CCCP 4

February 15
[20:00]	<[GM]Mary>	The day rests, and the night grows.
[20:01]	<[GM]Mary>	Tabitha should be coming home soon... shouldn't she?
[20:01]	<Tabitha>	[Only when the comedic timing is right.]
[20:03]	<Tabitha>	[Or when dead space needs filling, not unlike RIGHT NOW :| ]
[20:03]	* Cassandra	tires of waiting. Oh well, she'd probably rather take a bath by herself anyway.
[20:04]	* [Kly]Melissa	sweep sweep
[20:04]	* Cassandra	calls out
[20:04]	<Cassandra>	Melissaaaaaaaaaaaaaa~
[20:07]	<Cassandra>	Hm. Must not've heard me.
[20:07]	<Cassandra>	Melissaaaaaaaaaaaaaa~
[20:08]	* [Kly]Melissa	pauses. Was that...? Yeah.
[20:08]	* [Kly]Melissa	leaves to go find out what Cassandra wants, taking the broom with her.
[20:09]	* Tabitha	, off in the distance, slowly pedals her bicycle back home, exhausted after one thing lead to another at the clinic, keeping her there all day.
[20:10]	<Cassandra>	Melissa?
[20:10]	* Cassandra	activates meido sonar
[20:11]	* [Kly]Melissa	makes her way into the room
[20:11]	<[Kly]Melissa>	I'm here. Did you need something, Miss Cassandra?
[20:11]	<Cassandra>	Melissa~
[20:13]	* Cassandra	sings the name one more time
[20:13]	<Cassandra>	I wanted to ask you something.
[20:14]	* [Kly]Melissa	moves a little closer.
[20:14]	<[Kly]Melissa>	Hmm? Go ahead.
[20:14]	* Tabitha	wobbles back and forth on the seat. Rather than falling off, she opts to walk the bike home; it's not too far now.
[20:14]	<Cassandra>	We're going to fill up the hot tub outside and have a nice, relaxing bath. I was wondering if you wanted to join.
[20:16]	<[Kly]Melissa>	...
[20:16]	<Cassandra>	?
[20:17]	* [Kly]Melissa	say yes you can wear a towel right but what if someone finds out what if someone finds out what if what if what if what if
[20:17]	<[Kly]Melissa>	... I, um...
[20:17]	<Cassandra>	Oh, are you worried about being seen?
[20:17]	<[Kly]Melissa>	...I always am.
[20:18]	<Cassandra>	Fear not!
[20:18]	<Cassandra>	Cassandra knows, and Cassandra thought ahead of time~
[20:19]	* Cassandra	spins around in her chair, and after a revolution, stops to reveal a big bottle labeled 'BUBBLE BATH' in her hands. She thinks she's cool about it.
[20:20]	<[Kly]Melissa>	Ah... what's this?
[20:20]	* [Kly]Melissa	moves in closer to inspect the bottle.
[20:21]	<[Kly]Melissa>	Bubble... bath...?
[20:21]	* Tabitha	can see the beach house clearly now. Good, finally, some quiet time...
[20:23]	<Cassandra>	It'll be so darn soap suddy in there that no one will be able to tell the difference. Just be quick with your towel and don't get frisky and you should be fine~
[20:23]	<[Kly]Melissa>	What's bubble bath? I've never heard of it.
[20:23]	<Cassandra>	Well, it makes bubbles. A lot of bubbles.
[20:27]	<[Kly]Melissa>	Doesn't the bath already do that?
[20:27]	<Cassandra>	This makes a lot more bubbles.
[20:28]	<Cassandra>	The bubbles will protect you, Melissa! Why do you not trust the bubbles!?
[20:31]	* Cassandra	flails in a silly fashion, thrusting the container towards Melissa.
[20:33]	* Tabitha	finally arrives, and quietly wheels her bike into the overhang on the side of the house.
[20:33]	<[Kly]Melissa>	W-wah! I'll, um...
[20:33]	* Cassandra	sighs, and slumps back down in her seat.
[20:33]	* [Kly]Melissa	shit shit shit shit
[20:33]	<[Kly]Melissa>	...do it.
[20:34]	<Cassandra>	Oh, fine. You don't have to if you don't-
[20:34]	<Cassandra>	...really?
[20:34]	<[Kly]Melissa>	But... can I wear a towel?
[20:34]	* Cassandra	smirks
[20:34]	<Cassandra>	Sure, why not?
[20:35]	* [Kly]Melissa	why did you just agree to that oh god you're going to take off your clothes in front of everyone and then they might see and how many bubbles doers this stuff make anyway and---
[20:35]	<[Kly]Melissa>	I... I want to try it.
[20:37]	<[Kly]Melissa>	You all look like you have fun, so...
[20:37]	<Cassandra>	Great! I'll go fetch the others. Take this and use, uh...
[20:37]	* Cassandra	holds the bubble bath questioningly
[20:38]	<Cassandra>	I guess just put in twice as much as directed. You can read these things, right?
[20:39]	* Tabitha	wearily opens the front door. She looks horribly tired and overworked, and her carrying bag hangs limply from her fingers.
[20:39]	<[Kly]Melissa>	... six cap fulls. I already looked it over. When were you planning to have the bath? I'm almost done with the last room, so...
[20:41]	<Cassandra>	Hmm. I'd say about ten, fifteen minutes? I think I just heard Tabitha step through the door, and I want to talk to her a little bit.
[20:41]	<[Kly]Melissa>	O-oh, ok. Should I put this in now?
[20:41]	* [Rut]Christina	holds the dish up to the light. There, that ought to hold. The cracks are still somewhat visible, but only if one was looking for them. Oh, and just in time; that other one is back.
[20:42]	<Cassandra>	Hmm. Yeah, sure. It takes a while for the water to run, and it won't start to get cold for a long time.
[20:42]	<Cassandra>	Anyway, I'll hear you there~
[20:42]	* Tabitha	shuffles into the sitting room, drops her bag next to the sofa, and flumps down on her stomach, face first into a pillow.
[20:43]	* [Kly]Melissa	nods.
[20:43]	<[Kly]Melissa>	I'll go take care of it. Thank you.
[20:43]	<Tabitha>	"Mmmnnrrmmppghppphff..."
[20:43]	* [Rut]Christina	peeks into the sitting room.
[20:43]	* [Kly]Melissa	heads out of the room, a little faster than normal.
[20:43]	* Cassandra	slips off to the living room, thinking about her Tabby.
[20:44]	<[Rut]Christina>	Psh. What a wreck.
[20:44]	* Cassandra	crashes into Christina. Wreck indeed!
[20:44]	<[Rut]Christina>	Ack!
[20:45]	<Cassandra>	Wah!
[20:46]	<[Rut]Christina>	Watch whe-- oh. Hey, bawss.
[20:47]	<Cassandra>	Hey, Christie. Was that you at the door earlier?
[20:47]	* [Kly]Melissa	makes it out to the bath. Getting it set up is easy enough...
[20:49]	* Tabitha	has her head wedged in a pillow and can't hear much right now.
[20:51]	<[Rut]Christina>	Jus' now? Nah. But she's back.
[20:51]	<Cassandra>	Oh? Where is she?
[20:51]	* [Rut]Christina	points to the woman with her face buried in fluff.
[20:51]	* Cassandra	can't see your pointing!
[20:52]	<[Rut]Christina>	Uh... On the couch?
[20:52]	<Cassandra>	Thank you~
[20:53]	* Cassandra	disembarks from Christina and stumbles toward Tabitha until she trips over. She crawls on her knees real slow-like until she comes to one side of the couch.
[20:53]	<Cassandra>	Tabitha~?
[20:54]	* Tabitha	hears a familiar voice. She unburies her head but keeps her lazy position on the cushions.
[20:55]	<Tabitha>	"...we need to get an automobile. I can't keep riding my bike to the clinic like this."
[20:55]	* [Rut]Christina	finds herself sighing at her "employers'" haplessness. Both of them. She trots over to one end of the couch gingerly and yanks the shoes off of Tabitha's feet.
[20:55]	* Cassandra	waddles closer until she finds some legs, which leads like a trail for her to Tabby.
[20:56]	<Cassandra>	Why don't you just get Vickie to take you?
