#fenixtj

Then he chuckles "Fine, not satyrs out please.."

Ariel says to Ellie "It's okay, Ellie. You can keep Jessica company while we work.. she's gonna be nervous about hearing us so you give her someone to talk to okay?"

"Oh... okay..."

"See you after?"

"DEFINITELY" the satyr childling hugs her

"Ellie, would you like a tour of Fenix? And we can plan a tour of Renaissance later. I'm going to write to Duke Tieron, let him know you're here."

"Yes, please!"

Constance says "He should know by now, I sent word as you said..." And slowly the satyrs are left alone, save for the slumbering Culpepper

Azul moves happily to the two Countesses (A group of Countesses is called an Excellence btw, trufakt!) as they head off

"Ok, good. That's one thing out of the way."

"And you've met Azul." Jessica gestures to the pup.

The childling places herself between the two trolls, Rapunzel doll securely tucked in her arms. "Uh-huh."

Jessica takes the youngling on that tour; private rooms, there's a ritual room that feels extra spooky, the kitchen (very important) trod-doors, the springs of course, and offices and meeting rooms.

Flex and Specs in the study make muscle poses as the tough guy library chimera they are. No wimpy nevers they

Offices are ho-hum, but chimera are delightful.

Fontaine smiles and waves

If she spots Rosalita or Maria, the bogganesses get ENTHUSIASTIC WAVING

So does Fontaine!

Maria and Rosaletia fuss and ask if anyone is hungry

"Rapunzel" would like some chocolate milk, please.

"Of course, calcium is good for you"

And who doesn't love chocolate?

"Rapunzel says thank you!"

Of course, it's Ellie who drinks the milk.

Jessica keeps an eye on the time.

And in the distance music...

Jessica is very careful to keep that distance -significant-.

"Miss Jessica, do you have a favorite princess?"

"Um." She blanks. "I, um.... not... not really. Do you have one you would recommend for me?"

"Well, you killed a Balor, so you must be a warrior..."

Jessica nods. "When I must be, yes."

"And trolls are all about Honor, too. So... probably Mulan."

"She dressed up as a boy to join the army and protect her dad, and then she defeated Shan Yu and saved all of China."

And she likes Chinese food! But no one says that

"Well. That's not too far off the truth, I guess....."

"She's super brave and loyal. I like Mulan a lot."

"AND she has a pet dragon and a pet cricket and a pet horse."

"Kind of reminds me of my cousin."

"Oh?"

"Mmm. You might meet her, one day."

"Thank you for letting Ariel stay. I never got to play at home. It was always study study study."

"Ellie, do you think you are ready to talk about where you came from and how you came to be on that train?"

"You don't have to right now, if you don't want to."

"I don't... exactly... remember all of it..."

"Well. I'd like to listen to what you can tell me, if you are ready to."

She reaches out to the dog for support.

"Well, I had to leave home after I was sained because I was a threat to the Count."

Jessica crouches down to listen.

"Gerald said he'd known before, that's why he came there. But he wasn't allowed to tell me that until it happened, those are the rules."

"See, LaFayette, lotsa folks think he's a Dougal but he's NOT..."