Blank: Ah. *to Tanner, blue eyes glittering* I could find a way out if it is.

Alastair: I...I dunno, I guess it's just that I'm so short and scaredy, and so much is expected of me...o.o *backpedals rapidly away from lake*

Trevelain, you're so wonderful with kids! ...hmm, Aris? I meant you and Mordir XDDDDDD

Blank: Lilly. Charmed, I'm sure. *a blue electric flash jumps between his antlers, though Lillian wouldn't see it since they arch gracefully behind his head*

Don't hypnotize the girl, Blank, honestly!

Blank: *innocent rogue face*

actually, Aris, he did teach Virika a few things for when she gets older, as "a precautionary measure against teenage boys".

Simperer: *blinks* well I won't be around her all the time...she should at least know how to snap someone's wrist. Precautions are good.

Lajh: whoa--oah--oah--AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH--*splash*

*grins at Mordir's comment* I'm a light sleeper.

*voice from the leaves* caffeine may or may not be my fault...

Tanner: That should be interesting.

Aren: I understand. I am the youngest member of my tribe's conclave. It was a very daunting responsibility when I began.

Trevelian: I was the oldest of nine siblings.

Timothy: *watches Lajh splash into the water* That was neat.

Tynx: *Tilts his head* But, don't you get birthday presents, and cake? Wouldn't birthday candles tell you?

Don't annoy him.

Tynx: I'm just curious!

Zinaan: I keep you here. Forever.

Lillian: *Smiles at Alace* A lot is always expected of the hero, and it's okay to be scared. You have friends like Breindel and Lajh to help you.

Ah. XD *Hugs Mordir* We be best buds!

Mordir: *Detaches himself* No. We're not.

Lillian: *Blushes* So, if Alace's world isn't yours, what is? Or are you just a character?

Ah, I see. Gotta keep those boys at bay somehow. Mordir didn't do that.

Mordir: Yeah, well do you know how much trouble I'd be in with Iluna if I taught the children anything I do? She would find wooden swords at her neck. And I would be without a bed for days.

Good point. But you can sneak around a spy. That'd be helpful for them to stay low and not draw attention.

Mordir: Aris, these two have so much energy teaching them stealth will be nigh impossible.

Pessimist.

Chayn: *Roars with delight and turns around, heading for Timothy* Your turn!

Mordir: *Smirks* Light sleeper? I've assassinated a few of those. They wake up only to feel metal slic-

Dude, seriously. PG in here with children. Were you raised by feral animals?

Mordir: *Looks at the leaves* If they keep Iluna up, you're coming over to babysit.

Trevelian: Then I must present myself for honorable surrender. *holds his wrists out to Zinaan*

Timothy: No! *flies away*

Ouska: Birthday cake? Birthday candles? What are these things?

Blank: Indeed, it should be quite the show...

With you, I'm beginning to think everything is a show...

Alastair: I'm the youngest of four. What did you have to do in your conclave?

Lajh: *swims around in circles--whether intentionally or not is debatable since he's still dizzy* this is fun! XDDDDDD

Alastair: that is true...they're great friends. Especially...

Nice wording, Aris. "Detaches himself" I laughed for like two minutes.

Leaf Pile that Houses Tinsley who's Not supposed to Be Still Here: Longer than that! ..And I will most certainly not watch them, assassin, unless you want your fear to come true. I. Don't. Like. Children!!

Blank: I assure you, miss Lilly, I do have a home. However, I am so enjoying my author's frustration at my not telling her, that I shall keep it a secret.

the Simperer has Virika practice on him since he's usually home. But Mordir has a legitimate point. ...ah, then let me rephrase, Mordir: it's why we love you, not why we trust you. PG? um...Y7 might be better...then again, some youth seven shows I've seen were pretty emotionally scarring...

Blank: *to Sam* Whom have we here?

Zinaan: *Looks at Trevelian's hands, then throws his arms around Trevelian's wrists* Now you have to do what I say.

I think Zye is being more of a child than Ivy.