[20:56]	* Tabitha	is actually pretty grateful for that shoe-yanking. Bloody hell are her feet sore.
[20:57]	<Tabitha>	"I can't burden her like that; it'd be a horrible inconvenience to her."
[20:57]	<Tabitha>	"What if there's an emergency in the middle of the night?"
[20:57]	<Cassandra>	Aw, I don't think so. I bet she'd be glad to take you.
[20:58]	* [Rut]Christina	places them by the door. She can think of a few remarks she'd like to make about the scent, but restrains herself (with some difficulty).
[20:58]	* Tabitha	shrugs weakly. Maybe, but still... a doctor should be prepared to deal with her patients at any time.
[20:58]	<Tabitha>	"So... how was you day, sis'?"
[20:59]	* Cassandra	lays her head on the small of Tabitha's back, rubbing her wrists into her shoulders. Rest for the weary sister!
[20:59]	<Cassandra>	Hmm. You could say I got carried away today.
[21:00]	* Tabitha	lets out a pleased groan. Ahh, agggh, that feels nice~...
[21:01]	<Tabitha>	"Ahh, dear... how big a mess is it?"
[21:01]	* Cassandra	finds encouragement and massages more deeply.
[21:01]	* [Rut]Christina	can not, however, refrain from making a gagging noise at the women's conduct.
[21:01]	* [Rut]Christina	hurries out of the room.
[21:02]	<Cassandra>	No mess! At least... Yeah, I don't think there's a mess. Though I don't know where Izzy went, so...
[21:02]	* Cassandra	changes the subject.
[21:03]	<Cassandra>	Well anyway! I just had Melissa fill up the bath. You up for that? I think your shoulders are~
[21:04]	* Cassandra	squeezes for emphasis.
[21:04]	* Tabitha	gasps.
[21:04]	<Tabitha>	"Ahh, nah, not that, not that hard!"
[21:05]	* Cassandra	squeezes more softly.
[21:07]	* Tabitha	tries to relax. She reaches behind her and unwinds the thick bun her hair's been in, letting it drape all over her head like a silky blanket.
[21:11]	<Cassandra>	Well, are you or aren't you?
[21:11]	<Tabitha>	"Bath sounds good. I can't until I'm sure that kitchen's clean, though."
[21:12]	<Cassandra>	Bah, don't worry about the kitchen. We're fixing dinner outside anyway. I'm gonna have Melissa kick on the grill.
[21:12]	* Tabitha	hates her own cleanly persistence, but it's a habit. And as a doctor, she knows everything about germs from messy living conditions. Gotta be extra-careful, especially with a blind sister.
[21:13]	<Cassandra>	Anyway, I'm gonna call Vickie and invite her over. You need anything?
[21:14]	* Tabitha	rolls onto her back, puffing some hair out of her mouth.
[21:14]	<Tabitha>	"A drink would be nice."
[21:14]	<Cassandra>	Alright~
[21:15]	<Tabitha>	"A strong one."
[21:15]	* Tabitha	adds. She needs to unwind.
[21:15]	<Cassandra>	Woah. Like, whole milk?
[21:16]	* Tabitha	sighs. That's right, Cassie doesn't like to "drink" much anymore.
[21:17]	* Cassandra	teases.She gets up and goes to the phone. Before picking it up, she yells,
[21:17]	<Cassandra>	Christiiiiinaaaaaaa~
[21:18]	* Tabitha	rolls off the couch gracefully and stands up. Her blouse is a little messed up, but she could really care less right now.
[21:18]	* [Rut]Christina	's voice it heard from another part of the house.
[21:18]	<[Rut]Christina>	Whaaaat?
[21:19]	<Cassandra>	Come get my sister a driiiiink~
[21:19]	* Cassandra	makes the phone call to Victoria's house.
[21:19]	* Tabitha	, despite her sister's wishes, inspects the kitchen's status anyways.
[21:19]	<[PYG]Victoria>	"Hello?"
[21:20]	<Cassandra>	Hey, Vickie. We were about to heat up the hot tub and fire up the grills. You wanna come?
[21:20]	* [Rut]Christina	pauses.
[21:21]	<[PYG]Victoria>	"You need help cooking food?"
[21:21]	<[Rut]Christina>	... /What's she want?/
[21:21]	<Cassandra>	Uh. I dunno.
[21:21]	<[Rut]Christina>	WHAT?
[21:22]	<Cassandra>	I guess Melissa and Tabitha were going to cook, but you can help if you want. I don't touch grills anymore because they like to burn me.
[21:23]	* Tabitha	is actually quite pleased with the area. She wonders who's responsible, Missy or that new one? Uup, but the knives aren't lined up according to height... for shame.
[21:26]	<Cassandra>	So, can you come over? We can talk about your travels and stuff~
[21:27]	* Tabitha	almost forgot to deposit her carrying bag back in her room. Gotta check to make sure all the papers and instruments are in their proper place for tomorrow, though.
[21:33]	<[PYG]Victoria>	"Sure, I guess. I'll be there in a bit."
[21:34]	* Tabitha	changes out of her clothes and into loose-fitting pajamas and a bathrobe. Feels so good to get out of that collared shirt.
[21:34]	<Cassandra>	Okay then, bye!
[21:34]	* Cassandra	hangs up
[21:35]	<Cassandra>	Hmm. I wonder where Izzy went.
[21:36]	* Cassandra	trots off to collect some towels and bathrobes and rubber ducks and other bathing accessories.
[21:38]	<[GM]Mary>	A few minutes later...
[21:40]	* Cassandra	casts away her bath robe, revealing her... wait, no she doesn't. She stops and picks it back up.
[21:40]	<Cassandra>	Oh, I thought I was forgetting something!
[21:41]	* Cassandra	sticks her head back inside. It'll all tied up, by the way, if hair details are important for you.
[21:41]	<Cassandra>	Christina~
[21:41]	* [Rut]Christina	is just turning the corner.
[21:41]	<[Rut]Christina>	Huh?
[21:42]	* Cassandra	isn't doing a good job of holding back her bust. If that detail is important to you.
[21:42]	<Cassandra>	Hey, you wanna join us? We're taking a bath in the hot tub out back. You're more than welcome~
[21:43]	* [Rut]Christina	turns pale.
[21:43]	<[Rut]Christina>	Wh... whadda ya wearin'!?
[21:43]	<Cassandra>	huh?
[21:44]	* Cassandra	feels herself out. Yeah, I'm pretty sure this is a bathrobe. Unless Izzy's been...
[21:44]	<Cassandra>	...It's a bathrobe, isn't it?
[21:45]	* [Rut]Christina	is facing away.
[21:45]	<[GM]Mary>	Other bathing maids: this is the bubbliest bath you've ever seen. In fact, the only way you can tell it's not nothing but bubbles is to slip in.
[21:46]	<[Rut]Christina>	Yeah, it is.
[21:47]	<Cassandra>	Well, what's the problem?
[21:47]	* Tabitha	passes by the two of them nonchalantly, holding a glass (and bottle) of red wine. She notices Christina�s uncertainty.
[21:47]	<Tabitha>	�Get used to it, Miss Christina. I can tell you from personal experience you�ll make no progress any other way.�
[21:48]	* Tabitha	keeps walking. Apparently, she got used to it.
[21:48]	<Cassandra>	Get used to whaaat?
[21:48]	* Cassandra	feels left out
[21:48]	<[Rut]Christina>	You ain't cov'uhed up right! Geez!
[21:48]	<[Rut]Christina>	Just-- I'll be down inna minute. Tsk...
[21:48]	* [Rut]Christina	runs off.
[21:49]	<Cassandra>	Huh? What are you, a nu-... jeez.
[21:49]	<Cassandra>	Heh. Still got the power, sisters.
[21:50]	* Cassandra	gives her breasts a victory hug and returns to the hot tub
[21:50]	* Tabitha	sighs, setting the bottle & glass down on a tubside table. She patpats Cassie on the shoulder.
[21:52]	<Tabitha>	"Do you remember when I was like that, Cass?"
[21:52]	<Cassandra>	Kind of. I don't recall you acting like a little schoolgirl, though.
