Discretion? What's that?

[Northen Light36]

Tavia Star is smiling as she knocks on the door of the Veatherfall home, the handle of a basket drapped over her arm. Alethia should be home at this time of day, and Tavia thought she'd stop by and give the younger mother a small gift.

[Kender Bard]

Resounding yips from Skip - more like barks now that the pup has grown up considerably - echo in the house as Spice opens the door, bright eyed and a little breathless. Judging from the soap bubble precariously clinging to the child's cheek, he'd been either helping his mother with dishes or (more likely) Alethia had been trying to scrub his face clean. "Hi Tavia ma'am!" he greeted. "C'mon inside!" Opening the door a bit wider, he happily babbled on, "Mama's probably gonna be here any minute to finishes cleanin' up behind my ears 'n all so I'm gonna run away now."

And then he did, just as Alethia came into the room looking a bit frazzled. She blinked to see Tavia and relaxed, smiling. "Hello Tavia," she greeted warmly, going to give her friend a little embrace. "How are you today? And how's the family?"

[Northen Light36]

Tavia holds a hand to her mouth to cover her laughter at Spice's antics then hugs Alethia. "Oh, they're just fine, Alethia dear, as I am," she assures Alethia with a warm smile. "Although your little ones sometimes make me very grateful Aideen isn't that age any more. I'll be quite content to sit back and watch Tres with her children." Tavia laughs at that, then adds, "Speaking of children, I found some of Aideen's old dresses from when she was your daughter's age, and a little older. I was wondering if you'd like them?"

There's something about Tavia's tone and body language that suggests it's more then dresses that brought her to the Veatherfall house today.

[Kender Bard]

Alethia gestures to Tavia to be seated in the main room. Crentha was there, resting with Spice as her pillow. She smiled sleepily at Tavia but made no move to rise or move around. Spice made a low 'woof'.

"I'd love to have some dresses," Alethia replied with a happy smile. "Crentha will certainly be needing them soon. She's growing like a little weed." The little girl on the floor giggled faintly. "By the by-" Alethia scooted into the kitchen a moment to put some water to boil for tea, then returned "-have you heard anything interesting lately at the washing fountain?"

[Northen Light36]

Tavia smiles at Crentha as she takes a seat. Her smile fades into a faint frown at Alethia's innocent question. "Well, yes actually," she admits. "About your sister. It's the other reason I stopped by." Tavia looks uncomfortable but goes on, "I know Acqua lives with your brother and it might have been better to talk to him... but I know how men can over react to this sort of thing."

Realising she's rambling, Tavia gets to the point. "It's your sister and her young man, dear. I know what young love is like, of course. But they're being very... affectionate... in somewhat public places. And, well, you know what gossip can be like. It turns nasty quickly..."

[Kender Bard]

Alethia's eyes widened at the news and she stopped dead. "Oh," she murmured. For a few moments she just stood there, statue still, betraying no thought or emotion before she frowned. "Oh... Oh my. I... I will definitely have to talk to her." She gave a slight nod. "Th-thank you Tavia. It's better to hear it from a friend than in the market."

[Northen Light36]

"I'm sorry to distress you dear," Tavia replies gently. "But I thought you'd want to know before things get really out of hand." Tavia sets down the basket of dresses and gives Alethia a slight hug. "Teenagers are all like this, dear. Just ask my sister about her troubles with Gemma. I'm only lucky that my Aideen is such a shy child." With that bit of reassurance, Tavia decides it's best to take her leave and let Alethia deal with matters as she will.

[Kender Bard]

Alethia went about the rest of the day a bit stilted but otherwise as normal. Her children didn't seem to notice, nor Talon, as he came home looking weary but pleased. Greeting him at the door, she kissed him and said, "Dinner is hot and ready. The children are playing - would you mind watching them while I go for a walk?"

"Of course I don't mind," he replied, and kissed her again before going into the house. A few heartbeats later, she could hear the kids squealing in delight and Talon's mocking roar as he descended on them. Smiling, and feeling in better spirits for the talk ahead, she set out to hunt for Acqua, stopping first by Amaro's home in case she was there.

[Northen Light36]

Acqua is at home in fact. She's sitting in the garden with Mat and Echo, chattering happily to her friends while watching Bas and Pas playing with Faith and Wish. It's a cute scene really, between the twins, the cats and Mat with one arm around Acqua's shoulders while she snuggles against him. Unaware of Alethia's arrival, Mat leans down to kiss the tip of Acqua's nose mid conversation, making Acqua giggle and Echo shake her head but smile tolerantly.

"LETHY!" Bas squeals, suddenly spotting Alethia. She's become quite fond of Alethia after all her time playing with the Veatherful children. Completely unaware of the shock on the faces of the three thieves, Bas races over to Alethia and hugs her. "Play with Bas?" she asks.

[Kender Bard]

Alethia leaned down, letting her hair fall forward to obscure her face a moment as she shares with Bas a faint smile. "Ah, not right now Bas." Standing back up, she added, "I need to speak with Acqua a little."

[Northen Light36]

Acqua's expression could be the defination of discomfort at those words. Echo and Mat don't look much more comfortable either. "Besides, Bas dear, I, uh, it's dinner time," Echo tells her daughter. "Coming Mat?"

Mat looks between Echo and Acqua until Acqua sighes and gives him a gentle shove. "Go on, shoo," she tells him. Mat gives her a quick hug, then he and Echo pick up the twins and hurry off, leaving Acqua and Faith alone with Alethia. Acqua squirms then gives her sister a sheepish smile. "Uh... Hi sis."

[Kender Bard]

Alethia turned and started a very slow and leisurely walk. "Come with me," she bid. "We need to talk." Glancing over her shoulder, she added, "I'm not angry, I don't think."

[Northen Light36]

A flicker of relief crossed Acqua's face as she walked with Alethia. "I didn't mean for you to find out like this, sis," she murmured. "I just... I know you don't like Mat and I... couldn't think of how to tell you I love him." Acqua smiled softly and added in a whisper, "I always have."

"Besides," Acqua finished quietly. "Mat and Echo needed me so badly and I didn't want to risk upsetting you when I was trying to hold them together. We'd have just fought..." Acqua gave Alethia a small smile. "I don't want to fight with you, sis. Not today, not ever. I love you too much."

[Kender Bard]

"I love you too, Acqua," Alethia said quietly as she walked. "And while I don't approve of Mat, I can't stop you from choosing who you love. Easier to tell the sun never to rise. But Acqua - you have got to be discreet. You can't be hanging all over one another out in public."

[Northen Light36]

Acqua looks at her sister in surprise. "Mat and I don't 'hang all over each other'," she says defensively. "We hug and kiss a bit, that's all. No worse then you and Talon." Scowling a little, Acqua pauses to pick up Faith, using her pet as a distraction from her irritation at her sister. "Besides, I never tried to tell you and Talon how you could act," she mutters. It hasn't occured to Acqua that there's a distint difference between how a married couple can act and what she and Mat can get away with.