A Rose May Bloom and Then Fade, But a Star Falling Down, Down, Down Doesn't Break The Night...

Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling Twilight Series - All Media Types Pinocchio (1940) Pinocchio (Disney 2022) Lies of P (Video Game) Glee Geppetto (Movie 2000) Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022) Interview With the Vampire (Movie 1994) Letters to Juliet (2010) Coco (2017) Santa Clause (Movies)
F/F
F/M
Gen
M/M
G
A Rose May Bloom and Then Fade, But a Star Falling Down, Down, Down Doesn't Break The Night...
Summary
And here Pinocchio Edward Benjamin Hall thought that this would be a simple pre-honeymoon/research trip for Sophie and Victor, with himself and Hector as tag-alongs; even with a visit to Juliet's house and meeting the ghost-writers of 'Letters to Juliet'- *HA*. *Yeah, right*...! Not that simple, when you find a letter or two written fifty years ago which you reply to because you feel as though you *HAVE TO write back*...At least Mr. Woody's Scots grandson Sebastian is nice enough, same as Ms. Claire's own Charlie. And also at least, Pinocchio doesn't have a boyfriend or fiance to worry about-! (Which is good, because he can't really get the older male out of his mind...)
Note
No other excuse save for it's Pride Month, I wanted to start to get this out since I've have it in my head *FOREVER* ever since the very first time I saw what's now one of my favorite movies, and Sebastian J. Cricket is winning and warming my heart over, so I want to see him with 'Nocchi my platonic beloved-!I myself own *NOTHING* save for the *story IDEA*; Disney, Collodi, del Toro, 'Lies of P' creators, Stephen Schwartz of 'Geppetto', Pixar, Gary Winick of 'Letters to Juliet', Ryan Murphy, J. K. Rowling, Dublois and Sanders, Anne Rice (RIP, you wonderful amazing woman), etc. however, DO!! I'm just playing in their tree-houses and sandboxes, lesbian crossover Disney and Non-Disney freak that I am- a 'Pinocchio'-obsessed disaster, as naivesilver once called herself...
All Chapters Forward

Continuing the Story, Beginning the Search; *No Strings On US* (For Now)!

Sophie started in on her article the very next morning, when she plus the others arrived at Claire's and Lorenzo's tree that they had used to sit under together way back when. (Buzz and Woody had had a different spot.)

"How much time did you two actually spend with Lorenzo and Buzz??"

Both Claire's and Woody's smiles were nostalgic, their eyes far-off in a sweet and sad way. It was Claire who answered first. "Oh- *every second* we could."

Then Woody spoke next, fondly remembering. (Pinocchio interestingly noticed that Sebastian was acting like a little boy who was listening to a much-loved much-told story being recited over again; clearly, unlike Charlie, this *WASN'T the first time* for THIS grandchild! It was more than kinda sweet 'n adorable, actually...)

"Claire would go t' meet 'Renzo after class to th' farm where he was workin'- and after a day's or mornin's work at our respective 'shop floors', Buzz 'n I would do th' same. We'd all sit under th' trees while sharin' some bread with tomatoes 'n olive oil, laughin' and talkin' like we'd known each other all our lives since we were kids; sometimes' kissin' now and then, admittedly..." he chuckled bashfully, his already-naturally-rosy cheeks flushing an extra tinge of pink at the beautiful memory as his chocolate-brown eyes sparkled wistfully.

"That sounds real nice, Mr. Woody," Pinocchio murmured smilingly, wrapping his near-scrawny arms around his thin legs.

"It's *so ROMANTIC*...!" Sophie said happily, Sebastian humming and nodding in complete agreement.

However, Charlie wanted to know, "What's so 'romantic' about *eating in the dirt*??"

"*City-slicker cynic*!" Sebastian both teased and pouted, shoving the blond's shoulder lightly.

"Country-cousin cornball," Charlie snickered back with a exasperatedly-fond eye-roll.

'*Oh, puh-LEASE*...!! YER *just as much* o' a romantic *DEEP DEEP down*, an' ye *KNOW IT*, Wyman...!'