[21:53]	<Tabitha>	"I recall acting like a little over-sophisticated brat who thought she was ten years older than she was."
[21:53]	* Cassandra	now disrobes and stands before the bath, as if embarking on an epic adventure. The tub is so bubbly, however, Tabitha's probably the only one who can appreciate Cassie's nudity.
[21:54]	<Cassandra>	Now that, I do remember.
[21:54]	<Cassandra>	Makes you wonder, huh? Did we change more, or stay the same more?
[21:55]	* Cassandra	tests the water feebly with a toe.
[21:55]	* Tabitha	gives Cassandra's form a casual glance. She might not have gotten much taller, but she certainly looks quite the woman now. Not unlike herself, actually.
[21:55]	<Tabitha>	"The more things change, the more they stay the same..."
[21:55]	* [Kly]Melissa	is just sort of standing around... wrapped tightly in her towel. She's run the bath before, but never actually been... out here oh god oh god
[21:56]	<Tabitha>	"But five years certainly changed more than I'd have believed."
[21:56]	<Cassandra>	eep~ hey, where's Vickie and Mel at? They aren't here yet?
[21:57]	* Tabitha	stabilizes Cassie as she tests the waters. Can't have her slipping again like that one time.
[21:57]	* Cassandra	, using Tabitha as support, slips down into the tub. ah~
[21:57]	<Cassandra>	ah~
[21:58]	<[Kly]Melissa>	A-ah, I'm right over here. Are we... getting in, now?
[21:59]	<Tabitha>	"At your own pace, Missy, at your own pace. A bath is to be enjoyed; if you can't enjoy it, why bathe?"
[22:00]	* Tabitha	sounds like some kind of older sister to the girl, or at least tries to.
[22:00]	<[Kly]Melissa>	... b-because everyone has to bathe.
[22:00]	* [Rut]Christina	appears with her usual sour expression, cast down at the ground. She is clad in briefs and a well-fitted swimming top that does little to hide her chest (or rather, lack thereof.) She stomps straight past Melissa and slips in, immediately sinking to chin-level in the water.
[22:01]	* Tabitha	ignores Christina's sudden and stark entrance for now.
[22:01]	<[GM]Mary>	Christina: Chin-deep puts you about a foot under a load of bubbles.
[22:02]	<Cassandra>	Woah, waves~
[22:02]	<Tabitha>	"There's no rule for bathing together, Melissa. It's just... well, Cassie's always been partial to them."
[22:02]	<[Rut]Christina>	[Water/bubbles. The intent is to hide, not soak.]
[22:02]	* Tabitha	remembers back to the old days. Such awkward baths those were, back in the... place.
[22:03]	* Tabitha	walks up to Melissa and places a hand on her shoulder.
[22:03]	<Cassandra>	Well, it's easier than running five separate baths a day, and it's fun to talk and mess around while we're all naked~
[22:03]	<Tabitha>	"Do whatever you're comfortable with. What you WANT to do."
[22:04]	<[Rut]Christina>	Huh. What's with all the bubbles? You been fightin' in he'uh o'uh somethin'?
[22:04]	<Cassandra>	This? This place is my battledome. Uncontended champion of the ring.
[22:06]	<[Rut]Christina>	Un... uncon... tended...
[22:07]	* Cassandra	sticks her chest out.
[22:07]	* [Rut]Christina	's eyes lock on the part of Cassandra's chest that is visible over the bubbles.
[22:07]	<Cassandra>	Yep anyone who challenges me here? I make them my slaaaaaves~
[22:09]	<[Rut]Christina>	... H-hey! Whadda -you- doin'?
[22:09]	* [Rut]Christina	's attention shifts to Melissa, though her anger is clearly from something else.
[22:10]	* Tabitha	lets Melissa be for now. The tub's atmosphere seems relatively rowdy all of a sudden. Cassie...
[22:10]	<Cassandra>	What am -I- doin'? What're -you- doin'?
[22:10]	* Cassandra	can't distinguish
[22:11]	<[Rut]Christina>	No, h'uh! You just gonna stand the'uh? Get in awlready!
[22:11]	* Tabitha	walks over to a closeby chair and sips her wine with relaxed pleasure. Better wait until those two dial it down... can't take it easy like that.
[22:12]	<Tabitha>	"Manners, Christina, manners."
[22:12]	<Cassandra>	Hey, Tabby. Get your flabby in here and I'll massage your back for you.
[22:13]	<Tabitha>	"A battledome is no place for a lady and a doctor, Madame Champion."
[22:13]	* Tabitha	pushes her glasses up on her nose elegantly.
[22:14]	<Cassandra>	Is that so~
[22:14]	<Cassandra>	Well!
[22:14]	* [Kly]Melissa	ohgodit'salreadygoingbadI---enough.
[22:14]	* Cassandra	picks herself halfway up the edge.
[22:14]	<Cassandra>	The champion-
[22:15]	* Cassandra	reclaims her other half, dripping and carrying bubbles everywhere.
[22:15]	<Cassandra>	-is comin' to you!
[22:15]	* [Kly]Melissa	looks at the bath, picks a spot nearest to the fun, and dives in. Dropping the towel before doing so.
[22:16]	* Cassandra	trips
[22:16]	<Cassandra>	wah!
[22:16]	* Cassandra	crunch
[22:17]	* Tabitha	gasps! No, no no no! She flings her bathrobe off and goes to pick up her sister (no sense getting a dry garment wet like that).
[22:18]	<[Rut]Christina>	!
[22:18]	<Tabitha>	"Cassie, Cassie... I've told you not to do things like that."
[22:19]	<Cassandra>	ow...
[22:20]	* Tabitha	tries to get Cassie back on her feet. Not an easy task with all the bare skin and slippy bubbles.
[22:20]	* [Kly]Melissa	sinks into the bath, although with a little more difficulty than most. She's a little more buoyant than most, after all. This is... really nice... wait, what how did I get in here oh god
[22:20]	* Cassandra	starts snickering, then giggling, then outright laughing
[22:21]	* Tabitha	fails, and slips herself.
[22:21]	<Tabitha>	"Wooah waah!"
[22:22]	<Cassandra>	Waaah!
[22:22]	* [Rut]Christina	makes the double-play catch!
[22:22]	* [Kly]Melissa	can't help but smile at all this., laughing... although she's trying not to.
[22:23]	<Cassandra>	oh, my~
[22:23]	<[Rut]Christina>	Hey, easy! Be mo'uh ca'uhful!
[22:23]	* Tabitha	suddenly feels herself being caught! Christi?! How's she managing holding BOTH of them at that size?
[22:24]	<Tabitha>	"Ahh, th-thank you, Christina. Always did have two left feet..."
[22:24]	* Tabitha	chuckles.
[22:24]	* Cassandra	's laughter dies down, and she rubs Christina's shoulder affectionately.
[22:24]	<Tabitha>	"At least I still have eighty-eight fingers."
[22:25]	<Cassandra>	I didn't know you were such a strong girl, Christina. I could think up some good uses for you~
[22:25]	* [Rut]Christina	tilts her head sideways.
[22:25]	<[Rut]Christina>	Ah? You need some loans collected aft'uh awll, then?
[22:25]	* [Kly]Melissa	sinks a little lower, now that that's all over with. These bubbles really do cover a whole lot.
[22:25]	<[Kly]Melissa>	Aaaahhh...
[22:26]	<Cassandra>	Hmm, maybe not, but drop Tabby into the water and we'll consider it a start.
[22:27]	* [Rut]Christina	lets Tabitha back down into the bath.
[22:28]	<Izzy>	A bath?! Without me?!
[22:28]	* Tabitha	wasn't expecting... wait, no!
[22:28]	<Tabitha>	"No, wait, m-my wine! I-"
[22:28]	<[Kly]Melissa>	Come on in, the bath is great~
[22:28]	* Tabitha	is dunked.
[22:29]	* [Kly]Melissa	picks up a bit of bubbles, and tries blowing them in Izzy's direction
[22:29]	* Izzy	darts into the water with a small slpash.
[22:29]	<Cassandra>	You're starting to become my favorite maid already~
[22:29]	* Cassandra	drops down into the water her own self.
