Family Reunion |Skyheort, Talen'sul

[Northen Light36]

Acqua is unusually awake and cheerful as the group arrives in Talen'sul, much to Amaro's irritation. "Honestly Acqua, settle down," he grumbles. "It's too damn early to be that cheery." Despite his grumbling, Amaro's pleased to be going to visit his friends again and leads the way towards Talon and Alethia's house. It's early, but not too early that the couple shouldn't be awake. "I can't believe I'm going to be subjecting myself to you, Taurus and Talon," Amaro grumbles, casting a dark look at both Taurus and Acqua while silently cursing morning people as he knocks on the door.

[Kender Bard]

Taurus just smiles to himself; he has an inkling he's going to feel like an interloper on the reunion but does his best to be helpful regardless. Extending his mindseye, he brushes against the minds briefly of those within the house. "Hmm, they're both awake, and someone's coming out."

Sure enough, Talon was coming out of his house. He's dressed in shockingly conservative clothes; Alethia had finally put her foot down on his wardrobe. He still kept a reminder of his colorful tastes, though, and had a bright purple scarf tied around his neck, and an orange feather stuck behind his ear.

[Northen Light36]

Both Amaro and Acqua look amused as they take in the sight of Talon. "Who are you and what have you done with my brother-in-law?" Acqua asks, grinning. Faith leaps off Acqua's shoulders and rubs against Talon's ankles, purring a greeting. Faith's always been far fonder of Talon then Amaro, seemingly quite aware of Amaro's dislike of her, and the cat seems quite pleased to see Talon again.

[Kender Bard]

Talon chuckles, reaching down to pet Faith. As he moved, there came a soft clanking noise, and a new longsword strapped to his belt reveals itself. "I'm afraid my lovely wife has thrown him out with the clothing he had." He gives an exasperated sigh. "Such wonderful clothes, gone! Gone to the rag pile!"

[Northen Light36]

"Good," replies Amaro. "The only thing that stopped you being arrested for blinding people is we never stayed anywhere long enough for anyone to grab you." Noticing the sword, Amaro smirks. "So you finally decided to get a real weapon?" he comments, giving Acqua a pointed look which the girl responds to with a roll of her eyes.

"Oh thanks Talon," she grumbles. "Now I'll never get him to leave the subject alone. You can make up for the terrible suffering you've inflicted on me by letting us in though."

[Kender Bard]

Talon smiles and nods, opening the door again. "Aye, I got a sword but only because daggers can't get everywhere, and my new profession requires me to be prepared in all cases. But they can do without me for a while. We have enough young blood working themselves into a frenzy that they won't miss me." Chuckling, he motions for everyone to go in. The cottage home is warm and inviting and the smells of savory breakfast linger on the air. Taurus feels his mouth water as he enters.

[Northen Light36]

"What profession have you gotten into?" Amaro asks, curious and trying to ignore the smells that remind him he hasn't had breakfast yet. Acqua, aware Taurus is being left out, decides to leave Amaro and Talon to catch up and takes Taurus' hand.

"Come on Taurus, let's go find Alethia," she suggests. Then with a mischievious smile she glances at Talon and adds, "I've got something to show you, but you have to wait until Alethia's seen it first." Following her nose, Acqua makes her way to the kitchen, hoping to find Alethia there.

[Kender Bard]

Talon pouts at Acqua's words, and now has difficultly keeping his concentration to just Amaro. "At first I was just going to be a trapper hunter when I heard that the border guard, with Maelstrom no longer much of a threat, is extending its expertise into monster hunting. So now I go around scouring the mountains of threats to the city. It's very satisfying, and keeps my thirst for adventure slaked."

In the kitchen Alethia stood at a sink, washing dishes as she hummed to herself, her back to Acqua and Taurus and having not heard their approach at all.

[Northen Light36]

"Hello big sis," Acqua says softly, not wanting to startle Alethia... too much. "It's been awhile." A sudden irrational flood of nervousness washes over Acqua as she remembers that the last time she and her sister saw each other, Acqua ended up running away again rather then say goodbye. Slightly tense, Acqua unknowingly tightens her grip on Taurus' hand in an attempt to find some reassurance.

[Kender Bard]

Taurus starts at the sudden increase, but responds by placing his other hand over her own, rubbing it. Alethia turns around in startlement - a little slow by her bulging stomach - but after a few blinks, gives a delighted cry and rushes to meet her sister with open arms. "Oh, Acqua, I'm so glad to see you safe and sound!"

[Northen Light36]

Acqua lets go of Taurus' hand and hugs Alethia as well as she can manage. "Sorry for worrying you sis, but I can look after myself... And Taurus helped me out of a couple of tight spots as well." Taking a step back, Acqua gets a good look at her sister and her eyes widen in surprise. "Sis... Have you just gained weight or..." She trails off, thrown off balance by what she suspects is the reason for Alethia's change in appearance.

[Kender Bard]

"Let's talk about one thing at a time," Alethia laughs, slinging an arm affectionately around Acqua and flashing Taurus a smile that warmed the Mind and made him feel more at home. "Come on, let's go to the living room so we can all sit in comfort. The kitchen is no place for telling stories. I'll be too tempted to get up and finish washing!"

[Northen Light36]

Acqua nods, leaning slightly into her sister's hug. Somehow it never seems to sink in just how much Acqua misses Alethia when they're apart until the pair are back together again and she finds herself wanting to never leave again. "I've missed you sis," she murmurs, allowing Alethia to lead her to the living room.

[Kender Bard]

"I missed you too," Alethia whispers, settling with Acqua on a couch and scooting over to give Taurus room to sit too. The man smiles wanly, settling himself down next to Acqua. "So, tell me about what hapened since you left."

[Northen Light36]

Acqua hesitates, uncertain of where to start. Until now she'd been excited about seeing her family, but now she's having second thoughts. Telling Alethia about her second sign is probably going to mean revealing how she got it and that means revealing at least what happened between her and Ren and possibly about the guild, something that has, until now, been the only secret she ever kept from Alethia. In what is rapidly devaloping into a nervous habit, Acqua rubs at her Storm sign. "A lot has happened," she admits, still trying to figure out where to start.