CCCP 13

March 30
[20:54]	<[GM]Mary>	Last time, Drama!
[20:58]	<[GM]Mary>	Our heroes were last seen accosted by ghosts, paranoia, alcohol, and general manic depression. We'll start from there!
[21:00]	* Cassandra	knocks on Melissa's door lightly.
[21:00]	<Cassandra>	Melissa...?
[21:03]	* [kly]Melissa	doesn't respond.
[21:04]	<Cassandra>	I'm coming in.
[21:06]	* Cassandra	opens the door quietly, and sits in a seat nearby.
[21:08]	* [kly]Melissa	is lying on top of the bed face down, much like she was earlier. But, on the door opening, she rolls her head.
[21:09]	<[kly]Melissa>	Oh... I thought it was the wind...
[21:10]	<Cassandra>	Tired?
[21:12]	<[kly]Melissa>	... I don't know. I think so, but I can't sleep...
[21:14]	<Cassandra>	I'm sorry.
[21:18]	<[kly]Melissa>	... I think it's just me.
[21:18]	<Cassandra>	It's not.
[21:19]	* [kly]Melissa	rolls over into a more comfortable position, and then sits up.
[21:22]	<[kly]Melissa>	It's not? Victoria seemed ok, and so did Christina.
[21:25]	<Cassandra>	From what I understand, Christina's not handling this well at all. And Victoria...
[21:27]	<Cassandra>	...She's different. But most certainly not unaffected.
[21:33]	<Cassandra>	People are capable of putting up a strong face. Some for themselves, some for others.
[21:34]	<Cassandra>	Is there anything I can do for you?
[21:38]	* [kly]Melissa	sighs.
[21:38]	<[kly]Melissa>	I don't know. I wish I did, because then I could do it.
[21:38]	<[kly]Melissa>	Maybe you could... stay, for a little while?
[21:39]	<[kly]Melissa>	I was trying to sleep, but I just kept seeing... well, it's better to see you.
[21:40]	<Cassandra>	?
[21:41]	<Cassandra>	Um... Sure.
[21:42]	<Cassandra>	Mind if I sit over there?
[21:42]	<[kly]Melissa>	That's ok.
[21:44]	<Cassandra>	It's okay?
[21:48]	<[kly]Melissa>	I mean... you can sit there.
[21:49]	<Cassandra>	Oh. Right.
[21:49]	* Cassandra	. o ( Why is this so awkward? )
[21:49]	* Cassandra	trails her hand against the wall or any furniture in the room, until she finds the edge of the bed and sits next to her.
[21:52]	* Cassandra	is silent for a moment, then speaks up.
[21:53]	<Cassandra>	Just tell me what troubles you.
[21:54]	<[kly]Melissa>	I feel really bad. That was a bad thing. What if he didn't... to himself?
[21:54]	<[kly]Melissa>	Part of me wants to say 'but that was a good thing', and then I feel terrible. Because it wasn't at all.
[21:56]	<[kly]Melissa>	It wasn't. But...
[21:56]	* [kly]Melissa	slumps back, defeated.
[21:56]	<[kly]Melissa>	I don't know.
[21:57]	<Cassandra>	Hm.
[21:59]	<Cassandra>	I got a question for you, Melissa. And you don't have to answer it if you don't want to.
[22:00]	<Cassandra>	Do you believe in God?
[22:04]	<[kly]Melissa>	Hmm... I don't know.
[22:04]	* [kly]Melissa	sighs.
[22:04]	<[kly]Melissa>	There's a lot I don't know, isn't there?
[22:05]	<Cassandra>	That's okay.
[22:06]	<Cassandra>	There's a lot I don't know, either. And a lot more that I had once wished I did not.
[22:07]	<Cassandra>	But anyway, I was just going to use a certain saying. It isn't so good, now that I think about it.
[22:12]	<Cassandra>	...
[22:14]	<Cassandra>	I'm not exactly sure what to tell you. I want to say the world works in mysterious ways, but that doesn't really help anything. I want to say someone was watching over you, but that's pretty bleak, in hindsight. I want to say, "better him than me or you"...
[22:15]	* Cassandra	lets herself fall back onto the bed.
[22:25]	<Cassandra>	I don't know. I'm just glad none of us were hurt. Things could have been better, but they could have been much worse. I'm happy that I can still enjoy all my luxuries with all the people I love. I'm happy that I could come home today and talk to you about it.
[22:27]	<Cassandra>	So I guess that's how I feel. Sorry if that doesn't help you.
[22:30]	<[kly]Melissa>	... it does, I think. A little.
[22:31]	* Cassandra	wrinkles her lip.
[22:31]	<Cassandra>	I wish I could do more than a little.
[22:37]	<[kly]Melissa>	... what would you have done?
[22:37]	* [kly]Melissa	bites her tongue.
