#fenixtj

"Sir Jack, please. We can't afford to have it be Us vs. Them. It has to be We.

"Of course, your excellency" He bows, trench coat fluttering.

A deep sigh. "Jessica. Please?"

"Nancy, when you have a minute, I'd like to talk to you."

"Uh sure" She says "See you around, Jack." She turns to follow Jessica "What's up?"

When they have some privacy. "Are you aware of anything wrong or... um, different, with Diego?"

"no, only that he's been in his room all day"

"Alone." She amends.

"Wow, that is weird" She says "I thought he might have picked up an old flame last night but guess not"

Jess shifts, uncomfortable. "Do you think he's ok?"

"It doesn't sound normal for him. I know he's taking the whole duchy grip thing hard... " A sigh "This is why I try to avoid politics. No matter what side you're on, it's going to stress you out"

A sigh. "Nancy, what's the best way to approach this?"

"A bottle of wine and a nice outfit would be my normal approach" She says

"I could go as far as the wine..... I just want to check on him. I knocked, he said 'Now is not a good time.' I just want to know if he's ok. I could get someone else to handle the fiesta if that's an issue...."

"I know a way to get him out, I think. Come on.." She says

Jessica goes with her.

She goes into the hall in front of the door, and then as if running by says, "What do you mean Jessica's still bleeding? The wound has to heal, it has to."

in a loud panicked voice

Jessica stops as the satyr sprints screaming.

Diego's door swings open "Jessica's hurt? What's..." His bald head shows in the light. He was not bald before. Further, he is missing eyebrows and facial hair.

WIDE EYES.

Oh some rude cursing thrown Nancy's way in Spanish that Jessica still hasn't quite managed but she's pretty sure Nancy's been called an anatomical impossibility

"Diego!?! Are you.... um. Ok?"

"Clearly not.." He is wearing pants, long ones... but if she looks at his hooves, it's .. she suspects he's hairless through out. He's also bruised in many places, wrists and around the neck

Now her eyes open with concern and she moves to his side. "Diego, what happened?"

"Jessica, please.. don't gawk at me like a freak show ... It's emasculating enough as it is. I..I got shaved against my will, obviously"

"Step inside." She goes with him.

He goes into his room. "It will grow back, Jessica." A sigh "It may take a bit"

"Diego, what happened. Please."

"I.got.shaved." he repeats, "Jessica, what are you wanting? Every sordid detail of my humiliation?"

"I want to find the people that did this and make them pay."

A deep breath. "But."

A long pause, looking off into some corner. "Ok. Tell me if and when you're ready. If you want, I will call my sister; she can do Metamorphosis. She could .... change the way you look, if you want. If you'd rather not, I can redistribute your duties or... or whatever you want to have happen."

He rallies a smile, "It's okay. I don't have another shoot on the set for a bit. And.. ... I tried to talk to some old companions, comrades in the cause. I asked them to focus their efforts on more draconian cities... to leave Tijuana be for a few years to see how reform might happen naturally here. " He rubs his face and then head, "This is what they thought of that. I suppose I'm lucky I wasn't tarred and feathered for being a 'traitor'"

"Diego. I'm so sorry." Very sincere and very real pain.

"I overestimated my powers of persuasion. It wouldn't be the first time," he says "This is not your fault. We each carry our own sins, Amiga. Do not climb onto my cross, please. There won't be room for us both, eh?"

"I had to give him something, Diego. I thought, if I didn't involve more than I had to.... If it was me taking a title and everything.... maybe.... I don't know." Exhale. "What do you want, for now?"

"Not to be seen. " He says, "I'm not sure what else you can give me. But I'll continue plans on the fiesta and such. Maria and Rosa have most of them already, and Nancy can help"

Jessica nods. "Ok. If you want, I can come and get notes or instructions or whatever. I have a sense of urgency about this, but you don't need to. I can ask the others to take over. "

"Okay. I'll make it a rush" He says

"Diego, you don't have to. We can do this with your help but... you don't have to worry about it." She tries to explain.

"I'm saying...." she gestures as if to ...reach for him.... stops.

Diego says "I know Jessica. But I can handle it, and you're stretched pretty thin. Everyone is. "

Then "Besides, I don't like the idea of those ingrates winning"

"Fair." She finds her dignity and stoicism. "You let me know what you need. Carte blanc."

"I will," He smiles at her fondly, "Thank you for caring, Jessica. I hope this hasn't added to your burdens. I never wanted it to."

"Mom ... showed me what a leader does for her people. So."

"In some ways, she had it easier than you. "

"You don't know that. You can't say that."

"I can say it.. I'm a free man. I can say a lot of things. Doesn't make me right mind you." A grin "Jessica, she has a lodge. It's built by trolls, follows troll ways... it must have been like putting in a coat tailor made for her. You? You got handed one crazy jacket stitched together by rebels, nobles, natives and more... and we told you 'make it fit'."