undies., and if you think I won’t check to make sure you’re not tricking me, then my name isn’t Piper Middlename McCormick.”

"Ricki Willow Dyer" she explains "18, the Purple of royalty" She blinks "Okay, this is weird."

Piper leans over to catch a sneak glimpse at her waistband. “Holeeeee-guacamole! It really worked!”

"This feels SUPER strange. I'm talking straight!"

“Is there anything you’d want known before it wears off?”

"I regret nothing, save I wish I could do it better!" A pause "Also I love my family and would die if they found out.. and you're pretty cool and should stop being sorry for yourself like your life ended when trolls are busy"

Her jaw drops, and her cheeks turn a bit pink! “Now listen here Miss Ring-Thing, I’ve got plenty else going on! I wasn’t feeling sorry for myself.” A frown though. She is truthful... and not wrong. “...maybe a little worried. Siv doesn’t think her parents are gonna like our setup.”

"if they don't, screw them, not litterally of course. You're a great person. And Siv is a grown woman, and Jonas a grown man. What the three of you do is your biz. " A pause "not that the gossip wouldn't be juicy"

“How’s your bro’s fling with Eden going? I didn’t think I could get a straight answer from either of them.... is the honeymoon phase still on? The were THE hot couple round town for a hot second.”

"Oh.. they've had a fight... then they made up. they had problems, then they fixed them. Tikki is SO tedious, it's the classic Bashful Beloved Ardent Admirer thing. Right now he's writing a big heart in the leaves of her lawn "

Then she blinks "I feel.. wooogy" And passes out

she just blacked out

“Rikki? ....Rikki? If this is a prank, so help me, Ricki Willow Dyer...” Reaching over to give her a nudge. SHe’s a prankster, right?

If she's faking it, shes' a master actress

Worried now, she checks her pulse, and tries a light slap on her cheek to see if she’s just in a daze - she knows the bare rudiments of first aid.

A grunt then Rikki opens her eyes and looks confused

And she finds herself roughly hauled into a hug. “stupid, stupid, stupid!”

Rikki gets hugged and mutters..nothing.

she gasps and points to her throat and mouths the words 'I can't talk'

She hurries to get her a glass of cold water. “does this help?”

She drinks greedily. Then tests .. and makes wooshing sounds. She shakes her head

And looks like she's about to cry

“Oh no no no.... it’ll be okay Rikki, I promise. I really truly do. It’ll wear off, or I’ll fix it. I swear, cross my heart.” She draws an X. “Or my name isn’t Piper Prudence McCormick.” A wince. “Not even Zane knows that one. See, now you know that your voice will be back any time now, so you can laugh about my AWFUL secret middle name.”

"Or I could laugh how you feel for the pooka to sluagh transformation, but no.. no I'm above that" She says then laughs

And now the hug turns into shaking. Literally, by the shoulders, though she laughs! “You... you... POOKA!”

The shaking makes Rikki's head bob back and forth and it looks a lot like a YES nodding . More laughs

"Sorry, Prudy, I deeply regret having a good time at your expense"

“Well I know that it’s worn off now, because you’re CLEARLY not sorry.”

"You realize Prudence is a TERRIBLE name for a troll right?"

“and you know that purple underwear should be reserved for royalty, Miz Willennial?”