“Hi, Canvas!” Silver Rose opened the front door and waved as Silver Platter drove her up in his cart. “Welcome to the Wings’ Estate.”

Silver’s friend was wearing a purple-maroon shirt today, with a paint splotch on its front. Silver didn’t know if it was the shirt’s design or if it was an actual splatter of paint, but knowing her friend, the latter was highly possible. She also had on a black skirt and black sneakers.

“Gee, it’s a lot bigger up close.” The girl got off the cart and patted the seat down. “How do you even remember where everything is?”

Silver shrugged. “I guess you just get used to it, growing up here.”

“Oh, I suppose that makes sense,” Canvas nodded. Then her forehead creased. “But weren’t you living with your aunt until recently?”

Silver Rose froze mid step.

Dang it, Silver! An amateur mistake!

But out loud she shrugged and said, “Well, my sister showed me around. It’s like I grew up here. Ha ha.”

“Ah,” Canvas seemed to accept this and smiled. “Where is your sister anyway? Is she home?”

“O-Oh, umm… N-No, she isn’t…” Silver laughed awkwardly and scratched her head. “She’s uh, out… Umm… On a date. With her b-boyfriend. Yup. Probably be gone all day.”

“Shame. I would’a liked to meet her.” Canvas held out her sketchbook. “Sketchy would’ve liked to get her portrait in here. Anyway, come on! We want to see some rich people paintings!”

Silver was glad to get away from the topic of her sister and led the excited artist into the halls of the house. The first stop was the closest living room on the first floor. There were three paintings in here, one of them done by Silver’s mother, which was of a pineapple. The second was a painting of Chrysalis, in disguise of course. The third was of a grassy field with cows, done by some old master whose name Silver could not remember. It looked pretty though.

“Wow, the strokes in this one are nice.” Canvas hovered her fingers over the pineapple piece. “You can see the anger in them.”

“You can what?” Silver did a double take and walked closer to examine it. She thought perhaps her mother had just been hungry.

“See how sharp and jagged they are? Whoever painted this was venting out their anger in this one. Maybe someone who looked like a pineapple angered that artist. Right, Sketchy? Sketchy agrees with me.”

“Umm, right…” Silver made a mental note to ask her mother who had upset her so much that she had to paint a pineapple.

Silver next led her friend to a large painting that reached from the ceiling to the floor. This one was hung beside the living room with the piano and it was a painting of a general during the Prench Revolution. He was a short and slightly chubby man with a huge hat and beside him was a cannon with wheels bigger than the man himself.

“Wow, look at the detail on this one!” Canvas rushed to it and pointed. “You can see the clothes wrinkles in this!”

“Yeah, it’s a nice one. My mother bought this one off some guy in Roam.” Silver smiled at how much her friend was enjoying herself. “What does this painting speak to you?”

Canvas straightened back up and looked at her sketchbook. “This one speaks to me of an inferiority complex. This artist has been ridiculed all his life for something and they’re likening it to this Prench general’s mean streak when people make fun of his height.”

“I thought he wasn’t actually short?” Silver said, remembering parts from her history lessons. “It was just propaganda against him?”

The artist shrugged. “Short or no, people thought he was short. He didn’t like that, I’m sure.”

“Astute observations you have, young one.” Ebony Wings rested on the doorframe, her arms folded. “You must be Canvas Splash. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Likewise, Ms. Wings! I can’t believe I actually get to see you.” Canvas went over to her excitedly and shook her hand. Then she stretched her sketchbook out to her as well. “Sketchy would like to shake your hand too. He’s my sketchbook.”

Ebony Wings blinked. “Certainly.”

Silver watched as her mother slowly and hesitantly lifted her hand to hold the book, shaking it up and down before letting go.

“You have quite a lot of fancy paintings here, Ms. Wings.” The pink haired girl stepped back and smiled. “Which ones were painted by you?”

