[ We find Tia racing down a hallway! Where does she go? ] * Tia runs pell-mell into her room and throws herself bawling onto her pile of cushions. * Seylin runs after her, and stops in the doorway. "Tia!" * Tia doesn't seem to hear, and she continues to bawl. * Seylin walks in and hugs her. "Tia, I'm sorry." * Alcinoe comes walking along, much more sedately. She's not used to exactly who's living where, but it's easy enough to figure out Tia's room. * Ariake follows Seylin and Alci in. * Tia turns around and envelopes Seylin and Alci in a bone-crushing hug. * Seylin is HUGGED. "Gah, Tia... lemme breathe? Please?" * Alcinoe oofs and gasps for air. "Gah!" * Ariake is slow enough to avoid a Tia-ey fate. @_@ * Tia lets go and manages to apologize quickly before resuming her earlier activity. Bawling, that is. Y-you were right, Sey! He's going away. * Seylin pats Tia on the back. "Yeah. I was hoping I'd be wrong about that. Or that it wouldn't happen for a very long time." * Tia mops at her face with a large butterfly-embroidered hanky, which quickly becomes sopping wet. * Ariake patpats Tia, at a loss for words. * Tia hugs Ariake too. * Ariake hugs Tia back, insofar as this is possible when being hugged by aforesaid Tia. * Alcinoe shakes her head. "Might not be right away. Ah mean, she didn't exactly give a time or anythin'." * Tia buries her face in Ariake's robe. "I'm n-not letting him go with Armor Lady!" The only time she gave was a year, if he does that necromancer thing. I think it's going to be okay, Tia. There's something about all this that makes me think so. * Alcinoe gives Tia a sympathetic gaze. "Didja know he was gonna be married off?" * Tia looks up and shakes her head, flinging wet droplets everywhere. "N-no...Sey said he might have to go home someday, but I never expected--" * Tia bawls again. * Seylin looks very sad. "I didn't think that anything like this would happen!" * Tia wipes at her eyes uselessly with the soaked hanky and sniffles a few times, but she gets to her feet. "I n-need to s-stop her. She can't take Kenji." * Alcinoe gives Seylin an even glare, then loses the look and turns to Tia. "Ah think me an' Kenji are gonna have a little talk. But as for you..." She sighs. "Fine. How are ya gonna plan on stoppin' her?" * Seylin is glared at, and is utterly confused. * Tia glances over at her axe leaning in one corner, then shakes her head and sinks back onto her haunches. "I..." She jumps back to her feet. "I could fight her!" * Seylin gives Ariake a "What did I do?" look. * Ariake shrugs to Seylin. "No, Tia...that would make things worse. I'm sorry." * Tia 's eyes fill with tears again. "B-but it's the only thing I know how to do!" * Ariake patpats Tia again. "I know we can get around this. Don't worry." So we'll think of something else. * Tia sniffles. "Are you sure?" * Ariake nods. * Alcinoe shakes her head. She doesn't look so hopeful. * Tia glances again, wistfully, at her butterfly-carved axe. No, Tia. No fighting. But, Sey-- * Tia whimpers. I'm sorry. Like Ariake said, it's just going to make things worse. * Tia stares down at her forepaws. "But I can't let her... I can't let Kenji marry her. I don't like her!" It ain't exactly yer choice, Tia. * Tia remains sullenly silent. * Alcinoe watches her sulk for a bit, then smiles a little. "But ya might be able ta come up with somethin', if ya work with that girl. She ain't that bad." Who, Armor Lady? Yup. She ain't thrilled about this, either. Ya could try ta come up with somethin', hopefully keepin' both families happy. * Tia twiddles the toes of her forepaws. "She didn't seem that unhappy." She seems the type to be good at hiding it. * Alcinoe chuckles. Trust me, if she wanted ta marry him, she would'na given 'im a way out. Even fer a year. * Tia fidgets some more. "I dunno, Alci..." She's got a point. I mean, she could have just told him he had no choice but to come back with her. Yup. She was reachin'. It's not an easy thing that she asked for, but I don't think it's impossible. * Tia looks up at her friends and nods slowly. "I guess so..." So we can work on this, and see what we can do. * Tia nods and sniffles, but she appears to be much calmer now. "Okay. I still don't like her, though." * Ariake nods. Ya