#fenixtj

Then suddenly, Ariel glances over at JESSICA's hair, and then nudges her friends.

"..ohhhhh...."

As jessica has a BIG head (meaning size, not ego) she has more hair..well maybe not more than Ellie but she's still got plenty to work with

"What?" Her hair is kept, religiously, in a 4 part braid.

"Who braids your hair, Chief Jessica?" Eyes wide with interest

"Um. I do."

"Maybe you want to try something new!" Ariel says endearingly then sing songs "We could use the prac-tice"

"I, um, I like it like this. I can do it quick, and it stays out of the way, and I can fight in it."

"Well, maybe something fancier for court?"

Hopeful eyes

"Um. Maybe." She doesn't seem enthused.

A soft tug on Jessica's arm. "Condesa, you must set an example. If you do not dress nicely, they will say, her sirviente, they do not know how to prepare her for court! They look down on you, if you are not armored for courtly battle."

"And your helmet is most importante." She adds, patting at her own coarse braid.

"A woman's hair is her glory" Ariel says folksy like, quoting someone

"I think I dress just fine, though. And this isn't a formal court, really. Maybe it will be in Eleanor's time."

"When you go to visit, though - that's a different kind of battle."

A nod!

"Especially Tidemarch,"

"BIIIG Battle" Nodding and backing up Ellie

Jessica shifts uncomfortably, but acknowledges this. "You aren't wrong."

"To fight the sidhe, you must THINK like the sidhe" She paces "Would you like to know more?"

"I have no intention of -fighting- Lord Tidemarch." Blink.

"Oh sorry, it's from a movie I wasn't supposta watch"

"If you go to meet him without proper attire, the battle is half lost."

"Well... not a fight, but you must reaffirm that YOU are the Countess."

"There is a saying, that for want of a horse a war was lost, and maybe you drive and not ride a horse, but a car cannot drive without attire."

"It's as serious as any battle with steel."

She says this completely straightfaced.

Ariel blinks, opens her mouth as she goes over what Salma said

"I'll wear my formal voile!" She may be wondering when the conversation got away from her.

"Good! And we shall use all of our artifice so you shine like the sun!"

"She's not wrong" Ariel concludes about Salma's comment. It really does work from every angle

"YES" Ariel says "Thank you, Miss Jessica, you won't be sorry"

"Ladies...."

"Oh yes, thank you Countess! You'll be so pretty!"

"I have to.... go..... somewhere else." Jess says a little blankly. "You girls have a good day."

Ariel says "Oh sure, we need to plan anyway. Bye Miss Jessica!"

"Si, Condesa." She waves cheerfully after the troll.

"Take care, Contesa!"

"Ladies! Get the crayons! We have plans to make!"

Jessica departs.

She grins at Ellie triumphantly after Jessica has left. "That, mi princesca, is a Victory."

"Countess Jessica is very nice, but I don't think she has danced at many courts yet."

"Well shoot, we can teach her some hoofing"

"Si, I can dance and she can do what I do not, and it will be the prettiest waltz."

Ariel grabs Salma's hands and says "Uno , Dos Tres, Uno Dos Tres.... He plaays the violin... he tucks it right under his chin... One two three two three"

And waltzs with the donkey pooka

or tries to

She has two left feet, and manages to step on Ariel several times, contritely. Luckily the other girl has tough hooves..

Ellie waltzes too, around the pair.