[ We find Kenji finally getting free of Tia and having a seat outside. Just when he thinks he might get a teensy bit of peace, Alcinoe comes up to him. ] [ Let's see what happens! ] [ Minisession Start! ] * Alcinoe does, actually, come up to him and stops, looking down at the sitting Kenji. At least she doesn't have her sword on her, or things might really get ugly. "Howdy." * HKenji doesn't look up at Alcinoe. He just says, softly, "...what?" * Alcinoe folds her arms. "Feelin' pretty awful, ain'tcha?" Perhaps. Why? You don't seem the type to rub it in. Ah ain't, but Ah'm curious. Wonderin' why ya got yerself, an' her, in this situation in the first place. Ya don't seem stupid. 'Cause tell me if Ah'm wrong, but Ah bet ya knew this would happen all along. I knew. I _thought_ that Tia knew. * Alcinoe stares at him for a moment. "She's Tia! How the hell'd she know?" Even if she knew, how'd she really *know*? Because Seylin explained to her. So... ya didn't tell 'er yerself? It was not a task within my abilities. Why not? * Alcinoe has a seat, now, crosslegged and across from him. "They're just words. Ain't even lyin'." Such things are not discussed in Rokugan. It is understood by all involved. I simply... lack the words, and the means of using them to help her understand. Then maybe ya shoulda figured those words out an' told her yerself. 'Cause I dunno what ya thought you were doin', but unless ya do it yerself, ya can't know it's been done right. Ah don't think, mahself, that ya should've gotten inta a relationship with her in the first place even if she *did* understand. It ain't fair ta either of ya, but it really ain't fair ta her. * HKenji stands up and just... looks at Alcinoe. So you're saying I should have put her down, hard, in the first place, and hurt her then rather than hurting her now? * Alcinoe glares up at him, getting to her feet so it's even. "Yeah. 'Cause you woulda hurt her less than she is now. She would've known she wouldn't stand a chance." And you're saying that I shouldn't have trusted Seylin. Ah'm sayin' ya should'na trusted any of 'em ta really understand this. This *ain't* Rokugan. Mah parents never woulda... * Alcinoe trails off for a moment, then scowls. "Nobody understands it. Ya can't unless yer from there. How could ya think they would?" How could I not? They SAID they understood. Ah bet they were really sayin' that they *thought* they understood! You're right. Absolutely right. I can't trust any of them. Nor you. * Alcinoe puts a palm to her face. "That's not what Ah... aww. Look, Kenji. Ya can't expect them ta automatically believe everythin' ya say about yer homeland. Sure, yer from there, but none of 'em have ever been there. They probably think yer exaggeratin' or somethin', until somethin' like this pops up." Why would I exaggerate? Ah'm not sayin' ya do. Ah'm just sayin' they might think ya do. There's a difference between what actually happens an' what people think are happenin'. And so I cannot trust them. If they will not say what they mean, and think that I do not say what I mean, then I cannot trust them. No, they're sayin' what they they mean, just like you say what ya mean. But meanin' can get lost in translation, an' Ah don't just mean other languages. It's like if... okay, yer from a noble family or somethin', right? Something like that. Right. Ah'm not. If ya tell me about anythin' involvin'... uh, politics from there or somethin', Ah wouldn't understand it. Ah mean, Ah might think Ah do, an' might say Ah do, but Ah wouldn't. Jus' like if Ah were ta try ta explain how ta plow a field. Ya might know, but ya wouldn't really know. I do know how to plow a field. It ain't that they're not tryin', 'cause they're yer friends, but ya can't just take things at face value and think they completely understand. Political marriages, these are a thing that happen in these lands, are they not? (* Wonders if now would be a good time for Pat to show up.) Not where Ah'm from, they ain't. Bet the mayor wanted his daughter ta marry rich, but Ah don't think he coulda stopped her from marryin' whoever she wanted. * HKenji shakes his head sadly. * Patrick calls out. "Yeah. People 'round here marry for love or money or any number of reasons. Can't remember the last time any of it was political, though." He walks over carrying some pears. "Pear?" Sure. * Alcinoe snatches one and munches with a thank you. * Patrick throws Alcinoe a pear and grins. "Couldn't help but overhear." * HKenji looks up at Patrick. "You knew this would happen, didn't you? I _told_ you it would happen." * Patrick munches on one and after swallowing: "Yeah, ya did. But you didn't tell me to do anything about it. And you know people might not believe me if I told'em anyways." He grins to emphasise his point. * Alcinoe chews on pear. She doesn't say anything, which might be good or not. * HKenji scowls angrily at nothing. Ya told Seylin and she's about as trusting as you can get, really. Still, I think most people are a bit more romantic about this than they'd like to admit. Myself included. ^_^ So you didn't believe me. * Patrick smirks. "Think what ya want. Not like I can change your opinion." That's what "a bit more romantic about this" means, isn't it? You thought that it would all work out, in spite of what I told you? * Alcinoe looks like she's about to say something, then decides against it and frowns. * Patrick shrugs. "It'll work out no matter what ya do. How happy you, and Tia now, are depends on what ya do. The question before you now is where your priorities are. And the only person that could answer that is you." * Patrick chuckles. "I know what I'd do if I were ya, but if I were you I'da never been in your situation in the first place." * HKenji glares angrily at Patrick, then stalks off towards Pensword. * Patrick raises an eyebrow and looks over at Alci, then rushes over to Kenji. "Question is, if ya do what I think you're doing, how would Tia deal with it?" Go away, Patrick. * Alcinoe sighs and stalks after the boys. These things never end well. * Patrick shrugs and smirks. "Suit yourself. I'll be around." He walks off torwards FC. * Alcinoe glances at Patrick as he passes her, then catches up with Kenji. Her voice lacks any of the hard edge it might have had in their earlier conversation. "Ah know talkin's the last thing ya wanna do now, an' it can be mah fault, but... Ya never answered mah question." * HKenji doesn't look back at Alcinoe as he snaps, "What question?" Ah wanted ta know why ya got into the situation in the first place. Even if ya both know it won't work, how's that make things better? To take pleasure while it can be had, obviously. Just because one must marry for the good of the family does not mean that one cannot have happiness before the marriage, so long as it is kept discreet. Now if you will excuse me, I have matters to take care of before my departure. * Alcinoe listens, letting it sink in, then shakes her head. "Discreet. Ya like that word." Sure. Good luck, Kenji. * Alcinoe turns and walks off, but not towards Flying Couches. [Cut to Patrick and Tia at the Flying Couches hall.] * Patrick waves at Tia and smiles. "What's up?" * Tia is in the common room, staring out the window. Her tail waves about listlessly. * Tia 's ears perk at the sound of Patrick's voice, and she turns around. "Hi, Patrick." How ya doing? ^_^ * Tia shrugs. "I'm okay, I guess. How're you?" Feelin' pretty good. ^_^ * Tia smiles wanly. "Whatcha up to?" Just coming back after giving Kenji a piece of my mind. Although I think he's gonna do somethin' really stupid soon. * Tia looks away from Patrick when he mentions Kenji's name. "...Something stupid? What do you mean?" * Patrick shrugs. "I'm never too sure with that guy, except that he really does like ya and thinks way too highly of his duties to his clan." * Tia is silent for a moment, but she sighs. "What should I do?" * Patrick shrugs. "I dunno. If he tries runnin' off, though, you'd want to follow him, right?" * Tia hesitates, the nods slowly. "I wouldn't let Kenji do something stupid." 's what I thought. ^_^ An' maybe we can knock some sense inta him while we're at it. ~_^ * Tia nods and finally smiles. "Okay." * Tia gets to her feet and picks up her axe. "Do ya know where he's goin'?" Nah. And I dunno when he's leavin' either. Sey and I will keep a lookout on him, though. * Tia leans her axe back against the wall. "Should I go talk to 'im?" * Patrick chuckles. "Up to you. He was pretty peeved at me, but when isn't he?" * Tia chews on her lip. "Well, I don't wanna make him mad at me..." * Patrick smiles at Tia. "I don't think you could do anything that'd get him mad at ya." * Tia shrugs her wings. "Well, okay. I guess I'll go talk to 'im, then." She pauses. "Um, what's he planning on doin', anyway?" * Patrick smirks. "I told you I didn't know. Maybe you could find out fer us?" * Tia nods. "I'll try." * Tia smiles and gives Patrick a hug. * Patrick hugs Tia back, assuming she isn't crushing him. Now go talk ta him. I gotta make some ice cream. ^_^ * Tia grins. "Pancake flavor?" I can sure try! I can't wait! * Tia grins again, then waves and runs off toward Kenji's room. (Which I suppose is in Pensword?) * Patrick goes to the kitchen to gather supplies, and the camera shifts yet again! ( Yep. ) * HKenji is in his tiny little room in Pensword Hall. * Tia knocks on Kenji's door. ...Kenji? [ Only exposition you'll get is; Yes, Pensword Hall is Still Upside- Down. ] (*snarf*) ...what, Tia? * HKenji does not open the door. Can I talk to you? * HKenji opens the door and looks cooly up at Tia. * Tia blinks down at Kenji and smiles faintly. "Hiya, Kenji." ...yes? * Tia shuffles her paws, and her tail twitches anxiously. "...Well, um, I heard you might be doin' something, ah..." She pauses, not knowing how to continue. * HKenji frowns. "You heard incorrectly. Was there anything else?" * Tia looks a little hurt. "I was just worried about you." ...don't be. Someone told me you might go an' do somethin' stupid, so I wanted to make sure... * Tia fidgets. * HKenji 's eyes glint dangerously. "I never do stupid things." Well, I...I