[22:37]	<[kly]Melissa>	A-ah, but if it's bad to think about... don't.
[22:37]	<Cassandra>	What would I have done?
[22:39]	<Cassandra>	You mean, if I could have done something?
[22:41]	<[kly]Melissa>	I was just... standing there, even though I knew... it... was empty.
[22:42]	<Cassandra>	It was...
[22:42]	* Cassandra	questions at first, then recalls the "click" from before.
[22:43]	<[kly]Melissa>	I wasn't in trouble, but I couldn't say it.
[22:44]	<Cassandra>	Hm. Well. If they had me to an unloaded gun, I don't suppose I would have done anything.
[22:49]	<Cassandra>	I was afraid.
[22:50]	<Cassandra>	Even though I was just part of the crowd, I was afraid. Afraid for Tabitha, and Victoria, and you, and everybody else...
[22:50]	<Cassandra>	But mostly... I was afraid for me.
[22:54]	* [kly]Melissa	starts to ask something, but then doesn't.
[22:54]	<[kly]Melissa>	...it's good to talk about it, I think.
[22:55]	<Cassandra>	I suppose. I don't like it, though.
[22:56]	<[kly]Melissa>	Oh, no, I didn't mean it's /good/ good.
[22:56]	<[kly]Melissa>	It's just... better than keeping it all inside.
[23:01]	<[kly]Melissa>	...sorry. Maybe I shouldn't.
[23:02]	<Cassandra>	Nah, it's fine. You're right. Maybe I'll go yell at the sea or something. There's no one around, and I don't think anyone here will find me any stranger.
[23:02]	<Cassandra>	The sea won't complain. It usually doesn't.
[23:03]	* [kly]Melissa	thinks about that for a moment.
[23:06]	<[kly]Melissa>	...does that really help? Maybe I could go with you... ah, but then there'd be someone around...
[23:06]	* Cassandra	chuckles a little.
[23:07]	<Cassandra>	You really want to? I'd be happy to yell at the sea with you. We could do it right now.
[23:09]	<[kly]Melissa>	I want to try it. Exercising kinda helped, and talking kinda helped, and trying to nap kinda helped... maybe it will kinda help, too.
[23:10]	<Cassandra>	Hehe, alright. Let's do it.
[23:11]	* Cassandra	sits up and offers a hand.
[23:14]	* [kly]Melissa	takes the hand in an almost normal fashion, only hesitating a bit. The grip is still pretty weak, however.
[23:14]	<[kly]Melissa>	Ah... thank you. Let's try it.
[23:20]	* Cassandra	leads(is lead?) outside, and to the the beach. The temperature has dropped a little, but it's still comfortable.
[23:24]	<[kly]Melissa>	It's... nice out. I didn't know it was this late.
[23:26]	<Cassandra>	Yeah. Feels good...
[23:26]	* Cassandra	spaces out for a second.
[23:27]	<Cassandra>	Oh. Right. Do you want to go first, or should I? Or, should we do it both at once?
[23:29]	<[kly]Melissa>	I... do you do it more than once? I don't think I've ever yelled before.
[23:30]	<Cassandra>	Never? Maybe I should demonstrate, then...
[23:31]	* Cassandra	takes a step forward, as if she's squaring off with the ocean itself.
[23:33]	<Cassandra>	*ahem*. Alright.
[23:33]	<Cassandra>	Here I go.
[23:34]	* [kly]Melissa	watches intently
[23:34]	* Cassandra	takes a deep breath...
[23:38]	<Cassandra>	...wwwwaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
[23:39]	* Cassandra	can probably be heard from the next county over.
[23:40]	* Cassandra	and falls over.
[23:41]	* Cassandra	like, on her ass.
[23:42]	* [kly]Melissa	takes a step back. Or two.
[23:42]	<[kly]Melissa>	...wow.
[23:43]	<Cassandra>	*cough*... whew. Ahem. Um. Yeah. Kinda like that.
[23:45]	* [kly]Melissa	nods, and sounds a little scared from that.
[23:45]	<[kly]Melissa>	W-well, I'll give it a try.
[23:46]	* [kly]Melissa	walks up to the edge of the ocean, and adopts a similar stance... and then pauses. Stewing.
[23:47]	<[Rut]Christina>	Mm... nngh...
[23:47]	* Cassandra	sits on the ground, and waits patiently.
[23:48]	* [Rut]Christina	stirs in her resting place, a ways down the coast.
[23:49]	<[kly]Melissa>	Aahh.... AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHhhhhHHHhhhh*cough*HHHHHHHHHH*cough*HHHHH!
[23:49]	<[kly]Melissa>	<and then a second, a third, and a fourth>
[23:50]	* [kly]Melissa	eventually sits down, although not as violently, panting and coughing a bit.
