The door leads to a street very close to the house of the Ence twins, in territory Skye ought to be familiar with. There are more robots out now, though, and some of them look decidedly unfriendly.

Skye notes this, and realizes why. He was only cleared for 25 hours... and that time must be up now. He makes haste for the twin's house.

At the gate to their home, a flying killbot's camera snaps a picture of Skye and Mi'ehna. Machine guns snap into place, firing warning shots into the air.

You are not cleared for this area. Report to registration immediately.

Narrowing his eyes at the guns, Skye makes his way to the dreaded building yet again.

"Hey!" Lameeka's voice calls from within her house, the door opened just a touch. "KB-92, disarm. Boy! Come back here!"

The Killbot's machine guns lower without complaint.

Tei can be seen just behind her, peeking over top of her sister's head.

At first, Skye isn't sure weather or not he should be comforted, especially rembering the dummies on Lameeka's training room floor. But since the Killbot obeyed without hesitation, he decides it's okay.

The sisters step away from the door, allowing Skye entrance into their home. Tei practically squeals with excitement.

"Oh! Is she hurt? Is she your giiiiirlfriend?" the tall, not-too-bright girl asks in a bouncy sort of way as Lameeka shuts the door and bolts it. 

"This girl has the devil's luck," Lameeka notes. "Set her on that couch. Don't dawdle."

How can he when Mi'ehna's like this? "This is all my fault," he laments.

"Probably," Lameeka agrees, "you are a man. Tei, get some smelling salts. She doesn't look wounded... which really doesn't explain why she's out. What happened?"

"She was..." Skye struggles to explain. "She was put into this... chamber with gravity pressure on her. I managed to shut it off, but she'd been in it for too long, I think."

Tei comes back with some smelling salts, but they don't have any immediate effect. She blinks, wondering.

"She isn't breathing," Lameeka softly notes. "Gravity. Then her lungs might be collapsed. You, boy friend. Don't you have wind magic?" She looks down at his hand. "Blow some breath into her lungs. Hurry up!"

Skye doesn't hesitate a second. Mi... please be okay. If something happens to you, I'll never forgive myself.

Nothing happens at first. Tei holds the smelling salts over Mi'ehna's nostrils as Skye gives her his breath, and after some time, Mi'ehna coughs, a quiet, pained whimper her first conscious utterance.

"Mi... Mi'ehna?" He takes a step away from her, watching her light.

The twins step back as the telepath takes a full, wheezing breath. Her eyes flutter open in that manner peculiar to the unconscious. 

"Skye?" She lifts her head, but her eyes cross from the pain in her muscles, and she lets it fall. "What happened? Did I... I surely did not get hurt again..."

"You seem to have a knack for that," he says, glad to hear her voice again. "You had me worried."

She smiles a pained little smile at him, still sort of blurry in the head.

"I do... I am sorry, Skye. How can I make it up to you?"

"I'll bet he knows a few ways," Tei chuckles, earning a laugh from Lameeka as well.

Skye glares at them both. "It wasn't your fault this time, Mi." Not like with the burns when you were being stubborn. He grins. "I'm sure you'll think of a way to make it up to me soon enough."

"All I am ever good for if bleeding and dying..." Mi'ehna's mind betrays that single though before her shields erect themselves.

"Did... you hear that, Lameeka?" Tei asks, looking around for the source of it. 

"Hear what?"

Tei sighs. "Nevermind. I am going to make her some tea. Skye sir, do you like tea?"

"Please." He takes Mi'ehna's hand. "I was so scared, Mi. Later I have to tell you about everything that happened."

"I cannot wait to hear it, Skye." She warms at his touch, even though it actually hurts quite a bit. "My entire body aches. Would... you be so kind as to hold me, Skye, and tell me what happened to me?"

He smiles, laying Fairfight and Silence blade-to-hilt on the floor and taking her in his arms.
"He hurt you, Mi. When I got to you, you were in a ship... trapped in a gravity field. I had to shut it down." He grins. "I sort of self-destructed the system in the process, by accident. I went through all the temples to find you. Aliema helped some, and then I brought you here." A pause. "Actually, if Aliema hadn't given me some of her wind magic... I owe her much."

"Aliema," Mi'ehna whisperes a soft whisper, her eyelids already beginning to droop. "It sounds like a... wonderful adventure, Skye. I wish I could have shared it with you." Her head eases back against him, and she drifts off, just like that, into sleep.