"*Really*??" Sophie wanted to know of Charlie with a *Look*.

"The dirt- Well, you see, he *LOVED the earth*!" Claire near-whispered with shining eyes. "He loved talking to me about the rain, and the springs of fresh water..."

"Buzz didn't mind th' earth himself- but what *REALLY interested him* an' caught his attention -OUR attention- was *th' stars*. We'd either simply lay out on one 'f our backyards at night, or walk for miles 'n miles until we found an empty field that nobody owned, and lay down t'gether there, holdin' hands or embracin' one another while lookin' up at the sparklin' galaxy in th' heavens either on a blanket or th' dry grass itself. Pointin' out constellations, every now 'n then one 'f us learnin' a new one from th' other- 'f course, more sparkin' 'n spoonin'..."

"'Sparking'??" queried Sophie with a confused tilt of her head.

It was Pinocchio who filled her in. "It's an old-fashioned term from th' 1940's havin' t' do with kissin'- 'spooning' means th' same thing, but that one dates back to at least the twenties, and it can stand for either kissin' or hold-close-huggin' romantically-wise. I heard 'spooning' from 'No No, Nanette', and read about 'sparking' via Lisa Kleypas's contemporary romance 'Dream Lake'."

"Huh- 'Sparking'. Y' know, I rather like that term being used for a kiss..."

Claire chuckled. "For all that I'm British-born and bred, I always preferred 'spark' to 'snog' myself. '*Snog*' just doesn't really sound very romantic, does it?? Hmm... Lorenzo and I- we sparked and spooned every chance we could, too. I can still remember the smell of his sweet hot sweat, and..."

Sophie laughed quietly with flushed cheeks, same as Sebastian and Woody- Pinocchio squeaked and turned as red as his semi-shorts embroidered on the sides with blue-and-gold, clapping his fingerlessly-gloved hands over his mouth. Charlie flushed and grinned a bit himself, making an 'ABORT!! *ABORT*!!!' motion with his hand as he said, "Okay- okay, Gran! We get- *the picture*..."

Then when everyone had calmed down and cooled off, Sophie said happily and enthusiastically, "So, you must feel like you're about to re-find your long-lost soulmates...!"

%"Yes."%

Of course, the non-thiest of the group had to interject just then. "Um, okay- their 'soulmates' were *our grandfathers*. Let's not INVALIDATE Bas's and my *ENTIRE EXISTENCE*, please and thank you!"

"*Charlie*! That's- That's quite clearly NOT what she meant!" Sebastian sputtered as his pseudo-cousin nearly stalked off to get away from the ridiculous sappiness of their strange little group turned from four to six.

When a perturbed Sophie turned her head to look at Claire, she explained with a small shrug and fond smile, "Charlie's *just like* my husband- both skeptics! He always insisted that 'love' was *NOTHING* *but HORMONES* ...but you see, underneath, he had such a WARM, *passionate* heart. And Charlie's just the same."

"He *REALLY is*," Sebastian further defended his 'cugino'. "I ken tha' it seems like we dinna get along verra well or much, my bein' a what he calls a 'realistic optimist' an' he a sceptic doubter- but once ye get t' know an' get used t' him and how he operates, it's more than worth it where he's concerned..."

Sophie's expression more than told the light-brunet that she'd take his word for it, and he left it be for the moment, he and the other males letting the ladies talk alone.

"So... *tell ME* about the guy YOU'RE in love with."

"Victor??"

"Yeah-!"

"Well... Victor is a chef- an *AMAZING chef*."

"-*Wow*."

"Yeah... He's opening up his own restaurant in New York- and that's the reason we're here. We're meeting suppliers all around, and- he's actually at a wine auction in Livorno as we speak."

"That sounds fun!"

"For him, yeah..."

"Well- and do your parents and brother like him??"

"He and 'Nocchi get along pretty much well enough, yeah. Not like *a house on fire*, which is kinda funny and weird, given that Victor *LOVES* Italian food, and 'Nocchi's Italian-born if not bred... Our dad- yeah, our dad likes him. My mom... she left us when I was nine. That was before 'Nocchi came into Dad's and my lives."

