Quietly Awakening
(The following was taken from a Live Play between Seirichi, Rachael Wynter and Thwei Cetanu. It took place during the Zefrakis Brothers' Carnival in the Marketplace late into the night of 9/9. I had a lot of fun playing.

Huge props to Thwei's player for all the laughs he brought. I couldn't stop laughing.
Huge thanks to Fio, and "all" those who arranged this carnival. I loved coming in with my friends, and we had a great deal of fun, and we wouldn't have had this not been going on.

Lastly, things might be a "little" hard to read/follow, but don't be distressed. It's just Dyarhk, Seiri, Rachael and Corea sort of jumbled. That's just how it is with live play with 2+ players. It's too much editing work, at least for me, to do much else than remove the ::'s. But once you get started, it should come easy. And I suggest you do, because it was a very good log. I loved the ending. Thanks, and enjoy!)


It was some half hour after going back home to pounce surprisingly around the corner and invite his spouse to such a late venturing to the carnival. But it was not in vain. Corea had agreed to come along and just needed to call a sitter over and throw something on; and then there was the getting there. Dyarhk hadn't changed his clothes at all. Still wearing that white button-down with the sleeves rolled up to the biceps. Such a fine quality of fabric. So Windy.

"Wooow!" his lungs filled in through the nostrils supported the grin that overlooked the twilight carnival of the market.

Corea stepped beside him in denim shorts, not bought, but rather, made. And they may have looked worse and snugger for it with their dangling threads that a purchased pair wouldn't have, but her jeans had-had it. This had been a resourceful outcome. She entered with a sleeveless top on; a summery yellow thing with a white tank underneath, and conflicting, nearly crossing shoulder straps. Loosely.

"I cannot believe it is so lively at such a late hour." she hushed out.

The scarred woman in black also had not changed, though her trenchcoat was draped over one bare arm. Blue and red gear print black T-shirt was worn over black yoga pants and heeled blank ankle boots completed the picture. "Oui, it is most, how do you say, daunting, non?"

"This is one of those times Rhydin really shines. How it brings a community together. Makes people smile, laugh, and cry over silly games that cost way too much and reward giant, cheap-feeling stuffed animals. Never before will you taste such sugary concoctions of stickiness beyond comprehension. There is nothing else like this in the realm. This is a carnival!" Dyarhk grinned.

"Here she is. Wiggly the Worm. A big hit at home with the kids." handing the stuffed animal over to Rachael.

"Merci." Once she received the giant stuffed worm, she carefully draped it over Dyarhk's shoulders.

Dyarhk accepted with worm with a surprising 'Whooooa.'

"I don't know what to say." he said.

"Anyone else? Five silver pieces, three balls. Five silver pieces, three balls." He's walking around his stand now.

Dyarhk gave a gesture of his head to start a walk and see what else there was. Rachael's lips twitched. Her stride easily matched his along the walk to the other carnival games.

"Man, I haven't been to one of these in forever. Is there a merry go round here?? Pleeease say there's a merry-go-round here!" he's looking around asking all he saw.

"You wanted it, by your look. Mallow would only shred it with her little claws."

"I did want it. It is a cool looking worm." He made sure that was at least clear. "Did you used to play baseball back in college?" he winked.

"Oui, there is a carousel, and the ferris wheel." Gloved finger pointed to each in turn. "Non, I learned about that game when I was a rookie officer."

"We're riding the carousel." surprising her suddenly, he took her hand and led her that way with great enthusiasm. Rachael's lips twitched fiercely while she was led to the carousel.

"They do not have one as fine as Dedorroh.? Disappointment shaded her words.

"Let's see..? Seirichi began. ?I know I saw one of those hammer games around here." Peering about. The Siovanui kept in place beside Corea as they walked together. "Ah. There we go." Sh*t eating grin appearing over her features. She even rubbed her hands together. Sign even said ``Test your strength!`` and boy was she going to.