[22:29]	* [Kly]Melissa	...and misses the crazy fast fairy
[22:30]	* Izzy	pops her head out of the foam.
[22:30]	<Izzy>	Wha- Cassie, more than me?!
[22:30]	* Tabitha	surfaces and shakes the hair out of her face. Ahh, the troubles of bathing: waist-long hair.
[22:31]	<Tabitha>	"Pttbbhh. How'd... I get in here?"
[22:31]	* Cassandra	resurfaces, and smiles.
[22:31]	* Tabitha	recalls a blur of things, most of them chaotic.
[22:33]	* [Rut]Christina	takes a deep breath.
[22:33]	<Cassandra>	Hey Izzy, so glad you could join us~
[22:34]	<Izzy>	It's your fault, you never said you were having a bath...
[22:34]	<[Rut]Christina>	Sheesh... how'd ya live this lawng without padded mats on every flo'uh...
[22:34]	* [Kly]Melissa	eventually realizes where she is... that far side looks a whole lot less crowded, so she floats over in that direction
[22:34]	* Tabitha	rubs Christina's messy wet hair.
[22:35]	<Tabitha>	"Luck. And a good amount of it. Also Izzy."
[22:35]	<[Rut]Christina>	Aah! Quit that!
[22:35]	* Izzy	beams.
[22:35]	<Cassandra>	Yeah, I did. You were right there when I told Vickie!
[22:35]	* [PYG]Victoria	arrives in her usual attire in the middle of the noise.
[22:35]	<Izzy>	...
[22:36]	<Izzy>	I was?
[22:36]	<Cassandra>	Weren't you?
[22:36]	* Tabitha	didn't notice Victoria approach, and since she's still standing up well over the bubbles... yeah.
[22:37]	<Izzy>	I don't remember!
[22:37]	<[PYG]Victoria>	"My, my, you're all being quite lively!"
[22:37]	<Tabitha>	"Ahh, V-Vickie. Didn't see you there."
[22:38]	* Tabitha	blushes a little and sits back down.
[22:38]	<Cassandra>	Hm? Oh. Hey, Victoria. Fashionably late, as usual.
[22:38]	* [Kly]Melissa	laughs, absorbing the good atmosphere
[22:38]	<[Kly]Melissa>	I'm trying to be~
[22:40]	<Cassandra>	You just missed me embarrassing myself and nearly killing Tabitha.
[22:41]	* [PYG]Victoria	frowns a little.
[22:41]	<[PYG]Victoria>	"Now why would you go about and try to do that?"
[22:42]	* Izzy	idles in Cassie's hair.
[22:42]	<Cassandra>	She challenged my championship!
[22:42]	<Izzy>	She what?
[22:42]	<Cassandra>	Speaking of, now that you're in the ring...
[22:43]	<Tabitha>	"And I shall again! Have at thee!"
[22:43]	* Cassandra	makes like a shark towards Tabitha
[22:43]	<[PYG]Victoria>	"You know not to be too rough on her! Was it like this while I was gone?"
[22:43]	* [Rut]Christina	darkly mutters something about being saved from the fall by cushioning anyway.
[22:43]	<Izzy>	Wah!
[22:43]	* Izzy	holds on tight.
[22:44]	* [PYG]Victoria	remains outside of the chaos and heads into the kitchen.
[22:46]	* Cassandra	surfaces to Tabitha's flank and captures her!
[22:46]	* Tabitha	didn't anticipate such a sharky attack! She's pinned!
[22:46]	<Cassandra>	rawr!
[22:46]	* Izzy	cheers the fight on!
[22:46]	* Cassandra	blows a raspberry on her neck/shoulder area
[22:47]	<Tabitha>	"Unf, gaah! Tickles~!"
[22:47]	<[Rut]Christina>	Go fo'uh the headlock, bawss! The headlock!
[22:47]	<Izzy>	Fight, Tabby, fight back!
[22:49]	* [Kly]Melissa	watches with wide eyes. This is what bathing with other people is like?
[22:50]	* Cassandra	goes for the superplex!
[22:51]	* Izzy	is in a bad position for a suplex....
[22:51]	* Cassandra	wouldn't actually suplex someone in a bath
[22:52]	* Tabitha	recovers and slyly slips away as Cassie repositions herself. She uses her superior height to gain the upper-hand and wraps her arms around Cassie's chest!
[22:52]	<Tabitha>	"Your strength is your weakness, Cassie!"
[22:52]	<Cassandra>	G-gah! What!?
[22:53]	<Izzy>	Go!! Don't just let her do what she wants, Cassie!
[22:53]	* [Rut]Christina	wonders why Cassandra didn't use a suplex earlier.
[22:55]	* Tabitha	tickles the little blind girl!
[22:56]	<Cassandra>	ah! oh no! ah, ahahaha! Me-Melissa, Chris, Christina, someone help!
[22:57]	* Izzy	flutters up by Tabby's ear.
[22:57]	<Izzy>	Should I help?
[22:57]	* Tabitha	whispers back happily.
[22:58]	<Tabitha>	"Nah, let us finish~"
[22:58]	<Izzy>	Alright~
[22:58]	* Izzy	watches from the vantage of Tabby's head, noe.
[22:59]	* Cassandra	's laughter becomes muffled. She's planning something!
[22:59]	* [Kly]Melissa	continues to look on, although it's hard to see over all these bubbles. So nice~
[23:00]	* Cassandra	goes for the reversal!
[23:02]	* Tabitha	has far too good a vantage point to miss that changeup. She reversals the reversal like someone who knows what that even means!
[23:03]	<Cassandra>	How did you-
[23:03]	<Tabitha>	"College teaches you practical things too, dear sister~"
[23:04]	* Tabitha	coos lovingly, resting her chin on the shorter one's shoulder as she speaks into her ear.
[23:04]	* [Rut]Christina	crosses her arms, nodding appreciatively at the battle unfolding before her.
[23:04]	<Cassandra>	mmmrrfph...
[23:04]	* Cassandra	gives up.
[23:05]	<Cassandra>	Okay, you win...
[23:05]	<Izzy>	Winner!
[23:05]	* Izzy	struggles to lift Tabby's arm, clearly not strong enough.
[23:06]	* Tabitha	helps her declare the winner. Up it goes!
[23:06]	* [PYG]Victoria	returns from the kitchen with a tray of drinks.
[23:06]	* Izzy	looks proud of herself, as though lifting that arm was some great personal feat.
[23:06]	<Cassandra>	*sigh*. All of that training... I guess I'll just have to work even harder.
[23:07]	<Izzy>	Try harder, Cassie! Don't lose next time!
[23:07]	<Cassandra>	I won't! And if I do, I'm selling you to a circus.
[23:07]	* [Kly]Melissa	claps, regardless.
[23:07]	<[Kly]Melissa>	It was a good try, Miss Cassandra~
[23:08]	* Tabitha	prods Cassie's breast.
[23:08]	<Tabitha>	"I think you're training the wrong things for that, Cass~"
[23:09]	<Cassandra>	My only regret is that my fans won't go home tonight -hey- and sing the triumphs of their champ...*sigh*.
[23:09]	<[Rut]Christina>	Heh. I knew it was ov'uh as soon as she mistimed that slip.
[23:09]	<Izzy>	Wha?@?@
[23:09]	<Izzy>	A-A circus?!
[23:09]	<Izzy>	Please don't!
[23:10]	* Izzy	clings to Tabitha's hair/
[23:10]	<Izzy>	Don't let her, Tabby!
[23:10]	<[Rut]Christina>	Ahahaha! A circus! Haha!
[23:11]	* Tabitha	swivels her hair around to her front like a swinging rope. Aww, tiny fairy is tiny. She nuzzles her with one hand and her cheek.
[23:11]	<Cassandra>	Well, dear sister, what can this humble opponent do for the reigning champ?
[23:11]	<Tabitha>	"Don't you ever worry, Bella. I'm not like mean
[23:11]	<Izzy>	Ehehehe~
[23:11]	<Tabitha>	"*mean 'ol Cassie. I don't joke around at you."
[23:11]	* Izzy	gives Tabby a small kiss.
[23:14]	<[Rut]Christina>	Even though she wouldn't be the only midget at the circus... heheh...