[23:51]	<[kly]Melissa>	aaah... haa... that kind of... hurt a little...
[23:51]	<[Rut]Christina>	... 'L-Lissa?
[23:51]	<Cassandra>	ahaha...
[23:52]	* Cassandra	crawls over to Melissa.
[23:52]	<Cassandra>	Do you feel better, though?
[23:52]	* [Rut]Christina	ignores her body's protests, forcing herself to her feet.
[23:54]	<[kly]Melissa>	... a little more... than a little.
[23:55]	* Cassandra	smiles.
[23:55]	<Cassandra>	I feel better too. Next time we feel down, you want to do this again?
[23:56]	* [kly]Melissa	nods.
[23:57]	<[kly]Melissa>	...yeah.
[23:57]	* [kly]Melissa	coughs a little more.
[23:57]	<[kly]Melissa>	I'm not done yet, though. I'm just resting.
[23:58]	<Cassandra>	Alright. I'll wait until you're done.
[23:58]	* [Rut]Christina	spots the two in the distance and comes running.
[23:58]	<[Rut]Christina>	H... Hey! HEEEY!
[23:59]	<Cassandra>	Huh? Is that... Christie?
[23:59]	* [kly]Melissa	turns to look.
[23:59]	<[kly]Melissa>	I think so. But it's kind of dark...
[00:03]	* [Rut]Christina	finally manages to close the distance and stops, out of breath.
[00:03]	<[Rut]Christina>	Wh... What happened?
[00:04]	<[kly]Melissa>	We were yelling at the ocean. But... why were you way over there?
[00:06]	<[Rut]Christina>	N-nev'uh mynd that. Takin' a wawk. You was yellin' at the ocean?
[00:07]	* [kly]Melissa	nods.
[00:07]	<[kly]Melissa>	Like this.
[00:07]	* [kly]Melissa	stands up again, with a bit more energy than before.
[00:08]	<[kly]Melissa>	aah.... AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH*cough*HHHHHHHH!
[00:10]	* [Rut]Christina	stares blankly for a moment. She seems to regain some mirth.
[00:10]	<[Rut]Christina>	Ahahaha! Not bad, 'Lissa!
[00:11]	<[Rut]Christina>	At first, I'd thawt you, uh... saw a ghost.
[00:12]	* [Rut]Christina	quickly loses the smile.
[00:12]	* [kly]Melissa	takes a seat back on the sand.
[00:12]	<[kly]Melissa>	No, they're... not really ghosts.
[00:13]	<Cassandra>	Just the devils in us, hoopin' and hollerin'.
[00:14]	* [kly]Melissa	gives a weak smile.
[00:15]	* Cassandra	feels a little more pensive, but keeps a smile on.
[00:15]	<[Rut]Christina>	Devils, huh. Shoulda brawt me.
[00:16]	* [Rut]Christina	eventually can't help but join in again.
[00:18]	<Cassandra>	You want to give it a shot?
[00:22]	<[Rut]Christina>	Nah, s'ok. I'm feelin' a bit... awff.
[00:27]	<[Rut]Christina>	--Anyway, we should staht cookin'. That's what we'uh supposed ta do, right bawss?
[00:27]	* [Rut]Christina	changes the subject quickly.
[00:28]	<Cassandra>	Yeah. That'd be nice.
[00:28]	<Cassandra>	Let's go inside.
[00:32]	<[GM]Mary>	The three return to the house. Melissa gets started on cooking dinner, and Cassie pulls Christina aside for a word or two.
[00:33]	<Cassandra>	Oh, Christina. I want to have a word or two with you.
[00:33]	* Cassandra	pulls her aside, into an empty room.
[00:36]	<[Rut]Christina>	Ack-- What's wrawng?
[00:41]	* Cassandra	sighs, and sits down.
[00:44]	<Cassandra>	I remember I told you a few rules to follow before you ever stepped in here. Care to recite those for me, please?
[00:48]	<[Rut]Christina>	H-huh? Um... don't beat up anyone he'uh, don't bring family business up...
[00:49]	<Cassandra>	Right. Now, correct me if I'm mistaken...
[00:49]	<[Rut]Christina>	--Oh, no cussin'!
[00:51]	<[Rut]Christina>	Urk, um... sahrry fo'uh interruptin'.
[00:51]	* [Rut]Christina	looks nervous.
[00:53]	<Cassandra>	You... had words with my sister, correct?
[00:54]	<[Rut]Christina>	Uh, yeah, that's right! She said what happened earli'uh was my fawlt! Can ya believe it?
[00:55]	<Cassandra>	It wasn't anyone's fault.
[00:57]	<Cassandra>	But that's not what bothers me. What bothers me is that you made my sister upset. I don't know what was said, but even if she's being unreasonable, you're in our house. You don't get angry with someone here, even if they're being angry with you.
