<JETMODE> *The Blue Heron is unusually subdued this evening, but the pleasant silence is broken by muffled shouting from one of the rooms. Inside, an astonishing phenomenon is taking place: Kender and Whisper are arguing.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *frustratedly* This isn't just your problem anymore, Whisper!

<TIAMAT> *Whisper, just as frustrated -- and angry: It IS! Don't you understand!? Gulzak wants ME--

<JETMODE> <Kender> But he attacked ME! Do you think he'll just leave us both alone because I got away?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: He would if you let me deal with him!

<JETMODE> <Kender> I'm not letting you go up against him alone!

<TIAMAT> *Whisper looks a little hurt. "I can take care of myself, Kender.."

<JETMODE> <Kender> That's not the point! *he catches her hands, incomprehension crossing his face* It's not a sign of weakness to get help from the people who care about you.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper gives him a desperate, frustrated look. "But... *she scowls, mostly to herself. "Well, what would you do, then!?"

<JETMODE> <Kender> *smiles ironically* Everything I could.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper glances at him questioningly. "You don't mean to face him ..?"

<JETMODE> *A shadow crosses Kender's face. "I ..." He hesitates. "I want to ... defeat him." He shakes his head. "But not now. I'm not ready. Not nearly." He suppresses a shudder.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper looks a little aghast. "Kender, you... *chokes a little* You can't ...I can't let you...

<JETMODE> <Kender> *softly* I won't. Not yet. Please, Whisper. You have to trust me.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper looks at him pleadingly. "Not alone. I can't let you face him alone."

<JETMODE> *That shadow crosses his face again and he looks away. "We'll.. talk about it later." He turns back with a smile. "It's getting late."

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: Oh...what? But--

<JETMODE> *Before she can get much further, the door bursts open to admit a dishevelled and weary-looking Genoa.

<JETMODE> *She has that sword still clasped in her hand, and she looks like she just ran around the arena three times. Maybe she did. She was a little upset.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper starts and spins sharply at the sound, blinking in surprise. ".. Genoa!"

<JETMODE> <Genoa> *looks up sharply and stares at them both* Good.. evening. *her gaze darts between the two* Am I interrupting something? If I am, please find somewhere else to do it, or at least do it quietly. I'm very tired.

<JETMODE> *She says all this very rapidly whilst marching in, slamming the door shut behind her, and dropping the sword unceremoniously on the table.

<JETMODE> *Kender stares at her blankly.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper looks thoroughly startled. "We...er... ... Genoa, what're you doing here? Aren't you..?"

<JETMODE> <Genoa> Evidently, I'm on parole. *she sits down hard in a convenient chair and holds her head in her hands*

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: I ... see.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Ah.. *he leans over to kiss Whisper on the cheek* I'll just get going. See you tomorrow.

<JETMODE> *Genoa glances up in time to see the gesture, and a peculiar expression flits across her face.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper starts at little at Kender's touch, then turns to him and brushes his cheek gently -- I think that's sort of her equivelent to a kiss, in some respects -- smiling a bit. "Tomorrow. Sleep well, then."

<JETMODE> <Kender> Of course. *he waves, and then he's out the door*

<TIAMAT> *Whisper waits until he's gone, then turns back to Genoa, looking concerned. "Genoa, are...are you all right?"

<JETMODE> <Genoa> *drops her head back into her hands* Whisper, pet, I really couldn't tell you.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper pulls out a chair from the table, sitting on it backwards and resting her arms and head on the back. "Want to talk about it?

<JETMODE> *Genoa sits up straight, dropping her hands into her lap. "Only if you really and truly want to hear about it."

<TIAMAT> *Whisper gives her a peculiar look. "Of course I want to hear about it. We're friends, aren't we?

<JETMODE> *Genoa smiles ironically. "I apologize. It's.. a very long story."

<TIAMAT> *Whisper smirks a little. "And we've got all night to talk about it."

<JETMODE> <Genoa> Ooh, then I did interrupt something. *her mouth quirks in a grin*

<TIAMAT> *Whisper snorts softly, a little irritated -- and a little red. "Are you going to tell me this long story of yours or not?"

<JETMODE> *Genoa laughs, then the grin fades a bit. "Of course." She launches into a relatively unabridged account of her adventures underground, carefully leaving out the awkward moments -- and the bits she doesn't really want to think about right now -- and finishing with her limited part in the showdown.

<JETMODE> <Genoa> After that.. I don't really remember terribly clearly, but we were back in the hallway.. and then we were in the infirmary. *ironic smile* And then I got arrested again.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper snorts again. "Those pigs. I heard them barging into the infirmary that night..." *she trails off, thinking about everything Genoa told her.

<JETMODE> <Genoa> *shakes her head* At least.. I'm not there anymore.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper doesn't say anything for a while as it all sinks in. After a few minutes, she looks back at Genoa questioningly. "You said...you got early parole?"

<JETMODE> <Genoa> *nods shortly* So he told me, anyway.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: ... Well. That IS a relief... *she studies Genoa for a moment. Softly: "They didn't even give you a change of clothes ..."

<JETMODE> <Genoa> They were in a bit of a rush. *looks down at her bloodstained skirt and represses a shudder*

<TIAMAT> *Whisper suddenly stands and goes over to Genoa, pulling her to her feet and hauling her toward the bathroom. "Bathe, then, for hell's sake. I'll get some clean clothes for you."

<JETMODE> *Genoa blinks, stumbling as she's dragged forward, then laughs. "Oh my. I'd almost forgotten about bathing." She laughs again.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper wrinkles her nose a little. "I guess! Have they even let you since you were first arrested?

<JETMODE> <Genoa> *short, barking laugh* Tell me, did they let YOU bathe while you were down there? I only -- ah. *she cuts that off before she can get any farther*

<TIAMAT> *Whisper sighs a bit. "No, I suppose they didn't -- eh?"

<JETMODE> *Genoa has turned a shade of red that Whisper probably hasn't seen on her before. "Nothing!" Her voice is a little high, though.

<TIAMAT> *A small smirk twitches at the corner of Whisper's mouth. "Nothing indeed." She smiles sweetly then, heading back out of the bathroom. "Have a nice bath, then, Genoa, dear."

<JETMODE> *Genoa glares after her a moment, but she decides not to dig herself any deeper and takes a long, soothing bath instead.