"-Oh, dear. I'm- I'm sorry about that."

"It's okay. It was a *REALLY LONG time ago*..."

Seeing how sad and troubled Sophie was, Claire decided not to query about how exactly that sweet young lad whom Sebby seemed to have *quite* the flame alight and soft spot for upon first meeting one another had been adopted into this winsome lovely young maiden's broken little family. Something told her that it wasn't a very pretty story...

 

Meanwhile, over at the other picnic table where Woody, Sebastian, and Pinocchio were partaking in some bruschetta with some white cheese sprinkled on top and glasses of orange juice laced with lemon (it was getting close to lunch-time, anyway)...

"So- Mr. Victor is Sophie's fiance... Is his cousin Hector *YOUR significant other*, young 'Nocchi??"

"*Hector*??? Oh, gosh *NO*, Mr. Woody! He's- He's awful nice 'n everything -a 'real peach', as you'd prob'ly say back where you live- ...but he's already got someone, and has for some time. One 'f my best friends my own age Miguel Sanchez, and they now have a real sweet little girl called 'Coco'. -Well, her *FULL name's* 'Socorro Juanita Imelda Sanchez-Rivera', but she prefers t' go by 'Coco'."

"*Awww*-! She sounds like *a CUTIE*, from th' way ye talk aboot her... Ye her godfather?"

"'Si'- yes, I am. And Hector's seamstress friend Ceci is her godmother."

"Oh... Well, if not Hector- then *who IS* your fella, Pinocchio?"

"...I've never really had one, Mr. Woody. I tried datin', sure- but they're either put off by my looks that are so 'out of odds' with each other, my voice, my preferrin' to do other things b'sides game an' play or watch sports just about twenty-four/seven, my bein' on the Autism Spectrum ...or all 'f the above."

"-Well, tha's *not right* *OR* FAIR at all t' ye! Yer such a sweet, smart, bonny, thoughtful, carin', an' ado- lovesome 'ragazzo'... One'd think that another 'Real Boy' jus' like yerself wouldna *just JUMP*, but *LEAP* at th' chance t' court, date, an' ask ye out, or let *ye* return such in *THEIR favor*...! They mus' be either BLIND, no' jus' 'stupid' but a *DOBBER EEJIT*, *or BOTH*!"

"-More or less, what my courteous considerate grandson said."

"Th-Thank you, Mr. Woody- M-Mr. Seb-Sebastian. Gr-'Grazie'. That's- That's awful sweet 'f ya both... Heh-! Hector, Sophie, Miguel, Hiro, Mirabel, 'n Fabiana plus Sabina would more than agree with you."

"-What exactly does Hector do, when not acting as a Hispanic branch of the Secretaries of Juliet??"

"He- He's a songwriter and guitar-player, when he's not helping Miss Ceci out with her clothin' orders. He's- He's pretty good at it; he got pretty darned inspired this trip, lemme tell ya-! Miguel's a musician himself- same instrument, *LOVES t' sing*...
"When they first met, they got along like a house on fire, b'comin' instant friends, 'n then more after about two 'r three weeks. Still best friends, but now best friends whom each other wanted t' kiss- to not just *PLAY 'House'* with one day... They got married after about a year- Coco was a weddin' night baby, heh!"

"How old is she now?"

"She'll be turnin' four this year. *Gee*- how time flies...!"

"Ah- have- have any o' yer friends includin' Hector an' Miguel tried t' set ye up on a 'blind date'??"

"Now 'n then ...didn't really work out, much as they tried. I know that it almost kinda breaks Papa's heart to see Sophie so happy with someone, and m'self not so much- but what can I do, 'f people won't try t' get to know, accept, 'n like me as I am in an intimate/'spoony' way?"

'No' jus' DOBBER EEJITS- they're all "*ICKA-PATOOTIE DUNDERHEADS*"!! *Tha's* wha' they are fer refusin' t' see past his oh-so-"odd/weird" appearance (*screw ye*, morons; *he's ADORABLE* inside an' out!!!), his still-merboy timbre, bein' ASD, and/or semi-cottage-core...!'