[00:58]	<[Rut]Christina>	A--
[00:59]	<[Rut]Christina>	... You'uh right, bawss. I'm sahrry. I'll apologize right now.
[01:00]	* [Rut]Christina	suddenly becomes serious.
[01:01]	<Cassandra>	Thank you. That being said, do you want to go home? I suppose your family never knew you were in danger, but I know how people can feel during these things.
[01:01]	* [Rut]Christina	sighs.
[01:03]	<[Rut]Christina>	They'll probably fynd out soon'uh o'uh late'uh. But if it's awlright with ya, I wanna stay. At least, f'uh now.
[01:04]	<Cassandra>	Sure.
[01:05]	<[Rut]Christina>	And... again, I'm really sahrry. She's you'uh sist'uh aft'uh awll... I was bein' an idiot.
[01:06]	* [Rut]Christina	puts unusual emphasis on the word "sister", in addition to her atypical demeanor.
[01:07]	<Cassandra>	She's a little remorseful herself. Just what I said in mind.
[01:12]	<[Rut]Christina>	Gahtcha.
[01:13]	<Cassandra>	Good. Now go kiss and make up.
[01:15]	* [Rut]Christina	departs to do so.

+++
During this time, Tabitha and Isabella were...
+++

[21:23]	* Tabitha	, meanwhile, continues her personal vendetta against messiness in the kitchen.
[21:24]	* [huh]Izzy	is under a small pot when Tabby picks it up.
[21:25]	* Tabitha	found a fairy! Da da da daaaah!
[21:26]	<Tabitha>	"...oh!"
[21:31]	* Tabitha	fumbles with the pot slightly. Bugger, Izzy, stop doing that.
[21:32]	<[huh]Izzy>	Tabby!
[21:32]	* Tabitha	sets the pot down next to the little girl.
[21:35]	<Tabitha>	"Been in there long?"
[21:35]	<[huh]Izzy>	Hmmm...
[21:35]	<[huh]Izzy>	Not too long.
[21:35]	<[huh]Izzy>	I think. No way to tell time in there.
[21:37]	* Tabitha	nods.
[21:37]	<[huh]Izzy>	What were you doing?
[21:38]	<Tabitha>	"Oh, cleaning. Like usual. It helps me think."
[21:38]	<[huh]Izzy>	Can I help?
[21:39]	* Tabitha	chuckles skeptically.
[21:41]	<Tabitha>	"Ahh, Bella. I only wish your hands were as strong as your heart."
[21:41]	* Tabitha	gentle ruffles her hair with two fingers. Little fairy is little.
[21:42]	<[huh]Izzy>	...Was that praise or should I be angry?
[21:42]	* [huh]Izzy	grins anyway. Hair ruffle~
[21:46]	<Tabitha>	"Well, both, if you want to think of it that way."
[21:47]	<Tabitha>	"Don't worry about it. I'm just about done, and it was really just to help me think."
[21:47]	<[huh]Izzy>	Alright~
[21:48]	* [huh]Izzy	drops any suspicion and takes flight to settle on Tabby's shoulder.
[21:50]	* Tabitha	returns the wine and glass to their proper place. Maybe if she's lucky it'll be chilled before it's needed again.
[21:50]	<[huh]Izzy>	So, Tabby...
[21:51]	<[huh]Izzy>	What were you thinking about?
[21:51]	* [huh]Izzy	kicks her feet in the air.
[21:52]	<Tabitha>	"Ohh, simple things that end up being way too complex."
[21:53]	<Tabitha>	"It's been a long day, Izzy. Be glad you stayed at home."
[21:53]	<[huh]Izzy>	People say it's good to talk these things over with another person.
[21:56]	* Tabitha	sighs.
[22:04]	<Tabitha>	"Well, tell you the truth, it ends up hurting as much as it helps to talk to another human about these things."
[22:05]	<Tabitha>	"But then... you're not a human, are you?"
[22:05]	* Tabitha	smiles.
[22:07]	* [huh]Izzy	shakes her head.
[22:07]	<Tabitha>	"Promise not to tell this to Missy or Chris, okay?"
[22:07]	* [huh]Izzy	nods.
[22:07]	<Tabitha>	"I mean it. Cassie wouldn't like it."
[22:08]	* Tabitha	holds up her pinkie to Izzy. Pinkie swear?
[22:08]	* [huh]Izzy	has to use her arm, but pinkie swear.
[22:10]	<Tabitha>	"Well, we went to the bank today, and... it got robbed, with all of us in it. The robbers were waving around guns, sooo..."
[22:10]	* [huh]Izzy	claps her hands to her mouth.
[22:10]	<[huh]Izzy>	They said something bad happened, but...
[22:10]	<Tabitha>	"...Cassie, used... her powers, again. To stop any of us from getting hurt."
