<TIAMAT> *Jarod trots out after Kender, waiting until they're a little ways down the hall to shoot him a worried glance. "Something tells me this is more than just hormones."

<JETMODE> <Kender> No kiddin'.. well, whatever it is, we should let Clarra deal with it for now -- I mean, she's her mother and all.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: Yeah... *he scratches his head and shrugs a little* Still makes me worried, though. What're you up to now?

<JETMODE> <Kender> It's my shift at the stables. *grin* I'll take the food back -- you take care now.

<JETMODE> *He seems keen to get away, and the reason for this is almost immediately apparent, as Jukka comes trotting up the hall, spotting Jarod and making a beeline for him.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod spots her and gives a wave, calling a quick "See you later!" to Kender as he takes off. He turns back to Jukka with a smile as she approaches. "Hey you."

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *beams and takes her customary hold on his arm* Good afternoon, Jarod.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: My, someone certainly is happy. *he grins a little*

<JETMODE> <Jukka> It has been a wonderful day! It's like everything can't help but go well.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod chuckles a little. "Well, that's good to hear. What are you up to this afternoon?

<JETMODE> <Jukka> Nothing! *cheerfully* I gave myself today off.

<JETMODE> *Jukka has started to suggest an activity for her blissfully empty day, when a voice echoes from up the hall, followed by a furious patter of bare feet on stone. "JUKKA!" The elf girl spins, face brightening in astonished delight, before she's tackled and spun by a dark-skinned girl about her age. "Hatani!"

<TIAMAT> *Jarod takes a few stumbling steps backwards, looking surprised and a little alarmed.

<JETMODE> *The two give girlish squeals and embrace warmly, chattering rapidly back and forth in the gypsy tongue and occasionally capering with excitement.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod watches the two for a few moments, looking a little nervous and completely lost. After a couple minutes, he clears his throat rather deliberately.

<JETMODE> *Jukka blinks, suddenly remembering he's there. She laughs and takes Hatani by the arm, smiling at Jarod. "Jarod, this is Hatani, my sister." The family resemblance, I'm afraid, isn't there. Where Jukka is slender, Hatani is plump, but pleasantly so. Hatani's hair is jet-black, and her skin is dark. But the way they move hints at their familial bond.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod blinks and smiles a bit, extending his hand to Hatani. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

<JETMODE> *Hatani, however, is looking at him critically. She brushes his hand away and marches in a full circle around him, prodding him once or twice, then taking him by the arm. She glances inquiringly at Jukka. "[This is him, then? Isn't he awfully skinny?]"

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *laughs* [Not everybody needs to be a musclebound hunter, Hatani.]

<JETMODE> <Hatani> [I suppose not.] *peers at Jarod, then grins at her sister* [He's not bad-looking, is he?]

<TIAMAT> *Jarod looks rather bewildered; he yelps the first time Hatani pokes him and half-turns as she starts circling him, shooting Jukka a desperate and questioning look when they start talking in gypsy.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod politely disentangles his arm from Hatani's grasp, still giving Jukka that look. "Er..."

<JETMODE> <Jukka> Hatani, be polite -- he doesn't understand gypsy.

<JETMODE> <Hatani> *gives a light snort* Then I was being polite. *grins and turns back to Jarod* A pleasure, Jarod. *looks at him thoughtfully* I'll withold judgement for now, Jukka, but you'd better come see Mama and Papa!

<JETMODE> <Jukka> But I..

<TIAMAT> *Jarod looks a little relieved. "I'll just, er, go study in the library a bit and meet up with you later.

<JETMODE> *Jukka protests, catching hold of his arm. "Oh, please come, Jarod! They'd love to meet you ..."

<TIAMAT> *Jarod, who had been trying to sidle away, stops with a little yelp. "Eeh...I don't want to get in the way--

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *beams* Oh, you won't, I promise -- my parents aren't as mean as Hatani, anyway.

<JETMODE> *Hatani folds her arms and hmphs.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod, a little doubtfully: Well, if you insist... *he clears his throat a little and manages a small smile.

<JETMODE> <Hatani> Come on, come on! [You've really got him licked, haven't you?]

<JETMODE> *Jukka gives her a hard look. "Let's go." She tugs Jarod along, grinning.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod gives Hatani an unhappy sort of look as he stumbles after Jukka.

<JETMODE> *The hapless Jarod is dragged all the way down the stairs, through the front gates, and out to what used to be a relatively clear stretch of road. The gypsies have set up their camp there, and they're working on getting ready for their night show. A small crowd has gathered to watch, but Hatani and Jukka push right through them, Hatani running ahead to tell their parents.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod, after Hatani leaves, leans over to Jukka, glancing around the camp warily. "This ... is your family?"

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *corrects him* This is my tribe. My family is -- ah!

<JETMODE> *She begins to wave with her free hand as two figures approach, followed by her sister. Hatani clearly resembles her mother, while her father is tall and lean.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod stops abruptly upon seeming them approach, carefully avoiding meeting their eyes and shuffling a little uncomfortably.

<JETMODE> *Jukka nudges him. "Don't look like that. Mama and Papa are good people -- you'll see." She smiles and darts over to exchange affectionate greetings with the rest of her family.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod sighs a bit and follows her, staying back a few steps and smiling -- a bit forced.