He smiles softly. "It was, Mi. A wonderful, terrible adventure. But all for you." He has a sudden thought, reaches into a pocket, and pulls out a band of white gold set with moonstone, slipping it onto Mi'ehna's finger. He feels very tired all of a sudden, and he lets himself fall into a dreamless sleep.

Lameeka and Tei come back about then, but Lameeka stops her sister from entering. "Hey. Let them sleep."

Tei coos. "Aww... they're so cute. Lameeka, can I have a boy too?"

"When you're older, dear."

"I'm older now."

"Then when you're smarter."

"Okay!"

---

After a while Skye wakes up, and as he does, he wonders how long he's slept. It's difficult to remember at which point he fell asleep; he just recalls feeling very warm and very worn out. He strokes Mi'ehna's hair for a moment, hoping that she's having a good dream.

She's actually having a dream that's broadcasting. She's dreaming about time travel, going back to her old world... recalling her old life, her fights with Radivishe Moorn. It's troubling, but it has its happy moments. Oddly enough, when the dream reaches her death, it doesn't happen... he's there. Skye is. Protecting her... and she smiles in her sleep.

"I think... if I don't ever get out of Dothaven, it won't matter, as long as I have you," Skye murmurs, holding her close and breathing her scent, which is very like her blanket, he realizes, and waits for her to wake up.

It doesn't take too long. His awake mind begins to touch hers at a point, and her eyes open sleepily. "Mm... oh. Skye?" She fumbles around with one hand, and pinches his arm.

He pulls his arm back, surprised. "What was that for?" he asks, noting that she's still not fully awake.

She looks back a bit, hazily. "I had to make sure this was not a dream. Good morning, handsome."

He grnis at that. "Good morning, beautiful one," he replies, kissing her cheek. He wonders vaguely where the twins are, and then hopes that they don't show themselves too soon. He likes having Mi'ehna to himself.

She turns a bit in his arms, trying to find a position that doesn't ache quite so much. "So... we have had a very eventful few days," she smiles at him, reaches up and smacks his cheek as she's so fond of doing, "what sort of life and death adventures will we see today?"

"I can't imagine," he says lightly. "But I'm anxious to find out." By his tone, it's clear he's not, really, but he smiles anyway, loosening his hold on her so that she can find a comfortable position.

She chuckles softly, and squirms about until she's a bit more comfortable. Mostly, she just hurts... it's the same feeling one gets when badly overworking oneself at a gym. She reaches up, sets her hand on his chest, and promptly starts.

"What is this...?" she asks, more to herself than to him, as her eyes fall over the moonstone.

He smiles gently. "Mostly it's a symbol of everything I've given you and everything I have yet to give you..." but that's probably not the answer she's looking for. "It was my mother's, the ring of Delon, and she left it to me. She said I should give it with my heart, so I'm giving it to you."

Mi'ehna sits up, even though doing so hurts enough to make her yelp. She locks her eyes on his, brow creased with worry.

"Skye, I cannot accept this. It is too much... a memento of your mother should stay with you." Her voice is practically pleading with him.

He sighs, sitting up, too. "Mi... I have other things to remember my mother by. And even if I didn't, I would still give you that ring." He looks away from her. "I am a trigon, Mi. And because of that, I could never hope to find a woman who could love me. But you said you could." He regards her with curiosity. Had she meant it? "There were times when I'd look at that ring and be sad. But then, you... Don't tell me you can't accept it. When you say that... it makes me feel worthless all over again."

Her eyes soften, lower. "I did not mean it like that, and you know it. I simply... do not feel deserving of such a thing, Skye. I never had jewelry, growing up... never had much of anything, save for a pair of sandals and robe issued to me. A gift like this is just mind-blowing." She looks at it, twists it on her slender finger... it's a bit too big. She slips it off, and slides it onto a bigger finger, finding that it fits that one well enough. "Thank you..."

"And I had everything growing up... what I can remember." He smiles. "You, Mi'ehna, are to me what that ring is for you. I don't feel deserving of you, either." He picks up Fairfight, sheaths it, and fingers Silence's hilt idly.

Mi'ehna raises her eyes a little, blushing softly. "So earn me," she purrs, looking meaningfully at him. 

"God, she's a little minx isn't she?" Tei inquires of her sister Lameeka as the two enter the room, bearing trays full of fruit and bread. 

"Coy, for sure," Lameeka answers, grinning at them both.

Skye groans inwardly. He'd completely forgotten about the twins. "I happen to find that attractive," he says offhandedly. "Thank you for helping us," he continues in a more respectful tone. "I hope we weren't a burden."

