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It was a cloudy, drizzly Saturday morning at the Song household. The woods and acreage surrounding the elegant, two storey home were having a good watering as the raindrops misted steadily down; it seemed the weather had settled in comfortably for the day and made itself at home.

Ixchellia, properly attired in a silken dress of sapphire blue with her favourite white button-up boots, had long since finished her breakfast, cleaned her teeth and brushed her auburn hair til it shone. Thus she now had her day of play well underway.

Although she would rather be outside in the grounds, she loved rainy days just as much as any other and had simply switched her idea of making toy animals out of sticks and flowers to reading her books from the library instead, with nary a whinge.

She was currently situated in the living room, curled in a corner of the plush red couch with her pop-eyed owl toy perched on the arm, her fuzzy seal toy huggled under her elbow and ‘Srawbee’ the sound sprite nestled sweetly on her shoulder with his tail tucked into her collar and his ears perked. Ixchellia was reading out loud to her audience of three in a soft yet determined voice, barely audible as more than a light murmur above the rain. “Music…music-al instamints such as the har…harp, the vai…vai…vai-o-lin, the vai-o…vai-o-lah and the g-gwee-tar are keh…keh-nown as stringed intra…insta…instamints…” Ixchellia lightly smoothed her fingers over the images printed on the book’s cool pages, studying them inquisitively as she traced their shapes and memorised their appearances. Something stirred within her when she looked at them and she smiled, not knowing why.

She had no idea where Sanqui, Mommy or any of the household staff were, completely zoned out of the world and into her book at present. Only a loud noise or someone speaking loudly to her would bring her out of it. Or perhaps someone knocking at the front door. Ixi wasn't expecting any visitors, however.

She had reached the pages about violins and somehow become transfixed with them. What were they made of and how did they work and most importantly of all, what did one sound like?

The book described the sounds with various words but she couldn't imagine something she'd never heard. She bent close over the pages, her fingers gliding across the shapes of the instruments as she marvelled at them in the silvery-white glow of her sound sprite.

Turning to the page about harps, she wondered whether there was a shop nearby so she could ask Tori to take her there someday and maybe see some of these instuments for real. Abruptly, she was shaken out of these thoughts by a loud knocking that almost made her jump out of her skin. Frightened by Ixi's sudden jolt, Strawberry trilled in alarm and whizzed off her shoulder like a firecracker, zipping around the room looking for a place to hide.

Giggling at her pet, she was bending down to retrieve her owl toy that had bounced off the couch when she realised where the knocking had come from. Out in the hall...outside. Which meant only one thing - somebody was at the front door!

Leaving her things behind, the child scampered excitedly down the hallway to the door, forgetting she was supposed to ask permission before opening it or at least go and fetch Alice or the maid. People visited so little, it was too tempting to go and greet them.

Standing on tip-toe, she twisted the doorknob with both hands, ignoring the strangely misplaced senses and images of deep water...calm...sharpness...and a cetain 'familiarity' that lapped at the edges of her mind. She merely shoved all this weirdness aside and pulled the door open wide to reveal the figure standing on the doorstep.

Ixchellia blinked at them, all manners forgotten as her bright eyes widened in awe. She drank in every detail, studying this person from his boots to his hair.

He was the most interesting person she had ever seen; Exceedingly tall, she had to lean back a little just to see his face and probably came up to about his knee. His skin was a peculiar soft grey, like the sea under a pale winter sun and his hair reminded her of the colour of steely storm clouds. His eyes seemed as though they could stare right through you! And his clothes....Ixi tilted her head curiously, studying these with an almost perplexed look. Why would anybody want to wear something that was ripped in such a manner? She eyed the shiny chains and belts and buckles with fascination, never having seen this sort of style before. He must have to wear all this to keep his outfit from falling apart, she decided. He also had a rather 'sharp' look about him, in a cool way. This guy was amazing!