“A number of them,” Ebony Wings said, gesticulating to the picture of the pineapple. “Any paintings done by yours truly will have my mark on them. See here?” She pointed to a cursive letter ‘C’ at the bottom left of the painting.

“C?” Canvas asked. “What does it stand for? Your name doesn’t have a single ‘C’ in it. Is it a code word? Or perhaps… I dunno. What does the ‘C’ stand for? Don’t tell me it’s something like Courage or something.”

“That,” Ebony Wings said with a smirk. “Is my little secret. But feel free to look at my collection. Lunch will be served at one-thirty in the first floor dining room. Silver can show you where that is.”

And with that, Ebony Wings left the room. Canvas watched her go, a finger on her chin.

“Wow, your mom is quite the mystery, huh?” Canvas eyed the ‘C’ on the canvas. “Now I really wonder what this means.”

“My mother doesn’t like people to pry.” Silver put a hand on Canvas’ shoulder. “Trust me, it’s better not to try to find out.”

Canvas gazed at Silver Rose for a moment, then shrugged and moved on to the next painting. “Well, you’re my friend, so I trust you. Besides, everyone’s entitled to a few secrets of their own, even a big celebrity like your mom. Now, who is this a picture of?”

Canvas was looking at a portrait of a woman in armor, holding a long spear and posing regally for the artist. A cape was clasped around her shoulders, and she wore a helmet. Silver’s tongue worked around inside her mouth. This was a portrait from the renaissance, of a certain Commander Vespa. It also happened to be of her aunt, but she wasn’t going to tell Canvas that.

“Commander Vespa of the Renaissance. You’re a painter, Canvas. You’ve never heard of her?”

The artist shrugged. “I only know the painters. I don’t know the others.”

“Oh. Well, my mother says she was quite a prominent soldier. Must have been to get her portrait done.”

Canvas skipped ahead down the hall. “Anyone can get a painting of themselves if they were rich enough.”

“Umm… Right. I guess.” Silver followed along.

The next one was of a giant apple, similar in composition to the pineapple earlier. Canvas inspected it from top to bottom, rubbing at her chin a couple of times as she pondered the meaning behind the piece.

“This one has angry strokes too. Similar to the first. Your mom paint this?” She got a nod from Silver. “It seems she enjoys likening people to fruit when she’s in a bad mood.”

“I think this one’s about a doctor she had to visit for some checkup,” Silver explained, vaguely remembering how irritated she had been when she returned home.

“Well, you know what they say…” Canvas snickered. “A doctor a day keeps the apple away.”

“Uh, no Canvas, it’s an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

“What? That doesn’t make any sense. How can an apple keep the doctor away? It’s not like it can get up and defend you.”

“Well, so is a doctor a day keeping the apple away. Why and how would the doctor keep the apple away?”

Canvas pointed to the apple. “Easy. The doctor can just hold the apple and it has no way of getting you.”

“Why would you even want to keep the apple away?”

“I dunno. If you don’t like apples?”

Silver sighed good-naturedly and shook her head. “It’s supposed to mean that if you eat healthily, you avoid seeing the doctor.”

The painter tilted her head to the side; her brush-like ponytail bobbed from the side of her head as she did so. “You can still fall sick even if you eat lots of apples.”

“The apples aren’t the point, Canvas.”

“They should just say that then. Hey, why are we even talking about all this again?”

Because you’re such a strange girl… Silver pointed at the painting. “You wanted to know about this.”

“Ah, right.” Canvas snapped her fingers. “Come on, let’s go see more art.”

Silver watched as her friend skipped along the hall to admire the next piece. Canvas might be weird, but at least she was still a good friend. If she had to decide, she wouldn’t trade Canvas off for anyone else, maybe except for more time with Home Run.

Silver and Canvas spent the remainder of the the early afternoon examining paintings. There were various sculptures scattered around the house too, but Canvas didn’t seem all that interested in them. They had just left the second floor game room when Silver glanced at the clock above the mantelpiece.

