#elsewhere

Another long inhalation. "I don't." She says... "...but maybe s'not worth fighting over. I don't want to work out a.. a damn custody schedule to see my lady when she doesn't have barnacle on her side." Why SHOULD she have to work to figure this out? There are easier relationships. Or just ditch relationships in general. Why not be a free goat again?

"Most folks ARE stupid" The nocker shrugs

JJJ puts a hand on Piper's shoulder, "I get that, it's her duty, but it's affecting you, and she clearly didn't think it through. "

"n... sometimes I think Jonas is just there to support me because Siv likes me... n' because he's a nice sweet guy that wouldn't break a fly's heart. But tossed into a room as strangers, we'd never've hooked up..."

She leans against JJ, not in an enticing way, but just taking some comfort in touch. "They're both too troll to say anything even if I was a third wheel. S'long as it's not brought up, it's not a problem. Someday I'll decode those grumbles and eyebrows and realize they were waiting for me to get tired of 'em."

"Get em drunk" Dez declares "Loosens lips and thighs"

The buzz is pleasant, really has taken the edge off the anxiety

JJJ shrugs "maybe you will, maybe you won't... me? I think you have a right to put their feet to the fire if it's bothering you this much, but at the same time, easy for me to talk about right? Hey, okay if I give you a hug? You look like you could use one"

She nods, welcoming the hug. "Why do things have to be... hard?" it sounds vague, and trite, and maybe even dumb, but perhaps they understand the sentiment behind it.

Damn, he gives good hugs. Somehow he knows just how to let someone settle in without awkwardness. JJJ is the perfect mix of support yet give, firmness with a touch of softness! He just be the best hugger she's seen in a while

Or it could be the joint

"Damned if I know, PIper," JJJ admits softly "I could tell you that the falls make the flight that much more miraculous, but that doesn't help when you've got dirt in your teeth"

There's something just so damn soothing about talking to another satyr. Knowing that you can rant, or cry, or stomp and shout, and they'll get it. Big emotions hand-in-hand with horns and hooves. "C'n I stay here a while?"

In this hug, or at this haven, or maybe both.

"Sure, lots of folks do... " He says

"yeah, take a bungalow or hut" Dez ssays

"Some are already claimed, but as a rule, the ones with the white strings tied around the door handles or knobs are free for the taking" JJJ says "A few are like clumped together for those who like neighbors, some are by the side of the lake by themselves... one or two are under trees with hamocks .. it's all up to you, Piper. You do your own thing. Hugs for free, or a private space for zen, or both"

A WHOOP calls out "Mother MOON!"

Other voices "Mother moon" And satyrs are coming out of huts, some fresh from a tryst, others with booze...

and heading towards the wall

"Mmm. Moon?" She asks, curious, through her very pleasant daze.

Indeed, the moon has peeked over the wall...

"Yeah, that rager is about to start.. small at first, wilder as it goes," JJJ points to the moon, "Your buzz may be dimming soon, but if you want to dance, scream, sing, or rant, whatever, you'll find it up there. Sheriff Sam leaves it be for the most part"

And she sees a half dozen other satyrs climbing a stairway up the side of the buildling, others hopscotch up the wall

Something in her mind fusses. It's been a long time since she's partied with other Satyrs like this. What if she gets carried away?
Another voice argues back, it's not like you have rings on your fingers....
a third wins out, reasoning, It's just a party.

"I think I will. Dancing sounds nice. And taking a turn as musician would only be fair."

And up she goes!

She clambers to see a big bonfire being assembled, some folks throwing sections of clothes into to feed the flames, the top of wall is thick enough there's plenty of room to party here

ANd music is breaking out...

one satyress with a mohawk greets Piper "Hey, Newblood"

She trots over to offer the satyress a fist bump. "Yo, spike." Appreciating her hair. "Is there any etiquette to queing up for a song? I could use an outlet."

The fist bump is given "Don't suck, you suck, you get razzed" She smirks then calls out "New Girl wants to cue up..."

A morbidly obese satyr who seems okay with his body image grins, sets down the barrel of nachos and a large cauldron of melted cheese dip, "Let it rip, sister."

"Make it angry" Another calls out

"Make it wild!" Another

"Make it joyful!"

"vote for sad" Another says contrarily

"Just make it YOU, for fuck's sake" Spike observes "But just don't suck" A grin again.

Piper looks around for a place to stand, and then realizes that she can actually climb up onto a stack of logs, broken wooden pieces, whatever it is that is waiting for the fire. Up on the improvised dais, backlit by the flames and the rising moon, she takes out her guitar.

A moment as she steadies herself, she's light and nimble enough, and here's a spot where she can tap her hoof for a beat. She starts... first softly, and then building in intensity. It's an older song, 25 years, older than even Piper. But that doesn't make it any less recognizable as she starts in on the strumming, soft, and then hitting the deeper notes.

"The world is a vampire
Sent to drai--aiiii---aiiiin...
Secret destroyers
Hold you up to the flames
And what do I get...
For my pai-aai-aain?
Betrayed desires
And a piece of the game..."

Some join in they know the lyrics, to others it's new and they dig it, and some just want to dance

Around Rivervale, even at Goldfinch, she tries to reign it in, limited the Gift of Pan, trying to lessen, quiet, restrain her emotion to a reasonable, respectable, entertaining level.

Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Then someone will say what is lost can never be saved
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage!

This song isn't for the listeners. It's all Piper, loosing frustration and anger, angst and pain. She lets it all flow.

Now I'm naked, nothing but a criminal...
But can you fake it, for just one more show?
And what do you want?
I want to change
And what have you got, when you feel the same?

The satyrs lose their inhibitions, moshing, slamming, stomping.. but they don't see it as a loss, it's a fucking gift. Release

She rocks her heart out, fingers flying over the strings. It might not have the bombastic blast of an electric guitar, or the power behind a full band, but she puts in all she has.

Tell me I'm the only one
Tell me there's no other one
Tell me I'm the only one for you....

And I still believe that I cannot be saved
And I still believe that I cannot be saved
And I still believe that I cannot be saved
And I still believe that I cannot be saved...

The final notes die down.

Cheers and she's pulled off her perch and amid a crowd giving praise "Shit...better than the Violet Orlandi cover, and she's GOOD" one says

She catches her breath, still somewhat carried away from the emotional release. A grin over to Mohawk/Spike. "Was that me enough for you?"

"Shit baby" She runs a finger over Piper's lips "Is your tongue that talented in ALL aspects? DAMN"

SOmeone else takes their turn, with Down with the Sickness ala Disturbed!

JJJ joins the praise "Shit... I couldn't get cheers like that if I BROKE my uke, and believe me, folks have asked"

She grins and gives a playful snap towards the fingers. A thrill goes through her at the next song, making her hooves tap and tail twitch.

"I might not be good for much, J, but I can do that."

Though, as she joins what might be getting closer to a mosh pit, she can't help but imagine the bodies that gyrate around her being taller, with stubby horns rather than curling crowns, smooth blue rather than rough furred.

Sadly, no trolls, a nocker or two dares the edges, and there's a Bat Pooka who wanders around bitting the head off Ozzy Ozborne shaped gingerbread men

And yeah, there's a moshpit effect... booze passed through the crowd too, if one cares...