Mi'ehna's just blushing a little bit hotter.

"Oh, none at all. We're glad to help a cute boy," Tei chuckles, "and a cute girl, too." Lameeka nudges her.

"Is she going to need medical care, after all?" she asks, but the telepath shakes her head.

"No. I just ache, a bit. I will be fine."

"Well," Lameeka shrugs, "feel free to stay as long as you like. Just don't drink my beer, and we'll stay friends. Anything else is fair game."

Skye grins. "Thank you. I think we'll just stay until Mi'ehna feels better. Then we'll have to go back." He looks to Mi'ehna. "Eleris will want to know you're safe."

She smiles at him, nods. "Forgive me, ladies, but..." she looks at the twins, "... could we have a few more minutes?"

Tei giggles. 

"Sure. Go ahead, Tei, get your ass back to the gym," Lameeka gives her sister a little push, and a moment later, both are gone.

Mi'ehna watches them go, then looks to Skye. "As for you. Where were we?"

"Well... we're in that one robot city," he explains. "I found you in the Air Temple, and I wanted to get out of there without going back through the other temples. I wasn't sure how hurt you were, and going back the way I came would take too much time." He decides to tell her about the kraken and the dragon later. "So Aliema showed me another door out, and it led us here."

"A kraken? How awful..." she grins at him, gives him a gentle shove down. "Well. I suppose I should begin repaying you for all that you have done." She leans down, wraps her arms around his neck. "Any ideas?"

He puts his arms around her waist. "You can tell me how I should go about 'earning' you..."

"Well, first, you can have this." She leans down a bit, softly kisses his face. "Then... hmm... how well do you know women, Skye?" She cuddles up, ignoring the ache in her every muscle.

Well, he's certainly never been with a woman, if that's what she means. "Not very well," he admits, enjoying her warmth.

"Well," Mi'ehna purrs against his cheek. "I... could really use a long, hot bath, to ease this ache. Perhaps you could have a lesson then." She nudges him. "Only... we need to find a spring, or... something similar. Could you make that happen?"

"I'm sure Lameeka knows where we could find one..." he says. His light is very... alive just now, and he rather likes the feeling.

"Let us find out as soon as possible, then." She runs her fingertips down the bridge of his nose, giggling softly. "I feel like I have been in a barfight for a week."

He smiles at that, but it really pains him to hear it. "I'll go find her and ask, then," he says reluctantly, not wanting to leave her just now.

She sits up, gives him a gentle shove. "Go ahead, Skye. I need to rest a little longer. Thank you."

He nods, stands up and goes off in search of Lameeka. In all honestly, he is feeling a bit sore, too. Probably not as much as her, but he doesn't want to make a habit of running trough the temples like that.

The twins are standing in the kitchen, quietly talking together about other things. They seem to get along very well, and from the smell of the sweet buns baking in their oven, they're obviously very good cooks too.

"Hello again, Skye," Tei smiles at him when he comes in. "Quickie?"

"Something smells good," he remarks. The smell reminds him of something... "Mi's feeling better now, but she's still sore. Is there somewhere she could have a hot bath?" Isle White Sand... it smells like the kitchen there...

"Cinnamon buns," Tei cheerfully answers, "aren't they heaven? Lameeka won't tell you that she makes them, because she wants to look tough."

Lameeka shrugs. "Have you tried the water temple?"

Skye thinks of the Mermaid and twitches. "Is there somewhere else? Perhaps free of krakens?"

"Lameeka, you know very well that we have a spring on our property. Why are you so mean to Skye?" Tei demands this with a stamp of her foot.

"Because I like to watch boys squirm," Lameeka answers, grinning at them both. "It's in the back, about fifty yards out. "

"Thank you." He favors them both with a genuine smile before going back to find Mi'ehna. The smell of the cinnamon stays with him, though, and he lets himself be lost in fond memories of the place that was once his home.

By the time he gets back, Mi'ehna has pulled herself into a sitting position on the couch and is humming quietly to herself, idly playing with the ring Skye had just given her. She looks peaceful, if not healthy.

Skye goes and sits next to her, watching her light for a moment before speaking up. "Lameeka says they have a spring on their property, about fifty yards out back." He's really starting to feel an ache in his arms now, but it's tolerable.

She looks at him, her expression sort of hard to read. "Want to go now, then?" She lays her hand atop his, making sure he sees how happiliy she wears his gift.

