<JETMODE> *The following day dawns aggressively sunny, and Kender, as usual, is awake before the cock crows. Before he gets up, however, he recalls their breakfast arrangements and rolls over to settle in. Then he notes a peculiar lump on the couch. A lump that is, in point of fact, shifting and stretching wakefully.

<JETMODE> *He slides slowly out of bed and trots quietly past Jarod, who is, as usual, sawing logs. Upon reaching the slumbering figure, he notes immediately who it is and snorts.

<JETMODE> *This brings Jukka fully awake and she sits up, rubbing her eyes and peering at him. "Kender," she greets him cheerfully.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Jukka. Nice to see you again. *grins* Great dance last night.

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *smiles* Thank you. *glances over in Jarod's general direction* Does he always snore like this?

<JETMODE> <Kender> Yep.

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *thoughtfully* Hm.. that could be a problem.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *arches an eyebrow* I'm sure you'll work through it.

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *sweetly* I'm sure I will.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Want me to go wake him up?

<JETMODE> <Jukka> Oh, no, let him sleep a bit. *she stretches again*

<TIAMAT> *Jarod snrks a little and rolls over, but doesn't wake.

<JETMODE> <Kender> I'd offer you breakfast, but we're going to meet our friends -- you want to come?

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *waves a hand and smiles* I'll be all right. I have some business to attend to anyway.

<JETMODE> *A couple of hours pass, and the sun is finally up. Kender, who's been tending to his equipment, glances at Cinno, who is curled up in the middle of his bed. "It's about time, Cinno."

<JETMODE> *Cinno flicks an ear at him, and Jukka gives him an inquisitive look. Kender winks at her.

<JETMODE> *With an air of great dignity, the cat springs to the floor, saunters over to Jarod's bed, and gives an earsplitting yowl.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod jerks a bit and groans, muttering something about a stupid cat.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *pleasantly* He may be stupid, but he gets the job done.

<JETMODE> *Cinno, just to make his point, yowls again.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod attempts to wrap his blanket over his head, telling Kender in muffled terms that he's just as stupid as his cat.

<JETMODE> *Jukka smiles, winks at Kender, and trots lightly over to the bed. She leans over Jarod and trills. "Good morning!"

<TIAMAT> *Jarod pauses, then slowly pokes his head out from the tangle of sheets, blinking tiredly. "Jukka?"

<JETMODE> <Jukka> The very same! I was hoping you'd get up so I could say good-bye -- I have work to do today. *folds her arms and stands up straight* But if you want to sleep, I suppose it doesn't matter.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: Aw, come on now... *he sits up slowly, yawning hard. "You kn-know I w-wouldn't do that.

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *skeptical sniff* Really? Well, you'd better hurry. *she pats him on the head and bounces back over to the table*

<JETMODE> *Kender is trying to contain snickers.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod blinks after her, then stretches and yawn and spots Kender, frowning. "What're you laughing at??

<JETMODE> <Kender> *gaily* Nothing!

<TIAMAT> *Jarod glares darkly as he tumbles out of bed and shuffles over to the table with a yawn. "Huh, nothing indeed. And not even any breakfast to make up for it?"

<JETMODE> <Kender> *frowns at him* We're going to meet Whisper, remember?

<TIAMAT> *Jarod blinks at this, thinking for a moment. ".. Oh. Right. Uh, what time?"

<JETMODE> <Kender> I give you about a fifteen minutes to be ready. *cheery grin*

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: Aw man! *he mutters as he makes quickly for the bathroom.

<JETMODE> *Jukka waits patiently by the table, and Kender rolls his eyes.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod reappears after about ten minutes, looking much more awake but still a little disgruntled. "You could give me a little more warning next time."

<JETMODE> <Kender> Eeh, and here I was trying to be nice and let you sleep.

<JETMODE> *Jukka trots back over to Jarod and takes his arm, smiling. "I really should get going, myself."

<TIAMAT> *Jarod snorts quietly at Kender, but smiles a bit at Jukka. "Not going to join us? I don't blame you, considering Kender's going to be there."