Finally, she noticed he was carrying a package of some kind, as well as a dripping umbrella. Her face suddenly broke into a beaming smile. "You have a num-brella! I have one too, 'cept mine's see-through and has pictures of cats on!" she babbled, giving out a dollop of useless information before continuing "Do you like cats? Did you know I can read now? I have a cat book and - "

However, just then she was interrupted by Alice, who had come to see whether their expected guest had arrived and who Ixchellia was talking to. She smiled when she saw it was indeed Quint. "Oh, hello, we have been expecting you since your phone call this morning. Please do come in." She then turned to Ixi with a small frown. "Young Mistress, you know are supposed to come and tell someone when there's a knock at the front door. Anyway, where are your manners? Are you going to invite your uncle in?" she chuckled.

"Oh...sorry!" With a small gasp and a giggle, Ixi turned, blushing slightly, and invited him inside. "Please to come in!" she parroted Alice, then stepped aside and made a sweeping motion with her arm, giggling again. She was a rather fearless girl, especially when it came to meeting new folks.

Kay’s daughter… Well, she didn’t have a half-skull plate but if nothing else gave it away, that slightly glowing red eye would offer a little hint to any curious enough to wonder about it.

Ah, so she met another cat lover! That was great. Now they had plenty to talk about. On the topic of things she liked, animals were high on the list.

Alice nodded understandably “That does tend to be the case with these twins - like two boxes of firecrackers” she chuckled. “Although, if it does not bother you…” the woman trailed off. She wouldn’t say anything else to Ixi, as long as things didn’t get out of hand. “Very well. If she becomes too boisterous for you, do let us know. I shall just be in the kitchen” So saying, the nanny smiled at them both and quietly left the room, going to relax with a nice cup of tea.

Ixi was thrilled to have a visitor. In fact, she was so excited, she wanted to run and fetch Sanqui. However, her brother was out somewhere with Tori today, (maybe visiting a friend), so that wasn’t possible.

Instead, the little girl stood in the hall and watched Quint fold his wet umbrella to a crumple, her eyes wide and round. Giggling when a couple of wayward drops sprinkled her, she wiped them off with a tiny handkerchief she procured from somewhere, observing this person who appeared to be making some observations of his own. “The ‘tairs lead up ta my room!” she supplied helpfully, chipping in directions just in case he got lost. It was a fairly big house and to her knowledge he’d never been here before.

Actually, now that his umbrella was gone, she paid more attention to the box he was carrying, wondering why he had it and more importantly, what was inside. Ixi tried not to stare but it was so intriguing…was it extra clothes in case his outfit fell apart in the rain?

Noticing his attention shift to her, she beamed when the shark jaws boy knelt down to talk to her, overjoyed at meeting someone new. Maybe he could be her friend too. Friends were brilliant! “Quint…came to visit me!?” Ixchellia squealed with delight. Did she do something good? Is that why he came? Like Santa!

Then, after a pause; “What’s a un-cle? Is it like barn-cles?” the toddler questioned, all curiosity. If she had animal ears, they’d be perked up high as they could.

Blinking when he held out the box to her, she moved her inquisitive gaze to that item, reaching out to grasp it gently with both hands after a second of hesitation. “Is this…for me?!” her whole face lit up again at being given a present, though she hadn‘t even opened it yet. It didn’t take much to make this girl happy.

Taking the box in her arms, she studied it in wonder. Despite all his ‘sharpness’, this ‘Quint’ was so nice! She grinned up at him happily. “Thank you very much! C…c’n I open it?” What was it, what was it? “Nyu want to help me?” she offered.

Once out of the room, Alice laughed at that. So that's where they got it from. Perhaps it's also where they got those cheeky grins. She had often wondered about it, since Mistress Victoria didn't seem the energetic, boisterous type but thought maybe it was just them being them. After all, weren't all kids full of beans?

***

Ixchellia didn't mind the raindrops, merely smiling and putting her 'kerchief away with a small hum of acceptance. "Mm-mm! S'okay. I like rain...bu' my dress doesn't" She giggled.