“Oh, it’s half past one. Time for lunch!” Silver announced.

“Oh boy!” Canvas rubbed her hands together excitedly. “Lunch with Ebony Wings! That really is something!”

Privately, Silver wasn’t sure if her mother’s company was worth as much as humans seemed to think it was, but outside, she shrugged good-naturedly and led Canvas through the halls and down the stairs to the first floor dining room.

Adagio, Aria, and Sonata were already there, as was Ivory Wings, and they were talking animatedly about gems and what they planned to do after they got them back. Just as Silver crossed the threshold for the room, Adagio saw her coming and chopped her hand at her throat and the talking ceased immediately.

“So you’re Canvas Splash,” Ivory Wings rose to her feet and walked over to shake Canvas’s hand. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you,” She said warmly.

“Mhm!” The artist shook her hand vigorously. “I mean, I’ve seen you plenty of times through the car window, but yep, this is the first actual introduction! Hiya!”

“So you know that I drive Silver around, that’s a good start. I am also her chief caretaker, after her mother of course.”

“Oh, okay! Do you paint too?”

“I’m more of a wood carving sort of person,” Ivory said with a smile. “But I can tell you like to paint. Maybe someday we’ll be able to display one of your works in here.”

“That would be soooo cool!” Canvas said as Silver showed her to her seat, which was across from her aunt. “Though I’m not much of a display type.”

The clack of shoes on marble made itself known as Ebony Wings sauntered into the dining room, wearing one of her black dresses with a green wrap around her abdomen, the kind of outfit that she always wore when she wanted to make a point about herself. Silver was glad that her mother had elected not to wear her crown.

“Good afternoon,” Ebony Wings said casually as she sat down in her high-backed chair at the head of the table. “And hello again, Canvas Splash. Have you been enjoying my artwork?”

“Oh, very much, Ms. Wings.” The artist grinned. “Though, a lot of it seems like angry artwork. You get angry a lot, huh?”

“Certainly not,” Ebony Wings said, waving her hand. “I am the epitome of patience and long-suffering.”

Silver almost let her jaw drop at that statement.

“Cool.” Canvas unrolled her napkin and put it on her lap. “I suppose all that anger goes into your paintings instead.”

Ebony Wings blinked at Canvas, then shrugged. “Perhaps. Everyone needs a way to vent. Now, I believe lunch was going to be filet mignon with a burnt butter sauce and grilled vegetables on the side.”

“Gee, you eat burnt food? Isn’t it like, bad for you and stuff?”

Silver was amazed at how unabashed her friend was. It was quite incredible, seeing as her mother was definitely not one to take criticism well.

“It’s just the sauce,” Ebony said smoothly. “I assure you that it is perfectly safe, and not to mention, scrumptious.”

The maids swept into the room, bringing with them platters covered by cloches. A rich, hearty aroma pervaded the room, and one by one the plates were set in front of the table’s occupants.

“Oooh!” Canvas sniffed at the air. “That smells… really good. I’ve never had burnt food before, but man, have I missed out.”

Filet mignon was a personal favorite of Silver’s and it seemed to sit well with Canvas as well, as she said very little during the main course, focused on cutting up the tender steak and shoving it into her mouth, a pattern that was copied by Sonata Dusk.

“You know, it took a long time to collect all this art,” Ebony said in between bites of her lunch. “In fact, a lot of it is willed from me to myself each generation.” She grinned at Canvas, as if expecting a reaction.

“Cool,” Canvas said with her mouthful. “I give myself all my art too. I mean, with Sketchy’s permission, of course.”

Ebony glanced at Silver Rose for a second, as if to say ‘are you kidding me’, before laughing and taking a sip of wine. “Oh, that’s just precious, Canvas. You must have a lot of work for you to be able to do that.”