Chayn: *Roars gleefully* Yes! *Chases Timothy*

Tynx: *Jaw drops 2 feet* You don't know what birthday cake and candles are?! You've never had a birthday party? Birthday cake is what you get when you get older. So, let's say you turn 500, you would get a cake for your birthday, the day you were born. And the candles tell you how old you are. So if you turn 500, you would have 500 candles on your cake. Or if you don't want your cake covered in wax or burned by the candles, then you can just use candles shaped like numbers that say 500.

M'kay, soo... I learned Lilly plays piano when I pinned a pin.... And... I adore my dream cast right now. XD I found one for Mordir, too!

Mordir: Oh someone save us all, the girl has gone off her rocker.

Oh, I flew off that ages ago, buddy. I'm riding high on my dragon now.

Mordir:

*To Abigail* Glad you liked. XD

Mordir: *Glares at leaf pile* You hate kids? Then why pump them full of caffeine?

Lillian: *Laughs* I see. That must be fun, frustrating your writer. I did that with Aris for a little bit. She thought I was too boring compared to everyone else.

You were.

Lillian: So she was stuck trying to make me a little more colorful. But now I am! I can play piano too!

Mordir: *Lifts eyebrow* Virika practices on her father?

What are Y7 shows?

Mordir: You people concern me very much sometimes.

Tynx: Sometimes? They don't worry you 24/7?

Mordir: Aris does. The rest of them only part of the time. I'm not in their heads, so I don't know what goes on. One writer's mind is plenty.

Virika: do you want to play in the water, Ivy?

!!!!!!

Leaf Pile: Because I don't have to deal with them and I find your frustration amusing! XD

Blank: what is a piano? It must be quite the instrument for someone like yourself to decide to learn.

Simperer: *tone similar to "Duh"* Certainly she does. She isn't strong enough to do any harm yet. I have ensure she's doing it correctly.

Y7? You know, youth seven, like Tron: Uprising, My Little Pony, etc. Mordir needs to stop worrying about us authors. Wet know what we're doing, right?

Blank: wrong!

I know what I'm doing, but that doesn't mean they'll like it.

Aren: I sit in on their councils, but I'm not allowed to speak. But I'm not often home any longer, so other than that, I take a few traveling tasks and meet with our Fearn colleagues.

Trevelian: What must I do to regain my freedom?

Timothy: *ducks behind Tanner*

Tanner: Hey, don't bring me into this!

Ivy: *Sniffs and looks up* Sure. *Gets to her feet*

Mordir: *Scowls at the leaf pile*

Lillian: *Blushes deeply* I'm not very good. A piano is a large instrument that plays music by striking strings with little hammers. I started playing because it made Gabe smile. I'm not very good, but he says he likes even the mistakes.

Mordir: I meant no offense. It's just an amusing thought, a little girl practicing techniques of torture on someone at least three times her height?

You don't even know how tall Simperer is compared to Virika.

Oohhh. Gotcha.

Mordir: I can guess. *Looks at Abigail* I worry because whenever you or Aris or anyone start getting weird faces and getting really excited is cause for worrying about our (characters) futures.

Zinaan: *Looks at Trevelian thoughtfully* You give me piggyback ride.

Imagining Trevelian giving a kid a piggyback ride, having seen Kitra's Pinterest image of him...

Mordir: XD

Chayn: *Swerves sharply towards Tanner and Timothy*

Trevelian: As you wish, sir. But first you must get off of me.

Timothy: *makes himself very small behind Tanner*

Tanner: You're not on Chayn's bad side already, are you?

Ouska: *ponders* How would one fit 500 candles on something the size of my fist?

Alastair: oh. You're an ambassador?

Tinsley: *scowls from under the leaf pile*

Blank: it sounds wonderful. Who is Gabe? A caller?

Virika: torture? *looks at Mordir* huh? *runs to the edge of the lake and sticks her feet in*

Simperer: ssh! *warning glance at Mordir*

Did you just shush an assassin? ....that's true, Mordir. I see your point.

Aren: Not exactly... I only meet with a few tribes that we have very close contact with, so it's hardly the same as our uncommon interactions with the Sylphi or the Mergim.

Zinaan: *Slides off Trevelian*

Chayn: *Roars and dives, picking up both Tanner and Timothy*

*head/desk*

Tynx: Oh, no! The birthday cake is bigger. It can be round or rectangular, or any other shape. It's... I suppose it could be about my size, maybe bigger. But even then 500 candles wouldn't it. You would need two or three candles shaped like numbers to make 500.

