"Still, even if reporting isn't in your future," she shook her head a little with a grin, "you should keep telling stories. It's grown to be one of my favorite things about you." It hadn't always been - in fact his inability to keep his mouth shut had often been a source of tension between them. His hand in propagating the rumor Fauna was a werewolf their fifth year was the whole reason she'd broken up with him - even though that reaction seemed overdramatic and silly now - though not as overdramatic as breaking his nose admittedly.

Her attention was drawn away to a package with a pair of chili peppers with red eyes and devil horns Scorpion Peppers. Well, that sounded delicious and not at all like it would scar her both physically and psychologically. Having learned her lesson with the Bee Larva she didn't point them out to Fig lest he devour one whole. She glanced up at his question and gave a nod of her head, though she was making a face, "for now. I want to find my own place though. I mean once I find a job that isn't busking. My dad thinks it's silly because he heads back out on the road soon but I'm ready to be on my own-own and not just pretend while still sleepng in my childhood bedroom."

Figaro had to imagine Sophie's rich and famous dad had an amazing place so it was a little hard to believe Sophie'd walk away from that especially since the place would be all hers for awhile. She could throw the best parties. Yea, Figaro had moved out when he didn't have to. Zelda hadn't outright asked him to say - she actually didn't say anything because she wasn't that kind of mum - but Fig suspected she'd have liked to have him closer. And he'd have liked the good eating, but his place was probably not as cool as Sophie's dad's.

Then, Figaro remembered something. "I have a phone," he whispered. By luck, he actually had the thing on him. He'd been terrible at losing it, worse at using it, but it it was cool. The phone case had the phrase "Gosh Being A Princess Is Exhausting."

He moved shoulder-to-shoulder with Sophie to show it off.

"Sasha got it for me, that wealthy bastard. Visited him in Cambridge. You can play games with it and take photos and send people messages. I don't know if it does telephone calls... Here."

He pulled up the messages and typed one out.

party at flickwick's house

Sophie had her reasons for not wanting to rattle around St. Mary's. Things were better between she and Ducan, the six months on the road together had done wonders to repair their relationship but... she still remembered what it had felt like that first Christmas after Ramona died. It had been so big and empty with everyone gone, all on her own with just the animals to keep her occupied. It's how she had ended up sneaking on to the WCU floor to give Kurby Bagnold her mother's yearly treats and subsequently having a complete and total meltdown on the exhausted guilt-ridden man.

"Ruby's got one. She's basically gone full muggle," she peered down at the screen with Figaro then snorted as he banged out a quick message. "Do you remember my last party[1]? I am pretty sure I had to keep Deus from murdering Lucas Norwood. Gordic's garters that was so long ago, were you even there?" She couldn't remember exactly, but she felt like he hadn't been. Was it post break up? One of those times when they weren't talking? The details were a little fuzzy but actually, the idea of a party wasn't the worst one he'd ever had, especially if it meant not having to be alone once her dad hit the road again.

1.	A Toast to You, Kings & Queens of Summer

Responses came back quickly.

Sasha: Is this an Epiphany Eve party?
Abby: !! the best party spot! I'm there!

Figaro shook his head. "Nah, missed that one. Had to work. Sad I missed a fight."

Parties were cathartic. All that pent-up energy spent keeping toes in line could be loosed, love and all. But he was distracted, typing out another response making sure Sophie could see.

Sophie says hi and that she didn't miss any of you

Then he glanced over and said, "we should send them a picture of our butts."

"Don't you dar-" but before she could get the word out he'd already fired back a message telling letting everyone know she hadn't missed them at all. "You're the actual worst," her indignant cry brought about a sharp look from the auld dear behind the counter and she quickly clapped her hand over her mouth and tried to stifle her giggles.

Abby: Abby and Raine say RUDE ; )

"Now you're going to get me hexed!" Still, she couldn't help grinning as she tried to wrestle his phone away from him, "you just want a picture of my butt, you don't fool me for a minute Sellaphix, now show me how to-" again she was cut off by another message coming in

Sasha: Does that mean there's no Epiphany Eve party?

"Sasha is going to show up at my house and get trapped talking to my dad," she covered her face again and shook her head, "and the worst part is I kind of want to let it happen just to see what shenanigans an aging wrock star and 19 year old could get up to. I bet Da'd provide a keg even." Duncan Flickwick wasn't a "regular dad" he was a "cool dad".

"That's brilliant. You're devious," Figaro said happily.

He tapped out another text and showed it to her before he hit send.

it's blacktie

"Now he's showing up to talk to your dad while wearing a tux." He felt quite proud of himself for that.

"I mean, probably not. My brother had hold of the phone for most of the holiday so this lot's used to rubbish coming out of me. Such as the intensity of my odor, my unrequited love for Professor Storm, offers to give away my best stuff."

Figaro hadn't even been mad. He'd been sure he'd lost the expensive muggle device from his broom over the Thames, and had been relieved to find that Frank had just run out the battery playing Fruit Ninja.