He nods. "Are you feeling well wnough to walk?" he asks, turning his hand over and squeezing hers gently.

"Well," she snickers, "I can shuffle okay. Or trudge. I do not think walk is in my repertoire right now." She smiles. "But I like where my hand is, whatever we do. Help me up."

Smiling, he pulls her up gently. She won't show weakness, and that's something he loves about her.

She leans on him pretty heavily, actually... well, not so, considering she only weighs about a hundred pounds, ish. 

Tei comes into the room about then, grinning her button-nosed grin. "How adorable. Come on, you two, I'll lead you to the spring. You'll need these." She holds out some towels, and spins on her heels to walk that way.

Skye drapes the towels over his shoulder and puts an arm around Mi'ehna, letting her lean against him as much as she needs to.

Together the three go through the back gate of the Ence house, which Tei opens without any sort of key, and progress through a long plexiglass tunnel that, as Tei explains, is a two way mirror. The outside can't see in, but the in can see out. At the end of the tunnel, a chamber opens outward into a warm, dim deciduous forest that is so thick with trees the light can't penetrate well. A sign, handmade, reads 'Hot Spring: Watch Step', and just in front of them a misty cloud of warmth rises from a sizable, perfectly round pool.

"There you go," Tei nods. "I'm going to go back inside. Take as long as you want. There's a buzzer on the wall if you need something. Like help, or... you know. Bye!" And she turns, and heads back inside.

Skye watches her go with a quizzical look, then turns his gaze to the pool. He sets the towels on the ground and kneels at the edge, dipping his hand in. It's perfect. He takes off his shirt.
"...could you turn around a moment, Mi?"

She regards him with great interest for a moment, but nods, and turns away from him. "I hope it is warm enough. I adore a hot bath."

He takes off his pants, too, and sets them with his shirt, folded not quite so neatly. The water is warm. Not scalding at all, but plesantly so. He sinks in until the water reaches his shoulders, heaving a sigh of relief as the soreness ebbs away.
"It's wonderful, Mi."

She chuckles softly, crossing her arms over her chest. "Oh, good! Can I turn around now? I do hope I did not miss anything."

He grins. "It's alright. I'm decent." The water really is wonderful, and he realizes it's been a while since he's had a warm bath.

Mi'ehna turns and gives him a silly grin. "Now it is your turn. Close your peeping eyes." She slips the clasp of her shirt, giving him a stern look.

Skye favors her with that dauntless grin of his and closes his eyes, turning away, his fingers idly tracing shapes in the water.

Mi'ehna watches him long enough to be sure he won't peep, and finishes undress quickly. She lowers herself into the water across the pool from Skye, and sighs almost immediately at how good the heat feels on her bruised and battered body. 

"You were not kidding," she coos, splashing a little bit. "You can open your eyes now."

He does, slowly. "It's nice, isn't it? It's been such an exciting few days that I almost forgot what it was like to relax."

"Is that so? You seem like a very keyed-up person, Skye." She smiles at him, eyes half open. She's practically melting at how good the bubbling spring feels. "Perhaps you should take more time out to do things like this."

He nods. "I suppose I could... if I wasn't getting sucked into oubliettes and getting into fights and trying not to get sucked into an alternate dimmension on my way to the bathroom." He smiles at her. "If I didn't have all that happen to me, moments like this wouldn't be very rewarding."

"Skye, I am impressed." Mi smiles at him, beginning to kick her legs a little bit and amusing herself with the eddies in the pool. "I had no idea you were so philosophical."

"I'm not really," he answers. "It's just a direct result of almost having my ass handed to me on a platter."

"Well. I like poetry and philosophy. So I suppose I will have to slap you around now and again, to hear some." She smiles, winks. "We can fight, and have a bath, sometimes in that order."

"I think I might like that..." he says, sinking an inch lower into the water. The warmth is having an almost hypnotic effect on him, it's so wonderful. "And I'll sing for you..." he adds.

Mi's eyes light up at that. "Maybe I will sing for you, too."

He regards her with interest. "You sing, Mi? I didn't know that."

She blushes just a little bit, and nods. "Yes, I do. I learned... from my friend Foraya, in a way. She was a brilliant singer... I learned by being near her for a long time. My mind just absorbed the knowledge, and one day, I could sing."

"That's wonderful. I want to hear you, then." He feels oddly elated just now, and his light projects itself in the form of his wings again.

Mi'ehna lowers her eyes a bit, thinking. "Okay... what should I sing about?" Her hand trails nervously in the water. It's been awhile.