didn't mean to say... * Tia shakes and whimpers softly. * HKenji softens a little. "I know, Tia." * Tia calms down a little. "But you wouldn't, right? Like you just said, you wouldn't do anything stupid..." Of course not. * Tia nods, though her eyes are still full of worry. "Well, okay. I just wanted to make sure." * Tia moves as if to give Kenji a hug, but she stops herself short and stands back. "Um, I guess I'll see you later, then." * HKenji inclines his slightly. "Good day." * HKenji closes the door. * Tia blinks in confusion and her wings droop dejectedly, but she turns and leaves without a word. [Tia arrives just a short while later back at FC. Let's see if anyone notices.] * Istvan wanders by the common room, lugging a suit of chain mail. "'ey Tia." * Tia looks up - she'd seemed rather preoccupied with staring at the ground a moment before - and smiles a little. "Hiya, Isty." * Istvan shifts the suit of chainmail on his shoulder to make it more comfortable, and wipes his sweaty brow. "Just finished forging this set of chain mail for a freshman. Whacha up to?" * Tia shrugs. "Nothin', really. Just got back from talkin' with Kenji." She sighs. * Istvan grunts. "If ya wanna talk about it, I got some time. If ya don't..." * Tia nods and sets out some cushions for Istvan. * Istvan lays the chain mail out over a chair, and sits down. "So what's going on? I know Kenji found out that this whole ridiculous arrainged marraige thing is for real..." * Tia nods and wrings a particularly large (and sturdy) pillow between her forepaws. "Yeah, he talked to me about it yesterday." She sighs. "There's nothing I can do." Yeah, we didn't have any luck coming up with ideas to fix it... everything that would work would either require us to do something evil or for Kenji to break away from his family. We can't do the first, and he won't do the latter. (Although he should!) (Are you insane? >.>) (Maaaybe?) * Tia nods again. "I guess that means there's no way to fix it." She sinks heavily into the pile of cushions. Only way I can see Kenji not marrying that girl is if someone makes Kenji's family a better offer for him... * Istvan rubs his neck. "Don't suppose your parents own a canyon or something?" * Tia sighs and shakes her head. "We live in a cave in the forest. With a lake." * Tia rolls onto her side. "But I guess it doesn't matter, anyway. I don't think Kenji likes me anymore." He does, Tia. * Tia shakes her head. "He didn't wanna talk to me." He's just trying to pretend he doesn't, because he can't see a way outta this damn marraige thing. And he doesn't wanna get yer hopes up. * Tia sighs. Which is dumb. Even if he's stuck, he still has a year of freedom. He'n you should enjoy it. I'd offer to talk to him, but... well, we ain't exactly on the best terms right now. * Tia smiles a little at Istvan. "Thanks, Isty, but it's okay." She looks up at the ceiling. "But, I don't think an extra year'll be better. I'll just be sad again after." * Istvan rubs his neck s'more. "I wonder what that girl's family is offerin'... I mean, your dad's a freakin' dragon. Having a dragon marry into the family'd be worth something..." I dunno, Isty. Sometimes people used to make fun of me for it. I don't mean it like that, Tia... Kenji's family is marrying him to that girl because her family can give his family something valuable. Your family could give them something valuable, too... a friendly dragon. I wonder how that compares... I don't know... Be worth looking into... s'a longshot, but at this point... It might just be like the time my pet squirrel died and Mama told me just to bury 'im and get over it... * Tia looks over at Istvan. "I really liked little Scratchy, too." * Tia pauses. "Well, of course it's not the same..." Mmm... I'm sure ya did, Tia. S'one of the crappy things about life... things die, people go away, and it hurts like hell. * Tia nods. * Istvan leans over and ruffles Tia's hair. "Your're young'n cute, kiddo. You'll find someone else. Not much comfort right now, I know, but..." Thanks, Isty. * Tia smiles and hugs Istvan. "You're the best." * Istvan oofs. "Thanks. Mind if I give ya one last bit of advice?" * Tia lets go and looks at Istvan curiously. "Okay." Stuff like this... I know from experience that if you let yourself think about it all day, every day... s'gonna drive you nuts. Do yourself a favor, and find something to do the next few days. Doesn't matter what. Anything. Just try'n get your mind off all this. * Tia mulls this over, then nods. "...Do you need help at your forge, Isty? I'm good at helping." * Istvan pauses for a moment, then shrugs. "Don't especially need help, but if you wanna, sure. If it'll help distract ya." * Tia suddenly breaks into a grin. "Thanks, Isty. I'll be really helpful! Promise!" * Istvan nods. "I gotta go deliver this set of chainmail to someone, but I'll be back in an hour or so. Want me to come find you then, show you around the forge?" * Tia nods eagerly. "Yeah!" * Istvan nods, and hefts the chain mail over his shoulder. "See ya in an hour, then." [Mini... END]