Jaxson and Josette went to Discotheque Pan Europa for some dancing. They wanted to get drinks first, and then Jaxson thought he'd go watch the dancers.
One dancer in particular got a little too close for Josette’s comfort. Josette slid by her and said quietly, “Move it or lose it sister”. She took hold of Jaxson’s hand and just kept walking while he scrambled to get up.
Josette had a plan for making sure her man’s attention didn’t stray. (She didn’t even need so much as a nudge from Watcher!)
While Jaxson was taking his last finals and Josette was in the Magic Realm learning her last spells, Bessie-Lou the cowplant grew up, completing Josette’s unnecessary but desired Freelance Botanist aspiration.
Josette is the only family member who came to graduation. Maybe that’s because family members aren’t allowed in the graduation! Whoever heard of that!
She waited patiently until Jaxson came back out, and laughed as he and his fellow graduates threw their caps in the air. Odd that they didn’t come back down . . .
Josette: Oh, Jax, I am so proud of you!
Jaxson: I’m just glad to be done. Now we can finally get married!
Jax: “Look Josie! I managed to squeeze these onto the bedroom wall. But once we get married and move, we’ll have a bigger house with an office, and I’ll hang them there.”
Josie: “Ummmm . . . about that . . . .”
Jax: “About what?”
Josie: “There’s a little snafu with the venue . . . . it won’t be available for awhile. And the benefits we have with a small house have been really nice. I have some perfect pants now, so I’m not as concerned about the plant benefits, but the skill gains could come in really handy with toddlers.”
Jax (grinning): “Toddlers? Ok, here’s the plan. You find a new venue. I’ll figure out the house.”
Josie stood there for some time contemplating whether to take the cake. Ultimately, she decided to just feed Bessie-Lou . . . this time.
Josie must have put in the wrong ingredient, and received the Curse of Repulsiveness for her mistake.
Watcher: “Is it just me, or is she still pretty cute even with the Curse?”
On the first day of Summer, they broke out the waterslide.
Jaxson: “Wheeeeeee!”
Jaxson: “Oooooof”
And just before Josie took her turn, the curse came back.
Josie needed an angelfish to make the Potion of Curse Cleansing, so she ran across the street to try and catch one.
Fishing Girl: “Wow! You must really be a fan to go green all over! That is so brave!”
Josie: “Yep, that’s me. Big fan.”
Josie finally caught an angelfish and ran home to make the potion, stopping just long enough to change clothes.
Josie challenged several spellcasters to duels over the next couple of days, and won most of them. Finally getting the Master Duelist perk really helped. She got all the rare artifacts she needed to complete the Wand, Orb and Brooms collections.
Jax: “So, you’ve maxed your Floral Designer career . . . have you found a new venue?”
Josie: “As a matter of fact, I have.”
Jax: “Then, Josette Flavio, will you please finally marry me?”
Josie (coyly): “Well I don’t know, Jaxson Cordova. Have you figured out the house?”
Jax: “As a matter of fact, I have.”
Josie: “Then yes, I will marry you.”
Jax: “Right now?”
Josie (laughing): “It’s 5:30 in the morning.”
Jax: “5:30 in the morning is a perfect time to get married!”
Josie: “How about this afternoon?”
Meanwhile . . . As the lovebirds were planning their Big Day, something quite interesting was happening back in Oasis Springs.
Lydia: “Quentin?! What in the world are you doing at my door?”
Quentin: “Lydia, please, give me five minutes. Just five minutes. Please.”
Lydia: “Five minutes. But outside. I won’t have you in my house.”
Quentin: “Fine, we can sit out here and talk.”
Lydia: “Are you sure you want to be this close to me? Aren’t you afraid my Spellcaster filth will rub off on you?”
Quentin: “Oh Lydia, I am so sorry I said that. Those were my father’s words, not mine. They never should have come out of my mouth. I never meant them. I was just young . . . and stupid . . . and scared. And did I say stupid?”
Lydia (smiling very slightly): “You did. But why are you here now?”
Quentin: “Josette is getting married.”
Lydia: “How do you even know that?”
Quentin: “I have ways. I couldn’t just let you two leave and never know how you were. What your life was like. If you needed things.”
Lydia: “If we needed things? Yes, Quentin, we needed things. I needed a husband who would love me as much as he said he did. Josette needed a father to teach her and guide her in life. We needed what you promised, but where were you? Not here.”
Quentin: "I know Lydia. I should have been there. But she's getting married . . . "
Lydia: "Yes, she's getting married. So, what? You think you’re going to swoop in and be met by open arms and walk her down the aisle?”
Quentin: “No. I mean, that’s a great fantasy, but, no. I know that’s not going to happen. I’m just concerned.”
Lydia: “You have a problem with Jaxson?”
Quentin: “No, not with him actually. It’s just that he now owns Olde Mill Hill. Your Aunt and Uncle’s old place. And I understand they plan to move there after the wedding. That will set off a chain of events that must end with the end of my father.”
Lydia: “The end of your father? Quentin, what are you talking about?”
Quentin: “Agatha Crumplebottom explained it all to me. It’s why she told me your name and where you were staying. It’s why she gave me an errand to get me up to your Uncle’s place. She knew we were meant for each other. She just didn’t know that when it came down to it, I would be such a coward. Afraid of my father. Willing to give up everything important to me because of my fear. She thought I was better. But I wasn’t.”
Lydia: “I always thought she knew more than she was telling. But I still don’t understand what you said about the end of your father.”
Quentin: “Agatha knew what my father was up to. He wasn’t running off the Spellcasters . . . he was enslaving them, using them, and then killing them. He hated them because he couldn’t be one. No sage would make him a Spellcaster. He knew nothing of Josette until he met Simeon Silverwater. Simeon unknowingly led him to Josette, and the minute my father saw her, he knew who she was. He promised to leave her alone if Simeon made him a Spellcaster. And Simeon did it. He thought he was protecting Josette, but my father will never leave her alone.”
Lydia: “Josette is in danger?!?”
Quentin: “Yes, but the sages are protecting her. And even though Simeon is no longer a sage because of this, he is still very strong. And he is watching her closely. She is safe for now. But when she moves to Henford-on-Bagley, my father will come for her. Probably not right away, but he will come. He knows the only one who can defeat him must be descended from a Maxwell and a Flavio. This is what Agatha knew. This is why she needed to bring us together. So Josette could be born and grow up to defeat him. She won’t be alone, but the final strike must be hers.”
Lydia: “What if the sages aren’t strong enough to protect her.”
Quentin: “The sages are very strong, Lydia. But it won’t be just them.”
Lydia: “What do you mean?”
Quentin: “Maybe I should show you.”
Lydia’s eyes opened wide and she burst out, “You’re a Spellcaster!?”
