#fenixtj

"People say a lot of things when they do not know you are there. That's not dropping eaves, though, it's just listening. I learned to listen well enough that I can hear things that do not talk. But they speak very quietly, and only when I ask very politely."

"No one takes me seriously either, because I don't wear pants enough." A lowered voice "I do that so I don't let them down. If they don't know all I can do, I can't fail them... that's that's what i used to think." A sigh "But I learned, what's worse than trying to help and failing... is to learn someone else is hurt or failed because you COULD have helped and didn't. Here.. here's the first secret.." And he whispers in her ear the secret words that will start her on the path "Blood and Water are sisters"

Then he covers his lips in a 'shhh' motion and nods

She nods, eyes wide, and ears both up straight, and then she reaches up to tug them down, crossing them before her mouth. "Shhhh." A sparkle in her eyes... this is something curious for her to read up on! Maybe the clue will have some friends in the books, too.

"Salma, we got our bathing suits on!" Ariel trots up

"And Neema is on her way"

"Oh, and your braids! Good, otherwise I'd have to brush out all the wet tangles, tsk. You should have short hair like me, it is much more sensible. But no... then what would I braid at night?" She DOES love to brush and braid their hair.

"I like braids, Rapunzel has one... hello Fontaine!"

Ariel says "You have to share Ellie's hair. I helped it grow"

"She did! It was so ugly-feo."

Fonataine looks amused

And Neema comes in "You girls are in much better moods I see." She smiles "Hello, Fontaine."

Ellie slips into a pool to splash around.

"Princesca, you would never be feo." Her nose wrinkles up with a laugh. "See, your Neema has short hair, and she is lovely."

"As short as it gets" Neema strokes her bald head with a chuckle

Ariel dives in..kind of

folks tell her not to so she ..sort of slows down at the last moment, which is what counts

"Oh, ask Ariel. They chopped off big hunks, it was all jagged..."

Salma is kicking her feet in the water softly, enjoy the little splashes.

"Oh, por que? Did you get gum in it? So much gum?"

Ellie bobs around. "No, the bad people cut it."

Fontaine whispers to Neema. Neema whispers back conspiring.

"Oh. I got gum in my hair once, and then it all went chop, chop. I was lucky they missed the ears. Well, they DID cut off half of one, and I stuck it back on with... yes, gum. That is why it droops, see?"

"I don't know," neema says

then whispers more.

"yes yes.. I can do that" whisper back

"I like your droopy ear."

"Does it droop when you are a burra, too? That way, I'd always know it was you."

"Yeah, it's.. uh.. coquetish?" Ariel says

She grins. "Isn't a coquette a fried potato? If so, I like it..."

"I had a potato taco. You should try it." She experiments, trying to float.

"Si, you did? I would try that. But papas are lonesome without their friend, chorizo."

"Well, it's like they say when a Baked Potato is served after a hard day of work on the farm" Ariel nods "For all you do, this Spud's for you"

"Papas y queso."

A giggle.

"Oh! Sir Queso shall fight Sir Lord Chor of Izo for the hand of the lovely papas. He says to Chorizo, you cannot have her, for she is... "nacho" senorita."

"OH!" More giggles.

The selkie laughs

Salma looks especially pleased when not only her friend, but also the minstrel laughs! A touch of pink to her cheeks.

Whatever distress Ellie had earlier seems forgotten in the splashing.

Ariel "Music , please Neema? I know i'm the childling Troubadour but..."

"Actually, I was just talking with Fontaine about that.. there's one from an old movie you MIGHT not know..." Neema says

"Does the song have a story in it?" She actually stops her splashing for a moment.

"Oh... funny you should ask that Salma.. yes. I suppose it does" Neema says with amusement

"Ooo. I like story-songs."

"Fontaine.. please start.. I will join..."

"Turn around, look at what you see
In her face the mirror of your dreams
Make believe I'm everywhere
Hidden in the lines, written on the pages!" Books? It's a song about books?

Ellie rests her arms on the edge of the pool as a prop for her chin as she listens to the song.

"Is the answer to a neverending storyyy"
"(Aah, aah, aah) "Neema starts to blend in softly for that part.
"Reach the stars
Fly a fantasy
Dream a dream!" "And what you see will be!"

ANd then Neema joins with full voice. A song the young girls might not have heard