He smiles. "Something happy..." he says. "Something to soothe."

"Soothing... I can do." She lifts her hand, lets the water trickle down her arm. "I never learned any happy songs, though. I can try, if you wish it, though."

"I'll have to teach you some happy songs, then," he remarks. "Sing for me? A soothing song is fine." He's really rather anxious to hear her voice.

Mi'ehna smiles briefly, and leans back against the edge of the pool. Her eyes close as she lifts her voice, a melodic vibrant tone that is both haunting and melancholy in a roundabout sort of way.

A day, so long, so long ago
when the north wind's breath, ceased to blow,
when the sun, its face, in mists did hide,
when angels sang their songs of pride

I sat upon my window sill
gazing out across the hills
and my heart sang those songs of pride
to hide the empty soul inside

Dusk, my love, my confidante
Where will I be, when you are not?
In silence sing the sweetest song
I plead the night, make way for dawn

A day, today, so long ago,
I watched the world cease to grow
when the sun, afraid, of northwind's choice,
silenced mother nature's voice

I sat upon my window sill
my weeping eyes, the rivers filled,
the land, so dry, and burned, and dead
revived with waters my tears fed

Dusk, my eyes, my ears, my voice,
I give to the world by my own choice,
And though I'll never leave this place,
my loss is the smile on the planet's face

I sit upon my window sill...
I always have... I always will.

"That was beautiful, Mi." It was also a bit sad, really. But beautiful. Mi'ehna is beautiful. Don't stare, idiot. He turns away, a bit, blushing.

Mi'ehna's eyes remain close, but her face is... twitching, sort of, at the memories the song brings flooding back.

No no no. Do not cry. You cannot cry. Mi'ehna, you are stronger than that. Stop crying. You are crying. Stop it before he sees!

Noticing a change in her light, he looks up, confused. "Mi, what's wrong?" He approaches her slowly, taking care not to get too close.

She shakes her head, smiles a very fake smile, and submerges just long enough to wet her hair and face, and hide the forming tears. When she comes back up, whatever feeling she had been hiding is gone. 

"It was nothing, Skye, just unpleasant memories." She shakes her hair out of her eyes, smiles a much more real smile at him. "The friend who taught me to sing is gone. It reminded me of her. And... be careful, Skye. It is dangerous for boys on this side of the pool."

He regards her for a moment, then slides back some, sinking into the water with a contented sigh. "I'm sorry, Mi. It must make you sad to think of your friend."

The telepath nods a bit, reaches up to play with her hair. 

"It does, but only sometimes. She died thousands of years ago." She looks aside, then back at him again. "What are you sorry for? And who told you to go back over there?" A playful splash of water is sent his way. "Maybe I want to sing with you."

"I'm much too relaxed to raise my voice just now," he says apologetically. "And I came back here because I didn't want to upset you or make you uncomfortable." He grins. "It wasn't because I don't want to be near you, anyway."

"Then come a little closer, and smile at me. Tell me a story, tell a joke. Just be close." She lifts a hand out of the water, and beckons to him. "You do not have to be right next to me. Just... closer."

He comes as close as he dares, which is very hard because he seems to be struggling with a new part of himself that wants to be very close to her. "Once," he begins, more of an attept to distract himself, really. "I was wandering in the desert and I stumbled upon a cave full of treasure."

Mi'ehna's eyes glow at that. "A cave full of treasure? That is quite something to stumble upon! How did you come to be wandering in a desert?" She's intent on his movements, watching, analyzing, in a very subtle way. She loves what she knows of him, for certain. There is still a lot to learn, but she has astronomically high hopes. 

"It was when I left Trinity... when I left the island. I wandered everywhere. I'm not sure what I was looking for, really. A reason to live, maybe." He shrugs. "But I was tired and came to the cave so that I would have shelter while I slept. I heard a sound, coming from deep within the cave, and I found rooms and halls carved under the ground. I kept following the noise." He can clearly see the cave in his mind, recalling how his heart hammered in his chest as he wandered, looking for the source. "Finally, I came to a room with a high pedestal in the middle, three oil lamps perched on top. One was gold, another a tarnished, dented bronze, and the last was carved of sapphire."

"How wonderful! Was it a trap? A test of some sort?" Mi'ehna is practically dancing in the water now, listening to this story with open ears. "I have read such stories. What happened?" She kicks away from the wall, floats a little bit closer to him, eyes positively alight.