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *laughs* I have a few errands to run, otherwise I would. *wrinkles her nose*

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: Oh well. I'll see you later, then?

<JETMODE> <Jukka> Of course! *gives his arm a squeeze and releases him, trotting out the door with a wave*

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: Take care! *grins after her*

<JETMODE> <Kender> *rolls his eyes* Er, Jarod, we're gonna be late --

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: Eh? Oh, right. Well, let's go then.

<JETMODE> *Kender nods and starts out the door. "Cassie's comin' too."

<TIAMAT> *Familiar voice from out in the hall: Cinno! Here Cinno!

<TIAMAT> *Jarod grins a little. "Sounds like she's already here.

<JETMODE> *Cinno, at the sound of her voice, dashes out into the hall, yowling. Kender laughs. "Well, she beat you to waking up -- not that it's hard or anything."

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: Huh, at least I don't get up before the sun. *he wanders outside, where Cassie is crouched in the hall, holding and stroking Cinno. She glances up at Jarod, beaming. "Hullo! How're you guys? Sleep well? It's a beautiful day!

<JETMODE> *Kender laughs. "Sure is! Are you ready to eat?"

<JETMODE> *Cinno mumbles and purrs.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie stands up, swishing her tail as she continues to pet Cinno. "You bet! I'm famished. I've got a lot to do today, too, Mom wants to start teaching me a little more advanced magic! Finally, the basic elementals were starting to get so boring... *she chatters as they make their way to the Rustling Ghost. By the time they get there, Jarod's yawning again.

<JETMODE> *Kender's looking a little bit worried by the time they reach the the Rustling Ghost, and the reason for this becomes immediately apparent when they step inside and head to their usual table. Seated there is not only Whisper, who waves at their approach, but her long-forgotten roommate, Genoa.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod, upon approaching the table, suddenly spots Genoa and stops dead.

<JETMODE> *Genoa hasn't noticed him in the least, though Stellalune, perched on her shoulder, squeaks inquisitively.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Er.. come on, Jarod, she's not so bad ...

<TIAMAT> *Cassie doesn't seem to notice, as she trots right over and plunks down next to Whisper, greeting both cheerily. Whisper takes Cinno from her and starts scritching his chin.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod hisses, "Why didn't you tell me she was going to be here!?"

<JETMODE> <Kender> Eheh, because you wouldn't have come. *takes him by the arm and pulls him toward the table* Come on. Make nice.

<JETMODE> *Genoa glances over at Cassie and nods a greeting, arching an eyebrow as Kender and Jarod approach. "You didn't tell me he was coming."

<TIAMAT> *Whisper continues babying Cinno, not looking up at Genoa as she replies. "No, because you wouldn't have come. *she grins faintly* He can be annoying, yes, but he's not nearly as bad as some.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod stumbles a little, still looking rather unhappy about the set up. He does mumble a greeting to both before sitting down on Cassie's other side, which is, presumably, away from Genoa.

<JETMODE> *Genoa sighs. "I suppose." When Jarod has taken his place, she flashes him an absolutely brilliant smile. "Jarod, what a pleasant surprise. It's been SO long. We really MUST catch up." Spoken with the utmost, deadpan sarcasm. Of course.

<JETMODE> *Kender sighs.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Cassie ... meet Genoa. Genoa, Cassie.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod, a little nastily: Perhaps a time when you're not trying to destroy the Arena or get the captain of the guards killed.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie quickly extends a paw across the table to Genoa. "It's so good to finally meet you! Whisper's told me all about you--"

<JETMODE> *Genoa gives Jarod a chilly smile. "I'll have to tell you about it sometime." She turns to Cassie, expression slightly more civil, and takes the fox-girl's paw. "I'm pretty sure you're about the only person around who's happy to meet me, but all the same, the sentiment is appreciated."

<JETMODE> <Kender> *murmurs to Whisper* I guess that could've been worse....

<TIAMAT> *Whisper sighs a little. "It could've been better, too. But you're right. *she pats the seat next to her, smiling a bit as he sits down.

