#fenixtj

"Five." she nods.

"Thank you, Neema. Um. Can you provide an introduction? Or take them the taffy and say I'd like to meet?"

"I'll do so.. the taffy Imean, then introduce you. I best tell the kitchen staff ?"

"Why?"

"To make the salt water taffy?"

"Oh. I was going to buy it but... homemade would be better, yes. I'll talk to them, thank you. I mean... really, -thank- you." sincerely.

"You're welcome, Truly. I Like working here. I have free time, and then when I am called on, I am able to help" The selkie smiles

A small grin "That's the best feeling, yes." She nods and, hand-in-hand with Salma (if she likes) will go to stop in at the kitchen!

She goes along, and suggests, "Mayhaps you need to do shopping in town? I could escort you, Condesa."

"Town shopping IS still wise" Neema says

"Yes, we'll go out just after we talk to the kitchen, ok? I want to give them time to make candy."

A nod

Nod nod!

"Salma, be sure to escort the Countess, please. She needs a childlings eye for holiday matters I think"

A solemn nod. "It is my duty, Senora."

"Thank you." and Jess will take them first to the kitchen to speak with Maria and Rosa.

Neema smiles and lets Salma take lead

Jess explains the need, and asks the ladies if they can make salt water taffy.

Of COuRSE they can, leave it to them

With her thanks, Jess leads Selma out to shop en el mercado.

The shops of the city are many and varied, lush or sparse, cheap or expensive... but Jessica and Salma know where the dreamers craft or collect, where the out of the way shops are that are less banal

And one market street has clothes of all sorts, toys of various kinds, and so on on display

Salma's eyes are wide as she searches for anything that might look appealing to childlings... a toy shop, perhaps, or....

Jessica makes a point of having money on her person, and will help Salma fund anything she feels necessary.

A female nocker waves them over to her booth . Advertised is The cousins to the princesses

Salma reads the sign, and looks to Jess. "Condesa, I did not know that Princesca had cousins?"

"I didn't either...." Jess murmurs as they move closer "Let's see." Then, to the nocker "Good morning."

"Furkin morning.. welcome to Cousins to the Princesses... I got Insomniatic Beauty, Fuzzpunzel, the girl who never has a good hair day...Rose Red, who as you can see is pissed about being forgotten..."

The dolls show one lovely princess who looks like she might have bags under her eyes and seems to be trying to find some way to get to sleep on her toy bed . Fuzzpunzel 's hair just won't shift quite balanced no matter how she combs it. And Rose Red looks like a redheaded snow white with arms crossed and a surly glare

"Um."

She gives Selma a side-look.

"Maybe you prefer Ariel's cousin? " A mermaid princess hiding in her cave and NOT coming out "She doesn't want to be part of ANY world due to crippling social anxiety?"

"Um." Jess repeats "I think I get it. -Cousins-... an under-represented group of near-royals?"

"Ah." Salma looks uncertain about these dolls.

"They certainly look fun?" She attempts.

"Oh yeah, there's got to be a demand!" THe nocker smiles

She tugs gently at Jess's arm, so that she can ask her to kneel for a whisper.

"Perhaps there are some children who do not have any dolls who might give these a good home. They are perhaps too nice for the Princesca, but she could share them?"

Jessica nods understanding. "That's very kind, Selma, and understandable." she looks at the nocker. "May we see the rest of your stock?"

"SURE" She breaks out the other dolls ...

and some appear to be dolls of maids, and servants

"Come take a look." gently to Selma.

"Oh those, I just figured the princesses need folks to tend on them... I don't even have names for most of em"

And there's one carrying a stack of books, okay not real books, but dollsized books

"Perhaps the royals need a court? Representation is important."

"Hey if you want me to furking do a custom job that's fine"

Salma is actually looking at a doll that has a purple dress...

"Oh, you like that one huh?"

"It's alright." She says noncomittally.

"Alright? FFft.. kids..."

"I believe I saw another doll at the shop down the way." She says with an innocent smile. "The boggan there promised that their dolls, oh, they were the best to be found."
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