6.6 Tasteful

"This place is a bit stuffy, don't you think?" Xia pointed out as she surveyed the living room. "It could really use some livening up."



"The word you're looking for is 'classy,'" Abby said. "You don't need chrome and disco balls to liven up a home."

"Hey," Xia retorted. "I never had a disco ball. Actually, that's a really good idea."

"If you have to be tasteless, can you keep it in your room?"



Everyone settled in to their new space. Sawyer set up his science station in his room



and a telescope on the second floor deck, where he began scanning the skies for galactic phenomena.



Connery was cute.



Riddle tried to puzzle out Connery.



The Arcane Institute contacted Dylan to commission some photography.

They were also interested in consigning some of his more unusual freelance work for sale to their rather unusual and discriminating clientele.

The Arcane Institute folks set Dylan's weird-sense tingling, but this looked to be a very nice business relationship.

Sky had a surprising work day.

Plum Marmalade hired her to sing for Leah as a wedding anniversary present.

Was this some kind of sick joke? Sky knew she should turn down the job, but morbid curiosity made her accept.



The whole thing backfired, almost literally. Her effects gear blew a fuse. The whole performance was a disaster.



"I'm so sorry!" Sky said. "This is so humiliating."

Leah laughed. "It's all right. Plum has a... unique.... sense of humor. Sorry you got tangled up in it."

"Happy anniversary," Sky said, and she meant it.

Leah beamed. "Thanks. I hope you're happy too."

Sky nodded thoughtfully. She was surprised at how easy it was to talk to Leah. So many years of heartache had faded to a sort of comfortable, shared experience.



"I'm really happy with my life," Sky said. "Did you ever thing I'd get there?"

Leah looked embarrassed. "Not really, but I'm so glad you did."

Abby got a visit from a local casting agent named Nemo Hodgins.



"I have to say that I was just blown away by your head shots!" Nemo said. "I know potential, and you have it. I have some parts in mind for you. Nothing big, but it would get you on the screen. Your audition was a little rough, though. I think it's going to need some polish."



"Tell me what I need to do!" Abby cried. "I'll do anything."



Nemo grinned. "I'll have my people call you, and we'll do lunch."

Andria disappeared after school on a quest of her own. Since she spent most of her time at Dylan's house but didn't sleep there, nobody even noticed she was gone.

"I know my relationship is frowned upon," she told the soothsayer, "but I love him."



The soothsayer was silent for a long time. "Love is a powerful thing," the she said at last, "but is it worth the risk?"

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Still not my best post, but time is moving forward!