[ The scene is Alci's room, again! Alci has a feeling of forboding. It's almost as if a bunch of people are going to gather there and bother her. Session Start! ] * HKenji pushes his way in with a big steaming tray of food. * Alcinoe frowns a little at the foreboding feeling, but she shoves that aside in favor of brightening at the sight of food. Yay, food! Stay still. * Tia can be heard galumphing down the hall toward Alci's room. Shortly, she knocks politely at the door. * Alcinoe was in the process of sitting up completely, and then she blinks and relaxes. "All right. An' come in." * HKenji sets the tray down across Alcinoe's lap. It's got soup, and rice, and a small bowl of vegetables. * Tia pushes the door open softly. "Hiya, Alci! How're ya feelin'?" * Alcinoe takes in the food, then smiles. "Thanks." She looks past him to Tia. "Hiya. Ah'm feelin'... awake." She laughs a little. "Don't wanna move, but besides that, pretty good." * Tia pokes her blonde head in and grins at Alcinoe, though she seems surprised to see Kenji there. "Oh, hi, Kenji. Didn't know you were here." Good morning, Tia. Morning! Um, need anything, Alci? Looks like Kenji's getting you all fed and stuff, so I guess you don't need more food... * Tia approaches the bed and sits down next to it. Well, if ya wanna provide company, an' it's all right with Kenji, Ah wouldn't mind that. Sure! The decision is yours, Alcinoe. It is not, after all, my room. * Tia grins and holds up her newest toy. "Want some water?" * Alcinoe picks up a spoon and starts on the soup. She's shaking a little, but she doesn't spill. And then she blinks. "Uh... if ya got a cup fer it, sure?" * HKenji pulls a small tumbler from his sleeve. "Here, Tia." Thanks, Kenji! * Tia accepts the tumbler and fills it with water from her decanter. "Here ya go, Alci!" She grins again. * Alcinoe takes the water and has a sip before setting it down. "Thanks." Welcome! * Alcinoe has more soup. She looks at Tia, then Kenji. "So, what've you guys been up to while Ah've been gone?" Preparing, mainly. Umm, yeah! What he said. For gettin' the next piece? * Tia wags her tail. That, and finals. * Alcinoe blinks. "Aww, finals!" * Tia 's tail stops wagging abruptly and drops to the floor. Her ears droop. "Aw, finals." * Tia chews on her lip. "What am I gonna do? I almost failed History and Monsters last year." You'll just have to study harder. You do have quite a bit more experience fighting monsters now. * Tia nods. "I try to read books...but they're so hard to understand." She sighs. "I wish I was smarter, like you." * HKenji winces. * Alcinoe watches, a little puzzled. * Alcinoe also has soup. * Tia brightens suddenly. "Hey, think the Headmaster'll agree if I ask her to give us books with more pictures next year?" Hard to say, Tia. * Max knocks on the door to Alcinoe's room. It's a very small knock. * Tia 's ears prick. "Who is it?" Me! May I come in? No one's downstairs, so I followed the voices... * Tia glances at Alci. Yeah, sure. * Alcinoe concentrates on the food. Veggies now, with rice. * Max opens the door and walks in, pushing his glasses up his nose as he does so. His book is following him, Specs riding thereon. "Hi, all. How're you feeling, Alcinoe?" * Tia waves to Max from where she's sitting by Alcinoe's bed. Hiya, Max! * Alcinoe looks over to Max. She smiles a little. "Howdy. Ah'm feelin' tired an' hungry, which means Ah'm alive." I have preparations to make, Alcinoe. I'll see you another time. When you're feeling better, hopefully. Aheh. I suppose it does, at that. Tebryn seemed gratified when he realized -he- was hungry, at least. I am impressed, mademoiselle. ^_^ So, um, what happened, Alci? Hi Tia, how're you today? Oh, bye then, Kenji. *steps out of the way of the door* * Alcinoe nods to Kenji. "All right. Take care." * Tia waves. "Bye, Kenji!" * Alcinoe turns her attention back to Tia. "An'... uh, Ah went ta try ta help Tebryn out. It worked." * HKenji steps out and pads quietly away without answering. * Tia nods. "He said something about glowing water. How come you look so tired, though?" * Alcinoe is silent a moment, then she says, "The water wasn't glowin' bright enough." * Max watches Kenji leave, a bit worried by the