Mordir: *Fingers a knife while glaring at the leaf pile*

*Smacks hand* Uh-uh.

Mordir: *Smiles at Virika* Nothing.

Ivy: *Follows Virika and stands in the water* Ooh, it's nice!

Mordir: *Glances at Simperer* *In a quiet tone* She doesn't know?

Do your children know what you do? No.

Mordir: P(

Don't worry about shushing him. He probably needs it.

Mordir: Oi-

Shush.

Lillian: *Smiles* Gabriel is my older brother. We were going to run away from our current foster home when we were somehow transported to Allare. Then he was kidnapped. *Laughs* I managed to learn to play happy birthday for him on the piano when he turned seventeen. It made our foster parents annoyed, but he smiled. A for real smile.

Ouska: *puzzled* A cake in your size would not fit in a rock-oven?

Kid: *flips through pages in the book and shows it to him. It's a picture of a birthday cake*

Alastair: oh...what do you talk about?

*whispers to Mordir* be glad Tinsley didn't see you before your author whacked your hand. You'd have been a dead man in about sixty seconds.

Virika: oh.

Lajh: *splashes the girls* I am the terror of the seas! Rarrr! *makes the sand at the bottom swirl around to darken the water* hehehe...

Simperer: *quietly* of course not. Do you think I'm insane?

His wife didn't know either. XD

Simperer: Is she coming too?

Pssh, no, what do you think I am, compassionate or something?

Blank: charming! I'm certain he was delighted.*a second spark jumps between his antlers, and a phantasmal instrument looking vaguely similar to a piano appears* it looks like this?

Breindel: Flash, are you feeling better?

Trevelian: *kneels so that Zinaan can get on his back*

Timothy: No! *squirms*

Tanner: What is it with other worlds and getting abducted by reptiles?

Aren: I meet with the younger Fearn to help prepare them for their time on Earth.

Tynx: That's it! That's a birthday cake! Oven are bigger, I think, than rock ovens? So birthday cake can fit. So you've never had a birthday cake? Not even a party to celebrate the day you were born?

Mordir: *Scoffs* I'd like to see her try.

Don't challenge the half-elf, idiot.

Ivy: *Squeals* Oh no! *Watches the water nervously*

Mordir: *Glances at Ivy before turning to Simperer* No. I was just asking. You're wife didn't know either? Rather big secret to keep from her.

You would've kept yours from Iluna if she hadn't walked in on your assassinating her uncle.

Mordir: If I valued her love and trust I would. I'm not stupid. She's not one to be satisfied with vague answers.

Interacting between wives might be interesting. XD Somehow they would challenge the other's husband in the name of their own husband, so both husbands would have to do something. XD

Mordir: Scarily enough, I would not put it past Iluna to maneuver me into something.

Zinaan: Yay! *Clambers up on Trevelian's back and wraps his still child-pudgy arms around his neck*

Chayn: Yes! *Dives toward the water* Ready?

Getting abducted in other worlds by reptiles happens to you a lot, Tanner? Wait... did the geckos kidnap you?

Lillian: *Jumps in surprise when the instrument appears. Eyes light up, fascinated* A little bit, yeah. How did you do that?

Trevelian: Where would you like to go?

Timothy: No! No! I can't swim!

Alastair: that's cool. How do you do that?

Tinsley: *immediately pops out of the pile, munching a few leaves as she comes* What about getting to kill somebody? *looks excited as she draws herself to her full 7'2" height* I haven't killed anybody in ages. I should get back into it again...

No. You aren't allowed to kill anybody.

Tinsley: party pooper.

the one person who actually enjoyed being an assassin...

Lajh: *grins and loosely drapes some seaweed around Ivy's neck* a lovely garland for the sea nymph!

Virika: I wanna be a sea nymph too!

Lajh: o.o *quickly* hmm...let me see if I can conjure another garland...*swims away*

Whoa, she walked in on it? Awkwaaarddddd....XDDDDDD

Simperer: I didn't give a vague answer. I told the truth.

The partial truth.

