#fenixtj

"I should have written it down. Or taken a picture.." Hindsight, 20/20

"Damn." Adam agrees; lost opportunities.

"Why were you directed to Piper's hands.. now how, why?"

"trust that she would pass the test and do the right thing" the bottle says and ends.

Phobos says "That's all I got." He looks over at her

A small stomp, frustrated. Then a quick glance up to Phobos. "Thank you, sir. It's more than I knew before. Although I don't like the sound that it was some sort of game someone is playing with me." Frowning. "At least it sounds not malicious. And I'll try not to let it ruin my visit."

"If you think you found out who did it let me know, if I can I'll bring em in for questioning" Phobos says "The Boss doesn't take kindly to folks screwing with her guests"

"I don't so much like being screwed with either, so I'll be sure to do so." She admits, tucking the bottle away.

"Move on, enjoy the music" the Selkie says "or use it to fuel the music you have?"

"Can you do that?" Adam asks Piper.

It takes a moment to inhale, exhale, let out the bad energy - and she turns to greet the Selkie. "I heard you sing-" And then as she focuses on the woman's face, her breath catches in her throat. Taking a clipping step back, a hand up as though to ward something off, her head shaking, no...

"I hoped you like it. My name is Neema" She says "Pleased to meet you"

"Piper?" Adam reaches for her again, and moves to stand between the selkie and satyr.

Neema steps back "Apologies if I've some how offended"

She's rubbing her eyes, and catches her breath. "I'm sorry - sorry. I think I was... just light-headed there a moment. Adam, can we go sit down?" A touch of pleading in her voice.

"Yeah, of course....." Adam glances around, sees a bench, and walks Piper over. "You want some water or something?"

Neema, catching a hint, inclines her head and turns to withdraw.

She sits, and glances over to the selkie again - a question in her gaze - and says to Adam, "Yes, please, if you could?"

"I Hope you feel better soon," Neema says...and continues on her way unless stopped

"Yeah, sure. Stay here." Adam shoots off.

"Wait?" She calls softly after the selkie once Adam is out of earshot. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to... I thought I recognized you."

Neema turns back "I'm sorry if it was a bad memory. I try to be on good terms with most people"

"Piper, Piper, Piper, listen!" Little feet running.

Ellie... ahem, Countess Eleanor Hyacinth du Violette... skids up to the satyress, selkie and... Adam. Possibly with her companions in tow.

Ariel has caught up easy enough

Neema turns and smiles at the childlings

"Hello!"

"Piper, listen!"

And she toots on the ocarina - "Hot Cross Buns" Which has all of three notes...

(Adam ran off for water)

Ariel beams

She is distracted by the childlings, and gives them a smile. "That... that's lovely Ellie. You're going to win the contest at this rate." Sitting up, she offers a tentative hand over to Neema. "I'm Piper... but.. maybe you know that?"

Ellie tilts her head, looking between the two musicians.

Neema shakes the hand, then looks down "Did you learn that yourself?"

Asking Elie

"Ariel helped!"

"I was trying to do Three Blind Mice, but then it got really hard..."

"...Neema." Echo, echo, echo. Her eyes look distant for a moment, gaze a touch haunted, but then she snaps back at the bright tone of Ellie's excited voice. "You've made a great start. Do you like it?"

Salma comments, puffing up after the other childlings who ran faster than she cared to. "Tres blind mice is a rude song anyways. At least, if you are a mouse."

"I do like it!" No comment on how much of studying was missed to mess with an ocarina...

Ariel says "She's really good for someone so green!"

Neema glances over at Piper "I do believe I know you, but, well, new times, new starts"

"New times, new starts." She repeats, and smiles tentatively. "And you're helping her, Ariel - that's great. I look forward to hearing a duet some day!"

"It's way nicer than a harp."

A laugh. "Easier on your finger tips?"

"You know, the song I sang for you earlier is traditionally played on Ocarina. And Neema here might like it. It's about selkies. Or written with them in mind."

"Ohhh..."

"Can you show? I bet Ariel remembered the words..."

"I remember some of the words."

She offers the wooden ocarina out to Piper.