Skye nods. "It was both a test and a trap. Whoever stored their treasures in that cave put the lamps there to make sure if a theif went lurking about, they would not leave the caves alive." He smiles. "The lamps contained three genies: one that would grant an infinite number of wishes, one who would only grant three, and a djiin, who allows his summoner to wish for a painless death and nothing more. The idea was that the greedy intruder would choose the sapphire lamp, where the djiin waited."

"And you are still alive, I see." She tilts her head a little bit. "So which did you choose?"

He grins. "Had I been fully aware of the trap at the time, I would have chosen the bronze, indicating that I had no plans to rob the cave. However... the noise I heard was coming from within the sapphire lamp. So I picked it up." He waits for her reaction to this. It is, afterall, the most important part of the story.

She blinks. "But you are not dead... are you? You certainly look alive. You feel alive."

"Of course I'm alive. But had I chosen the bronze, I wouldn't be. You see, I discovered that genies get bored. And when they get bored, they challenge each other to card games. So when I opened the lamp the genie that I summoned was the one that would grant me an unlimited number of wishes." He chuckles softly. "She'd won the lamp from the djiin in a card game."

Mi'ehna actually laughs out loud at that, instead of her normal muted chuckle or soft giggle. She covers her mouth, eyes shining. "That is brilliant. But perhaps your luck is not so bad after all?" Her laughter fades, but her smile remains bright and honest.

He laughs, too. "Maybe so. But then, Etinifni - my genie - has caused me quite a bit of trouble, too."

"Well... good things so often come along with bad things. It sounds like a good trade off anyway." She leans against the edge of the pool again, smiling still, and begins to lightly kick her legs. "This feels so gooood, Skye, remind me to have good ideas more often."

He grins. "Don't worry. If they involve hot springs, then I will definately remind you."

Mi'ehna glances at him, looks down. "There are better things than hot springs, you know. But... adding them to hot springs is something extra special."

"Like what?" he asks, regarding her with genuine curiosity. He looks around until he sees the buzzer Tei mentioned. "Tei said if we needed... is there something you need, Mi?"

The telepath just smiles at that. It's so cute when he's naive.

"Mm... nah. Tell me another story, Skye."

He frowns a bit at that. "Alright, then. But if you need something..." He thinks for a moment. Another story. "What kind of story do you want to hear?"

"Hmm..." she thinks about this for a moment, splashing idly again. "How did you get your power?"

He smiles sadly. "I don't remember. I think I always had it... I told you I lost most of my memory when I was exiled, didn't I? I remember a few things of my childhood, but nothing definate..."

"That is a sad thing to hear, Skye. Were you from a desert country?" Mi'ehna kicks away from the wall, and swims towards the center of the pool. She's finished lazing, now she needs to get stretched out. "I was," she calls back to him, "though I never knew until later in life."

"I lived near the ocean..." he says. "My father owned a shipping company." He has vague memories of playing on the docks, hearing the sailors call to one another. "The ships brought fish and wine from other ports in my country."

Mi fights down the memory of her only boat ride. It's definitely an unpleasant one, and she doesn't want that right now. 

"Swim with me," she calls to him, " and tell me more."

He lets himself float out a litte, enjoying the warmth of the water. "I have a brother..." he continues, a little hesitantly. "A half brother. He was the one who came to find me to tell me my parents had died. I do not have plesant memories of him." A pause. "He came to tell me that my parents had died and to give me the things they had left me. And then, he said... he called me a murderer. That's when I knew what my mark was for. I was angry with Trinity for not telling me. And I left." It's not something he likes to talk about, but it was an important moment in his life.

She can sense this of course, and decides to swim quietly for a moment, swimming around him in wide circles. "Well. We both have unhappy pasts, Skye. I think, though, that I am more interested in our future right now." 

"The future..." he smiles faintly. "What do you want in your future, Mi?"

"Love and kisses, singing, a back rub now and again. Sparring, happiness for my people, a world without Radivishe Moorn." She grins. "I am not being too unrealistic, I hope."

"I'm pretty sure we're going to have to deal with the Radish Moron again..." he replies, "...but the rest isn't all that much to ask for."

She stops swimming, looks at him meaningfully. "I want my future now, then."

There's that distinctly alive surging of light again. "Mi..." He leans against the egde of the pool. "I'm not a master masseur, or anything, but I can try."

Mi giggles at his enthusiasm. "Calm down, now. I want you to try. But I want you to want to try, too. When you are ready."