Simperer: that depends.

Don't get into a discussion of morals or theology with me. I'll win.

Simperer: I'm not certain what my wife would do...it's been so long...

Blank: you like it? *voice becomes hypnotic* if you desire, you may play it. *he presses down on a key, allowing a wild, flutelike note to fly through the air*

Ouska: We do not celebrate the days of our birth. At the age of fourteen I slew my first Laghart Balli and there was a feast to celebrate that.

Aren: They must adapt to a different culture, so those that are involved spend most of their lives learning to hide among the people and see what they can learn. They can't usually disappear from Earth to come home, so there are correspondents that meet them to receive information that must then be chronicled. It is part of my responsibility to oversee some of that.

Zinaan: Up the hill! Charge!!!

Chayn: *Swerves away from the water* I'm sorry, little one... *Sets the boys down* I didn't know. *Nudges Timothy's shoulder*

Mordir: *Looks at Tinsley*

XD Didn't realize she was that tall, did you?

Mordir: I'm not worried, if that's what you're implying.

Of course not.

Mordir: I enjoy being an assassin in occasion.

Name five.

Mordir: As soon as you can think of them, I'll name them.

Tynx: You just got sassed, Aris.

I ought to smack you, son.

Mordir: *Smiles*

Ivy: *Touches seaweed* Ohhh, thank you. What's a sea nymph?

Mordir: Yeah, she did. It wasn't so much awkward as it was 'oh great now I have to deal with a girl'. I try not to kill women when I can help it, so I... kidnapped her. She was outraged, of course. So there wasn't hiding my profession from her. She witnessed it first hand.

At least she didn't actually see you do it. She came in right after.

Mordir: *Nods* *Looks at Simperer* What's her name?

Tynx: *Eyes go and jaw drops again* NO birthdays? At ALL? You need a birthday, Ouska! Everybody needs a birthday!

Lillian: *Watches, entranced* I can? *Approaches the instrument and brushes her fingers over the keys before pressing down on one* It's beautiful. *Her fingers find other notes and begin to play a slow and sometimes faulty tune of Hark the Herald Angels Sing.

Trevelian: *turns and starts plodding up the hill*

Timothy: *breathes heavily and wraps his wings around himself*

Tanner: You can still throw me in. I've got nothing better to do right now than a cannonball.

Zinaan: Faster, faster!

Chayn: *Looks worriedly at Timothy, then turns to Tanner* Hold in, little one! *Lifts Tanner into the sky and loops up and over like a roller coaster and let's go, flinging Tanner toward the lake*

Kay, if I had a dragon I would so do that. Cannonball, Tanner! Do it! Ten points!

Chayn: *Roars happily and returns to the land* *Nudges Timothy and wraps her wings around him* Are you alright, little one?

Trevelian: *starts running*

Tanner: CANNON BAAAAALLL! *splashes*

Timothy: I'm okay... I just don't know if I like the water.

Ouska: *still puzzled* Why would one celebrate a thing everyone has every year?

Alastair: wow...it sounds like their job is hard. Wait a minute...*giving the lake a wide berth, he runs over to Timothy* you sure? I don't like it either, so if you want we can avoid it together

*pokes Mordir* sixty seconds. *trots off to go sit by Annwyl*

Lajh: *returning with more seaweed* *like a storyteller* a sea nymph is one of the most beautiful beings in Arutan's creation. Though you two are much prettier

oh Mordir...Oooh....XDDDDDD that's just sad. And she still married you...

Simperer: *looks at Mordir like "why do you care"* ...Ann.

Blank: *as he becomes more familiar with the tune the faltering notes slowly work themselves out of the music* marvelous! You play well I'm not familiar with the song. What's it called?

Timothy: I've just never been around water before. I mean, I've been in the rain, and I've seen little creeks... But never deep water.

Sarai: *listens intently to Mordir's story* You missed your mummy and daddy too? Oh, okay. *waits for Mordir to finish helping Ivy*

Jonah: *looks wide-eyed at Cameron* Really?!

Simon: *is watching Zinaan with a look of amusement on his face* *starts towards the lake*

Tawni: *watches wide-eyed as Lajh is dropped in the lake, and then Chayn attempts to drop Timothy in as well*

Flash: *fidgets absentmindedly with his hands and glances over at Breindel with a smile* Yeah. Thanks.

