#fenixtj

"I think Siv would feel better with another friend, that would be you, along as well to face her parents" Jonas nods then he says to the children "Adios, la ninas" ANd goes off

"Hasta la vista!"

Salma watches him go, and once he has turned the corner, heaves a heavy sigh. "Oh mi corazón..." Then realizing she spoke aloud, adds, "It is a nice book, is all. I will show it to Constanza."

"She might have Flex and Specs make a copy!" Ariel says

"It's a very nice gift."

And Piper smiles, her heart bouyed a bit by the first glimpse of a young crush.

Ariel looks at Piper "PIper, mIss PIper ma'am?"

"Oh, uh, sorry! Distracted there a moment. What's up, hun?"

"I was going to ask you if you have a favored instrument, other than singing."

"Oh I'm okay on woodflute and I learned a little guitar" She says " I hope to get panpies cuz it's our heritage' A whisper "The GOOD Heritage, not the owning people heritage they got in some places"

"When I am in charge, nobody will own people." A firm nod.

"It's important to know both heritages. History that is forgotten gets repeated." She shakes her head. "Lord, I gotta check what I say, I sound like Sir Vali..." And thoughtful. "Traditionally reeds, maybe bamboo, but can be made with wood or bone. Or ivory, but that's not cool any more. But did you want to ask something?"

"Oh, could.. could I pass on song ideas to you to get help? that way when I do them for the childlings here they'll be polished up! We got two troubadours, but they're often busy"

Salma gives Ellie an impulsive hug.

Piper looks surprised. "Isn't that their job to help you with that? Oh, well, either way, I'd be more than happy to. You're one of the troubadours here too, after all."

Ariel answers"Well, they have to troubadour for the adults... I have to for the childlings. SOOO you know" A shrug as if can't be helped. Then she tries to look at Salma and Ellie when Piper can't see the other side of her face and gives a WINK to her friends. If they can't have Piper here, they can at least have reason to keep her in touch and visit

Salma gives Ariel a raised brow - sneaky!

Eager nods from Ellie in agreement. "Oh yes!"

"And ocarina updates!" A toot for emphasis.

"You know, my parents live in California... umm... it's maybe eight hours drive north of here, but still FAR closer than New Jersey. If there was a trod from here to there, there's no reason I couldn't stop in on my way to visit them now and again."

Ariel nods "Well, maybe there is one" She says

"We could make it! If you wish hard enough, you can."

"Making a trod may take a BIT more than a wish, but there may already be one, if not at Fenix, near enough to make it worthwhile. And if you want me to visit..." A grin. "You just have to ask! Especially with the beach right THERE..."

"Yes, the beach! Maybe you can meet the merfolk?"

"Please visit sometimes?" Ariel says, willing to be blunt cuz Sidhe aren't always and Pooka can't talk straight, so being tactless? It's up to her "We like you"

"We do!"

She beams. "One of my early mentors was a Mer... I'd love to visit them with you." And she sweeps Ariel into a spin, and then hug. "Of course. All you had to do is ask."

Ariel laughs "Oh you ahve to tell me about the Mer when you visit next!"

Salma hides a smile. "I always say what I mean. It's not my fault if people aren't listening."

"She's right," Ariel says though whether she means Ellie or Salma or both, hard to say

"Sometimes you are a riddle, Salma. I try to listen right, though."

"If we tell Senora Rosa that we have a visitor from the Countess's homeland, she might make a special dessert...." Already plotting.

Ariel looks intrigued

And it may occur to Piper she hasn't seen Zane since..well, since the ritual

Piper looks thoughtful for a moment. "Hrm. Have you seen my cousin? Zane, you called him your brujo. Is that brother?"

Salma giggles at that.

"Brujo is witch, but a boy."

"A man witch is a meal is what he says" A nod

"That's because it has an o. O is for boys and A is for girls."

"Probably cuz girls make better grades" Thoughtful is Ariel

Piper hides a snicker at that. "That's good to know, otherwise you would be Salmo." She teases the pooka. Who endures it.

"Salmo sounds like a fish. Salma is prettier."

Salma gives Ellie a smile. "I do like salmon though. It is tasty."

Piper looks over the girls. "Would you want to help me look for him? I bet you all know every inch of Fenix."

"Ah Puch might know more but we're close" Ariel gives one last hug to Piper "But I'm faster I'll run through the halls and check for him!"

"He might know more, but I bet you're faster."

"Ah Puch knows all the dark and squiggly places."

Salma nods. "I'm the fastest, because I ask the ones who know what's going on best." And she vanishes to ask the boggan staff. And maybe get a snack?

A laugh. "And Salma the Wise strikes again."

"Ariel the fleet accepts that challenge" ANd off Ariel is running

"So, you're in training to be the next countess - not any time soon, I hope." A friendly smile to Ellie as they walk. "What sort of other changes would you make, if you ran the world?" Curious.

"Oh! Well, no whipping girls, and no slaves, and no hurting people. And I'd want to have a place for artists and music..."