#anywhere

Ellie may or may not awaken to the feeling of a soft touch against her hair, and a sweet floral scent.

Blinking awake. "Mmmhmm?"

A bit of green and yellow in her sight, something tickles her cheek. "Ah, princesita, you woke up. I'm sorry." An apologetic whisper from the little girl beside her bed, leaning over to lightly pat the lightly woven circlet of freshly gathered flowers in place. "It's a birthday today for spring, so we need to have our party best."

"Oh! Salma! Oh, it's Beltaine!"

"Did you sleep okay? I don't even know how Miss Maria found a bunk bed so fast...."

The pooka has a dandelion tucked behind one of her own droopy velvety ears. She chews rapidly and swallows to answer. "I slept like buffalo were dancing above my head, but it's okay, because I like the ballet."

The little girl considers, then nods. "I had dreams, too. I like your flower!"

"Tell me about your dreams, princesita?" She sneakily slips another dandelion into her mouth and chews.

"Oh, what wills and may bes. Hard to know, yes?"

A happy sigh. "But I dreamed we're be friends!"

A soft gasp. "Oh, a nightmare. Lo siento, my apologies. I can help miss to dress?" Dusting a touch of pollen off her hands, she looks for whatever clothes may have been provided for the sidhe girl for the day.

"Perhaps Senorita Maria has something festive? I can go ask."

"Does 'lo siento' mean I'm sorry?"

A small smile over to Ellie. "It means, my ears are long." A soft tug at one of her own. "And that's an apology, si."

"Well, I want to be friends. If it's Beltaine, we should all dress up."

"I had more, mmm. Floregatos? Leons..." A soft touch at the weedy flower behind her ear. "But they were so crisp with morning dew." A slightly guilty look.

A tinge of green and gold on her fingers, as well as her lips - someone has snacked on the decor.

"Dandelions."

"Miss Julia at Springdale made dandelions into tea."

"She's a boggan, not a sluagh."

She beams at Ellie. "That's the one. Tea would be nice, my last lady was so fond of tea parties. She would even invite me because tea is not fun when you drink alone. Oh, but she threw a tantrum, because she wanted the frosting in pink, and ¡Ay yi!, I didn't sit for a week."

A worried look. "I promise, I will be very good. Countess Jessica said you wouldn't, but.. but a noble is responsible, right?"

A guilty look and she runs an ear through her hand. "Little miss was sorry after, and let me have the cakes, even upturned and smudged they were muy delicioso. And she didn't upset the tea table after, so lessons learned, ay? All was well." A soft pat on Ellie's arm, reassuring.

"That's not fair."

"I'll make sure nobody hurts you here."

"Ay, but it is how it is done. You can't whip little miss. They wouldn't." She looks alarmed, and somewhat scandalized. "A lady must be treated gently. Here, a pretty dress?"

"Well... Jessica is a countess, too. And Gerald would send me to my room."

"Ay, si, a stern one. She has the seas in her eyes."

"Oh, yes. OH, do you want to see mermaids?"

"Ariel says the beach is close."

A grin. "Ariel, yes - the cabracita is named for a sirena, she would know!"

"Right? I've never seen a mermaid. Fontaine says they're beautiful, and HE is made of water, so he should know."

"I've never seen anything like Fontaine before." She confides.

"Me neither!"

Reaching over, she has started braiding Ellie's hair under the crown, weaving in a few more flowers.

"I was told about them in lessons, they're inanimae." Ellie has a LOT of hair, long and honey blonde and thick.

"Yes, but reading is one thing, and seeing another." A grin as she carefully tucks a strand, careful not to pull. "I've been able to attend all of the lessons along with my ladies, lest they act up in class. I am lucky, most common folk do not get such a chance to learn amongst nobles. Ay, I hope they let me still. You'll see, I will help you to study."

Siiigh. "Countess Jessica said we will have to do school."

A soft sigh as well, but a happy one. "Ay, so terrible."

"I am so tired of lessons. 'Don't slouch, Countess.' and 'You mustn't giggle, Countess."

"Sit up straight, Contessa. Small bites and chew neatly, Contessa." Salma parrots as well.

"Yes! Exactly!"

"Maybe I can take Spanish lessons. I know French."

"Si, that would be a useless skill. Here in Tijuana, only the birds, bees, and burros speak espanol. It would be like a dead language." A grin.

Ellie giggles.

"It's BELTAINE" an excited voice and bouncing...

"It is!"

Ariel clatters on hooves , the redheaded freckled satyr chimes "We gotta get showered and dressed and ... Oh" She opens up a closet "There are beltaine dresses in here enough for each one of us... they're so colorful"

"Boggans are MAGIC."

"And some of this is. oh" She tears up happily "Clem brought some of my favorite things and clothes" Her eyes water up excitedly