"Your Papa- does he like Victor alright?"

"Uh- Uh-huh; P-Papa gets on with Sophie's beau just fine. -Though I'm pretty sure he wouldn't really much like his kinda ignorin' her on this 'pre-honeymoon' trip. He DOESN'T *mean to*, I know that-! He *DOES love her*... But sometimes, especially right now, -I can't help but doubt their bein' 'endgame'."

"Hmm... How 'bout yours' 'n Sophie's mama? What's she think about her little girl's future husband?? -How does *SHE feel* about your own non-love-life situation?"

"-'(Sophie's) Mamma I *NEVER knew*'. She- She... She ran away 'n left Sophie and her 'padre' when 'sorellena mio' was only nine. I- I wasn't in th' picture just yet then- not- not until about a month later."

"...Oh, dear."

"Her mum pulled a 'Because of Winn-Dixie', just at th' age o' nine, huh? -*OUCH*... 'M sorry, 'Nocchi-lad! That's- Tha's jus'- *I can't EVEN*!"

"It's- S' okay, Mr. Sebastian- Mr. Woody. You- You didn't know; *how COULD* you have??"

"Still... That- That must've been *REALLY* HARD for Sophie 'n her father."

"Yeah. It- It was..."

(Grandfather and grandson got the same feeling as Claire via their conscience, and listened to it even though Sebastian was *BURSTING* to ask how Pinocchio had come into the Hall family's lives, and what had happened to his birth parents -and siblings plus other relatives, if he had any-.)

*********************************************************************************************************************************************

"*Seventy-four*?? *SEVENTY-FOUR Lorenzo Bartolinis* in Tuscany, and you want to go on a SCAVENGER HUNT?! *IMPOSSIBLE*! We're *going home* in the morning!"

To a point, Pinocchio could certainly understand Mr. Charlie's astonished frustration- after all, who would have even *BEGUN TO think* that there were SEVENTY-FOUR possible candidates for Miss Claire Smith's long-lost loved one??? *Not him*! Still, even though technical Number Seventy-Five/Number One had been a BUST yesterday, he *WELL knew* that neither Miss Claire nor Mr. Woody had flown all the way here to 'pack it in' now; same as Sophie and Mr. Sebastian.

Not that it stopped any of them gaping at Sophie's laptop screen from where they were either standing around or sitting at a poolside table of the hotel that they'd stayed at the night before. I mean, after all- *SEVENTY-FOUR* Lorenzo Bartolinis??!! '*MAMMA MIA* e *Jesuo Cristo*'...!

"*Oh, C'MON*, Charlie! Will ye *calm down*? Sophie-lass, wha' d' ye think?? After all, ye said that yer a fact-checker, aye? This is yer job- ye *find things*, no matter how long it takes or how arduous an' quite possibly silly th' search gets for whatever it is yer doin' yer verra best t' investigate an' solve; kinda like a detective."

Sophie gave Sebastian a thankful smile and nodded. "*Yes, exactly*! And through process of elimination and 'caveat emptor', which will acquire assembling a few more facts, we can *narrow this down CONSIDERABLY*."

"-Did Ms. 'Awesome-For Real' just use *caveat emptor*??"

Okay- NOW Pinocchio was actually starting to bristle a little himself. He did not like the way that Mr. Charlie was kind of mocking his sister just because she was American and tended to more use slang than 'proper King's English'. "*Alright*," he huffed, giving the curly-haired Britishman an icy Look and placing his hands on his hips to the point of almost bruising them, "my big sister went t' BROWN, okay? *Double major*! *Minor in LATIN*. She's not just- just- an uncivilized American tourist journo, 'Signor' Wyman!"

"Oh?? That right? And you? Aiming to follow in her stringer-hackette footsteps?"

Sebastian snarled and practically chittered at his 'cugino's' scoffing rudeness, longing to give him a good smack upside the head again if not an elbow-nudge as his aquamarine eyes spat pale blue sparks from his uniquely-winsome face.