While Seiri only showed excitement, Corea only showed worry and the aggravation that came after she would completely demolish the attraction. She heaved a great deep breath. "Try not to break it, Seiri. Is it not enough that I know how strong you are?"

"Nope, but they've got a black stallion! Check it out. No line! It IS better to come later." he escorted her through the line of only four or so other people. He raced to the black stallion and strode it territorially.

Her lips twitched even fiercer when she claimed the majestic swan next to the stallion. Dyarhk rocked back and forth, eager for the carousel to begin making revolutions and embarking them on an epic hunt through some vast open fields riddled with fences to leap and a fox to chase. Do you honestly believe your bird can match my un-castrated majestic beast?"

"This bird will be able to fly, mon Hache."

"Some of us like to show off what we got." Seiri replied. Speaking of showing off. She even did a pose to show off her guns. Pa-pow. Flex those biceps. "Make way, make way!" Calling out as she pushed herself closer to the game. "Lemmy have a go at this." Slipping the woman some coin and taking hold of the hammer. She'd bring it above her shoulder and take a nice two handed grip.

"Make haste! Sean Bean the 3rd! Do not lose sight of the quarry!" he jarred his heels into the polyurethane thighs of his steed. "That is true, I hadn't considered that." He deflated quite a deal of masculinity and excitement. Though that was largely in part to the ride not starting; something he was looking around to hopefully see the reason behind.

"Onward, Cygne bleu." Her shielded sapphires flicked to the operator.

Corea stood on the sidelines and waved her apologies to the patrons who had been ahead of Seiri. There were not many. And an apologetic smile showed to them spoke she had no reins over what stunts she pulled. She lastly turned to observe Seiri's performance, holding her hands at her front and waiting so patiently. "Good luck striking the bell, Seiri."

"HNNGH!" Grunt of strength! Down that hammer went. Looking like she'd be about to break the poor machine.. but she'd stop short, about an inch or so from her mark and give it a light tap. Ding, ding. She'd drop the hammer after the sound of the bell and spread her arms out. "Now wheres my prize?"

The woman running the game sort of gave her a look.. Wondering if it was really fair to give out a prize for that.

".. Prize." Holding a hand out and smiling. Finally, after a small bit of silence between the two, she'd get a small wooden hammer. "......" Holding it up to her eye-level.

Meanwhile the man operating the carousel looked quite accustomed to this procedure. So much that it had been quite a chore. But the way he pulled that lever and with the demeanor he did this shewed he could do it almost infinitely. At long last, the carousel started up. Dyarhk spoke up.

"Anyone else? This entourage of horses is mostly empty! It's not too late to get a running start!" Waving anyone around them to come up and on while it was just starting to move.

"Sweet." It Looked like Seiri was won over. She turned back to Corea and gave a wave with the hammer.

A sweatdrop formed over Corea's head and her head itself hung. She couldn't believe Seiri abused her power like that, but then again, she was expecting no different. Her deep breath enabled her to wave back to her. ?Well done, Seiri.?

On the carousel, Rachael's lips twitched while she watched a few parents with children still awake at this hour, likely due to heavy sugar consumption, climb aboard a few of the fantastical animals.

"Yeeeeeeehaw!' Dyarhk smacked his horse's rear. Coffee fueling his imaginative gallop. Speaking of sugar consumption . . . He struck gallant lean and carefree abandon on his horse now. Facing Rachael. "Oh, this is nice." A few noising pats to the hollow neck of the horse he sat upon. "If this stays in town I may have to bring the kids at a more reasonable hour. Ride in one of those carriage ones." he thumbed behind them.

Light breezes stirred her loose raven locks about her shoulders as the carousel began its rotation. "Oui, it is. I have not been to a carnival since before I arrived ? for many years."

"Younger days..?" he took a nostalgic sigh for her. "I bet all the young studs rushed to win you prizes."

"Oui, when I was a rookie officer." Faint flush suffused her scarred face. "Non, only one."

