i bought some postcards

[truthwright]

Kas is sadder, after Inkeri's prophecy. And it gets worse as time goes on. The closer they get to Isabella's return, the more it hurts.

He tries to do the best he can for Helen regardless. Helen, in turn, hugs him a lot and doesn't fuss when he cries on her. They make a good team that way.

Comments

[telesonorous]

"Thanks, I will!"

Is this an appropriate time for Exuberant Hugs? Helen thinks it might possibly be that.

[alicornucopia]

Inkeri calmly accepts her Exuberant Hugs.

[telesonorous]

Well, they are exuberant from Helen. From Inkeri they are just hugs. But that's okay, that's how Inkeri is.

"Gonna go tell Shura," she says, "bye!"

And off she zips.

[subastra]

Shura is over here, apparently learning to weave silk.

[telesonorous]

Ooh. That is worth hovering to watch.

[subastra]

Weave weave weave.

Nicoa spots her. "Hi!" he calls, and Shura looks up.

[telesonorous]

"Hi!" says Helen. "We did it!"

[subastra]

"Yay!" says Nicoa, and Shura claps her hands.

[telesonorous]

Helen swoops down and hugs her. Exuberantly.

[subastra]

Shura is much more exuberant about hugging than Inkeri is. "Are you and Kalavar okay?" she asks.

[telesonorous]

"Yeah, we're good," she says, "we're fine - I rode her all the way back, she's big enough to carry me and I don't hardly slow her down, it's awesome."

[subastra]

"That is awesome! Will she still be big enough to carry you when you're all done growing, d'you think?"

[telesonorous]

"Yeah. Probably. I hope so," she laughs.

[subastra]

"That would be really, really cool."

[telesonorous]

"It so would! Anyway, I think I'm taking off for a while," she says. "Enjoying my newfound adult freedom and stuff. But I'll be back in time for my birthday."

[subastra]

"Have lots of fun!" says Shura brightly.

[telesonorous]

"You bet I will!"

[subastra]

And another hug for the road.

[telesonorous]

Hug hug.

"Bye, Shura!"

And she goes back to Kas, and tells him she is ready to leave, and they gather up their things and Helen climbs on Kalavar and away they go.

[truthwright]

Kas decides that this trip is a good time to tell Helen some things.

[telesonorous]

[Hey guess what,] says Helen to Ranata, when they have been gone for a few days.

[alicornucopia]

"What?" asks Ranata.

She does not register the difference between this and the usual method for Helen to suddenly communicate with her from arbitrary distance.

[telesonorous]

[I'm on the brainphone is what!]

[alicornucopia]

[...Oh! So you are! Hello!]

[telesonorous]

Helen giggles.

[I love you, Granatee.]