All Pinocchio gave in reply was a polite but cold "*No*." Thankfully, Charlie dropped it, though muttered to himself with a headshake, "This is *MADNESS*! *It's MADNESS*...!"

Woody coughed loudly and gave his quasi-nephew a sharp Look from behind his square/rectangular half-rimless reading glasses. "Charlie, didn't you say you wanted to go and swim? Well, go on then- go ahead! *We are WORKING*- go away, now."

"This is UTTER, *COMPLETE* mad-,"

"*Hem*!! *WORK*...!"

"I can't believe it- *ridiculous*..."

The Pride-Crickets sighed and shook their heads to themselves and at one another- Pinocchio couldn't help but roll his eyes, though admittedly flushed pink alongside Sophie when a shooed-away Charlie removed his towel from his shoulders and stood tall in his fair-yet-honey-hued and muscular glory before diving straight into the deep side of the pool with a splash.

Claire gave Sophie a knowing look and small smile. "Good-looking sort, isn't he?"

Sophie hummed, then coughed to herself and turned her attention back to the situation at hand. Pinocchio near-wildly shook his head and did the same.

Though Sebastian couldn't help but near-whisper with a friendly eye-twinkle and sparkle of a grin, "Prefer older guys, eh?"

"Uh- Uh-huh! Y-Yeah ...just- just could never really see m'self with someone my own age. Closest would be *two, three, 'r four* years apart 'nstead 'f just months," Pinocchio admitted quietly with an extra blush and now-shy shine to his big blue orbs for eyes from under his flop of raven-black bangs.

Sebastian wanted to either gently press Pinocchio's hand or give him a warm pat on the shoulder, but didn't dare given that they'd only just met a couple of days ago. So instead, he gave the younger male's ankle a light kind tap with the side of his foot. "Well- tha's alright, t' my mind. Some people jus' don't see themselves wit' others their own age; 'tis all there is to it! B'sides, fer all yer own youth, yer rather mature an' level-headed, Pinocchio-lad -at least, *I* think so."

His heart FLAPPED akin to a *fruit bat's wings* from the sweet glowing smile that the adorable lad gifted him with as a result, those bonny 'adhar gorm' (blue sky) eyes sparkling like stars in his fetching doll-face framed via semi-wavy foretop and longer locks of silken glossy sable. "Gr-'Grazie', M- Sig- S-Sebas-Sebastian. That's- That's awful kind 'f ya t' say so. S' not really somethin' a lot 'f people outside of my teachers, friends, 'n family think about me..."

'Well, *for shame* *on THEM*- thrice over...!'

'Hmm...' Woody mused, his currently-bespectacled brown eyes glancing over at his writer/musician grandson and the sweet charmin' little darlin' of a fella who was practically Snow White's male twin save for paler lips, a different-shaped nose, straighter and longer hair, and cinnamon-sugar sprinkles of freckles dusted over his own naturally-rosy cheeks and moon-pale skin and had instantly not only captured Sebby's own warm passionate *NON-skeptic* heart, but *wrapped it around his little finger*- and vice versa, he could tell. 'I wonder...'
WHAT was that saying nowadays?? *Oh, yes*- he 'shipped' it!!

"Are you *SURE* that Lorenzo NEVER left this area??"

"He *LOVED this land*! I'm *quite certain*."

Once Sophie had been assured, she asked for permission to use Claire's ring-necklace as a marker alongside her pencil. She traced the area pinpointed and assured of with them, saying triumphantly and happily, "*Our Lorenzos*...! And where we find our *TRUE Lorenzo*- there we'll *find BUZZ*, too."

Ohhhhh.... Wouldn't THAT *be just WONDERFUL* *and then some*! Claire tenderly kissed Lorenzo's ring hung on a chain around her neck- Woody blinked against yearning tears via a bittersweet smile as he cupped and gently rubbed his locket half adorning his own nape and collar, feeling the phantom of a sweet-yet-sensual 'spark' against his now-mustached lips.

However, they had to *ALSO make sure*...

