#fenixtj

"That I did not know. I get the feeling that, that lady likes her privacy though. I don't know her that well. Just that she's a friend of Siv. Which, frankly, is enough to me to know she must be a good person. See, friends are useful for that, to be good judges of character too."

"oh, yes!" Enthusiastic agreement

"Sluagh like secrets."

"Whoof. Well, if we haven't found him yet, maybe your friends will have had better luck. We could check back with them?"

"Yes, let's." And she takes Piper's hand to go seek the others.

Siv is cleaned, and refreshed!

and wearing her old clothes "I miss this voile" she admits

"Beats that snake biker grunge look" Jonas concurs

"Thanks" Siv says "I still can't believe everyone went to bat for me like that. I don't deserve-"

"Yes," Jonas says "Yes you do"

Siv smiles at that

"Well, mom saved me... not just her, but..damn when I saw that mark... I guess she's always saving us when we least expect her. Her and da" Siv says and another kiss "And you and others too" then a pause "About Piper?"

"I agree" he nods

"Good. " She says

Sheepishly, perhaps, Jessica reappears. Showered and cleaned up herself, it seems.

Siv raises a brow to see her sister "Did you get help with your shower too?"

"Siv..........." Muttered.

A laugh and another hug "Oh sis I'm sorry I just need a return to normal you know? And I guess that includes me being inapproprirate. I am.." A pause and bite of her lip "I am SO sorry for the hateful shit I said to thee"

"It wasn't you. Not really." Jess hugs her back.

"It was my mouth and that's horrid enough" Siv holds there for just a bit, feeling safe in her sister's arms not that she wants to admit, then when they part, she says "I should head back... probably to RIvervale first, then to Earth Runes. Anything you want me to pass on to mom and dad, and then the Baroness Coradel respectively?"

Jessica considers.

"Yes, but... you go ahead. I'll write, or call. Your homecoming... homecomingS .... shouldn't be burdened with messages."

"It's no burden," She assures "not when it's from you."

"Still."

"As ye say , but I'll at least tell them that you looked good when I saw you . They will ask anyway"

A thought, "The hold is okay? the fire?"

The fire feels strong, together she and Jessica held

more than held really

A smile. "Yes. Just fine."

Relief "Good. Love you, sis."

"Love you too."

"Now where is Piper? " SHe looks around "Piper?"

And Siv gathers JOnas, and Piper to go.

And Jessica, refreshed, and proud of her bale, turns back to her duties.

(End Scene)

Piper walks through the hallways of Fenix, looking for a troll with tattoos.

She finds Duff with a beer in his hand... he's currently looking refreshed, and enjoying a quite corner of a chamber, noone else really around

"Hey... mind if I join you?" She pauses before heading over quite into his corner.

Duff looks up, then shrugs looking at a nearby chair with a head tilt that could be a nod

She takes a moment - it's only been a year, she doesn't really speak Troll yet... and slides into the chair. "I was wondering if you might be up for a commission? And - to be upfront - wanted to know if you took credit - or if I could get a quote, otherwise, and come back once I have the dosh up front."

"I admire your honesty," Duff says "Not sure how I feel about credit. The price depends on the job. "

"I'd like a tattoo. I'm not sure if you do any of those fancy chimerical ones... the kind that move, or animate - but none of that. Just regular plain ol' ink, and it's simple - at least, I think it is, the design, and just an outline. No color."

"At least, for what I had in mind. I could go to a mortal inker, but... people trust you. And I've seen some of your work on other troubadours... for something that should be permanent, I'd much rather go to someone I could trust my poor virgin hide to."

"Ah, straight black ink, that does keep the price down a bit." A nod

"I'm not in a rush... I can always come back when I can afford it. And... keep in mind, I'm no artist, but I looked at other work, and mocked something up." She offers him a scrap of paper, a little crumpled from being erased and re-sketched on a few times. "See the design here - or something to that effect? And a little text." Piper reaches back and touches her right shoulderblade. "I was thinking, back here..."

He looks at it, "I see. Not the most difficult pattern but it isn't a single part" A look at the shoulder blade "That's big enough to use more ink than a small one on the arm. The bigger, the longer it takes. My estimate would be about a hundred and fifty dollars and hour"

"I'm no artist... so I definitely take feedback. I wanted it on my back, because... it's... well, part of it is considering it something in my past, behind me. Symbolism, you know? But... I think it's important, to have as a reminder. History forgotten repeats itself, and so on."

And she nods, slowly mentally calculating. "For how many hours, would you think?" Already looking a bit discouraged, but still determined.

A few other pages offered. "These were other concepts I had played with. You're the expert, after all. Now, if it was a song, I'd have it down PAT."

"If I cheat with a bit of quick silver, I could do it in two hours easy" He admits "I don't normally undercut myself' But he looks at her "Would you be willing to perform to help pay things off?"