"I knew there was at least one." He gave himself the credit of predicting somewhat accurately. Now he was trying out what all different leans he could strike up against the horse without falling and still swaggering. A skillful backwards lean to the horse's neck was made. Rachael herself had been balancing gracefully with arms held out on the swan's back.

"You're never too old to have fun." He snickered with his lean like he were enjoying this.

"Oui, I needed a night like this." She leaned back as the ride made another revolution to the caliope music.

Over at the bumper cars, the alarm signed that they were turning the track on and then all the cars came to life, opening their headlight eyes; Corea's moving almost instantly. It was true, they had more empty cars as obstacles to look out for than occupied ones. But Corea looked to enjoy that. She drove past Seiri's car, much more skillfully and with ample time to dodge anything she had in store. She'd have to get her on another lap. Right now she was "cruisin'"

Dyarhk shivered. "Cat claws... they frighten me so. They can "lock" into you and never come out." He looked horrified. This must have happened to him or someone he knew. But just then he seemed to have finally spotted his favorite game. The 'shoot-a-clown-with-a-water-pistol-until-it-explodes' game. To make it all better? The giant dog stuffed animals hanging around the stand. He had to have one. He approached the stand hypnotically.

Rachael's apple was delicately nibbled while she approached the stand. After that bite was swallowed, a gasp of delight left her lips at the sight of a stuffed Irish wolfhound.

As for Seiri? She pressed her foot to the pedal and leaned forward as she did so.. but instead, she went backwards. Bumping into not one, but two of those roaming cars. Brows furrowed in question as she tried to figure this out.

"The other one! Press the other one!" The man running the ride yelled out with a laugh. Seirichi got another bump before she finally did as she was told and began to zoom forward. Turning about in an attempt to follow Corea, but that woman did better at weaving about than the Siovanui.

"Ooi! Get over here!" Where was the nitro boost on this thing?! The way Seirichi was leaning forward was far more exaggerated than the speed the poor bumpercar was going. Still, she got into her grove and began her attempt to catch up. Corea tried to gaze at Seiri in the side mirror instinctively, but it was rather poor, and a sticker no less. She leaned out the side while keeping her drive going to admire Seirichi's giving chase.

"Shall I wait for you?" She asked so legitimately. But when she returned to that cabin she smiled softly and relaxed, even relaxing her eyes. Such a dark tunnel-like chamber. Night-driving. It reminded her of moonlight jeep adventuring on Tirraru. She reminisced dreamily.


Dyarhk pointed overhead at the shoot-a-clown-with-a-water-pistol-until-it-explode s game. "I am winning that dog."

"Oui, and I am winning that one!" Rachael designated the Irish Wolfhound.

"Alright. Seven silver pieces for a fully loaded pistol." The young woman, so beautiful, asked for that price so lifelessly.

Dyarhk frowned and his eyes swelled with tears. "Very well."

"Would you two like to race? It's all or nothing. If you both manage to fill your clowns you both gets dogs."

He looked over to Rachael. "We got this."

"Oui!" The proper payment in silver notes was left on the counter, and she took up her water pistol.

"There is very little menacing about me, but there is not a clown that does not run at the sight of me." he gripped the water pistol. He also pays to allow the woman to prepare the round.

Seirichi then settled back and let out a sigh. One of her arms hanging out from the side of the cart while she used the other to calmly steer the mighty beast she rode in. Yes, for now that was her car's name. "Nah. Keep going." Spoken to Corea with a smile. She could take in the ?at ease? feeling that Corea was displaying before her.. and for some reason, Seirichi would rather her stay at that. If it meant she'd be getting second place in this mock race? So be it. "You do this a lot back on that planet with him? Drive like this?"