"*Are you SURE* that you have time for all of this?"

Sebastian's eyes concernedly echoed his zietta's and grandfather's query, as well.

Sophie briefly bit her lower lip, Pinocchio swallowed and licked both of his, -then they both took out their phones and dialed certain numbers...

 

On Sophie's and Victor's end:

"'Ciao'! How are you??"

"I'm good. -How are you?"

"You know what? I was just witnessing this *most incredible*, INCREDIBLE Sauterne auction! It was *BEAUTIFUL*- it was INCREDIBLE! How's it going??"

"I'm- good. 'Nocchi and I are in Siena right now..."

"What?? *In SIENA*? What are you two doing in *Siena*?"

"I'm- I'm writing a story. We're kind of on a bit of an adventure, looking for somebody that she and he used to know *fifty years ago*-,"

"-You know what, baby? You know what? I mean, this isn't a good time because I'm in the middle of something... But- I mean- I'm glad you called because I was actually gonna call you right now.
"You know, the opportunities here are REALLY, really, *really incredible*, you know? And I think, I'm gonna have to stay until Friday. Can- Can I stay, or should I skip it?? I mean- I *feel HORRIBLE*, but..."

"No, no- *do it*, please! We're- We're gonna need until Friday, as well."

"*Great*! So, Friday- all right? Friday. Friday's good. Okay! *Win-win*! 'Arrivedeci'!"

"'Bye..."

 

Concerning 'Nocchi??

"'Nocchi??? *'Nocchi*!! 'Hola, muneco' (Hello, doll)! How are you?! How's Sophie 'mi guera palomita' (my blonde little dove) doin'? How's it goin' so far- 'Finding Nemo', so to speak??"

"'Ciao, scheletro di famiglia musicale' (Hello, musical family skeleton-man)! We're- We're pretty okay, so far. Um... first Lorenzo was an *absolute BUST*, and well- turns out that there's not countin' the one already scratched off the list *SEVENTY-FOUR Lorenzo Bartolinis* in Tuscany, Italy. B-*But*- *BUT*!! We've- We've narrowed down to th' ones JUST around the farm just near Siena, where- where we are right now."

"...'Dios Mio', that is not just '*POCO loco*', that is '*MUY* loco'! *Se. Ven. Ty. Four.* SEVENTY-FOUR; see, I *STILL can't believe it*!! But knowing your smart whip-sharp bright-as-a-button 'hermana mayor', she's made 'abstively posolutely' *one thousand and one Arabian Nights* sure that your missing Romeo and Mercutio are still in that exact area- yes?"

"'Si', yes; she- she did. Even- Even used Miss Claire's ring that Mr. Lorenzo gave to- to partially trace 'n mark the area- asked- *asked permission* first, 'f course!"

"-Why does that strike me as both *BEAUTIFUL* and OW *my HEART*, and why am I getting even further inspired, *dang it*??! You know, I'm- I'm glad you called, because Victor just called me to let me plus yourself and Sophie know that he's gonna need to stay in Livorno until Friday. That- That sound good? Okay? Give you guys enough time (at least to a point)??"

"Yeah- yeah, sure. Uh-huh! If- If that's gonna be the case (heh- literally), then- then that's alright! Are- Are you okay with it?"

"'Nocchi- Pinocchio Edward Benjamin Hall, this is something *WONDERFUL* and AMAZING that you and Sophie are doing for someone; *TWO someones*, even: helping them and their grandsons to find their True Love again fifty years later! As Victor would say, this is *INCREDIBLE*, what you and she are doing!
"To answer your question, 'hermanito', I am *perfectly* okay with it. I am hardly lonely or bored amongst the company that is The Secretaries of Juliet anymore than either you or Sophie are the same with 'Senora' Claire, 'Senor' Woody, 'Senorito' Charlie, -and 'Senorito' Sebastian whose actual last name is '*Cricket*', shutmymouth! Sure, more often than not, I will find myself needing to reach for a tissue box/packet or a handkerchief- but then, half or a quarter of the time, that is what happens with songwriting as well as *WRITING-writing*; so, nothing new...!"