Ten points for Tanner!!!

Chayn: *Makes a sort of soft rumbling/moan* I'm sorry I frightened you, Timothy. *Looks at Alastair* Perhaps you and Alace both would like to ride on my back into the lake? You won't even get wet.

Tynx: *Eyes are still wide with horror* Why WOULDN'T you? You and others can celebrate your life! You've been alive so long, it's amazing!

Mordir: *Jumps when poked* So? I can do a lot of damage in a minute.



Ivy: *Giggles and blushes* They sound pretty. I'm a sea nymph?

Mordir: Sad? Shoot, I got myself a pretty girl and I got paid. I think I ended on the right side of the bargain. *Smiles* Yes, she did marry me. My irresistible charm and wit won her over.

More like your saving her life after she saved yours.

Mordir: THAT was one of the worst few weeks of my life. I mean when she saved me. We might very well have killed each other. But I won her heart, like she won mine.

No easy feat, that.

Mordir: I'm just careful, is all. *Looks at Simperer* Pretty name.

You're behaving with Simperer. This writer is proud.

Mordir: I am not. I'm being civil. I know when topic territory is delicate.

Lillian: *Blushes and smiles* Thank you. I don't think I qualify as marvelous, though. It's called Hark the Herald Angels Sing. It's a Christmas carol.

Mordir: *Sits down by Sarai again* Oh yes, I missed them terribly. We were slaves then, and my mother helped me escape. They stayed behind. I was taken in by a group of traveling performers when I ran away. *Puts Sarai on his lap* I had been there a few nights, and I was feeling homesick. One of the women there told me a story about a young man who decided to head off and see the world, perhaps even join the army.

Mordir(cont.): However, he knew that it would probably be the last time he would see his mother and father. His mother had been ill, and right before she died, she brought her son close to her. She gave him a piece of her heart. It was full of words of wisdom for the young man. It would stay with him, even when she wasn't there.

Mordir(cont.): His father did the same. Now the boy had all the wisdom and advice his parents had ever told him. So even if his parents weren't with him, he still had their advice, and his memories. *Taps Sarai's nose* So even if your parents are no longer with you, you still have a piece of them with you wherever you or your brothers go. You have your memories, and their words.

Alastair; *nods* I try to avoid it. Creepy things are usually down there...

You're just saying that because you almost died.

Alastair: almost?

...Yeah. let's go with almost.

Alastair: *at Chayn's suggestion* no, no, no, that's...that's ok, Chayn...m...maybe if Timothy wants to you can take him.

Breindel: I'm glad I could help. *smiles back*

Virika: *to the other children* come join us!

Tinsley: *grins* I don't do damage. I kill and get out.

Lajh: the prettiest one I ever saw! And you have the ex-king at your beck and call *bows, floundering in the water*

Ohmygosh Mordir...XDDDDDD

Simperer: *mouth twitches* ...yes it is. It's what I wanted to name Virika. But she thought it was vain to name her child after herself...*clasps his hands behind his back to hide that they're shaking*

Are you going to have a nervous breakdown?

Simperer: ...no...

Blank: *smiles and leans on the piano* *coyly* what's Christmas?

*is totally enthralled with the story* *grabs Annwyl and begins sobbing for no apparent reason*

Tanner: *surfaces* I forgot that I was wearing sneakers and jeans...

Timothy: I think I'd rather get to know the lake from the outside first...

Gosh, Trevelian would have liked to hear that story. Too bad he's hauling Mordir's son to the top of a hill instead...

Trevelian: *gets to the top of the hill*

Aren: *listens to Lillian play the piano*

Lajh: *swims over to Tanner* what's sneakers?

I bet Mordir wouldn't mind telling it again

Blank: like what you hear? *smiles at Aren* if you prefer a different sound, I'm sure I can find one more pleasing to you. *the notes Aren hears change from woodwind to strings*

Tanner: *floats on his back and lifts his foot out of the water* My shoes.

Aren: Yes. It is very different from the music my people play.

Ouska: *gives a dry, raspy cough* Not much in my life worth celebrating.