don't have ta. Just might wanna talk about it with her, y'know? * Seylin stifles a giggle. "I don't think you have to like her. Just be able to work with her, maybe." Ah don't know Kenji too well, but he doesn't seem the type ta really try ta get out of it. Sealed his fate, like that. That's... pretty accurate. * Ariake nods... * Tia nods and shuffles her paws. "Well...okay." So, y'all get together an' try ta find yer loophole. An' cheer up in the meantime, okay? * Tia nods glumly, but she tries to smile. * Seylin hugs Tia again. "We're here for you." * Ariake hugs Tia as well. * Alcinoe smiles and hooks her hands in her pockets. She doesn't hug Tia, but she nods. * Tia gathers Seylin, Ariake, and Alcinoe in a big hug. "Thanks, guys." She sniffles. "You're the best friends ever." Thank you. You're absolutely welcome, Tia. * Alcinoe laughs. "Least any of us could do. Ah gotta find Kenji an' tell him how stupid he is." * Tia laughs too. I guess it won't be so bad. I won't mind helping on Armor Lady's quest, I guess. We'll all help, if we can. * Ariake nods. * Tia smiles. "Thanks." In the meantime... I know where Patrick hid some of that ice cream he made. Want me to go get it? ... Excellent. * Tia nods. "Okay!" ( We shall have fun eating ice cream. Wai. ) I'll be right back, then! * Seylin heads off to retrieve the ice cream! * Alcinoe perks. "Ice cream? Ah'm really likin' this house." * Tia beams, having seemingly forgotten momentarily about her problems. * Seylin returns a few minutes later, carefully balancing two containers of ice cream, three bowls, and four spoons, one of which is extra-large and durable. She hands Tia one container and the large spoon, then sets the other down and proceeds to scoop up a serving for the others, before finally getting one for herself. * Ariake nods. "Thanks, Seylin." No problem! * Alcinoe takes her helping. "Thank ya." She has a taste. * Ariake consumes! (It is mint chocolate chip!) * Tia grins. "Thanks, Sey!" She happily falls to. * Alcinoe grins, too. "This's really good." * Seylin eats happily. "He's made vanilla, and chocolate, and a few fruit-flavored kinds, but I think this one's my favorite." * Tia nods in agreement, her mouth full. * Alcinoe eats happily. "So Patrick made this? He won't mind us eatin' it, will he?" Nah, he can make more. Maybe he'll come up with a new flavor! * Ariake nods. "This is the best..." Pancake flavor! * Seylin blinks. "Pancake? I'm not sure if that's possible..." Then again, if anyone could figure out a way to do it, Patrick could. If anyone can do it, Patrick can! (D'oh. Too slow.) (I win this time! ^_^_v) * Alcinoe giggles. "Ah dunno, how'd ya fit a pancake inta it?" Well, it's more like getting the flavor of a pancake in there rather than an actual pancake, I think. * Ariake nods. There are probably some chemicals that can do it, but it takes forever to figure them out. * Alcinoe looks thoughtful. "Sounds mushy." And she has a seat on the floor. Or you could just get vanilla and pour syrup on it. * Ariake nods. Not the same, but it'd probably taste pretty good. Hmm... * Tia grins. * Alcinoe continues eating quietly. * Seylin finishes her ice cream. "Mmm. That was good." * Ariake nodnods. * Tia , having finished her carton as well, is sitting and thoughtfully sucking on her spoon. * Alcinoe finishes her ice cream off. "Huh. 's quiet. Didja see the boys, Sey?" * Seylin shakes her head. "They're not back yet." Where'd they go? * Seylin frowns slightly. "You know, I have no idea." * Tia walks out of her room and looks downstairs. * Alcinoe hrms and nods. * Alcinoe gets to her feet. "Y'all wanna give me the dishes? I'll do 'em." * Seylin gathers bowls and empty containers. "I'll help if you want." * Ariake nods. "I'll help." * Alcinoe laughs. "A dishwashin' party? Maybe Ah should'na offered. Nah, only takes two people, Ariake." * Ariake grins. "Thanks." * Alcinoe grabs the rest of the dishes and heads downstairs towards the kitchen. * Seylin laughs. "We'll see you in a bit, Ariake." She heads for the kitchen as well. * Ariake nods to Tia, and grins. "I'll just finish up the machine." Can I help you, Ari? Hmm...no, but thanks, Tia. I'm just about done. * Tia grins. "Okay." She follows Alci and Sey downstairs instead.