[23:14]	* Tabitha	would kiss her back, but at this size she might accidentally swallow her. Not the best plan.
[23:14]	<Cassandra>	Well?
[23:14]	* Izzy	heard that.
[23:14]	* Izzy	glares daggers.
[23:14]	* Cassandra	pokes Tabitha in the side. Gingerly.
[23:14]	* Tabitha	contemplates.
[23:16]	* [Rut]Christina	grins snidely.
[23:17]	* Izzy	makes sure to erase Chris from the list of people she likes later.
[23:17]	<Tabitha>	"Oh, I'm sure I can think of a fine reward in time. For now, I'll be happy if someone would just hand me back my wineglass."
[23:20]	<Cassandra>	Hey Izzy, go get the champ her wineglass. With the wine in it, if you can manage.
[23:20]	* Tabitha	wades over to the side of the tub and sits down. Relaaaxx~
[23:21]	<Izzy>	Roger!
[23:21]	* Izzy	zooms off in search of it.
[23:21]	<[GM]Mary>	Izzy: you find it!
[23:21]	* Cassandra	follows.
[23:22]	<Cassandra>	Hey, you still want your back rubbed?
[23:22]	* Tabitha	smiles, and flips over, exposing her back.
[23:23]	<Tabitha>	"A finer reward was never had. Yes, please."
[23:24]	* Cassandra	smiles, and gets to work. It's an intentionally slow process, to keep the receiver's mind off the massage itself while still being capable of enjoying it.
[23:24]	* Izzy	returns!
[23:25]	<Cassandra>	Hey Vickie, where'd you go?
[23:26]	* Cassandra	asks, while continuing to massage. She washes her back and belly, while she's at it.
[23:26]	<[PYG]Victoria>	"I'm here."
[23:26]	<[PYG]Victoria>	"I brought drinks."
[23:26]	<Cassandra>	Oh? Whatcha got?
[23:27]	<Izzy>	Wine!
[23:27]	<Cassandra>	Whine?
[23:27]	* Izzy	proffers Tabby's glass.
[23:27]	<Izzy>	Wine.
[23:27]	* Tabitha	smiles and takes the glass. Ahh, spoils of war~
[23:27]	<Cassandra>	What're you whining about?
[23:28]	<Izzy>	Wining? I guess the grapes did, but that was years ago.
[23:29]	<Cassandra>	psh.
[23:29]	<Tabitha>	"These grapes certainly didn't do much whining; they're excellent and well-behaved."
[23:30]	<[Kly]Melissa>	Ooh... drinks? Is there any not alcohol?
[23:30]	* Cassandra	lays her head on Tabitha's back, as she's a little high up to claim a shoulder.
[23:31]	<Cassandra>	Jeez. How the heck did you get so tall, anyway? Did that vitamin K cure make your bones grow ridiculously long or something?
[23:32]	<Tabitha>	"I assume I got the shortness from your side, and the tallness from mine. Mother had tall parents, if I recall."
[23:33]	* [Rut]Christina	scratches her head. Vitamin K? Hm... might be worth remembering for later.
[23:34]	<Tabitha>	"So you envy my height, then, short-stuff~?"
[23:35]	<Cassandra>	Nah, it's just a lotta trouble to get to that fat head of yours nowadays.
[23:36]	* Cassandra	pushes herself up Tabitha, demonstrating the effort needed to clear the extra six or so inches.
[23:36]	* Tabitha	slithers down a little to help her, arching her arm to keep the wine steady.
[23:37]	<Cassandra>	But I can still reach ya. Even if you stand up on your tiptoes.
[23:38]	* Izzy	is asleep on top of Tabby.
[23:39]	* Cassandra	relaxes for a bit, then gets back to rubbing Tabitha down thoroughly.
[23:39]	<[Kly]Melissa>	Hmm...
[23:40]	* Tabitha	whispers to Cassie since they're so close.
[23:40]	<Tabitha>	"So... how do you think Christi will work out?"
[23:42]	* [Rut]Christina	doesn't notice the two exchanging whispers. Her head is elsewhere.
[23:42]	<Cassandra>	She'll be fine. Acts like a toughguy, but I know her type. Sorry for moving her in on us so suddenly, I didn't know she was gonna be just dropped off like this.
[23:42]	* [PYG]Victoria	returns with a sparkly juice drink for Melissa.
[23:43]	<Tabitha>	"What happens, happens. We both know that after all that's 'happened' to us, Cass."
[23:43]	<[Rut]Christina>	Hmmmm... If I was just a few mo'uh inches tall'uh...
[23:43]	<[Kly]Melissa>	Ah? T-thanks... but it's kind of weird for you to be getting drinks for me.
[23:43]	<Tabitha>	"Que sera sera..."
[23:44]	<[PYG]Victoria>	"Don't mind it too much. A lot of formal rules get broken in this household."
[23:45]	* [Kly]Melissa	nods.
[23:45]	<[Kly]Melissa>	They do, don't they...?
[23:46]	<Cassandra>	Thanks for understanding, but I know how you must feel about the whole "family" thing. She's from my mother's side, but still.
[23:46]	* Tabitha	sighs. It's really neither the time nor the place for this, but... better to get it over with here and now.
[23:47]	* [Kly]Melissa	takes a drink. Very tasty.
[23:47]	<[Kly]Melissa>	Aren't you going to come in?
[23:47]	<Tabitha>	"It's certainly not rubbing me the right way, Cass..."
[23:47]	<Tabitha>	"I'm not mad, Cassie. Not at you, not at them, not at all. But I AM concerned."
[23:48]	* Cassandra	stops massaging, and comes closer to Tabitha's ear.
[23:48]	* Tabitha	takes a sip of wine. Best to keep her throat clear if she's going to whisper in this raspy voice.
[23:48]	<Cassandra>	I know. Do you want to talk about this somewhere private?
[23:48]	<[PYG]Victoria>	"Oh, no, don't mind me."
[23:49]	* Tabitha	nods twice. Public baths aren't the best place for family matters, especially ones that are supposed to be dead.
[23:49]	<Cassandra>	Right now?
[23:50]	* Cassandra	preemptively gets out of the bath, sitting on the edge.
[23:50]	* [Rut]Christina	wakes up.
[23:51]	<Izzy>	zzzzzz...
[23:51]	<[PYG]Victoria>	"I'm not much of a leisurely bather."
[23:51]	* [PYG]Victoria	tells Melissa.
[23:51]	<[Rut]Christina>	You goin' bawss?
[23:51]	* Tabitha	whispers her conformation in Cassie's ear.
[23:51]	* Tabitha	then gets up herself, helping Cassie disembark.
[23:51]	<Cassandra>	We should. Would you guys excuse us for a moment?
[23:51]	<[Kly]Melissa>	Oh, tha---?
[23:52]	* [Kly]Melissa	nods
[23:52]	<Tabitha>	"Please, don't mind us. Just a small family matter."
[23:52]	<[Kly]Melissa>	Ah... ok. I get it.
[23:52]	* Cassandra	hands Tabitha a towel and hurriedly dries herself off with her own.
[23:53]	<[Kly]Melissa>	Are you coming back later? I think the bath will still be warm for a while.
[23:53]	* Cassandra	well, for the most part. Once she's not dripping she dons a robe and gets up, waiting for Tabitha's lead.
[23:53]	<Cassandra>	Maybe.
[23:54]	* [Kly]Melissa	sinks a little. Maybe not, then.
[23:54]	* Tabitha	towels off herself and dons her robe as well. She leads Cassie away into her room.
[23:54]	<[Rut]Christina>	Mm. Awlright, just try not ta kill yaselves while walkin'.
[23:55]	* [Kly]Melissa	quickly finishes the juice, in either case.
[23:55]	<[Kly]Melissa>	What bottle was that in? It was really tasty~
[23:56]	<[Rut]Christina>	Bottle? Whe'uh?
[23:56]	<[Kly]Melissa>	I don't know, that's why I'm asking. This is really good juice.
[00:01]	* [Kly]Melissa	sets the cup aside, and floats over a little closer to Christina.
[00:02]	* [Kly]Melissa	tries to make some conversation, although she's not the best at it. This is a whole lot less fun with everyone gone.