[22:10]	<[huh]Izzy>	Then what?
[22:11]	<[huh]Izzy>	She...
[22:11]	<[huh]Izzy>	Cassie...
[22:11]	* [huh]Izzy	is immediately worried.
[22:11]	<[huh]Izzy>	So... what'd she do?
[22:14]	* Tabitha	tries to find the right words.
[22:14]	<Tabitha>	"She... it's hard to explain, really."
[22:15]	<Tabitha>	"Izzy, this... this is the first time I've ever felt her powers firsthand."
[22:15]	<[huh]Izzy>	What... she didn't kill them, did she?
[22:15]	* Tabitha	winces somberly.
[22:16]	<[huh]Izzy>	....
[22:16]	<Tabitha>	"One. She made one robber kill himself. She tried to do it to a second, too. And everyone in the room... saw a premonition of everyone in the room, dying horribly..."
[22:16]	<[huh]Izzy>	This....
[22:16]	* Tabitha	feels the words stick in her throat.
[22:17]	<[huh]Izzy>	I-I-I... I wasn't there...
[22:17]	<Tabitha>	"No. And please... be thankful for that, Izzy. Cassie doesn't want us to see her like that, ever, you know. Even as an accident."
[22:18]	<[huh]Izzy>	No, but...
[22:18]	<[huh]Izzy>	I'm here to keep her from getting like that... to help her keep control...
[22:19]	* Tabitha	brushes her hand across Izzy's bare shoulder, giving comfort.
[22:20]	<Tabitha>	"We all are, Iz'. You most of all. It's your heart that keeps every one of us able to keep going and out of a pit of grey despair."
[22:21]	<[huh]Izzy>	But I wasn't able to...
[22:21]	* [huh]Izzy	hugs Tabby's neck, sobbing.
[22:22]	* Tabitha	sits down on a kitchen stool rather than milling about like she was doing.
[22:22]	<Tabitha>	"Shh, shh. Don't worry, little Isabella. Que sera sera. Whatever will be, will be."
[22:25]	* [huh]Izzy	eventually calms down... she sits back upright, wiping away her tears.
[22:26]	<Tabitha>	"You can't change the past by crying. But you can learn from it."
[22:26]	<[huh]Izzy>	L-look at me... I wanted to comfort you, but i-it ended up the other way around...
[22:28]	* [huh]Izzy	smiles warmly, cheeks still wet.
[22:28]	<[huh]Izzy>	Thanks, Tabby...
[22:29]	* Tabitha	smiles back, gently wiping away the tears.
[22:29]	<Tabitha>	"Ahh, I am a doctor, after all. Just don't quite look like one right now."
[22:31]	<[huh]Izzy>	Ehe, I suppose that's true...
[22:31]	* [huh]Izzy	thinks.
[22:31]	<[huh]Izzy>	I should probably talk to Cassie...
[22:32]	<Tabitha>	"Let her be; she's talking to Missy right now."
[22:32]	<Tabitha>	"I forgot to tell you... Missy was a hostage during that robbery. Had a... gun, to her head, the whole time."
[22:32]	* Tabitha	stutters a little saying that. It's so odd stating the facts like that.
[22:33]	* [huh]Izzy	nods.
[22:33]	<[huh]Izzy>	I'll take your word for it...
[22:34]	<Tabitha>	"Chris isn't doing much better, I'm afraid. Got herself worked into a tizzy over one of the robbers, I think. Must have been pretty important. Did you... hear, the shouting...?"
[22:34]	* Tabitha	looks away, ashamed of her earlier childish display of anger.
[22:36]	* [huh]Izzy	shakes her head.
[22:36]	<[huh]Izzy>	I guess you've had it pretty rough, too...
[22:36]	* Tabitha	shrugs.
[22:37]	<Tabitha>	"Spent too much time at college away from real people, and now I'm making up for it."
[22:37]	<[huh]Izzy>	In these times, the eldest should be a source of support and comfort.
[22:38]	<[huh]Izzy>	Though I suppose that if you cried on my shoulder, you'd squash me.
[22:38]	* Tabitha	covers her mouth and giggles.
[22:38]	<[huh]Izzy>	But I'll do what I can!
[22:41]	<Tabitha>	"Ahh, I just need something constructive to take my mind off of gloomy things, that's all. I've cleaned everything in the house already, though..."
[22:41]	* Tabitha	has this weird idea, though. She wonders... hmm...
[22:42]	<Tabitha>	"A-Actually, Izzy, I was wondering..."
[22:43]	<Tabitha>	"Ever since I started taking so many medical classes, I've been curious--ahh, long story short, do you... mind if I examine you?"
[22:43]	* Tabitha	blushes a little.
[22:44]	<Tabitha>	"I mean, as a sort of, science experiment, say. I know so little about fairies, after all..."