Lajh: *stares at sneaker* *taps it* what's it made of?

Blank: what music do they play, sir?

Breindel: it you'll excuse me a moment, Flash...*clasps her Key in one hand and teleports over to Ouska* forgive me for overhearing, but what could possibly make you think there is nothing to celebrate? You can walk, see, speak, you can hear and think. Are these not gifts to be celebrated?

Inquisitive today, aren't y'all.

Ouska: *shakes head* In another, perhaps. Not in me.

Aren: We have drums and we whistle.

Chayn: *Noses Timothy and Alace in a motherly way* Alright. *Slides into the water, paddling out and diving*

She doesn't have fins... how is she even swimming?!

Tynx: *Shrugs* Maybe she uses her wings.

Mordir: *Watches Tinsley closely* Same here. I'm a mess-free kind of person.

Um, eww?

Ivy: *Laughs* X-King? Are you a king of letters?

Mordir: *Smiles* It's true. You can't deny I'm charming

You're a big flirt is what you are. You're married!

Mordir: I'm a fictional character! I'm allowed.

...

Mordir: *Looks at Simperer* Understandable. And if she looks like your wife, having her named after her might make it difficult-

Are you TRYING to upset him like this?

Mordir: .....

You're a despicable person, you know that?

Mordir: Yes I do.

Lillian: *Glances at Blank* Christmas is when we celebrate the day Jesus Christ was born. People giving each other gifts on Christmas, too, and go caroling. They sing Christmas songs like this one, and this. *Finds the notes to play Jingle Bells*

Hmm, she also plays by ear... kewl.

Lillian: *Winces at a wrong note* I'm still working on that one. Gabriel and I had run away before I could really learn it.

So they ran away in the winter...

Mordir: *Smirks at Blank* I think someone's smitten. *Is smacked*

I think it's become my subconscious's life goal to make Abigail start sobbing.

Mordir: *Looks at Kitra* I'd be more than happy to repeat it.

It's one of his more innocent, happy childhood moments.

Zinaan: Yay! Now we roll down!

Tynx: *Yips indignantly* Nonsense! Your life is just as valuable as anyone else's! Even Mordir's!

Mordir: Did you just insult me?

Tynx: I dunno.

You may have insulted Ouska...

Mordir: Okay, now you've insulted me.

Tynx: Oops. o.o Well, your life is important too. You've been alive longer than anyone! A thousand years! Nobody's lived that long!

Tanner: Just rubber and cloth.

Timothy: Maybe I could use my wings to swim. *takes his shoes off and puts his feet in the shallows*

Trevelian: *lets Zinaan down*

Ouksa: *gives a frosty, confused glare* Happened before. Long time ago. It consumed her in the end. Three thousand years, the songs say, before she brought the mountains crashing down on Malcain and herself.

Breindel: *sigh* I wish you didn't think that, sir. *sits on the grass*

Blank: oh. Do you? How very exotic.

Tinsley: *nods* *begins pacing in a circle* worst is an accidental mess when there's people coming and a park has several trees around.

... Tinsley, did I mention I love your insane moments?

Lajh: *immediately jumps on ambiguity* Yes! I am the alphabet king. And I will give you a surprise if you can spell a word. Are you up to it? *impish grin*

*smacks herself* I never denied you were charming.

Simperer: *struggles to control himself for a fractured second before forcing a smile and stiffly walking away*

It's a defense mechanism now? I thought you only simpered because Jaegar called you that...and simply for of the irony of it.

Simperer: *doing his best top ignore me*

Blank: How cheery. *frowns at wrong note* *glances at Lillian and tsk's* yes, she would appear that way, Mordir...but I get that a lot.

Lajh: what's rubher?

I'm beginning to think so too, Aris! *begins sobbing for no apparent reason though her characters know she reread Mordir's story*

Alastair: careful, everybody...

Buddy, there's nothing in the lake that will hurt them. It's fine. Go play.

Alastair: o.o I'm ok.

No you're not. *shoves the lock-kneed Alace towards everybody else by the lake*

Alastair: *massages the side of his neck, wincing*

None of that.