<JETMODE> *When he approaches, Jukka returns to his side, introducing him. "This is Jarod -- Jarod, my mother and father."

<JETMODE> *Her mother smiles and bobs her head. "Tula." And her father, extends a hand. "Dovuk. Jukka has mentioned you before. I'm glad she has a friend in this place."

<TIAMAT> *Jarod smiles a bit more now, taking Dovuk's hand and nodding politely to Tula. "It's a pleasure to meet both of you. Jukka has lots of friends here -- not to mention her fellow dancers."

<JETMODE> *Tula gives him a faintly knowing look, and Dovuk releases him with a grin. "I'm afraid we can't hang around and chat -- preparations for this evening."

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: Of course -- you're performing?

<JETMODE> *Jukka and Hatani are having a rapid conversation in gypsy, Jukka looking doubtful until Hatani tugs fiercely on her cheek and they both burst into giggles.

<JETMODE> *Tula nods. "And with any luck, so will Jukka -- I was hoping --" She looks at her adoptive daughter, who laughs again, rubbing her cheek.

<JETMODE> <Jukka> All right, all right! Hatani convinced me. *she looks at Jarod hopefully* Can you come tonight? It would be wonderful to have you.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod glances at Jukka, then at her parents, then back again and grins. "Of course. I'll see if I can drag Kender and Whisper along too -- where are you going to be?"

<JETMODE> <Dovuk> *merrily* On the main stage at nine o'clock -- the dances are the reason most people come.

<JETMODE> <Hatani> *nudges Jukka* [Timya's been wanting to perform the spring solstice dance with you, you know.]

<JETMODE> *Jukka groans. "[Mama told him yes already, didn't she?]"

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: I'll be there! *he glances at Hatani and Jukka questioningly.

<JETMODE> <Tula> *sharply* Yes, I did. You dance very well together, so you'll just have to suffer, won't you?

<JETMODE> <Jukka> Of course, Mama. *her gaze is a little stormy, though*

<TIAMAT> *Jarod sends Jukka a questioning and concerned wave.

<JETMODE> *She smiles and sends a wave of reassurance, tempered with patience. Basically: "I'll tell you later."

<TIAMAT> *Jarod nods to her briefly, then glances back at her parents. "Well then -- I'll see you later? *glances back at Jukka.

<JETMODE> <Jukka> I'll walk you back! *immediately takes his arm*

<TIAMAT> *Jarod blinks and smiles at her. "Okay -- but don't you have to prepare?"

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *pulling him firmly away* It can wait.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: Er... *he stumbles after her, waving back to her parents. "Jukka, your parents...er... *he's trying to bring up the fact of her heritage without being rude.

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *puzzled look* What about them? *she darts hurriedly through the crowd, finally stopping when they reach the road*

<TIAMAT> *Jarod doesn't reply right away, concentrating more on keeping up with her without running into anyone. When they stop, he pauses a moment to catch his breath. "They're, uh...they're really nice. *he scratches the back of his head* What time are does your performance start tonight?"

<JETMODE> <Jukka> Oh, probably a little bit after the main one. *grins* You'll have to be here a little early to get a good seat.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod nods. "Of course. I can try to go find Kender..

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *nods* I'll look for you!

<JETMODE> *Suddenly, there's a small oof, and a thin form collides with Jarod. A small sketchbook flops open at his feet as its owner stumbles back.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod stumbles back a bit himself, nearly tripping over Jukka. He yelps a bit, flailing to keep his balance.

<JETMODE> *Jukka steadies him, peering down at the figure, who is stooping to pick up his book. It's a small boy with a long tail and tufted ears. He's also wearing a wide bandanna around his forehead.

<JETMODE> <boy> .. Sorry.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod regains his footing and blinks down at the kid. "No problem. You okay?"

<JETMODE> <boy> I'm fine. *shifts the sketchbook under his arm, looking uncomfortable*

<TIAMAT> *Jarod peers down at him for a moment, glances back at Jukka, then back at the boy. "Are you here all alone?"

<JETMODE> <boy> *hesitates* Uh-huh. *looks guilty*

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *smiles* Did you come to see the show?

<JETMODE> <boy> I.. guess. There was noise. So I came to see.

<JETMODE> *Jukka looks faintly puzzled.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod looks more concerned. "Do your parents know you're out here?

<JETMODE> <boy> *even guiltier look* Haven't got any. I.. I just wanted to see.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod glances back at Jukka worriedly.

<JETMODE> *Jukka's brow creases. "The show.. won't start until later tonight, if you'd like to come back then."

<JETMODE> *The boy shrugs.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: What's your name?

<JETMODE> <boy> *backs away a pace* Jansk. *then he turns and bolts back toward the arena*

<TIAMAT> *Jarod blinks after him, looking startled. ".. That was strange.

<JETMODE> <Jukka> Yes... *blinks* I'd better get back. *smiles* I'll see you later tonight!

<TIAMAT> *Jarod grins back. "All right. Take care!

<JETMODE> <Jukka> You too. *squeezes his arm, then runs back into the crowd*

<TIAMAT> *Jarod waves after her before heading over to the stables to find Kender.