<JETMODE> <Kender> You ordered yet?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper shakes her head. "We were waiting for you.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *laughs* Well, we're here now, so let's get to it! *he flags down a waitress*

<TIAMAT> *Cassie is chatting animatedly with Genoa, yakking about, well, anything that comes to mind. Jarod keeps glancing at her -- Genoa, that is -- rather darkly and looks rather uncomfortable.

<JETMODE> *Kender attempts to drag Jarod into a conversation, but he gives up after the first couple of tries, wishing he'd tried to convince Jukka to come, and settles for talking to Whisper.

<JETMODE> *Genoa listens to Cassie in bemusement, attempting to get a word in edgewise now and again to keep her eyes from glazing over.

<TIAMAT> *The waitress smiles cheerily as she takes everyone's orders and trots back to the kitchens with them. Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves well enough, except Jarod, and even he comes around after a while and adds his comments to the conversations, carefully avoiding Genoa's eye.

<TIAMAT> *After about fifteen minutes or so, cloaked (and hooded) figure walks unobtrusively into the tavern and makes for a small table in the corner, though doesn't order anything. A few minutes later, a rather attractive elven girl strolls in and slides onto one of the stools, chatting with Tom, who she apparently knows.

<TIAMAT> *After a while, the elf orders a couple drinks and makes for the table in the corner where the hooded figure sits, apparently waiting. She settles herself in the seat across from him, and he lowers his hood. Most wouldn't recognize Baron Teal with his hair hanging loosely around his face, rather than pulled back into its usual ponytail, and not wearing his scarlet uniform.

<JETMODE> *Genoa has fallen victim to the Cassie Effect, and her attention is wandering decidedly. Her gaze drifts to the bar, to a few of the other tables, and then to the back corner, where it stops. Her drink, half lifted to her mouth, suddenly slams back down on the table.

<JETMODE> *Kender jumps. Cinno hisses.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie stops in mid-sentence, looking thoroughly startled. Whisper pauses and glances at Genoa questioningly. Jarod snorts a little.

<JETMODE> <Genoa> *rather abruptly* I have to go.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper blinks in surprise. "What?"

<JETMODE> *Genoa turns her gaze firmly to the table and pushes herself to her feet. "I have to go. It's been lovely, but I really must run."

<JETMODE> <Kender> .. We .. haven't even eaten yet.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper frowns a little. "Genoa, dearest, sit down. What's the matter?

<JETMODE> *Despite her best efforts, Genoa is staring at the back corner again. "I forgot there's somewhere I need to be. Anywhere but here, that is."

<JETMODE> *Kender, who hasn't been around Genoa a whole lot, finds that utterly befuddling.

<TIAMAT> *Teal, in the meantime, is talking in hushed tones to the elf girl. His eyes keep glancing around the bar, as if looking out for someone or something, and he suddenly glances toward Kender et al and his eyes instantly lock with Genoa. He pauses in mid-sentence, mouth open slightly as if to continue but nothing's coming out.

<JETMODE> <Genoa> *hoarsely* Now, in fact. *scrambles to gather her things together*

<TIAMAT> *The elf girl with Teal appears to be trying to get his attention back. He suddenly snaps back to life and mutters a hurried apology to his companion, though he keeps glancing up at Genoa.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper, a little desperately: But--!

<JETMODE> <Genoa> I'm sorry, Whisper, but I really have to go. *with this, and her things all gathered together, she bolts for the door, looking remarkably pale*

<TIAMAT> *Cassie, a little faintly: Did I say something..?

<JETMODE> <Kender> Er.. no, probably not. I.. Whisper, what the heck was that?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: I...have no idea-- *she suddenly blinks and glances over her shoulder, a small smile spreading across her lips. "Ah."

<TIAMAT> *Jarod is looking rather relieved, actually.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Er.. Whisper?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper's smirking a little gleefully. "Oh, it was nothing, Kender dearest. She's been a little jumpy like that ever since she came back."

<JETMODE> <Kender> *doubtfully* If you say so..