<TIAMAT> *About a week (give or take a day or three) after Kender gave Whisper the cat figurine, the assassin-in-training can be found, fairly early one morning, down in the training grounds, brushing up on some good old-fashion hack-and-slash maneuvers. She hasn't seen the beastmaster since the incident, though whether from conincidence or because she's avoiding him is anyone's guess.

<JETMODE> *Given that most of Kender's work is down by the training yard, it's no surprise to see him pass by that morning, Cinno drooping over his shoulders in his gloomy, cat-like way.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper spots the movement out of the corner of her eyes and glances over at him, then back at the spar, then back to the beastmaster, and she just barely manages to parry the next blow from her opponent, cursing under her breath. Sprining back a few steps, she calls a hurried timeout to her partner and, sheathing her twin daggers, climbs over the fence around the ring they were in and trots after Kender, calling his name.

<JETMODE> *Kender glances back at her curiously, then grins and waves. Cinno pricks his ears and pretends he isn't interested.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper returns the grin -- a little weakly -- as she trots up next to him, falling in step by him. "I...just saw you walking...and thought I'd say hi. Haven't seen you in a while."

<JETMODE> <Kender> *cheerfully* I'm in the same place as always -- Gilbert's keepin' me pretty busy, though..

<TIAMAT> *Whisper nods. "Learning a lot, then? Still like it?"

<JETMODE> <Kender> Oh yeah! I've always like working with animals. It'll be a long time before I'm good as Gilbert and Dad, though. *pause* What about you?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: Oh, I've been keeping busy, between classes and training and jobs. And getting dragged to karaoke night with Merti. *rolls eyes*

<JETMODE> <Kender> Seriously? Karaoke? *grin* The bar back home used to do that -- Dad would always go with his friends.. 'til Mom dragged him home anyway. He's a really awful singer.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper chuckles. "Not as bad as Merti -- I swear, she just does it to break our eardrums. *pause* You should come with us sometime."

<JETMODE> <Kender> Yeah? *looks thoughtful* Could be fun!

<TIAMAT> *Whisper nods. "She'll probably want to go again tomorrow night, I think that's when the Broken Gargoyle's doing it again."

<JETMODE> <Kender> Sure! Er, just come on by whenever it's time.

<JETMODE> *Cinno growls.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper smirks, suddenly taking Cinno and cradling him in her arms. "Yeeeees, you can come too, don't worry, I'm sure you're a FINE singer.."

<JETMODE> <Kender> *soft snort* Yeah, right..

<JETMODE> *Cinno rumbles.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper goes quiet, except for an occasional coo to Cinno, but after a moment she falls silent, then speaks suddenly, glancing up from the cat to look at the beastmaster and sounding faintly curious. "Hey, Kender -- why'd you do that the other night? Turn me down, I mean."

<JETMODE> <Kender> Huh? *glances at her in puzzlement, then blinks* Oh.. oh.. ah.. *laughs weakly* I just.. you know.. I mean.. *glances skyward, looking a little embarrassed* It's just not something I wanna do unless.. well.. I really love the person I'm doing it with.. you know?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper blinks at him, looking a little surprised. "I..." She thinks about that for a moment. "I...never really thought about it that way. *slight pause* I've guess I've just never known anyone to say that."

<JETMODE> <Kender> *glances down at her* Really..? Oh.. I mean.. it's just how I feel, yaknow -- don't worry about it too much.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper nods, then shrugs a little. "It doesn't sound that bad, really -- but sometimes I have my doubts about all that true love stuff people talk about." She smirks again, then holds Cinno out to him. "I should probably get going -- tomorrow night, around 8? Will you be free?"

<JETMODE> *Kender takes Cinno, looking at her in puzzlement. "Oh.. yeah.. I'll be around." He smiles a little weakly. "It may not be easy to understand.. but I think it's gotta be real, or my mom and dad would have split ages ago."

<TIAMAT> *Whisper pauses, half-turned away, and glances back at him curiously. "Why do you say that?"

<JETMODE> *He grins at her. "You haven't met my mom and dad!"

<TIAMAT> *Whisper arches an eyebrow, then shrugs easily, returning the grin a little slyly. "Well, if you say so. Don't be late tomorrow, 'kay? Merti and I'll come get you."

<JETMODE> <Kender> Sure thing! I'll see you there. *grins and trots off*

<TIAMAT> *Whisper watches him for a moment, then turns and ambles back toward the building.