He nods, even while trying to get a hold of his light. "If that's what you want, Mi." His wings, which had been showing themselves, fold away and fade.

She nods back, blushing a bit. "We should get dressed, then... want to go first? I will not peek much."

"I'll go first," he agrees, raises an eyebrow. "Much?" he remarks, reaching for a towel.

Mi'ehna just smiles, and closes her eyes.

Skye lifts himself out of the pool and dries himself off quickly, pulling on his pants and shirt.
"I'm done, he says, turning his back to her and closing his eyes to give her privacy.

Mi'ehna swims to the edge and gets out, groaning a bit at the strain of it. She dries herself quickly and slips into her pants, but then looks at Skye with a bit of mischeif in her eyes. 

"Keep your eyes closed until I say," she warns him, as she steps in front of him. "If you open them, I will toss you in the pool." She leans up on her toes and kisses him, a little chuckle making it quiver.

There is a breif mental debate in which Skye has to convince himself that even though it would be worth being thrown in the pool, Mi'ehna was stronger than most women, and thus, he must keep his eyes closed. He gets a kiss, anyway, which causes his light to surge again in a pleased sort of way.

Mi'ehna steps back, lips tingling a bit, and slips into her shirt as well. "Okay, you can look now. Dirty thoughts, Skye."

He laughs nervously, opening his eyes. "I'm sorry, Mi. Couldn't help it."

"I do not recall saying I disapproved." She holds out her hand, beaming, the troubles of yesterday all but forgotten. "I hear my house calling."

He grins, taking her hand in his. "Really? I hear food calling."

"Aww... I think you can be accomodated." Mi starts walking, tugging him gently at first, back towards the house. "There was food being prepared there, I believe. We can mooch."

He agrees a bit too enthusiastically, recalling the smell of the buns baking in the oven. Though... "I hope we are not being a burden to Lameeka and Tei."

"Oh, they seem to be enjoying themselves. And I will figure out a way to repay them, eventually." Mi just leads him on, paying a bit more attention to the rumble in her stomach now.

Inside, Lameeka is busy at her workout, and Tei is bouncing around setting out cups and juice and this and that. She practically pops when the two of them show up.

"Hello lovebirds!" she squeaks, pulling chairs out for both of them. "Lameeka and I ate already, so I set you out some fruit and buns and juice and I'm gonna go in here now you two just enjoy." She smiles, and in a half a breath she's gone, singing to herself in the front room.

Skye sits down, eyeing all of the food. It seems like forever since he last ate, suddenly. As hungry as he is, though, he waits for Mi'ehna to start first.

Mi'ehna slides into one of the chair, surveying the bounty before them. She fills a plate with deep red strawberries, her absolute favorite, some bread, and a slice of what looks like fish of some kind. "Do not be shy, Skye. Good manners will not fill your belly." She takes a bite of strawberry, eyes closing a bit. 

He grins. "I was taught by my Ama to respect women, Mi. And one of the things I learned is that a woman starts the meal." He takes a bun and a glass of juice, though.

"So women come first with you, Skye?" Mi'ehna grins, setting down the strawberry stem. "How dashing. I mean that." She takes up another berry, munches it down. "But sometimes a man should be a man, too."

He regards her with interest for a long moment. "Really? Like when?" he asks.

She giggles, covering her mouth with a napkin. "You are such a silly boy, Skye. Even a woman like me needs to feel... hm. How do I put this?" She leans on her folded hands, thinking, looking at him. "Sometimes..." she begins, a bit hesitantly, "... a man needs to come across as manly. I enjoy being coddled, but sometimes I crave that 'walk it off' respect that men give to each other. I love to be loved, but if a man turns into a puddle every time I look at him, he loses some of the quality that I love." She smiles. "Do you follow?"

He thinks on it a moment. "I think I do." Women, he notes to himself as he takes a sip of juice, Are complex creatures.

Mi'ehna quietly enjoys her bread for a bit, just... drinking him in, the way that new couples do. Sips her juice, dabs her lips with a napkin, repeats. 

"You are beautiful," she calmly says at one point, as if observing this for the first time. "I think so."

He's not sure what to make of that. No one's ever said it to him before. Okay... Etinifni had once, but she was slightly insane. "I think you're beautiful, Mi," he says quietly.

"Do you?" She looks at him, beaming bemusedly, and dabs her lips again. "Tell me about your genie, Skye. What is she like?"