Corea did very similarly, draping a beautiful naked arm out the side of her cart. She laid her head back, her bangs covering her eyes and her showing nothing wrong with it. Then Seirichi got her attention. She turned her head to let her bangs fall yet again out of the way. ?Back on that planet?? she hushed, and was forced to recall the situation. Stranded in the desert with one totaled jeep. In about a week they got the hunk of metal running again working nights under the desert moon. It was still hot. It was so hot. Most times they worked barely dressed. Then one night... they came together. It was etched into her memory, just like that drive back to civilization. The part that this driving had reminded her of, however different.


She snapped back to the present. "Hey. Don't waste time talking. If you can hit me don't hold back. I just don't see you being able to before the time runs out."

"...Tsk.." Seiri gave off a grin. Now she was challenging her? It just meant she'd have to switch up her tactics! Following wasn't cutting out.


Meanwhile...

"All ready? Here we go!"

Red Light! Red light! Yellow Light! Yellow Light! Green light!

Rachael settled in to fire the water gun when the signal was given. Not even a flinch when the jarringly loud bell sounded.

Dyarhk stared at the target so seriously. "Die you big-shoe wearing tiny-car driving abominations of God."

Two very thirsty clowns began drinking!

The ballooning clowns began to climb their little thermometer poles the more they drunk. Rachael's lips twitched into a rare smile as the race to fill those thirsty water clowns began.

A shame Seiri decided not to give a young boy, who was admiring her so passionately in one of the other cars, the time of day while she kept focused on Corea. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and glowed with a heaven-like radiance that's only other explanation could be the lights of the bumper cars themselves. Time stood still for this boy. And doubly so when he had spotted the short, cherry-chocolate head of Corea driving as well. TWO older women on the "open road" with him. He could only smile. He was loving this moment. And even though they did not look at him, he got to anticipate them doing such. It could still come, and it made the boy weightless in his harness. He was content just driving with the two women.

"Annnnnnd..!!!" This had been a much closer game. The amount of water able to fill the clowns had to be near exact for the full amount of time, and many players lost out on this more expensive game in that first shot, impossible to know the water pressure. Dyarhk had done no less. But his clown-killing determination in his eyes kept the water stream in the clown's mouth the entire time otherwise. Same as Rachael's. But? Would it be enough? Their pistols were about to be turned off.

At one of the other game booths, the poor station master was trying to show ?Thwei Cetanu? how to use the little rifles to shoot the targets behind him. A wave of a large hand, as there was no way his large fingers would fit to pull the trigger. Instead, a shoulder mounted plasma cannon popped up on the tall alien's shoulder. Three red dots sprung forth from the bio-mask and set to a target before a ball of plasma energy shot forth. Quite destroying the target behind the vendor who was blinking.

Both clowns popped at the top of their posts. Control died to both waterguns.

"YOU'RE MINE!" Seiri shouted. Jetting out.. or as fast as jetting was for these bumper cars. Almost.. almost! She could taste that bump coming ? but Corea matched her speed and had a good inch or so between the two of them as Seirichi missed her impact from the side and went to bump into the wall instead. ".. Hey!" Back up, back up.. right into that boy. She thought it was another ghost-car, but when she turned about she indeed saw someone riding it. ".... YOU! CUT HER OFF!"
The boy, shocked by her sudden order, had to still his beating heart enough to give off a quick nod and do as he was told. He went one way and Seirichi went the other. Time to make a sandwich out of Corea! One leg quickly pushed out awkwardly from her car as she used it to kick an incoming ghost car. She didn't need it messing up her speed! Plops back down into her seat after pulling her leg back.

The boy was speechless. He hadn't expected this at all! He was content just following. But when Seiri bumped into him? He smiled and only nodded when he had planned to say okay.

"Huh?" Corea looked out her car again and noticed the boy as well, paying him the other half of what the boy hadn't expected at all. She recognized them both and their positions and decided she'd try and use her driving skills as best she could to maneuver the car from being bumped.

Dyarhk exhaled long, like it were steam coming out from his lips. His eyes narrowed on his deceased nemesis.

"Mon dieu! A tie!" Spun sugar fragile laughter escaped Rachael's lips.


