#scarsdale

The girl races along the rooftops of Scarsdale, practicing her hopscotch going from one roof to another... it's dangerous, cantrips are NOT reliable

But Eshu gotta Eshu

"And a prophet was lifted by God's hand, and Moses it's said, inspired superman" Tziporrah chants as she releases the bunk to propel her up up up and over over over to the next house roof

"WHOOO!" Tziporrah yells as she lands on her target safe and sound and keeps moving.

This Pakour stuff is EASY!

Okay, not like leaping is pakour exactly, but she's getting there and it's all thanks to youtube learning

Wilder logic

"I'm gonna be sained, I'm gonna have my name, I'm gonna bring the world my eshu A game" SHe tries to leap again, this time without the magic as the next building is closer

She catches herself on the ledge of this creepy house, and grins as she pulls up "I am invincible, I am a dream. I am a daughter of the prince of the roads!"

THe shutters before her pop open, and Marzana twists her head like an owl , "you , fledge, are far too loud"

For a moment , the Eshu almost slips off the roof, "Oh. . ah, Miss Marzana..." Sheepishly she is caught, "I was just.. ah..."

"Bounding" Marzanna says "Loudly."

"Almost no one out and about at this time" The Eshu answers a bit lamely "I need to practice, getting sained soon"

"And you fear you will be locked in status once you are?" Marzanna tuts "That is not how saining works. Miss Zara should have told you that"

"Well, sis is.. I mean ZARA said she'll help with the naming but I don't need her for everything" Tzip tries to reclaim the all important teenage dignity

"Shudder the thought you should," Marzanna agrees, then says "But shouldn't a tale spinner have a better memory?"

"Memory? I'm not forgetting anything," Tziporrah says after a brow scrunch "I know the date I get sained. I know where Zara told me to be for it. We'll have meals..."

"And is your saining the ONLY Holiday?" The sluagh neighbor makes a cutting motion, as if slitting the throat of the Eshu's rambling

"Well, July 4th, of course, the three weeks..." Tziporrah says smugly

"And, Miss Zara's birthday. Hast thou gotten her a gift?" Archly

The Eshu's eyes widen Holy shit. I forgot about Zara's birthday!

"If I recall, when you turned fourteen she got thee very thoughtful gifts." Marzanna goes on, a bit of jugdement in her tone "Kind gifts, that required effort, and thought"

Sluagh are supposed to inspire fear, but Marzanna is doing a pretty good job of sewing some guilt here. Fortunately the Eshu has a counter, she lies through her teeth and doubles down "Oh I've got Zara the best gift. It'll be fantastic. She'll love it" What the hell do I get her?

"ANd that is?" Marzanna's tone is almost like a cat judging a kitten that thought too much of itself

"A surprise" Tziporrah asserts, the fourteen year old's jaw out

"A surprise to someone I am sure" Marzanna's tone indicates that she doubts the full 'story' the Eshu is spinning, "Ah well, sahe is polite, and would not make a fuss even if it were some triffling."

Tziporrah's dander gets up. Okay, Marzanna can be a bit spooky. Lord knew what was the full story about the decapitated plastic flamingo on the rock in her back yard, and yes, she caught Tzip dead to rights, but suddenly being pegged just seemed.. rude "The gift I give her will be amazing, and she won't need to hide her delight. It's going to be amazing" Eshu pride rising and the girl finds herself commiting to it

"It will" Marzanna says, emphasis on the future tense the Eshu used as if doubting the gift in hand "You have this gift close."

"One has to hide things from Zara less she spoil her surprises early" Chin jut

Marzanna nods "One may try, but it is well known that your adoptive sister's secrets are her own, and yours are hers too. She let you in her family, your side of things is you must unveil all she wishes to know- that is, as you Mandolorian fans like to say 'the way'" A pause "But she does not always mind if a challenge is tied to a gift now and then, that can make it a prize. My kith sister is far more adventerous than I"

"I am ALLOWED to have secrets of my own," Tziporrah snorts

Marzanna tuts at this foolishness but leaves it at that

Tziporrah snorts again "But she's gonna love my gift. LOVE it. I'm gonna take it out of hiding in fact."

Arched brow

"To wrap it" Tzip adds

"She prefers vintage papers, and the color purple I believe" Marzanna advises

"Everyone knows that" Tziporrah grumbles "Well, I'm off, if you don't see me for a few days it's because.. greatest gift ever!"

Marzanna winces at the girls' exhuberance "One eagerly awaits my next tea with her when she tells me of it"

The Eshu huffs, and leaps off the roof to go hunting for 'the greatest gift ever'

And Marzanna sighs in contentment. That should buy her a few days without rooftop hopping and other loud eshu clambering

(End Scene)