#fenixtj

"That's not really news." but she says it with some humor.

"They did all that by my instruction." she explains.

"OH!" She laughs "Okay well as long as you know. Oh. Duff is kind of pacing like a tiger in a cage. I think he's trying to decide to go after you or not"

"Oh jeeze..... Where is he?"

"I sicced some of the childlings on him"

Duff might be getting HIS face painted...

"Ok, where are -they-?"

Duff sighs and holds sitll as his face is painted.

"So grumbly" Ariel says

Jessica taps at the door.

"But see, his skin is just like the sky!" Adding yellow rays to the sun on his cheek.

"Pleas,e for the love of god, come in" Duff says

"Don't move your jaw, you'll mess up the sun" Ariel warns

So Jessica does.

Duff is painted with fluffy white clouds and butterflies and a happy sun!

"Hi." quietly. "I'm not hurt, everyone's ok. We were successful."

A sigh from Duff, but hten he sees her and.. relief, of both kinds "Good. I was... a bit worried, Jessica"

"I'm sorry about that. I was at Skyhook when it started and I had to move quick."

"But the Chiefain saved the day..." A pause "Pardon, Countess" Ariel says "What's the story?" Then she says "oo Ellie, can we put a kite on his ear?"

"That might tickle..."

“My ears aren’t ticklish at all.” Salma adds, touching up the sunbeams.

"No touching t he ear" Duff grunts ,then says to Jessica "I'm glad you're okay. Anyway I can help?"

She thinks about it, or tries to. "Maybe. I need to talk to Tweak first, to be honest. It was her airship, her prize."

"Let me know if I can help" he says "Okay, girls, don't you think you should perhaps use the facepaint on each other"

"Okay! Thank you for being such a good model, Mr. Duff!" SQUEEZE!

He hugs the little girl back "You're welcome. Maybe one day I'll give you a tatoo when you're older"

Her lips curve up on one side and she leans against the door frame, watching.

"Ooooh, a purple one?"

"Surely. Maybe a small delicate butterfly" A pause "With a blazing sword"

"oooo" Ariel says

"I wanted to touch base. I should go send someone to Skyhook." She straightens.

"I'll go" Nancy offers

"Oh, Nancy.... sorry, I didn't see you."

"If not you, maybe Phobos or Demos....?"

"Ariel, do you want a butterfly?" Off to paint the satyress' face!

"Oh sure..." Ariel says "Can it be green?"

And Nancy says "I'll take Demos along you and Duff.. have fun watching the kids or whatever"

"Sure!"

Ariel strikes a pose

And somewhere in the hold, a phone rings.

And the phone is brought to Jessica!

"Oh, um. Thanks." She takes it. "Hello?"

"No, I took some time by the 'Fire there with the others. What's the word about your ship and crew and the chest?"

"I think so, yes, but we need to move smartly on that. I'll send someone."

"We lost one, chimerically. All things considered, that seem like we came off light."

"It could have been worse. Let me know what that one needs."

"What does it do? Do you need me to come there?" She leans against the wall.