“Just random stuff. Like, you know, when you see something worth drawing, you draw it. Easy peasy.”

Ebony Wings slowly raised a slice of grilled asparagus to her mouth and took a bite, not taking her eyes off Canvas. “Indeed.”

The main course was soon consumed, and the maids came back to take the empty plates back to the kitchen, before returning bearing bowls of pudding with various berries sprinkled around it.

“Dessert,” Ebony Wings announced unnecessarily. “Vanilla panna cotta with fresh berries and syrup.”

“I have no idea what that is, but it sounds good.” Canvas licked her lips. “You really must earn lots of money, huh, Ms. Wings? To get to eat stuff like this all day long.”

Ebony Wings placed a hand on her chest and tilted her chin up proudly. “Well, as the one who brings home the bacon in the family, yes. Some can say I’m the richest person in town.”

“Gee, bacon?” Canvas dabbed at the corner of her mouth with her napkin. “What do you do with that bacon to earn so much money?”

“It’s… a figure of speech,” Ivory Wings said quickly, looking at the slightly scandalized look on her sister’s face.

Canvas kept eating the dessert obliviously while Ebony Wings took a long, slow draught of wine, looking at the artist with slightly narrowed eyes.

Silver had never noticed before, but it was probably how her mother kept looking at Canvas that pointed out a little quirk about her friend that she had not thought about. Canvas never ever made eye contact. Ever. And thinking back, she realized Canvas had never made eye contact with her too. This fact was probably irritating her mother more, unfortunately.

“Man, this food is so good.” Canvas slurped the corner of her mouth where some cream had decided to lodge itself at. “And you all eat stuff like this three meals a day. Can’t say that I’m not jealous at hearing this.”

“Will you be staying for dinner, Canvas?” Ivory Wings asked delicately while Silver Platter refilled her glass of wine. “We would be more than happy to entertain you for that.”

“Oh boy, I would love to, but I’ve got some artwork I want to finish up at home. Sketchy also wants to draw up some of your house too, so there’s that.”

“I see,” Ivory nodded. “Alright. Do you need a lift back home?”

“Oh, if it’s okay, then sure!”

Dessert was soon finished, and Ebony Wings stood up, pushing her chair backward.

“Well, I have affairs I need to tend to, so I will take my leave. Enjoy the art, Canvas, and if you need anything, I’m sure Silver Rose will provide.”

And with that, the actress swept up her skirts and ghosted from the room.

There was a long moment of silence, which was abruptly broken by Canvas.

“Gee, why did she have to pull up her skirt to walk?”

“Uh, because if she doesn’t her feet might get caught on the dress?” Aria drawled.

Canvas shrugged. “She was walking fine without doing it earlier.”

Silver didn’t have the heart to tell Canvas that her mother only walked like that when she was annoyed by something. That had been happening more and more recently since she had started going to school.

“So, uh, do you want to pick up where we left off?”

Canvas beamed. “Sure!”

After Canvas had gone home just before five, Silver warily reentered her home, knowing full well just what her mother was going to be talking about next.

She went into the first floor games room, where Ivory Wings was sitting, sipping from a cup of pink lemonade. Her mother was standing at the other end of the room, turning a throwing dart over in the fingers of her left hand while holding a colorful cocktail in her right.

Silver Rose closed the door behind her and sat down across from her aunt. And then she waited.

“So...” Silver’s mother said eventually. “Once again, your friends have no idea how to greet royalty.”

Ivory sighed. “This again? How many times do I have to tell you, what you want is not something humans learn anymore.”

“I offer my hand, they kiss it; how hard is that to grasp?” Ebony Wings said irritably. “It’s not just these kids either. The only human in the movie industry who actually knows what to do is that Shoddy Myshow!”

“I am not entirely sure he is human…” Ivory whispered.

“You know what I mean.”

“Shoddy Myshow kissed your hand?” Silver wore a really grossed out face. He was such a weird man. She just couldn’t imagine his lips ever touching her mother.