younger man's lack of response. But he smiles when he turns back to the girls. ...bright enough? ...What do you mean? Yeah. It was dim, not... blinding. * Tia seems curious, and maybe a little confused. The angel who met us said it got drained over hundreds of years. The water wouldn't be enough ta bring someone back ta life. Not without someone givin' some life of their own. * Tia nods slowly, taking in the information. ...you didn't... So, um, what happened? * Alcinoe smiles weakly. "Yeah, Ah did. Ah gave some of my life ta bring 'im back." ...how? * Tia blinks a few times. "Oh." She pauses. "But you're okay, right? You aren't gonna die, are ya?" Walked inta the pool and prayed fer it ta happen. It was... somethin' else. * Tia cocks her head questioningly, but she keeps listening. * Alcinoe looks over to Tia. "An' Ah dunno. Ah've never done somethin' like that before. But Ah'm not very afraid of it happenin'." ...*sigh* Would that the gods would - or could - do more themselves. *shakes his head, almost muttering to himself* * Max walks over and pats Alcinoe's hand gently. "You are a remarkable woman, Alcinoe. Very few would make the sacrifice you did." * Alcinoe chuckles down at Max. "Galahad's done more fer me than Ah've ever expected him to do. This was just a little bit of repayment." * Tia just seems a little stunned by this entire exchange. * Max smiles, a touch forcedly. "It wasn't for you, though. But the sacrifice was worth it. I'm sure Tebryn would tell you that, especially." * Tia stands up. "Y'know, Alci, you're really brave. Even braver than me!" She gives Alci a hug. * Alcinoe yelps and barely manages to move the rice out of the way. "Watch the food," she laughs. Oops! * Max is almost trampled, and falls on his bottom. Fortunately, it's not a far fall for him, and he fits easilly under Tia's feet without being squished. He crawls over to a more open area and stands up, pushing his glasses up his nose again. * Tia giggles as she withdraws. "Sorry, Max. Are you okay?" Yeah, fine. ^^; I'm used to it. Students 'round here don't look where they're going. You're actually easier to navigate around, being bigger. More room to maneuver. ^_^ * Tia grins sheepishly. "I'm sorry. I try to remember to be careful, but I'm always knocking people over..." You've done alright - first time you've knocked me over! ^_~ * Alcinoe chuckles. It's all right, Tia. Yer gettin' better. * Tia blushes a little. "Aw, thanks, Alci. I try my best to pay attention!" * Alcinoe smiles. "Ah know." * Max finds a chair or empty piece of bed that isn't inside one of the others' personal space, and climbs up on it to sit down. His feet don't -quite- kick in the air where they hang off. * Tia suddenly jumps. "Oh!" She reaches into her bag and rummages for a moment. "I almost forgot!" She produces a rumpled piece of paper and hands it to Alci. "I made this for ya!" * Alcinoe blinks and sets down her rice. "Hm?" She takes it. * Tia hands over a rather childish doodle of Alcinoe, complete with red crayon hair and big text reading: "Gett Wel Soon Luv Tia" [ Awww. ] * Tia wags her tail and grins somewhat bashfully. "I drew it this morning!" Oh? May I see it, too? * Tia nods. * Alcinoe smiles. "It's pretty. Ah like it." * Max hops down and comes over to look, crawling up on the bed to stand behind Alcinoe and look over her shoulder. He's barely tall enough. * Alcinoe tilts the page so Max can see more easily. Thanks, I'm glad! * Tia beams at the praise. Very good, Tia! Where'd you learn to draw? Oh, um, just by myself, I guess. Papa gave me crayons for my birthday when I was littler. Always a great present. ^_^ * Tia wags her tail wildly and grins harder. "I can draw one for you sometime too, Max, if you want!" I'd love that, please! * Tia continues grinning. "Okay!" * Tia turns back to Alci. "Are you well enough to go out and play yet?" * Alcinoe shakes her head. "Nope. Sorry, Tia." * Max grins at Tia's excitement, but the grin fades from his eyes as he turns them on the back of Alci's head and his thoughts turn in on themselves. Aw... Think you'll be better tomorrow? Ah dunno. We'll see. If Ah'm feelin' better, Ah'll play. That's usually the best way to judge these things. *nod, nod* * Tia nods