"She's..." It's hard to come up with appropriate words. It's like trying to describe an atomic bomb in a positive way, really. "... unique. Chaotic. She delights in granting wishes, and tends to overdue them." He grins. "A while ago, she decided that since she had more than enough magic for one master, so I wished she could serve as many as she liked."

Mi smiles an wicked smile. "So I could be her master as well as yours?" She winks. "Is she on the outside, then?"

"She serves me, primarily. And yes, she lives in a house I put together with a wish that she turned into an inn. It's the closest thing I have to a home, really." He's finished eating now, and finds himself longing to be sitting behind the bar in that house.

She can feel that longing, and her heart aches for it. "Would you take me there, someday?" Her eyes are welling up a bit, all the feelings in her own heart mixing with his, but it is a happy question. "I would like to meet her."

He nods, smiling. "I'd like that, and Etinifni would love you. And you could meet Darien as well, my surrogate father figure." Who turns into a violent, bloodthirsty unicorn when he's angry. "Only you'll have to be careful opening doors in that place," he adds. "Sometimes they lead to alternate dimensions or something."

"Skye, you have such a sense of humor," Mi chuckles, though doesn't entirely disbelieve him. She dabs her lips again. "I think... I am stuffed."

Tei peeks in about this time, her eyes dancing with a... dumb, but well-meaning, light. "Hey! You two want to leave here still? I know how, but don't tell Lameeka if I tell you okay?" She looks over her shoulder, and sits with them, smiling her muppet smile.

"You do?" Skye asks, interested. Like he said before, if he has Mi'ehna, he really doesn't care where he is, but a part of him still hates being trapped.

"Sure. You have to go to the hall of trials at the edge of the air temple. Aliema can get you in." Tei grins. "You just have to defeat the Malufel. It will let you out if you can best it."

Mi'ehna closes her eyes. "That is impossible."

"Nuh-uh. It has been done."

Mi's eyes snap open. "When? How? By whom?"

Tei chuckles. "Our father, of course, Ansendul. He is a rare being who can actually mess with time. That's how this place never ages. How I am..." she thinks. "twenty-one thousand eight hundred and four years old."

Skye blinks. "Well... you don't look a day over twenty-one thousand," he says. He looks to Mi'ehna. "I didn't know there was a time spell on the place." Inside he's having another mental debate, trying to decide what to do. Did he want to risk fighting the Malfuel?

Tei blushes. "Aww... thanks!"

"But we cannot mess with time, Tei dear." Mi'ehna looks the dumb girl in the eye, trawling her mind, but finding no evidence of lies. "And I know of only one weapon that can harm it... Silence."

Tei grins. "But there is a whole stockpile aboard daddy's ship, the Genesis!"

Skye stares at her for a full moment before burying his head in his hands, groaning. "Tei... I... have a confession to make," he says, not knowing weather he sould be laughing or entirely serious.

Tei just smiles. "Oh, I am sure it's okay, whatever it is. Tell me?"

Mi'ehna blinks. Oh... shit.

Skye's having the same thought. Surely this is much more serious than drinking Tameeka's beer. "Well... Mi'ehna was trapped inside the Genesis... and I had to shut down the gravity to save her. In order to do that, I had to provide a password. Somehow, I guessed two correct passwords in one go. The first password shut off the gravity, and the other..." he looks down at the floor "... triggered the command to self-destruct the ship."

Tei leans back a liitle. "Daddy's ship?" She looks down at the table. "But... it can't be gone. That's all we had left from him!"

Mi'ehna reaches out, pats the girls arm, her mind reaching out to comfort her as much as it can.

"There are," Tei begins unhappily, "more of daddy's weapons. Aliema knows where they are. You could be out of here by supper. Just ask her. Either way, I want you to leave."

Skye nods weakly, stung and angry with himself. But at the moment, he'd been concerned with Mi'ehna, and if he had to do that over... he wouldn't have done it differently. "I'm sorry, Tei. Really. You've been so kind to us and I'd never want to do something like that on purpose. I hope you can forgive me one day." He takes Mi'ehna's hand. "We should go."

She smiles a little at him. "You did what you did for a good reason. I already forgive you. Just... you should leave before Lameeka finds out."

Mi'ehna squeezes his hand, and nods. "Thank you for your hospitality, Tei." She stands, and pulls on Skye, leading him to the door. "Take me to the air temple, Skye. I want to talk to Aliema."

He gives Tei one last glance, then goes with her, looking for the door that had led them there and fircely vowing to himself that if he ever sees Etinifni again, the first thing he will do is wish the Genesis back into existance, but maybe without the gravity torture.