[July 17] An Evening near the pool

She slipped quietly into the pool area from the change rooms. As she approached the deep end she dropped her towel on a chair, and the light belted robe she was wearing beside it, revealing a one piece racing suit that matched her eyes. Without hesitation she dove into the deep end, and swam long comfortable strokes down the pool.



When she got to the shallow end where Liliana sat, she stopped, wiping the water from her eyes and smiling brightly,

"Sorry, hadn't seen you there. I hope I didn't splash too much." Her accent is English, London. She has some sort of elastic bandage covering her left hand and up her wrist to her elbow.

"No, all's good. I'm just having a dip, doesn't mean you have to go or anything."

She extends her right hand to Lil with a grin, and adds, "hi, I'm Marigold."

Liliana notices that hanging on a silver chain around her neck is a carnelian version of her namesake.

When Liliana accepts Marigold's hand, her oracle ability fires, and Liliana gets a very clear vision ... marigold is older, but not overly, she's fighting unseen opponents, is disarmed. In the Frey she picks up another discarded wand to defend herself, and the backlash from the wand as she casts sends her flying backwards in a massive explosion. Then there's just darkness.

Marigold reaches up to her necklace with her free hand as Liliana comments, and smiles. "Thanks. My grandmother had it made for me when I graduated. And nice to meet you, Lil."

Marigold frowns at Liliana's reaction.

"I'm sorry? But are you okay?"

She notices Lil's necklaces with a nod, but seems more concerned by her reaction. Perhaps a little put out by it.

"I live further out, but wanted to stay in the city a few nights with friends. You?"

Marigold smiled.

"Get away, relax, cause trouble. They're often one in the same I find. Are you on your own too?"

She lazily strokes backwards, then forwards, keeping herself moving in the water as they talk. She seems very at home in the pool.

"Life can be complicated. But I find, it it wasn't, it would be too boring. I like adventure, fun, good times."

She looks at Liliana critically.

"You look a little on the young side. No offence meant. If I asked you out on the town, would I be pushing my luck to get you drunk?" It was an impish grinnthat crossed her face. Not at all nasty, just playful.

"Well, then, maybe I can play chaperone, and we can have some fun. I prefer more secluded places to the crowds. I like to talk while I drink, and you can't do that among a thousand people with music blaring."

She stops her swimming, treads waer in the middle of the pool,

"Do you plan to sit there all night, ormget that bathing suit wet?" She teases.

"Well, then .. since this is the shallow spend, and you can easily stand up," she demonstrates, and the water is barely above her waist, "why not go all the way and jump in? You can't drown."

"It's hardly high risk, but it'd be something, right? Can't let your friends have all the fun."

"Is there a reason they must be doing something crazy?" Marigold walks towards her, slowly, not making waves. "Are they crazy people? Or does crazy just follow them around?"

She gets up close to Lil. She's not much taller, perhaps nose to chin with Lili. Lil could well end up taller with another growth spurt.

"I could get you doing something crazier than this if you're game,"

Marigold steps back, out of Liliana's space with a smile and a shrug.

"Ever played mini golf?" She asks with a grin.

Marigold liked to tease, but for the most part, she was either biphsiness, or just plain fun. Having someone, even this young woman, to hang out with would be far better than work tonight.

"Tell you what. Meet me down in the lobby in fifteen minutes, and we'll go play a round or two, get silly on these amazing fruit fizz cocktails they make, and get to know each other. Then, if the night isn't too hot and horrid, I know a little bar with a good jukebox and amazing schnapps."

She fiddled with her pendant while waiting, but she was almost sure Lil would agree, and she'd have some fun for tonight, and the boys could just make it up for her later.

Raven looks at Liliana and just "woof!" Padding over to her side and sitting st her feet. He was coming.

---

Marigold watched Lil go, and smiled. She did two more laps of the pool before getting out, and returning to her room to change.



She meets Lil in the foyer in exactly 16 minutes.

"Ready?" She asks, bouncing on her toes.

"Woah, I didn't know they allowed bears in the hotel," Marigold jokes. "Seriously, that's your dog? What's it's name?"

Without waiting for Liliana to answer, she turns and begins leading the way, as they walk she takes the side opposite Lil from Racen, and links her arm with Liliana's.

"This place was like hot about thirty years ago, and some guy decided to renovate it." She explains, as they enter through a door in what looks to be a run down arcade. Inside it's all neon, fluorescent paint, black lights, and mini golf. Complete with water hazards, a mini Ferris wheel, pirate ship, windmill and crocodile. It's £2 per round, and £5 per fruit fizz. Marigold takes the lead, ordering they two of each each with a smile, "first rounds are on me," she says.

The fruit fizz is definitely alcoholic, but with a pleasant tingly fruit flavour and not too much of a burn. The gold balls are of course fluorescent, as are the clubs. And the music here is at a level to allow lively conversation.

"Welcome to Jack's Fizz," she exclaims, setting up for her first hole.

"Therapy dog, eh?" She chuckles. "Hi, Raven!" She holds her hand out, and Raven sniffs, then ignores.

The brace on Marigold's left arm would help Lil keep control, less skinnto touch.

The girls play golf, and drink, and retrieve the occasional stolen ball from Raven while laughing.

"So, are you still in school? Or have you ditched all that and gone solo already?" marigold asks.