[22:44]	<[huh]Izzy>	...
[22:45]	<[huh]Izzy>	Y-you're gonna dissect me?!
[22:45]	* Tabitha	bites her lip.
[22:45]	<Tabitha>	"Oh, no, no no no! Nothing like that, no! Just, like a, checkup, something like that."
[22:46]	* Tabitha	scratches her head, embarrassed. Her face grows more pink by the second.
[22:46]	<[huh]Izzy>	Ah...
[22:46]	<[huh]Izzy>	Uh, alright.
[22:48]	<Tabitha>	"You sure? I mean, if you're not comfortable, that's fine, that's fine. I just thought, maybe, you know?"
[22:48]	* [huh]Izzy	nods.
[22:48]	<[huh]Izzy>	Oh, uh, it'll be easier if I'm bigger, right?
[22:49]	<Tabitha>	"Oh, you can stay that way for now; I really have no idea how I'm going to do this, after all. We'll just work together, m'kay?"
[22:49]	* [huh]Izzy	nods.
[22:51]	<Tabitha>	"Right then, well, this'll probably be easier in my room; all my stuff's in there right now."
[22:51]	* Tabitha	hops off the stool and walks towards her room, offering a helping hand for Izzy to ride on.
[22:52]	* [huh]Izzy	takes the lift.
[22:56]	* Tabitha	goes to her room and sets Izzy down on the bed for now. She busies herself with washing her hands, changing into her doctor's labcoat, gloves, bifocal glasses, all that important stuff.
[22:57]	* [huh]Izzy	is a bit uncomfortable. SHe's never been to a doctor before...
[22:57]	* Tabitha	lays out her impressive personal set of medical whatsits on a nearby table and gets a pen and writing clipboard ready for notes. After all, how many certified doctors get the chance to examine a real fairy?
[22:58]	<Tabitha>	"Sorry about all this; habits, you know. I like things to be in order. You still okay?"
[22:59]	<[huh]Izzy>	Yeah. I'm sort of excited.
[22:59]	* Tabitha	smiles.
[22:59]	<Tabitha>	"Really? That's a first. Most kids are scared of doctor's appointments, you know."
[23:00]	<[huh]Izzy>	Are they?
[23:00]	<[huh]Izzy>	Maybe I should be scared then...
[23:01]	<Tabitha>	"It's the fear of the unknown. What people don't know scares them, even if it's the most exciting thing in the world."
[23:02]	<[huh]Izzy>	Oh? Then it's not actually scary at all?
[23:02]	<Tabitha>	"Nope. Maybe I'M the one who should be scared. I don't know a thing about fairies, really."
[23:02]	<[huh]Izzy>	We're not scary at all...
[23:03]	* Tabitha	raises an eyebrow.
[23:03]	<Tabitha>	"I dunno, you scare me all the time, Bella. Popping out of cupboards and cookie jars like you do."
[23:03]	<[huh]Izzy>	Ehehe...
[23:03]	* [huh]Izzy	scratches her cheek, embarassed.
[23:04]	<[huh]Izzy>	I do do that sometimes...
[23:04]	* Tabitha	taps the pen on her clipboard absentmindedly.
[23:04]	<Tabitha>	"Where to start, where to start... I haven't a clue. How am I supposed to give a fairy a checkup?"
[23:04]	* Tabitha	shrugs. Play it by ear, she supposes.
[23:06]	<Tabitha>	"Well, I guess we'll start at the beginning. How are you feeling today, Izzy?"
[23:06]	* [huh]Izzy	squeezes her arm.
[23:06]	<[huh]Izzy>	Soft.
[23:07]	* Tabitha	decides to do that too. Squish squish goes the arm~
[23:10]	<Tabitha>	"Hmm, maybe you're right. I'm afraid I'll hurt you if you're this small. How big can you go, anyways?"
[23:10]	* [huh]Izzy	thinks...
[23:11]	<[huh]Izzy>	Lots biggerthan this.
[23:11]	<Tabitha>	"How much smaller?"
[23:13]	<[huh]Izzy>	Not much smaller.
[23:14]	* Tabitha	gets out a ruler and measures mini-Izzy. Hmm, 15 centimeters. Write write write...
[23:15]	<[huh]Izzy>	Oh, but my range is a bit larger than a normal fairy.
[23:15]	<Tabitha>	"Ahh? Good for you, Iz'!"
[23:16]	<[huh]Izzy>	They say it's because of purer blood.
[23:16]	* Tabitha	is intrigued.
[23:17]	<Tabitha>	"Pure blood? Does that mean fairies can interbreed with other species, or is it just a matter of special families?"
[23:17]	<[huh]Izzy>	Families. Traditionally, the royal family can change their size more easily than the others.