and grins, then gifts Alci with yet another hug (hopefully not spilling any food in the process). "Hope you feel better soon, Alci! Everybody's worried about you." * Max deftly dodges backwards so as not to be caught in the hug! * Max coughs. "I guess I should ask. Alcinoe? Is there anything you want made before we head off? I have some time, so can make some items if you have the funds. Or you, Tia? I assume you guys'll be busy with studying and stuff, so..." * Tia chews on a fingertip thoughtfully for a moment, then grins again. "Can't really think of anything, though I was thinking of asking Isty to help me put butterflies on my new pitcher." * Max chuckles. "That would be pretty." * Alcinoe blinks at Max. "Made?" You know, trinkets and toys. Like my Book, here. *waves at said piece of literature, which is hovering over near the door* Toys? I like toys! * Tia skips in place. Oh. * Alcinoe laughs a little. "Nah, that's all right." I know just the thing. If I ever figure out how to duplicate it, I'll give you one, Tia. *pulls a Rod out of his robes. It's blue and somehow swirly* * Tia 's eyes immediately fix on the blue rod. "Wow, what's that?" It's...unique, so far as I can tell. I traded some scrolls for it at a bazaar a year or so ago. But it's fun. ^_^ Though, um, it's best if used outside. It sometimes makes a mess. ^^; *puts it away again, sheepishly* * Tia snaps out of it as soon as Max puts the item away again. "What does it do?" Well, last time I tried it, it made it rain. Time before that was a lightning bolt, and the first time was...*pauses to remember* ...actually, it didn't do anything I could tell the first time. * Alcinoe eats her food. Yay food! * Max looks self-conscious again, as he tries to find another topic of conversation. * Tia seems intrigued. "Sounds like a fun toy." Huh? *looks up, then remembers what they were talking about* Oh. Yeah! It is. I just don't use it often. My advisor wasn't happy when that rain ruined his picknic. * Tia laughs. "And you never know what it's going to do?" Nope! Never! ...anyway... I suppose I should let you guys get back to studying, or whatever you were doing... sorry for bothering you. ^^; Glad you'll be okay, Alcinoe. You have defintely earned that paladinhood. *hops off the bed and walks over to his Book, which he stands under* And you can't tell it what to do? Oh, yeah! We should throw you a party, Alci! Huh? Uh-uh. Just tell it to...do. And it does. Somethign. * Alcinoe smiles at Max. "Thanks." She blinks. "A party?" * Tia hops up and down on all four feet and nods energetically. "Yeah! To congratulate you on becoming a Paladin!" * Max bounces on the floor quite involuntarilly, teeth vibrating as his eyes widen in surprise. o_o * Alcinoe blinks again. Uh, ya don't hafta. Ah think a party for Tebryn bein' alive again's more worth it. * Tia is still bouncing around excitedly. Why can't it be both? How about a party for both of you? * Alcinoe smiles a little. "Ah guess we could do that." * Max chuckles. It sounds funny as his teeth chatter. * Tia cheers loudly. "Yay! Party!" * Max reaches up and places his hands palm-flat on the bottom of his book. Then almost seems to fall up onto it, kneeling upside-down until it flips over, orienting him correctly with the rest of the world. This leaves poor Specs upside-down on the bottom, and he hoots irritatedly as he flied back up to Max's shoulder. Okay, Alci, I guess I should let you rest and stuff so you can get better and play with us tomorrow. * Tia smiles and hugs Alci again. * Alcinoe lets Tia hug her. "Ah'll try." * Max nods. "Yeah. Get better. See ya." He waves, then turns hesitently and floats on out. * Tia grins. "I know you'll get better, Alci." Her tail thumps cheerfully on the floor. See you later! * Tia grins and turns to run off after Max. "Wait for me!" * Alcinoe waves as they leave. And then she goes back to eatin'. * Max turns and waits. "Huh?" He seems surprised, and pushes his glasses up again. * Tia catches up to Max, grinning, then follows him out the door. * Max floats downstairs, not saying anything. * Tia trots down the stairs after Max, pondering what to do about Alci and Tebryn's party. [ And they lived happily ever after. Session End! ]