?Umm.. you win?? A blink from the vendor, handing over a large pink teddy bear, to which the tall alien tilted his head but snatched up the 'gift' nonetheless from the man as the shoulder mounted cannon lowered. A grunt from Thwei and he moved onward while the vendor looked at the smoking target, or what was left of it.

"Congratulations, you both! Two dogs! All yours!" The woman played an honest game, but it was no easy game by any stretch. Therefore she was all the happier when someone could win it. Two people, no less. "Do you know you're the first two to get a tie during this carnival?" So amazed by their performances. She was already handing Rachael down her wolfhound.

"Great shooting, partner." Dyarhk patted Rachael's shoulder with a big debonair smile.

"Merci, Monsieur. Oui, you are most formidable, mon Hache." Gloved hand returned the shoulder pat before she took the stuffed Irish wolfhound.

"Let us look past the competition... and be glad that we have come together for the common goal of clown extermination." He accepted his giant dog and put him around his neck to ride piggy back.

"Last ride of the night, folks!" The mustachioed operator exclaimed from behind his gate.

At long last, the gate opened. The couples flooded in where the riders just before them were getting out and leaving. Lovebirds excitedly flapping their wings about one another. Eager to put their arm around their partner when the ride was in motion. Eager to put their arm around their partner, at all. Dyarhk walked up to a container of persons and gave Corea the open door ahead of him like it were a limousine.

"Thank you." She graciously thanked the Palliator before stepping into the tiny cart with her hands on her torn denim shorts. She watched Dyarhk prepare the animals and then come back to her almost in slow motion with her heart pounding. A smile formed.

?You're welcome.? quiet words, quiet wink; private eyes. After she got in, he put the menagerie of stuffed animals beside the operator's cabin. He came back to their cart and shot a fingerpistol to Seiri and Rachael in conjunction with a wink. A telling to stay out of trouble, 'you crazy kids.' He then climbed in with Corea. He closed the door and banged his flat palm on the outside of it telling the man they were ready.

"Merci." She left her stuffed dog with Dyarhk's haul and climbed into the next available car. There the Watchwoman waited for Seirichi to join her.

"Last call for the Ferris wheel!"

Seirichi followed behind and settled herself down to sit beside Rachael. Now, she couldn't help but bring an arm around her as she sat. It was more for getting comfortable. Click of the tongue sounded out as she looked off to the side while waiting, then shifted her sights up. Rachael leaned back in the seat and did not shift the arm away from her.

"Okay! We're going up!" The operator reached outside of his window and pulled the metal gate closed and then flipped a few switches. His hand hovered over the one that started it. He looked out and up and all around to build anticipation with those waiting. He wouldn't start it until the lot of them all moaned and cried for him to start it and make him smile even bigger.

Dyarhk leaned out of his cart, and for no good reason, grinned back to Rachael and Seiri and gave them two big thumbs-ups.

"Dyarhk, get back in here!!" worry scolded the man. His shirt tightly wrinkled as he was pulled back within by the woman he was sharing the capsule with. Seirichi barely had the time to perk a brow and give an upnod while mouthing ?Corea,? the one who he needed to be paying attention to! But Corea was a crafty woman. It seemed like she had things under control after all. Rachael's lips twitched at the Palliator's behavior.

Back inside the private little iron booth they shared, Dyarhk put one arm on the railing like a car door, and his other arm around Corea. He removed that first hand to cup beside his mouth and call out and yell for the man to start the ride. At long last, he did. The buggies all shook. Slow movements. Then quicker, and then a slightly faster "slow." Up into the starlit backdrop of night they went. Cheers all around. This was where the majority of the carnival's remaining patrons had been.
Corea tensed up with the arm around her. Her lips a squiggly line of nervousness. This had not been unlike any other treatment in the past he had shown her. But there were circumstances prior to this intimacy. She was so unsure of it all. How to feel, what to say, how to react to things. But she heard Seiri's words. Never keep her emotions in. She looked over to Dyarhk and still managed not to bring up the matter. The scent of him with that arm around her spun her compass of guidance wildly.