[00:02]	<[Kly]Melissa>	So... h-how was it?
[00:03]	* [Rut]Christina	raises an eyebrow. She doesn't mean to appear contemptuous... even though she usually does anyway.
[00:03]	<[Rut]Christina>	Whadda you goin' awn about? How was what?
[00:04]	<[Kly]Melissa>	Oh, um... your first day.
[00:05]	* [Kly]Melissa	laughs a little
[00:05]	<[Kly]Melissa>	Mine are usually pretty bad, so I was wondering how yours was
[00:06]	* [Rut]Christina	shrugs. What's this girl laughing about?
[00:07]	<[Rut]Christina>	We'uhd. Everyone's we'uhd he'uh.
[00:08]	<[Kly]Melissa>	Oh, that's... true...
[00:08]	<[Kly]Melissa>	...but is it a bad weird?
[00:09]	<[Rut]Christina>	But... you'uh (a little) less we'uhd than the rest, I guess. How'd you end up he'uh?
[00:09]	<[Kly]Melissa>	I'm a maid, and they needed one. So they hired me~
[00:12]	* [Kly]Melissa	sinks a little more. Yep. Not very good at this... but it doesn't hurt to try (with all these bubbles)
[00:12]	<[Rut]Christina>	Just like that, huh? Almost hahd ta believe. Whe'uh ya from?
[00:14]	* [Kly]Melissa	smiles.
[00:17]	<[Kly]Melissa>	Pearie... it's, um, kind of far away. Where are you from?
[00:18]	* [Kly]Melissa	swishes around a bit in the water. Definitely should do this more often.
[00:19]	* [Rut]Christina	returns Melissa's smile with a grin.
[00:20]	<[Rut]Christina>	Dukes County, New Kingston.
[00:22]	<[Kly]Melissa>	Really? Is it nice there? I'm going to go there eventually.
[00:25]	<[Kly]Melissa>	Aaah, but... I guess that's a long time from now.
[00:25]	<[Rut]Christina>	Nice? Hah. It's a shithole. But it's -my- shithole, yeah.
[00:25]	<[Rut]Christina>	I guess it ain't half bad if ya look in the right places.
[00:29]	* [Kly]Melissa	swishes around a little more, laughing. Christina... doesn't seem so bad. I've worked with a lot worse, I think.
[00:30]	<[Kly]Melissa>	So, which do you like more? Weird, or mean?
[00:30]	* [Kly]Melissa	kicks away, having a little bit of fun in the water. It's been a while since she's been... unclothed, like this.
[00:32]	<[Rut]Christina>	Mean, prolly'. I can deal with mean. We'uhd is just... well, yeah. Hey, s'matt'uh?
[00:32]	* [Rut]Christina	shifts closer, following Melissa.
[00:34]	<[Kly]Melissa>	Oh, I just haven't had a good bath in a while. It's fun to move around in the water like this~.
[00:34]	<[Kly]Melissa>	And... really? Mean?
[00:36]	* [Kly]Melissa	moves a little slower.
[00:36]	<[Kly]Melissa>	It's really easier to deal with mean?
[00:36]	<[Rut]Christina>	Sho'uh. Mean's mo'uh common. Anybahdy can be mean.
[00:38]	* [Rut]Christina	gives an ugly look. Like Melissa just kicked her dog, or made a hateful remark.
[00:41]	<[Kly]Melissa>	...sorry. I said something bad, didn't I?
[00:41]	* [Rut]Christina	laughs.
[00:41]	<[Rut]Christina>	Nah, nah, just showin'. You try.
[00:44]	* [Kly]Melissa	snaps her face into something maybe a little scary, but not much. Then, she laughs.
[00:44]	<[Kly]Melissa>	Like that? I don't like being mean, so it's hard for me to do.
[00:46]	<[Rut]Christina>	Ah, c'mahn! Ya gotta keep it! Like this.
[00:47]	* [Rut]Christina	takes Melissa by the cheeks and starts stretching her mouth into a funny shape.
[00:48]	<[Kly]Melissa>	Wah! D-d-don't get so close!
[00:48]	* [Kly]Melissa	tries to escape, but to no avail
[00:56]	* [Rut]Christina	's eyebrows knit as she attempts to adjust Melissa's expression. What's with this girl's face?
[00:57]	* [Kly]Melissa	continues to squirm.
[00:57]	* [Rut]Christina	sighs and releases Melissa.
[00:58]	<[Rut]Christina>	Bah, you'uh no good fo'uh this. Too nice.
[00:58]	* [Kly]Melissa	recoils back, trying to regain her composure.
[00:58]	<[Kly]Melissa>	S-sorry, I... I don't like being touched.
[01:00]	<[Rut]Christina>	Hehe, yeah, I he'uh ya. Guess I shoulda ax'd f'uhst. If some mook touched me alluva sudden, he wouldn't get his fing'uhs back.
[01:01]	<[Rut]Christina>	So, tell ya what. Next time I do that, hit me right in the kiss'uh.
[01:01]	* [Rut]Christina	taps her face for emphasis.
[01:03]	* [Kly]Melissa	nods, but it's not really sincere.
[01:03]	<[Kly]Melissa>	I'll... try, but I don't think I can.
[01:04]	<[Kly]Melissa>	I'm better at cleaning up things than hitting them.
[01:05]	* [Kly]Melissa	takes a quick glance around. Where did that towel go, an--- oh, there it is. About 5 feet from the bath.
[01:05]	<[Kly]Melissa>	Sorry, I'm... a little weird, too.
[01:07]	<[Rut]Christina>	Oh yeah? Lucky we met, then. I'm bett'uh at breakin' a guy's face than poppin' his nose back into place, y'know? Took me a while to figy'uh out how ta do -that- trick...
[01:07]	* [Rut]Christina	vaults out of the bath.
[01:08]	<[Kly]Melissa>	You've broken people's---ah!
[01:09]	<[Rut]Christina>	Well, I'm gonna get dried awff. I'll leave the cleanin' ta you, and you leave the hittin' ta me. We could go places.
[01:09]	* [Kly]Melissa	smiles, and nods.
[01:09]	<[Kly]Melissa>	I think I'm going to stay here for a little longer. It was fun talking to you~
[01:10]	* [Rut]Christina	gives Melissa a rough smile, then shakes some of the water off and reenters the house to find a towel.

+++
@@Meanwhile, in Tabitha's bedroom...
+++

[23:55]	* Cassandra	sighs, and sits down on the bed.
[23:57]	* Tabitha	sits down alongside her; no need dragging in a chair to talk "face to face."
[23:58]	<Tabitha>	"I feel horrible, leaving everyone like that because of this..."
[23:59]	<Cassandra>	I'm sorry, Tabby. I didn't mean to cause you to worry, though I knew full and well it would.
[23:59]	* Tabitha	slumps a little.
[23:59]	* Cassandra	hugs around her with one arm.
[23:59]	* Tabitha	feels a little more at ease.
[00:00]	<Cassandra>	Don't worry about it. They're all good people. And that's why I didn't turn Christina away at the door.
[00:00]	<Tabitha>	"It's just been so long since I had to even think about the past... I'd hoped it had gone away for good."
[00:01]	<Cassandra>	hah... Tabitha.
[00:01]	<Cassandra>	We can always choose to lead new lives, but we'll never lose what has already made us.
[00:02]	* Tabitha	wants to back down, but she knows she shouldn't run from the problem. Even after five years, that part of her never TRULY died.
[00:02]	<Tabitha>	"We made a vow, though. We swore to put it all away."
[00:03]	<Cassandra>	We did.
[00:03]	<Tabitha>	"It's not about Christina, or even your mother. It's about that vow."
[00:03]	<Tabitha>	"If we break it... what else breaks along with it?"
[00:04]	<Cassandra>	I'm not breaking any vows. Christina has nothing to do with Father.
[00:04]	* Tabitha	shivers a little at that word.
[00:06]	<Tabitha>	"I'm sorry, I just... It was a long day, and I left you all with that on my mind. I... thought about it too much."
[00:06]	<Cassandra>	I'm sorry, Tabitha. Really.
[00:07]	<Tabitha>	"It's, it's not your fault. You did what you had to with what you were given. I wouldn't have turned her away either."
