#fenixtj

"Oh!"

Ellie smiles, and crawls in under the table to sit next to Salma and watch kittens.

A finger held to her lips as she scooches over to give Ellie room beside her, and points at a particularly vibrant flower she has bookmarked, one with deep purple blooms.

Constance hums

The page practically flows away before her eyes, incomprehensible..

"La petunia mexicana (Ruellia brittoniana) es una hermosa adición a un retiro de jardín en flor. Como una planta perenne resistente (solo necesita plantarlas una vez), la petunia mexicana es una de varias plantas del desierto que se recomiendan para climas cálidos y secos. Son económicos, de bajo mantenimiento y resistentes a la sequía. También conocidos como Purple Showers, los pétalos de las flores de la petunia mexicana son comúnmente de un color violeta vibrante, pero también pueden ser de color rosa o blanco. Al igual que las azucenas, solo florecen una vez al día, pero florecen continuamente durante todo el verano....

Petunia sounds familiar, though!

"Petunia... flore is flower!"

"Oh, violeta!"

She beams at Ellie. "And I found this..." Keeping her voice properly hushed, and showing Ellie a dusty paperback. "Specs got it off one of the shelves for me..."

Salma proudly shows off this one and runs a finger over the lines, reading, "tradiciones y secretos, lenguaje y normas de la ofrenda floral..."

"Flowers have secrets, did you know?"

"Oh, I would believe that..."

"The Maya and Inca believed that the scent of petunias had the power to ward off underworld monsters and spirits. We should plant lots and lots and see if they keep the dark kin away."

"Or the scent of Ahpuch's pantry box might do the same." She giggles.

"Not too many, though... Ahpuch has a ghost friend."

She stifles a giggle.

"Oh! We should ask him." A small frown. "Maybe it is like the ofrenda. It welcomes the santos and passed family and friends, but wards off evil spirits."

"He paints his face like a calavera, a sugar skull, so I am sure he would know."

"Or maybe he just does that so he will look sweet to you, Princesca." She teases.

"We only want nice ghosts, yes."

"And I will not have a boyfriend for a VERY long time, not until I am sixteen, and silly."

"Mmmm, hmmm." She nods and hides a grin in her book.

"You must watch them now when they are young so you know who is worth your time when it comes to court!"

"Maybe you want to court! Maybe Holger? He is good to cats..."

"Ay, dios no." She laughs. "It is not proper, I must be your Criada and watch over you. I cannot do that if I was out courting! And, Princesca, I am only a wee burra and not meant for a Cabellero." A grin.

Constance scribles, but her lip twitches into a near smile for some reason

"Plus, I AM only ocho ." Holding out eight fingers.

"See? Already more grown up. I am... I am... hold on..."

" uno, dos, tres, quatro, cinco.... sies..." A frown.

"I forgot seven."

"Siete" mumbled between hums

"Gracias!"

"De nada" Scribble scratch

"See, someday you will be old and wise like Salma, I am practically your abuelita. No no, you must call me Tita Salma." Covering giggles to try not to disturb the librarian!

A smirk, scribble

"Saaallllmmmmaaaa. It's not like you're ten."

"I might be, I am a craft old burra and filled with lies."

"Wait does this mean you aren't eight?"

"Perhaps I am an ancient bruja and merely take this form to trick you and steal your sweets!"

"Well, you are still a childling, like me. Mi her-mah-na."

A delighted grin. "Perfecta! I will be a good bruja and only cast spells on your enemies. But I may still steal your sweets. You must watch your figure to fit into regal gowns."

"Just don't steal churros. You can steal all the lima beans you want, though."

Her nose wrinkles and she sticks out her tongue.

A confidential whisper. "I will share my churros though."

An arm around her and a quick hug. "We should go see if they have any now."

Slyly, "Perhaps it is the order of the Heiress Princesca that they be on hand at all hours..."

the kittens, bellies full again, and exhausted by the bathing...start to fall asleep.

"Ohhh... I don't know..."

"But well, it can't hurt to see."

And the girls find that, why yes, Churros seem to be almost always ready unless it's NOT meal time.

Oooo...

Word is sent out from Fenix, a request for Bards, Troubadours, Jesters and more come out!