#elsewhere

Zzzz.... apparently she fell asleep.

a knock "Still want those cookies?" It's JJJ's voice

"Hmmmnngggggg?" A sleepy noise. but she sits up. "Cookies?" Not remembering... then. "Seriously, you actually made cookies?"

"C'mon in, it's your place anyways, I'm just freeloading."

"This isn't my bungalow, " He comes in "Some of Bach's best" Coconut cookies "And... your phone was found, had some damage but Titus fixed it"

A sigh. "Maybe I should throw it in the lake. I mean... thanks. I'll thank Titus too."

"You threw it away?"

"It.. was annoying me..." She says, realizing how silly that sounds. "I guess I could just turn it off."

"You could. But me? I just feel I missed a chance" A sigh

"I'd rather be present here, rather than worrying about there." She tries to explain.

"Oh no I understand that.. I mean instead of calling out cookies, I could have said 'We've been trying to reach you about your car's warranty'"

A laugh! She heads over give JJJ a friendly hug - and thereby get close enough to sniff at the cookies.

her plan works! She gets a hug, AND can snatch a cookie

"So, I hadn't really asked...but how long would it be cool for me to crash here?"

"Well, three days is traditional, but we're not always traditional"

"Which I'm appreciating." The phone is slid into her back pocket. "How's newgirl holding up? She looked pretty shaken earlier."

"Better, she says she was framed for the murder of her lover. Question is, did she do i orr not? We have to guess a lot, but righ now she's got Sam's protection"

BLINK. "That's a heavy rap... mortal, or fae? And if she did... maybe it was deserved." She ponders. "But she might be afraid to admit it..."

"Fae... and. .who knows" He sighs "Right of Life is.. whew, you know? But self defensne is also a factor. And .. maybe she IS framed. unntil we know for sure, we tennd to assume innocence"

A shake of her head. "Well, I hope things work out for her..."

"Hope so too. How long were you wanting to stay?"

An uncomfortable fidget. "I can head out whenever I need to go. There are places I can go... and I guess, even if I haven't worn out my welcome... you really need this place - it's really FOR those who need it, isn't it?"

"Relax... " he takes her hand and squeezes "You haven't wornn out your welcome, we have room"

She squeezes back and holds onto the hand. "I appreciate that... I haven't quite figured out my next move. I'm getting a lot of scolding from home... they want me to go back. But I just... I don't know what to do about things yet. I'm not sure I'm even ready to consider what to do. It makes me feel anxious even thinking about it."

"Scolding?" He says "Can I see your texts? Might help to see what shit they're laying onn you"

She offers the phone. "I mean, maybe... not really. I'm sure they mean well. But it feels like I can't get free while there are all these lines hooking into me trying to pull me back... does that make sense? I'm not sure that makes sense." A sigh. "Even just hearing from my other lover, Jonas, makes me feel guilty, though I know he doesn't mean to."

He looks it over reading "Who's Sylvi?"

"She's the freeholder at the new mews in Rivervale... I've been helping her set things up there."

"Mmm okay, she sent you the last one... " A look over "And... actually you're gettinng just one text a day from your lovers?" A brow "I think I'm missing somethin"

“I dunno.” She sits and puts her head in her hands. “I don’t know where to go from here.”

"Do you want to go home yet?" he asks

She shakes her head.

"Then don't" he says "Stay here. The pooka are putting on a play tomorrow. ..should be a gas"

She gives him a smile. “Sounds like a plan. And thanks for the cookies…”

"thank Bach, he made em " A smile

“I plan on it.” She looks at the forfor, but pauses. “We’re near Tahoe, right? Is there a map or something that will show me what noble holdings are closest to us?”

"Yeah.. I'll show em.." he says "Ah, your call, but I thinnk you should text Sylvi.... her messages seemed..fair... "

If Piper looks _Listen, I think I know a little of what's going on, but I'd like to listen to how you see it.
[8:19 PM] I'm canceling your lessons for this week. I'll let them know you have some kind of emergency.
[8:20 PM] Whatever you're doing, make sure you come out of it in one piece. A bunch of people care about what happens to you._

She nods a little. “You’re right. I will.”

"Good... come on ... there's volleyball goinng on if you want?"

“Volley ball? No one ever wants the short stack on her team!”

"We ggot nockers. You're not the shortest"

She grins, cheered up again by the distraction (and cookie!) and heads out to join the game!

(Fade to her knocking guys balls into the dust)