[00:07]	* Cassandra	strokes her hair, and starts to think about just how big of an impact Tetromi had on Tabitha. All this time, I've been dealing with my own family problems... How could I forget the family I'm closest to.
[00:08]	<Tabitha>	"It just made me wonder about... about all the what-ifs, that's all. And in a world like ours... well, who can say what may or may not happen."
[00:08]	<Cassandra>	Well, listen.
[00:08]	<Tabitha>	"Look at me, acting like I'm fifteen again..."
[00:08]	* Tabitha	sniffles, trying to put a smile on her face.
[00:09]	<Cassandra>	I've spent the last five years thinking about that. The family. Father. You, and Victoria, and Izzy and everyone else.
[00:10]	* Tabitha	twitches at the mention of Victoria. She's spent the last five years thinking about Vickie as well...
[00:11]	<Cassandra>	And no matter what happens, I won't let him threaten you.
[00:11]	<Cassandra>	I may be blind, but I am not powerless.
[00:12]	* Tabitha	straightens her back a little. Power...
[00:12]	<Tabitha>	"I... know, you aren't. Neither of us are."
[00:13]	<Tabitha>	"Did... uhh, did you know, I was trying to study... magic, at the university?"
[00:13]	<Cassandra>	...
[00:13]	<Cassandra>	You what?
[00:14]	* Cassandra	tenses, then eases. She takes a deep breath and apologizes.
[00:14]	* Tabitha	bites her lip. Should... she have said that?
[00:14]	<Cassandra>	I'm... I'm sorry. I don't know where I got off on that tone...
[00:15]	<Tabitha>	"No, no, I deserved that; I didn't explain."
[00:15]	* Tabitha	takes a short but deep breath; doesn't want to bungle such a delicate topic.
[00:16]	<Tabitha>	"It's not about him or you or Vickie or anything like that... at first, I thought it was."
[00:16]	<Cassandra>	ah, I'm such an idiot...
[00:17]	<Tabitha>	"Heh, everyone around me being all-powerful, and little-girl Tabbie with a bleeding disorder and a kitchen knife... I thought I wanted to get on-par or something..."
[00:17]	<Cassandra>	Power comes with a price, Tabitha.
[00:18]	* Tabitha	nods, even if Cassie can't see it.
[00:18]	<Cassandra>	I've spent my life fighting that. People have died because of my failures. And if it weren't for Victoria, I'd be among them, or worse.
[00:18]	<Cassandra>	You don't want that on your soul.
[00:19]	<Tabitha>	"I know... I know. They had classes at college; just magical history, of course... One long list of danger and self-destruction."
[00:20]	<Tabitha>	"But it's not about power, or glory, or even... even something to protect you."
[00:20]	* Tabitha	can't deny that she'd give quite a lot to keep their family safe through magic, though...
[00:21]	<Tabitha>	"It's just... I see it, the stories, the far-off lands... this is the world we live in. It's REAL."
[00:22]	<Cassandra>	It's not. And that's what fucks everything up.
[00:24]	<Cassandra>	Do you really want to know about me?
[00:24]	<Tabitha>	"No."
[00:24]	* Tabitha	doesn't even hesitate.
[00:25]	<Cassandra>	Good.
[00:25]	<Tabitha>	"I just... I, I want to tell you want happened at the clinic today, Cass."
[00:26]	* Cassandra	doesn't like where this is going, but listens intently.
[00:26]	<Tabitha>	"There was a little boy there; he's practically living there every day now."
[00:27]	<Tabitha>	"He has sickle-cell anemia... do you know what that is?"
[00:28]	<Cassandra>	It's some sort of blood cancer, isn't it?
[00:28]	* Tabitha	nods somberly.
[00:29]	<Tabitha>	"More or less. It's like my old vitamin K deficiency, only... worse. A lot worse."
[00:29]	<Cassandra>	Yeah. I remember you talking about it once. Low life expectancy.
[00:29]	<Tabitha>	"The blood... the blood never clots. It CAN'T, it's impossible. It's genetic... no cure... he might last another two years..."
[00:30]	<Tabitha>	"And NO ONE can do anything about it, Cass. Do you know what that kind of thing does to a doctor?"
[00:30]	<Cassandra>	And you think magic can help you cure these people.
[00:31]	<Tabitha>	"I......"
[00:31]	* Tabitha	loses her tongue. Dare she say yes? Dare she say NO?
[00:32]	<Cassandra>	It's true that some physicians exist that can heal a wound with a touch and bring about restoration with their words and love alone... But all of these people have given up something to do that. Whether they wanted to or not.
[00:34]	<Cassandra>	I was born the way I am. A blind monster. You know, when you arrived, I was worried that you were the same... That you went through the same as I did.
[00:36]	<Cassandra>	Your problem with bleeding worried me. I had hypothesized that all his children bore some sort of deficiency to counterbalance the power they inherited... But now, you're all better, and I couldn't be happier. You lucked out, sister.
[00:37]	* Tabitha	smiles weakly.
[00:37]	* Cassandra	drapes an arm around Tabitha's chest, completing a sort of lazy hug.
[00:37]	<Tabitha>	"Luck got me through more of that research than I deserved..."
[00:39]	* Tabitha	leans into Cassie a little... It's time like these she wishes she wasn't so tall...
[00:39]	* Cassandra	climbs a little higher to compensate.
[00:40]	<Cassandra>	Don't fool yourself. You did something the average person rarely does in their lifetime: what they set themselves out to do. And you did it with your hands full.
[00:41]	* Cassandra	kinda laughs a little bit, but it mostly just brings up a smile.
[00:41]	<Cassandra>	I'm proud of you, Tabby.
[00:41]	* Tabitha	blushes.
[00:42]	<Tabitha>	"Th-thanks. Although... you got your book published too, you know..."
[00:42]	* Tabitha	fiddles with her hair; a nervous twitch she picked up when it grew super-long.
[00:42]	<Cassandra>	Agh. That thing nearly killed me.
[00:44]	<Tabitha>	"I just... I don't know, Cassie. Half of me says that my normality in the middle of all this craziness is the only thing I've got for me anymore. What with you and Izzy and, Vickie."
[00:44]	* Tabitha	hesitates a little before Vickie's name.
[00:44]	<Cassandra>	Vickie and Izzy are predictable.
[00:44]	<Cassandra>	You're the crazy one.
[00:45]	<Tabitha>	"But then there's the other half. It's telling me that, well... Knowledge for the sake of knowledge, is that wrong? To know what's out there?"
[00:46]	<Tabitha>	"Is magic inherently evil; powered by demons or somesuch? No one knows."
[00:49]	<Tabitha>	"I know... I know ninety percent, ninety-five percent, ninety-NINE percent of all the magic power you can find in the world just ends up as people making grabs for power..."
[00:49]	<Tabitha>	"And... I know, who's to say I can call myself any different? I never had a strong will, after all..."
[00:50]	<Tabitha>	"But then... I see Izzy, flying about without a care. I see Victoria, not one iota the worse for what she is. And I just think..."
[00:51]	* Tabitha	sighs again, finishing her thought with much melancholy.
[00:51]	<Tabitha>	"...maybe, there's some good in it. Some hope. Some joy."
[00:53]	<Cassandra>	Sure there is. They're my favorite people, after all. But, like I said. They've given things up. What are you willing to give up for power?
[00:54]	* Tabitha	just doesn't understand.
[00:54]	<Tabitha>	"What... what have they given up?"
[00:55]	<Cassandra>	I'm not sure if that's for me to tell.
[00:57]	<Cassandra>	But that's the basic fact. I could stop you from learning magic, but I will not. If you really want to learn magic... just think about what you're willing to lose.
[00:58]	<Cassandra>	Well. Actually, I lied.
[00:58]	* Tabitha	raises up her hung head a bit at that. Ehh?
[00:59]	<Cassandra>	I would stop you, if you started to lose yourself.
[01:00]	<Tabitha>	"I'm glad, you're the kind of sister that would do that for me."
[01:02]	<Tabitha>	"I just wish that I could, you know, have something I could understand. All the history professors, all those dusty books in the back of the libraries... It's all riddles and uncertainties. Some of them wonder if magic is even the right word for some of it."