[23:19]	* Tabitha	forgot she was a princess again. Not that it's ever come up.
[23:21]	<Tabitha>	"All right, full size please; I don't want to hurt you if I'm going to be poking you."
[23:22]	* [huh]Izzy	grows. That's really it, she looks more like an inflating balloon more than anything, though her proportions stay the same.
[23:24]	* Tabitha	pays close attention; she's never really focused on Izzy's size-changing. She'd ask "how that works", but she'll just chalk it up to magic for now.
[23:25]	<[huh]Izzy>	That good?
[23:25]	<Tabitha>	"Perfect. Wanna stand up nice and straight for me?"
[23:25]	* Tabitha	rolls out a measuring tape.
[23:26]	* [huh]Izzy	stands.
[23:28]	* Tabitha	stretches the line. All right, 90 centimeters. A few more quick measurements confirms that bodily proportions are that of a human more or less.
[23:30]	<Tabitha>	"Hey, you know... I never realized that you had pointed ears, Izzy."
[23:30]	* Tabitha	brushes back the shimmering red hair to reveal cute pointed ears.
[23:30]	<[huh]Izzy>	Ah, yeah. All fairies do.
[23:35]	<Tabitha>	"Makes a mystical sort of sense. By the way, do you ever have to cut this hair of yours?"
[23:35]	<Tabitha>	"I never seem to see it change much."
[23:36]	<[huh]Izzy>	It may not seem like it, but I take careful care of it!
[23:40]	<Tabitha>	"Well, I must say, it's positively beautiful. Ever since I've grown my hair out I've had to take care of it myself, but it's never been THIS radiant."
[23:40]	* Tabitha	sniffs the air around Izzy's hair. Mmm, smells like a flower garden~
[23:40]	<[huh]Izzy>	Ah, thanks...
[23:41]	* [huh]Izzy	blushes.
[23:43]	* Tabitha	hears a small thud as a sideways book flops onto its back. Odd, it's been like that for hours... Oh well.
[23:44]	<Tabitha>	"So, how about your diet? Do fairies need to eat anything special? I remember that little, oh what was her name, Krupskie? She ate the strangest things."
[23:45]	<[huh]Izzy>	Krup was just weird.
[23:45]	<[huh]Izzy>	We eat normal things.
[23:47]	<Tabitha>	"Krup was DEFINITELY weird."
[23:49]	* Tabitha	takes one of those tongue depressors and looks into her mouth.
[23:49]	<Tabitha>	"Say aaaaah."
[23:49]	<[huh]Izzy>	aaaaaaaaaahhh~
[23:51]	* Tabitha	sees a very normal mouth with nice teeth. She's no dentist, so there's not much to say.
[23:52]	<Tabitha>	"So, do you usually prefer being big, or being small?"
[23:53]	<[huh]Izzy>	Small feels more natural.
[23:55]	<Tabitha>	"Is that how most fairies are in the wild?"
[23:55]	* Tabitha	moves to one of those triangle hammers and tests Izzy's reflexes.
[23:56]	<[huh]Izzy>	Yeah. This is around our natural size, and-wah!
[23:56]	* [huh]Izzy	reflexes as expected.
[23:57]	<Tabitha>	"Ahh, sorry. You're fine."
[23:58]	<[huh]Izzy>	And most of us stay that way. When they change, other fairies get about up to double this, but it's rare to see much more.
[23:58]	<[huh]Izzy>	Er, double that.
[23:59]	<Tabitha>	"Ahh, so you're one of the bigger ones, then?"
[23:59]	* [huh]Izzy	nods.
[23:59]	* Tabitha	tussles her hair playfully.
[00:00]	<Tabitha>	"Never would've guessed that."
[00:00]	<[huh]Izzy>	It's useful for the royal family because people just don't take us seriously as diplomats.
[00:00]	<[huh]Izzy>	Ehehe~
[00:00]	* Tabitha	remembers she was going to check and see if "soft" was actually how Izzy feels. She softly feels her arm. Squish squish~
[00:01]	* Tabitha	feels an arm. Yup, feels like an arm.
[00:04]	<Tabitha>	"You're really not all that different from a human, you know. I mean, I always knew that, but it just feels different when I'm here with my labcoat taking notes."
[00:05]	* [huh]Izzy	nods.
[00:06]	<Tabitha>	"And, I mean, I'd ask about things like how you can fly and change size, but magic will be magic, won't it?"
[00:07]	* Tabitha	tries not to dwell on that topic too much. She only just got over it herself, after all.
[00:07]	<[huh]Izzy>	Yeah.
[00:07]	<Tabitha>	"I bet I know more about it than you do, even. I've read a lot of books in college."
[00:08]	* Tabitha	smiles, adjusting her glasses and feeling smart.
[00:08]	<[huh]Izzy>	Waaah...