As it started, Seirichi began to tap her foot to some beat only in her mind.

"I'm not yours,
and you're not mine
but we can sit and pass the time.

No fighting wars,
no ringing chimes,
we're just feeling fine~."

Sing song voice as she kept her place beside Rachael. Hell, she had no where else
to go. ".. Does this thing go any faster?" Dipping her head in an attempt to look over.

A pink teddy bear and a brown one sat at the bottom of the Ferris wheel. The Yautja? Well.. ever seen a bike with playing cards stuck in the spokes? Dreadlocks moved to the side, then upside down as he held onto the inner workings of the Ferris wheel and went upside down and around as the wheel turned. Yes, he was odd.

Unshielded sapphires flicked upward, to the sky, black velvet strewn with diamond chips. It felt so close, yet so far away. Black leather gloved hand reached out to try to touch the sky. "Non, this is the pace it is set at."

Corea looked out the side and saw Dyarhk's hairy forearm. The softest, fuzziest armrest of anyone else on the Ferris wheel. Beyond that, the largely empty, largely romantic setting of an empty carnival beneath them. In a cart beneath Seiri's hung out arm she noticed had been the boy from bumper cars looking out. Him with his own thoughts, and a damned productive night in the bag or so he saw it. The night's whole adventure culminating in this last ride. She looked back to Dyarhk.

He had been looking right back at her. The setting changed entirely. An intimacy he regretted it had only taken until now to realize, but it was even more revered because of it. An even more potent scent of the intoxicating tonic of romance. "I didn't mean to worry you, Corea... I hate that I had to be put in danger like I was. I hate that you became so upset."

"No.." She quickly said. "It would be the same if had it happened to me. I know you would have been upset as well. And I would not have wanted you to be in pain... But still, it is that you care so much to even do that. I only hope this has made you realize, more than anything else... how much you mean to me." glistening green eyes of a darker green infinitely more sparkling than Dyarhk's own. A woman's eyes.

"Guess it'll just have to make do then." Settling back. She'd peer to the woman beside her and then up at the sky. She'd then give her a small squeeze before pulling her arm away from behind her. Pat, pat, pat. Hands went down to gently drum at her thighs.

"I like it here beside you dear,
you're even more than you appear,
and in the clouds my head is clear
every time you say hello.~."

Singing out more.

"So here's my heart,
and here's my mouth,
and I can't help if things come out.~" Leaning forward this time as she moved to get a better view at the already great view of the carnival.

"Oui, certainment." She did not flinch away from the small squeeze. "The city is beautiful from up here, is it not?"

Round and round the Yautja goes.. ending up or down nobody knows. Dreadlocks up, down, side.. and repeat as he was turned in the motion of the wheel. The man running the ride no doubt may of seen him, but.. who argues with a seven foot alien that can rip your spine out? Exxxxxxactly! His view of the carnival was an interesting one.. right side up and upside down. Thwei had helped protect the city here and the surrounding villages for quite a few years now since his arrival in Rhydin, seemingly so long ago with the ship. He could count on one hand how many times he actually ventured to any of the 'entertainment' the city put on over the years. It wasn't often, but getting out and seeing what the city did, had to offer besides the lowlifes, the killers and thieves he dragged back to his ship.. some alive some not-so, was a welcome change of pace.

"I can wait a thousand hours,
stay the same in sun and showers.~" Cutting off her own singing then, the same with the drumming. Seirichi kicked a leg up to rest a heel against the cart they sat in. "Yeah.. at night it really is. Though it pales when it comes to Adenna, but Rhy'Din does have its own charm."

"Oui, what I saw was most impressive." Rachael agreed.