"Okay, then... Fri-Friday's good?"

"'Si, si'- yeah! Friday's just GREAT! All works out! Hey, hey- *wait, wait, wait, wait, wait*. Wait- wait! Don't hang up just yet 'per favor', okay?"

"...*Ohhhhh*. Oh, okay- gotcha! I won't hang up just yet."

"'Gracias', bright eyes! Much appreciated; if I'm given permission, I *DON'T wanna miss* this opportunity hopefully come knocking... Ah, *BLECH*!! PLEASE tell me that I am *NOT sounding* or starting to sound like *him*...!"

"No- no; no, *you're not*, I promise ya! You're- you're *just YOU*, and you're *NON-greedily* excited about this, 's all."

"-*Phew*...!!! 'Muchas gracias', 'Nocchi 'muneco'- I *really NEEDED* to hear and be sure of that."

"'Prego'/'De nada', Hector 'amico mio'..."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"-Claire? Woody? *We're free*!"

"Uh- Uh-huh! It's- It's true; Vic- Victor's gonna still be in Livorno at his wine auction until Friday, so- so everything's good. We can still come with ya both plus Mr. Charlie 'n Sebastian to- to find 'Signors' Lorenzo 'n Buzz."

Claire, Woody, and Sebastian cheered and clapped at this *TERRIFIC* news delivered by their new friends. A sharp kick and hard elbow-nudge plus a *Look* via Sebastian quelled most of Charlie's unenthused sarcasm down to "They're coming?? *Splendid*- *that's SPLENDID*! Fantastic!"

Hector, of course, let out a happy grito through the phone- and from the very faint thumps on the other far side, Pinocchio could tell that he was also doing a literal happy dance alongside, making him smile and shake his head fondly. 'You make me "un poco loco"', *indeed*...!

Then he handed the phone to Claire, who gave him a bit of a surprised look, but then settled to listen to Hector's query alongside Woody, who leaned in close to hear as well.

"Hallo, there. This is Hector? *THE Hector* whom young Pinocchio so fondly talks about? -Oh, it *IS you*! Hello, dear; how are you this fine lovely morning? It's *VERY nice* to finally meet you, even if just through the phone.
"Our little Italian-born friend mentioned that you're a songwriter, -and a *WONDERFUL one*, at that! You know, this adventure starting with actually *MEETING the Secretaries of Juliet* isn't just worthy of *a single song*; oh, no-no-no! No, such *an ADVENTURE* needs a WHOLE ALBUM in order to tell its story in full ...don't you think?"

"In other words- You have our WHOLEHEARTED *BLESSED* permission to songsmith our little venture, Senor Hector Rivera. My grandson Sebastian would say that this is a story that *NEEDS to be told* (kinda surprised that he hasn't already written anything musical or simply literary on the subject, to be honest)...! And hopefully, this will be one with a HAPPY ending.
"'Bye; good luck, Hector! Have a good rest of your day!"

"Yes- good luck (but DON'T *press yourself*, please). Cheerio, Hector-lad!"

"Gr-'*Gracias*'. '*MUCHAS gracias*'!! 'Adios, senor e senora'! Hope- Hope you have a nice rest of the day, too! Good- *Good luck* 's well... 'Bye, 'Nocchi; good luck! 'Te quiero mucho, muneco'! 'Per favor' tell Sophie I said 'hi' and 'love ya'."

"'Bye, Hector; same t' you! 'Ti viglio molto bene anch'io, uomo-scheletro'! Will do-!"

(Sebastian didn't just firmly squash down any lingering inkling feelings of AK-green jealousy- he *threw a small wooden hammer at them* himself. He'd SAID 'ti viglio bene', after all; *NOT* '*ti amo*'. This Hector Rivera had a significant other- 'Madre Maria', he was MARRIED *with a child*, even!! So *get a FREAKING GRIP*, 'Grillo'; for gosh darn sakes...!)

*Welp*- let the search begin-!! In the words of Sara Williams from Jim Henson's 'Labyrinth', 'Well, -*COME ON, feet*...'

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