Morningstar Manor

Emma had made it home from college in time for a late lunch, but with no fresh assignments to do she opted to head down to the gardens instead with a sketch pad. Lily seemed content to stay in her bed and sleep, so Emma made sure she had water, and then headed down to the gazebo.

She was working on angles, trying to decide which one she liked best for a sketch, the one of Niles with Lola and that 'Deliverance' tattoo. Full on wasn't working for her, so she was trying to sketch a three quarter view, and maybe a slightly turned one, just so she could see what she thought of them. Completely caught up in the sketching process, Emma lost track of time somewhat, and was rather surprised when someone spoke to her.

Jazz was early. That was probably a bad idea. It gave her to much time to think.

She was dressed perfectly. A clean, put together outfit that was professional, but managed to play up her looks at the same time. Her hair had been tamed into a half-down, half-pulled back do that kept it out of the way. Her makeup was natural. She'd found and put all the tools she'd thought she'd need in a small, leather bag at her side. It was all as good as it was going to get...put she still thought to much.

Maybe she should have gone for all classic black instead of the loose, purple summer dress and the black dress jacket? Maybe she should have put her hair all the way up? Maybe she should use their tools.

All of it spun around in her brain, pulling her nerves tighter. But she sat quietly, blinking solemnly as she waited to be called.
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Celebrations were called for, and nothing said "celebrate" to Jazz like putting on her favorite bikini, fetching a couple of cold beers from the fridge and heading up to the poolhouse for some good ol' quality time with the hot tub.

The heated water felt good on her outsides while the cold beer felt great on her insides.

Who could ask for more?

~.~

Adam had been in the middle of a last minute BBQ planning session with Joe in the Mocha when his cell phone had started ringing. Now, some twenty minutes later, he was sitting at a table by himself, head propped up in his palm, ear pressed to the phone as he nodded and listened.

"Yes, Mom, I promise. I've already taken the time off." Pause. "I don't know, sometime in the morning probably."

Meanwhile, Joe waited in the queue. He'd tried to wait out the call, but he'd finished his coffee. Now he wanted more, and maybe a muffin too...one of the ones with the crumbly bits on top. Yeah, that sounded good.

His stomach gurgled, apparently agreeing.

Maybe he'd get two.

Hi, Charlie Shaw here. I wondered if I could drop by about four thirty to look at your pictures? This is a bit of a cheek really, because I'm on my way to pick up a load of art in a place with no signal so basically I might just be turning up at your door. If it's not convenient I honestly won't be offended if you tell me to beggar off and come another time. It's just that today Nia is being looked after so we wouldn't have to worry about sticky little fingers. Er - yeah - so about four thirty. I hope that's okay. If not I honestly won't be - what? Oh i said that already. Thanks Sean. I'm such a lucky man because I have such good help! See you! *mwah*

Emily tugged the bright red helmet off her head and stood up from her equally red Vespa scooter. She parked it at the Vine Square and once she had locked it, she gathered her purse and turned to look around. She had already been several hours in a local catering firm's kitchen that her sous-chef had arranged for her to practise in, and now she faced a long night at work.

This definitely called for coffee, and so she took off wandering if she should go to the Auberge or some other café.

Jimmy poured coffee from the machine and continued with the conversation. "All I can say is that those bastards heal very quickly. The wop still has his hand bandaged, but the other security man isn't showing anything. Charlie's had a trip to the dentist - I think Myron must've got the little fag a good one - but your mark is back to normal. Smug bastard."

He added four sugars and stirred his mug, spoon clinking. "He's got his cars in the shop," he added. "The Dodge had bits all over but the Aston Martin looks good to go. Are you sure about this?"

Getting ready for a party was a pleasant duty, even if it was quite hard work. The maintenance guys had agreed that it was as well not to leave the heavy stuff until the last minute and so had spent the last two hours washing down the paving and trimming back anything thorny and were now positioning the patio heaters and the tubs of sand for the smokers and the trash cans, covered to keep the rain out, and the all important barbeque pit.

This was two oil drums split lengthwise and welded to wheeled supports and fitted with grills. The four sections should be enough for everyone who wanted to cook to get a space.

Nick grunted as he dragged the second out of storage and began to bump it along the path.

"Shit," he said as his phone dropped from his pocket and bounced into a flower bed, then he spotted someone and shot them a sheepish grin. "Don't suppose you could get that for me couldja? Please?"

Chandika was sitting in the Mocha, with a tall latte and a cute little pink netbook, idly checking job advertisements. You were supposed too keep looking, weren't you, even if you had fallen in love with the first job you applied for?

So she was doing that while she was waiting for somebody to turn up -- either Bethan, or her friend Anjali, who'd taken Rahul to see the touring animatronics dinosaurs, along with her own kids.

Hanu was sleeping by her chair, draped over her foot.

Although tidy, Charlie was definitely in blue collar mode today after a trip out to Glenn's place to pick up half a dozen large canvases and a really good time helping him get the hogs in.

Charlie MISSED livestock.

"Animal husbandry," he murmured to himself as he tapped on Anastasia's door, and grinned as he considered the difference in meaning if he applied that term to Deacon.

"Rrrrrroooowwwwrrrrrr," he said quietly.