They arrived at the pausing positions. It was a lot of step-taking now. One cart got a few moments at the top, and then the next one, and then the next one. They had time, alright. Dyarhk's lentil green eyes focused on the woman. His hand on the side of the cart abandoned that place to extend fingers to Corea's cheek and catch her tear right when it fell. "I realize how lucky I am. So damn lucky." He closed the distance between them and took her lips against her deep breath as those crying eyes of hers closed.
This had been it. Seiri was right. Damn it all. But she did not disapprove of it. Not at all. She kissed him back. The sounds that followed. Singing lips. They had never sung so meaningfully. This man before her, he had so much back. One hold of it did not suffice. She retook presses against that broad expansion at the back of him. She kept her movements slow but never stopping. It was not lust. It was gratefulness. It was the deepest affection. It was love.
He was still with her. And she had never wanted anything more than she had wanted him to be there.

His hand cradled the back of her head when their lips finally broke. This had been something the two of them needed, her more than him, but make no mistake he needed as well. He stared into those eyes. The best kisses... they were always the ones that had tears. He remained eye-locked. "You know I'm crazy about you, right?"

A very Demi Moore look in her watered eyes, as were her lips, and the words that flowed from them. "Ditto." She pulled him into embrace. The stars twinkling above them. Their passenger car had finally clicked at the tiptop.



Seiri's planted foot moved about just a bit as she sat there in silence. Something looked to be on her mind. Head tilting back to look up at the stars, then a lean over to the side to peer down at ground level. "Hey. You wanna see something cool?"

"Oui." Sapphires flicked over to Seirichi.

By ?something cool?..? It might not exactly be. She paused for a moment after leaning forward, and then came back.. then forward, and back once more. Slowly the seat the both of them shared began to rock back and forth. Laughter left her lips, not wanting to keep this on for long. It could be a danger, so she stopped it soon enough before any real worry could come of it. "I wonder what those two are doing.." She peered up at the cart above them.

"Something tres romantique. If not, I will smack sense into him." The rocking did not bother her in the least. When it came their turn to overlook the apex of the Ferris wheel, she kept with tradition and lightly brushed her lips to Seirichi's. "Tradition, nothing more."

Seiri Blinked at the small show of affection. She didn't make much out of it, after all ? it was tradition and nothing more. But the Siovanui couldn't help but grin out and let loose another soft laugh. "You don't have to worry about that.. when I was a kid, he'd take me to these things all the time.. Night always ended petty much like this and he'd tell me stories about how people found true love on the Ferris wheel."

"Oui? I found mine in the walls of the Arena."

Round and round Thwei went, till he leaped from the inner workings of the wheel and landed easy as a cat to the ground. A shake of his head sent dreadlocks about his shoulders before snatching up the teddy bears. The unique camouflage engaged.. and his form disappeared, mostly, from view as he ventured off into the night back for the lake in the glen.

"Really? I found mine at the Adenna Ball.." Her voice sounding more distant as she remembered Veron for the moment. Lips twisting into a soft smile. She kept that way most of the ride. Strange, for a woman like her, to be quiet like this. At least that might be how most of Rhy'Din could see it. Once the Ferris wheel came to a stop and the door opened for the both of them, Seirichi'd pause a second or so before speaking out. "It was nice riding with you, Rachael." Nodding her head.

"Oui, it was a most pleasant ride, Madame Seirichi. Merci." She gracefully departed the car and procured her stuffed dog.

The Siovanui stepped out finally and gave a small stretch. Dyarhk and Corea ahead of her in their own world saying the things lovers only said. And only her eyes on their lips to guess what they were. The only thought coming to mind was that the two of them would probably head home now to be alone. Seirichi didn't mind. "I guess this will be where we part ways." Hooking her thumbs at jean pockets. "Enjoy yourself, alright?"

"Oui, the hour grows late and I need rest. Bonsoir. You will remain safe, non?"

Tip of an imaginary hat to the woman. "You too." With that she'd turn about and walk away. Now.. time to see if she could somehow score a turkey leg before heading home.

At the edge of the Marketplace, her gloved fingers brushed her diamond and turquoise Key. The Watchwoman faded from sight.


つづく