Seeing him glance up the stairs, she bounced on her toes again as another idea came to her. "I c'n show you up'tairs if you want. You c'n see my room an' San's room an' we has our own bathroom" she chirped. Yep, he'd need someone to show him round and Ixi would be the tour guide! She'd show him all her toys most likely. It might be a good idea if Quint ran away while he could.

Yay, he really did come to see her. Ixi grinned at his words. If she hadn't of been holding this box, she would have hugged him!

The girl didn't understand exactly who he was, yet it changed nothing of how happy she was to meet this guy, uncle or not. She listened carefully to his explanation, drinking it all in like a sponge. Ixi was smart, something she did get from Mommy, and she managed to understand some of what he said. "So...not tough and stick to rocks?" She giggled, making a small joke as a cheeky grin slid onto her face. Then, there was a short pause where the grin was replaced because she started to look a bit puzzled. "I have a...a big brother uncle?" Well, that was confusing. 'Which side of daddy are you from?" And that she took a bit too literally. "Does he look like you?" Questions, questions...oh no, Quint just unleashed the flood of the Ark. Poor Tori was going to be answering questions for days. Wait a second...he was her father's brother???

"But - we don't has a daddy!" Ixchellia burst out laughing. Maybe Quint was teasing her and telling her stories. "We do has big sister aunts" she nodded. Yep yep, lots of those!

She blinked up at him saying that he wanted her to be happy...well, right now she was one of the happiest people in the world. Making friends was awesome, especially this spiky guy. The grin came rushing back as she chattered away. "Well, I eat lotsa veg-tables...an fruits too. Mommy says they healthy."

Again, she looked down at the box she was holding, fizzing with curiosity. Ahhh, she couldn't wait any longer. She had to open it.

As they opened the box and the lid came away, the child stared at the contents it contained.

There was a second of silence, then;

"Pretttyyyy~!" Ixchellia squealed, reaching in to take the little dollie from her crepe paper nesting. Holding it like it was made of glass, she admired the dress, the hair, everything, touching it with delight. "Thank you, big brother uncle!" Ixi beamed, hugging the dollie to her happily. She didn't have a doll, this was her very first one. For some reason all her other stuffed toys were animals. "She c'n be friends with Sealy an' Saucer" This doll was beautiful, she was going to take good care of it.

Taking his hand now she wasn't holding a box, she led Quint through to the living room with dollie in her arms, towards the comfy chairs and couches. He was so nice, she wanted to do something nice in return and had just the thing in mind. She couldn't keep her guest standing out in the hallway, that was rude. 'Come, come, please to sit down. I'll show you where ta sit" she bossed cutely, copying what she saw Tori do when she had guests. "Wait there a'kay? - I'm getting tea!"

Placing her dollie on a couch chair, she skipped into the kitchen excitedly.

First he said he wasn't a barnacle, and then he said he was 'an uncle or some crab'. Ixchellia pondered this strange boy's words while she bustled in the kitchen, singing softly to herself. Why would he say he was a crab?

She dragged a chair over from the dining table and pushed it against the bench, standing on tippy toes to reach the box of fine tea leaves Tori used when she made the beverage. Hmm, she wondered what that Quint's brother looked like. Maybe he was like his imaginary friend.

He did seem to be telling the truth though - wait; A crab! The image of a person who was part crustacean filled her mind's eye; a huge crab claw for a hand, shiny reddish-orange skin, wavy feelers and glittering black eyes . She broke into mischievous giggles while she poured cold water very, very carefully into the tea and waited for it to steep. (The twins weren't allowed to use actual boiling water, so she used tap water instead).

Tea leaves swirled prettily inside the china cup. She added a dash of milk and some sugar, gave it a dainty stir and the mixture turned cloudy, taking on the appearance of hot tea- without any steam.

"It's done!" Ixi smiled and placed the teacup on a saucer with some little snacks, managing to get down from the chair with all held in her hands.

Wandering slowly back out to her uncle, she held out the tea to him proudly, her hands wobbling slightly. "Here you go. Thanks you for waiting~ Be careful....it's really hot"