[00:08]	* [huh]Izzy	looks at Tabby with shining eyes.
[00:09]	<[huh]Izzy>	So cool~
[00:10]	* Tabitha	can't help but blush now. She's just so cute, looking like that.
[00:12]	<Tabitha>	"Ahh, where... where was I...?"
[00:13]	<[huh]Izzy>	You were about to pat me and give me candy.
[00:15]	<Tabitha>	"Ehheh, it's all at the office, sorry~"
[00:15]	* Tabitha	pats her anyways.
[00:15]	* [huh]Izzy	smiles.
[00:17]	<Tabitha>	"Though, I'm still wondering... hmmm..."
[00:17]	* Tabitha	waggles her pen at Izzy's breasts.
[00:17]	<Tabitha>	"Are those just for show, or do fairies actually use them?"
[00:18]	<[huh]Izzy>	Eh?!
[00:19]	* [huh]Izzy	squeezes them a bit.
[00:19]	<[huh]Izzy>	We use them, just like people do.
[00:19]	* [huh]Izzy	points downward with a finger.
[00:19]	<[huh]Izzy>	Down there, too.
[00:19]	<Tabitha>	"Do you use the--ahh, I want just about to ask, hehe..."
[00:19]	<Tabitha>	"Just wondering, just wondering."
[00:22]	<Tabitha>	"I'm glad we're both girls; I'd never have been able to ask that otherwise, obviously."
[00:24]	<[huh]Izzy>	Hm? Why?
[00:25]	* Tabitha	rolls her wrist around as she shrugs, as if to make a point.
[00:26]	<Tabitha>	"Oh, you know, it'd just be so impolite to ask something like that when one of us would be a man. Completely awkward."
[00:26]	<Tabitha>	"People might take it the wrong way, you know?"
[00:27]	<[huh]Izzy>	That so...
[00:30]	<Tabitha>	"That's so."
[00:31]	<Tabitha>	"The world's an odd place. I'm just glad I only have to deal with a little tiny piece of it, else I'd just go crazy.
[00:32]	* [huh]Izzy	nods.
[00:32]	<[huh]Izzy>	Thank you for the checkup~
[00:34]	* Tabitha	and smiles cheerfully.
[00:35]	<Tabitha>	"My pleasure. Not that there was much I needed to check. But it's put me in a better mood, that's for sure."
[00:36]	<[huh]Izzy>	I liked it, too. It was fun.
[00:39]	* Tabitha	starts putting away her equipment.
[00:40]	<Tabitha>	"So, I have to ask... do you enjoy going around with no clothes, or is it just to mess with people?"
[00:41]	<[huh]Izzy>	I like it. It feels natural~
[00:43]	<Tabitha>	"I don't blame you. I hate all those fussy clothes I see these women wearing these days. I mean, take a look at my closet; boring stuff, but at least if feels comfortable."
[00:44]	<Tabitha>	"Of course, I'd never get away with walking around nude all day, even if it was just inside the house. Cassie'd never let me hear the end of it."
[00:44]	* Tabitha	rolls her eyes. Cassie will be Cassie, magical timebomb or no.
[00:46]	<Tabitha>	"Did I tell you she forced me into a lingerie store today even?!"
[00:47]	<[huh]Izzy>	She did?
[00:47]	* [huh]Izzy	giggles.
[00:47]	<[huh]Izzy>	I'm not surprised...
[00:49]	<Tabitha>	"Yeah, I shouldn't have been either."
[00:50]	<Tabitha>	"She wouldn't let me leave until I'd bought something she was happy with, either."
[00:50]	<[huh]Izzy>	..so, what was it?
[00:52]	<Tabitha>	"Well, they're hanging by themselves in the closet; take a look yourself."
[00:53]	<Tabitha>	"Personally, I'm just glad Cassie was happy with them. She bought her own so we could match, even~"
[00:53]	<[huh]Izzy>	Ah?
[00:53]	<[huh]Izzy>	I wanna match, too~
[00:53]	* [huh]Izzy	flies over to the closet.
[00:57]	* Tabitha	has two new dresses in there. One is black, the other silver. They're not particularly fancy, but they're still quite lovely, and not exactly the paragon of decency, either. They come with elegant long gloves, too.
[00:58]	<Tabitha>	"I'll get some fabric, then~"
[01:00]	<[huh]Izzy>	Ah? You'll make one for me?
[01:05]	<Tabitha>	"I'll certainly try. Never sewn a dress before. What size do you want it?"
[01:06]	<[huh]Izzy>	My tiny size~
[01:08]	* Tabitha	nods, but inside she grumbles. Yeah, yeah, gotta make it hard for me, don't ya?
[01:17]	* [Rut]Christina	can be heard calling from a room or so away.
[*Mary] And can be found in Day One's exciting conclusion! Tune in next time, kids!