Ebony Wings waved the question aside like an irritating insect. “That’s not the point here. Your Diamond Prep is meant to be a prestigious school. Do they not teach basic greetings there?”

“Crystal Prep is a high school,” Ivory Wings took a long pull at her lemonade. “Not a finishing school. They don’t teach those things there.”

“Well, they should.”

“Well, they don’t. So while they don’t, don’t expect any hand kissing, yeah?”

Ebony Wings muttered something about ignorant humans, then recomposed herself and threw the dart at a circular target on the wall. It landed dead center.

“I don’t know what business your friend has, saying I’m angry when painting. Painting is my way to relax, not rage and fume.” Ebony Wings took a sip of her cocktail and fiddled with the little paper umbrella.

Silver tweaked at her fingers. “C-Canvas is a smart artist. I’m-I’m sure she knows wh-what she’s s-saying…”

“You’re stammering again,” Ebony snapped. She ate the olive from her cocktail and sighed. “Am I going to have to hire a speech tutor for you?”

Silver tilted her head down and shook her head.

Ivory Wings drained her glass of lemonade and tossed the glass up into the air, where it came down with a clink perfectly on the edge of the pool table. “I, for one, am glad you have such a colorful friend. Even if figures of speech seem to escape her.”

Ebony snorted. “Yes. What is with that? Surely someone of her age knows that ‘bringing home the bacon’ doesn’t literally mean that.”

“Canvas is… different,” was all Silver could say.

Ebony Wings swirled the contents of her glass around and sniffed it. Silver could smell it too: the drink had a fruity, slightly cloying scent, and she wasn’t sure she liked it.

“Obviously,” the actress said with a huff. “At least she can paint, which is something I also like. That other kid, not so much.”

“Y-You don’t mean Home Run? Do you?”

“Is that his name? Well, you haven’t invited that many people home, so I assume it’s him. Baseball,” Ebony laughed. “Now that’s… something I have very little interest in.”

“There are two teams, and each one takes turns batting and catching-” Ivory began.

“I know what the rules of baseball are,” Ebony Wings threw the little paper umbrella in her cocktail at her sister, where it lodged in her hair. “I just don’t care for it.”

“Well, he’s a nice boy.” Ivory pulled the umbrella out and smoothed her hair. “Plus, he treats your daughter quite well. That should warrant some points.”

“I treat her well,” the actress grumbled. “Do I get points for that? Nooooo…”

“Why, just why should you even care about getting points for yourself?”

“You’re the one who brought up points in the first place,” Ebony Wings shot back.

“That’s because…” Then Ivory stopped herself and rubbed her forehead with a hand. “Forget it. It’ll just go over your head.”

“As if,” Ebony scoffed. “And you,” she said, turning back to Silver Rose. “Get some friends who actually know how to greet a queen. Or can actually hold a normal conversation. Both would be preferable, but I think that’s asking too much of the humans. Ignorant imbeciles as they are.”

“And where is she going to find anyone like that, may I ask?” Ivory grabbed her sister’s shoulder and flipped her around. “Like I said, what you want is ages past. Just deal with it. There are different ways to address royalty today.”

"Oh, yeah? Like what?"

“Like saying hello. You know what, you don’t even tell them that you’re a queen. How are they to know anyway?”

Ebony Wings drew herself up to her full, impressive height. “Is it not obvious from my regal bearing? My excellent breeding and my confidence? The humans have stopped using their instincts and rely on their ‘logic’ to dictate how they work.”

“Right.” Ivory adjusted her glasses. “Well, I have to get back to work on my plans. Sweetie, why don’t you go to your room? Go relax. Or do homework. Or something.”

“Dinner’s in an hour,” Ebony announced to nobody in particular. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to take a bath. See you all later.”

Both Ivory and Silver watched her go, with the young changeling wondering just what her mother had been on about this whole conversation.