[01:04]	<Tabitha>	"What IS magic? I... I don't know of anyone who can tell me an answer I can understand."
[01:15]	<Cassandra>	You know what's real magic...
[01:15]	* Cassandra	climbs up on top of Tabitha.
[01:15]	* Tabitha	is climbed. What the...?
[01:16]	* Cassandra	lays rather comfortably with her head on her chest like Tabby's a nice, big pillow.
[01:17]	<Cassandra>	The fact that, even after everything we've been through, we can still act like lesbians in front of all our friends and not think twice about it.
[01:18]	* Tabitha	rolls her eyes. Ahh, Cassie...
[01:19]	<Tabitha>	"Perhaps the magic there is that they don't mind it at all."
[01:20]	* Tabitha	actually thinks about that one for a bit. It IS a rather interesting relationship they all have, the mutual understanding of weirdness and depravity...
[01:24]	<Cassandra>	Five years ago, I couldn't have imagined a life like this...
[01:25]	<Cassandra>	Thank God for small favors, huh?
[01:25]	<Tabitha>	"Five years ago..."
[01:27]	* Tabitha	cycles those words to herself in her head.
[01:36]	<Tabitha>	"Small favors... small favors from God..."
[01:37]	* Tabitha	slowly, ever so slowly, begins to come to a revelation.
[01:38]	<Tabitha>	"I... I found you, in the middle of nowhere, using a last name and a ring only one jeweler in the world knew..."
[01:40]	<Tabitha>	"I became a doctor in four years and discovered the cure to vitamin K deficiency at the same time..."
[01:40]	<Cassandra>	You did. And I happened to run into Victoria after the accident. If she wasn't right there at the right time, we may have never met.
[01:41]	<Tabitha>	"Victoria... I, I..."
[01:41]	* Tabitha	realizes just how much Victoria means to her... how much she meant to the young 15-year-old Tabitha....
[01:42]	<Tabitha>	"My best friend in the whole world... and the only person I respected in that cold place... they were the same person."
[01:42]	* Tabitha	looks at her hands. Clean, well-manicured... thin. Weak.
[01:44]	<Tabitha>	"... I killed three wolves with a set of steak knives when I was bloody fifteen years old!"
[01:45]	* Tabitha	whispers the next word softly.
[01:45]	<Tabitha>	"......Miracles."
[01:46]	* Cassandra	thinks about it.
[01:46]	<Cassandra>	Yeah. Guess so.
[01:47]	* Cassandra	isn't nonchalant, but rather contemplative.
[01:48]	* Tabitha	realizes now. She understands. The most powerful magic in the world... isn't magic at all.
[01:52]	<Cassandra>	You love her, don't you.
[01:52]	* Cassandra	's mind has gone off to a completely different track entirely
[01:53]	* Tabitha	is pulled from her mind back to reality with a jolt.
[01:53]	<Tabitha>	"Wh-wha...t...?"
[01:54]	* Cassandra	smiles.
[01:54]	<Cassandra>	Ehehe, sorry. I was just thinking about something else, I guess.
[01:55]	* Tabitha	bites her lip. That question... of course Cassie would have figured out the signs, even without eyes...
[01:55]	* Cassandra	wasn't asking, but whatever, Tabby thoughts~
[01:57]	<Tabitha>	"You... how could you say that... when even I can't...?"
[01:58]	<Cassandra>	Because I love her too.
[01:59]	* Tabitha	's heart jumps to her throat, then jumps back down to her toes.
[01:59]	<Cassandra>	Sorry. I shouldn't have brought that up.
[02:00]	* Tabitha	's lip shakes. Are there any words in existence...?
[02:01]	<Cassandra>	Are... Are you okay, Tabby?
[02:01]	* Cassandra	sends her hands up and down Tabitha's collarbones, trying to soothe her.
[02:03]	* Tabitha	shakes her head back and forth. This feeling... this feeling in her heart... it's like she's back in that bedroom, five years ago, talking to that voice...
[02:04]	<Cassandra>	Tabby? Tabitha?
[02:04]	* Tabitha	refuses to let it get to her. No, no, you're a woman now... You will NOT deal with this like a child does.
[02:04]	* Cassandra	falls to her side and takes one of Tabitha's hands, growing concerned.
[02:04]	<Tabitha>	"I'm... I'm, all right, Cassie. I'm, still here."
[02:05]	<Tabitha>	"I'm... not going to lose myself. Not, not again."
[02:05]	* Tabitha	takes deep breaths. Steady, steady...
[02:05]	<Cassandra>	argh, I'm such an idiot...
[02:05]	<Tabitha>	"N-No. No, don't... don't say that."
[02:06]	* Tabitha	takes Cassie's hand now.
[02:06]	<Tabitha>	"Whatever this means, at... at least we know about it now."
[02:07]	<Cassandra>	No, no... I shouldn't have said something like that. You don't think of things the same way I do, and I've known that for years now.
[02:09]	* Tabitha	doesn't really know how to think about any of this anymore.
[02:09]	<Tabitha>	"What... what does that mean, then? I'm so confused..."
[02:10]	<Cassandra>	It means we both love Victoria. I just have a loud mouth about it.
[02:12]	<Tabitha>	"But do you... LOVE, her...?"
[02:13]	* Tabitha	puts exactly the amount of stress on "love" as is required to make the point clear.
[02:13]	<Cassandra>	If Victoria isn't someone I love... Then I've never loved in my life.
[02:14]	<Cassandra>	She saved me, even when I didn't want to be saved.
[02:16]	* Tabitha	nods her head to herself.
[02:16]	<Tabitha>	"I... understand."
[02:16]	* Tabitha	slowly stands up, not wishing to jerk Cassie around unexpectedly.
[02:17]	* Cassandra	sits up along with her.
[02:17]	<Tabitha>	"I should go. I, need to sort things out, by myself."
[02:17]	<Cassandra>	Woah woah woah, wait up.
[02:18]	<Cassandra>	What's going through your head? If you just run right out of here, I'm gonna worry about you, you know.
[02:19]	* Tabitha	tilts her head downwards uncertainly, letting her hair cover her face. A good thing Cassie can't see such a downtrodden display.
[02:20]	<Tabitha>	"...That night, when Vickie told me who she was... I've never felt my heart so completely... BARE, before."
[02:21]	<Tabitha>	"I've... spent the last five years trying to ask myself what it meant, what she means to me."
[02:21]	<Cassandra>	Mmm.
[02:21]	<Cassandra>	Well.
[02:21]	<Cassandra>	Why don't you ask her?
[02:22]	<Tabitha>	"I, don't, know. I can't say that I love her. But... I can't say that I don't."
[02:22]	<Tabitha>	"At least... at least you know what you feel."
[02:23]	* Cassandra	bows her head. Am I saying the right things wrong, or the wrong things right...
[02:23]	<Tabitha>	"What, what do I feel? Do I love her? Do I LOVE her? Or is she just, someone I want to love but really don't?"
[02:24]	* Cassandra	sighs.
[02:24]	* Tabitha	sniffles and attempts a smile again.
[02:25]	<Cassandra>	I could tell you what I think, but I believe this is a mountain for Tabby to cross.
[02:25]	* Cassandra	stands up, and soon collides into Tabitha. Sorta like a hug, kind of.
[02:25]	<Tabitha>	"And here I'd thought I'd gotten rid of this part of me..."
[02:25]	* Tabitha	nods, but says nothing.
[02:26]	* Tabitha	wraps her arms around her sister.
[02:26]	<Tabitha>	"At least I know that I love you."
[02:27]	* Cassandra	can't resist the rise of her lips.
[02:27]	<Cassandra>	I'm supposed to be making you feel better, not the other way around, dummy...
[02:29]	<Cassandra>	But I'll be here for you, every step of the way.
[02:29]	<Cassandra>	Even when you don't want me. Perhaps especially so.
[02:29]	<Tabitha>	"Thank you, Cassie. Thank you for always being my sister."
[02:30]	* Tabitha	lets a tear drop from her eye, and it rolls down Cassie's hair.
[02:31]	<Cassandra>	I wasn't always your sister. But I'll atone.