Zinaan: Ready. Set. Go!!! *Flings himself down the hill and starts rolling*

Tynx: *Shrinks back* Oh. o.o Well, um... Maybe it was because she didn't have birthdays to keep her happy! Birthday parties make you happy! You don't kill yourself when you're happy, right?

Mordir: *Lifts an eyebrow* That does sound particularly troublesome. But why would the trees be a problem? They provide cover.

Is my villain seriously swapping assassination stories?

Tynx: Meh, it's probably good for him. Closest he can get to a rebellion and not get killed. *Is hit with a rock* Hey!

Ivy: *Eyes widen with glee* Okay!

Mordir: I know. I just said it to annoy Aris.

*Flings dictionary at him* I can still use these!

Mordir: Not staying, Simperer?

Don't even.

Mordir: *Snorts* *Looks at Blank* I was talking about you, mate. You're the one who's smitten.

Lillian: *Smiles weakly* Sorry, I was just surprised you didn't know about Christmas.

XD Now you're self-inflicting sobbing. XD

Mordir: I don't understand.

You don't have to. Just go with it.

Mordir: I'd rather know what I'm going with.



Chayn: *Head rises above the water* Hello Alace.

Trevelian: *walks down the hill behind Zinaan*

Aren: Not especially. It's quite common where I am from.

Tanner: It's something made from tree sap.

Tinsley: trees? If course you can hide behind trees. That's obvious.

Tins, you might want to tell him about your little...

Tinsley: nope.

Lajh: all right then. I want you to spell.............. ..*dramatic pause* Cat.



Simperer: *turns around rather forcefully* listen to me, you repulsive assassin, I don't care who's in this room; if you don't shut up you're going to be in a lot of pain.

Whoa...o.o

Blank: oh were you. Huh, funny, I could say the same about you oh, is it a large holiday where you come from? *scratches behind one antler* is it, Aren. Hmm.

Lajh: tree sap? There's trees here, want to make some?

But you're the one who wrote it, Aris so it's still your fault! DDDX

Alastair: *only half-registers that it's Chayn* *groans and faints*

Oh dear...don't worry, Chayn, it isn't your fault...come on, Alace, she isn't what you thought she was...

Zinaan: *Rolls to a stop at the bottom. Looks up at Trevelian* Why didn't you roll down too?

Mordir: Well, yeah. You'd be a fool not to use the trees. But your scenario made it sound like the trees were a bad thing.

Ivy: *Stares at Lajh for a minute* Cat? Um... C... A... *Mumbles the word* Mama did it with Zye. I heard them... T! C-A-T?

Mordir: *Face darkens as he sets Sarai aside and stands up* You challenging me, Whimpy? I'll do and say what I please.

*Slams face into wall*

Lillian: *Smiles* It is. People buy and decorate Christmas trees and put presents under them. It's a lot of fun!

Mordir: *Looks at Blank sharply* I am NOT smitten with that pathetic wisp of an orphan.

Whoa, dude. Back down.

Lillian: *Stands slightly* What did you call me?!

Tynx: Come on, Mordir, you were behaving so well.

Haha. Good point. XD *Hugs Abigail* I'm glad you still enjoy it.

Chayn: Alace?! *Nudges Alace gently* Who did he think I was?

Sarai: *is resting her head on Mordir's shoulder as he tells her the story* *at the end, she nods quietly* I know. It's hard not to still miss them though.

Me: *is grabbed by a sobbing Gael* *starts crying too*

Flash: *nods* No problem.

Sarai: *bites back a whimper and shrinks away when Simperer threatens Mordir so violently* *is set aside* *cowers shakily in the corner*

Jonah: *glances over* *scowls* *stalks up to Simperer* Hey! Your tantrum throwing is scaring my little sister! Knock it off.

Flash: *looks up from his hands at the commotion, doesn't look down again*

Mordir: *Looks at Sarai with a comforting smile* It is hard, but knowing that they're with you inside helps a little. It helps too when you meet people who knew your parents too. That way, you have even more of your parents with you when they tell stories.

Mordir: *Glares at Simperer* Nice going, sir. You've made the lass cry. *Glances at Jonah* This isn't your fight, boy. Tend to your sister. It's me he's angry with. I don't want to give Sarai cause to worry for her brother.