#scarsdale

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Construction sounds are not new to Zara. Her uncles are nockers, after all.

But who hammers and bangs in the winter? And who does it on her street?

While repairs are going on in one area, painting is going on in another....

hues of Salmon and pink coming to life!

Zara spreads the curtains to glare out at the noise.

Bronte hisses a bit and tries to get back to reading.

Yep. folks are altering an old home, refurbishing and repainting and building it....and.. dear god, is someone placing Flamingos on the lawn? they ARE

Hisssssssss.

Surely there are codes, rules against... this?

Surely there are, but the HOA is also a banal and terrible place.

What are they doing to that, are they trying to alter the house to be more...Floridian or Californian?

Well, they have the sense not to muck with the roof shape at least

A sigh, and she finds her ear muffs.

Bronte gazes at the creation forming , at the reshaping of a once lovely house into a frakenwhatsit of salmon and pink "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here"

"Truth, aye. A monstrosity."

Another peek, and she sees someone has come up, an official looking someone, talking to the construction foreman. ear muffs mute what they are saying

Ear muffs off - curiosity above comfort.

yes, she can endure some of the banging...

"No , there is no HMOA, but there are CODES, sir, rules and restrictions.... and the city sends me to enforce them. I need to see your permit, this kind of expansion could have safety involved. It's winter here, surely you can see for yourself why THAT is important?" //"Hey man, we're just paid to do the job, and it's within parameters, see for yourself... I eveen talked the new owner out of flattening the roofs"

"You want a medal for keeping the owner from dying in an avalanche?" the city inspector says in a manner that reminds her of her uncles and looks over the papers

Zara watches, wondering just who this "new owner" may be... any sign of someone besides the contractors and inspector?

Indeed, a car pulls up... again, NOT fitting in the neighborhoood, not at this time of year

Hisssssssssss

And, oh, teenage impulse... a gesture, a hex, on one of the pink abominations wheels.

The car tire does not explode and shoot the driver and car into another less civilized county, more is the pity. Perhaps later..

Out steps a guadilly dressed woman, and ...she's kithain

Hissssssssssss

And, a pooka, of course she's a pookka

Not that all Pooka are bad.

Vashti is quite reasonable

But THIS one...

"piacere di conoscerti!" She announces in an accent that tries for Italian, veers into Spanish and crashes and burns somewhere near California Valley areas

"Are you the owner?" the City inspector says.

A sigh.

"Oo, WWEEE, " she says, mangling the French so you can only imagine it spelled wrong, "I am de Comte de Carmesi. Oh, the House, it is coming across so beautifully. But there is, how you say? Tribble?"

"I..." the man blinks, then after translating or trying to, says "Miss carmesi, there are codes regarding not just the shape of the building, but safety standards for wwhen you can build, and expansions have to have extra safety features."

"Oh, Bronte... we are doomed, nu?"

"The worst of times" Bronte agrees

"Aye, dearheart."

And yet, what's that, a black dot moving along? lost in the glow of the pooka

Oh, don't be Vashti.... she squints..

Vexation, whoever it was, they snuck out of sight! Behind a tree

She sees only a flash of dark parasol, and that barely peeking out

Zara watches intently - following the parasol now.

then a flash of pastel glamour, and the city inspector blinks "Oh of course, this is the best idea ever. Yeah we can approve it." And he signs something with a smile

It would appear Carmesi has swayed the fellow