#fenixtj

"You're welcome. Listen, there might be some musicians stopping by. Here for the contest we're having here? They might have questions about me, or us, or music. Feel free not to answer."

"Might be? A pause "Jessica, who do you think I'm tattoing in right now?"

"........."

"Ok. Well. Sorry I didn't warn you."

"It's not a problem" he assures "In truth, it's helping me in what is a lull"

"Ok. I'll see you....later."

"I'll hold you to that . Dinner?"

"Um.... sure, but right now with all the contests and auditions and things....."

"How about at your hold so they can grab you in case of emergency? Your room?"

"Let me check on it... um, you know, scheduling and stuff. I'll call you back."

"Please do. And Ocean Eyes.. is theree anything you want me to tell them to avoid? No need to subject yourself to say.. polka if you hate it"

A pause. "No." Thoughtfully. "You're the only one I've danced with, listened to music with, in ... wow, years. You know what I like."

"I do. Not sure how much I want to share that with them to be honest, I Like having a bit of you just to myself. But on the other hand, you deserve good songs that you adore. Yes, I think maybe I'll coach them and you'll know their songs are actually gifts from me to you"

"Um. Ok. Thank you." He can hear a slight purpling of her cheeks.

"My pleasure" And he hung up.

............................

Meanwhile, Ellie and Salma are joined by Ariel "Hey"

Ariel stares as her friends freeze. "it's a CURSE"

"What is a curse? You fell afoul of a bruja?"

"Not Zane, though. Zane is nice."

"I thought you got turned to statues! What have you two been up to?"

"More musickers came!"

"I was just with Dean... there's MORE?"

"MORE."

"Wow!" She says "What with Spencer coming down here too just to compete it's gonna be so busy"

"Oh yes, Exciting!"

The satyress bounces "Dean's a satyr like me!" Then a blush "Well, you know that. What new ones did you meet?"

"A selkie!"

"OOo I missed a SEA Troubadour?" GASP!

Clearly this was the saddest moment of sad moments, a tragedy! How could she , a girl named ariel, miss a SEA musiker!

"Well, she'll be back..."

"And she likes the beach!"

"oo maybe we can go back?" Hope rising, tragedy fading! Satyr passions switching!

"We have to take Dame Ash..."

"That's okay. I like Dame Ash. She's always nice and tries to be there"

"I like her too." Firmly.

"And the Beaumayns did help the farm once" She says "Your house is.. liike nicer than a lot "

A shrug. "We have bad people, too - every house has good and bad people."

A huff, hating it. "Even Balor."

"I Guess same is true of commoners" SHe nods "Every kith I mean... "

'oh yes! Look at Sir Phobos!"

"Yeah. He's scary but he'd do anything for Jessica. Did you know he DIED for her once? He's got just a bit more winter. Diego told me! "

"Nooooo..."

"Yeah, it was chimerical, but you know that's still real for us... and that means he's closer to fading.. he'll likely forget sooner," A nod "I seen folks who died Chimerical kind of withdraw from the world."

"But..well.. I try not to think on that" A sigh "Sorry for bringing it up"

Ellie has.. that face.

Where did she go?

Ariel tilts her head curiously.

Blink-blink, and back.

"Yeah.. it's hard. Coming back doesn't make it less bad, I don't think."