#fenixtj

Jessica thinks a moment. "Before or after the Duke makes it official, do you think? A... friendly, neighborly visit?"

"Depends if you want to visit him with a countess power or not.. pros and cons to each"

She nods. "Tell me?"

"Well, it might be seen as something of a powerplay, drive points home, but that's always a gamble. Can either save you trouble or cause some. I imagine, as a Varich he woulld respect the title, but it's got to hurt a little being overlooked."

Jessica mulls this over. "Wonder what might take away the sting...."

"Respect, and assurances that you won't be as near sighted as Summerstryke"

She nods. "Come to that, Tidemarch had to deal with Summerstrike longer than I. -And- the Balor."

"And he not only survived, he thrived. What methods he used, we may not fully know, but it does mean that we can't discount him or dismiss him"

"Agreed. " More thought. "Maybe bring a gift of some kind."

"Varich are very old school, perhaps symbolic drink and bread for a start? Means peace"

Jessica nods, then chuckles. "Do you want to tell Diego we need a case of the best for our neighbor, or shall I?"

"I'll do it," she says "he's such a whiner about giving up his babies sometimes I've grown to enjoy tormenting him. It's not healthy, but there it is" She rises

Jessica, amused, nods. "Go easy on him."

And as matters seem settled, after checking with the staff..... She grabs a bag and heads to the apartment.

A break to the mortal world is needed... all that glamour.

Well, the apartment certainly fits the bill. Spare and bare. She dumps the bag in the bedroom, and takes the groceries she picked up to the kitchen. She makes coffee.

News plays, the world is horrible- okay yeah. Weather report... mm there's a routine to it. The smell of coffee is soon strong in the air. That's good.

She settles in with a sandwich and coffee to watch the small TV set, seeking to balance the worlds she lives in.

Avoiding the telenovellas?

YA THINK?!?!?!

News is good.

She watches the news...enjoys her sandwich and lets time slip by

In the far distance she hears something down the street that could be a gunshot, could be a car backfiring... but by now it's done. That's life in this part of Tijuana.

The sharp report makes her think of Duff. And his habit of getting shot. She looks at her phone with reluctance.

No more shot like sounds.

A sigh, and she calls him.

The phone picks up "Duff's tattoo pa... " Then he recognizes the number, "Hey, it's you."

"Yes. I, um, wasn't sure where you were, now."

"I'm all right. You?"

"Finally got a moment to breathe, yeah."

"Good. Hell of a backlog to wake up to I imagine"

"Yes. It's been.... A lot."

"you still at the hold?"

If she looks out her apartment window, she can see his shop below and across the street. He's on a phone i nthere...she can see him through the window

"No. At the apartment. Needed the break." She watches him.

"yeah, too much of a good thing..not that you got to enjoy it a lot while you were out. Smart move, Ocean Eyes."

She can watch him move, the way his tattoos play over his muscles as he does so.

"Thanks." A pause "So is it safe for you to be back in town? Relatively speaking?"

"With Summerstrike gone, my name is cleared. Word is out what he did ... actually, some folks are calling me a hero now." An almost Olgar like grumble for a second "And that's a pain in the ass"

A soft puff of amusement. "You are."

"I just like foiling people's plans. It's your fault I've become more selective in my targets" but the accusation lacks true bite

"Has the shop been busy?" After a long pause.

"No, lost some regulars actually. So slower than usual. No appointments today"

"I'm sorry."

"Sympathy appreciated, but it's hardly your fault"

"Still."

"MMm ... you know, I'm thinking of closing up early. "

"That slow?"

"Yeah. I have a DVD player I can hook up to your TV if you let me, and some DVDs to go with it. Mindless stuff. Interested?"

"Can you afford it? I mean.... you haven't been at Fenix for a month solid. Not, like, the whole time."