Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Bethany]

Bethany turns a deep crimson and gasps. They'd... danced around it but... She stares intently at the table, but with the way her head is angled, she's clearly trying to glance at his face out of the corner of her eye."Umm."

[GamesMaster]

Don stills, then, glancing away with his shoulders slightly hunched. "Uh. Well. I didn't mean to... but there it is, I guess. I don't expect you to feel the same or anything," he adds, shifting a bit. "I just..."

Mriy smiles, then, a tense smile. "Young love is rash, or so I am led to believe. Still, you must think of your position, your people."

[Bethany]

"It might be young, but..." Bethany smiles shyly, darting a glance at Don. "We still feel it. And we're not dumb, we know we can't... Make a big deal of things. Don is far too important to Cattown."

[GamesMaster]

"Your courage is to be applauded," she admits, tilting her head slightly as she regards them. "If you make trouble for Cadmus' son, you will taste my daggers," she says, after a long moment.

"That means she approves," stage-whispers Ari behind her hand. 

[Bethany]

"...neat," Bethany says weakly, glad she has a near three hundred pound mabari napping in the corner of the room. Mriy's just a bit intimidating... "So... how is that all going? Cattown's revitalization and such, I mean."

[GamesMaster]

As it happens, it's going well -- and she seems to earn some measure of credit for asking, for being genuinely interested, for having suggestions. 

The conversation goes well, as does the next round of Whist. The next revelation comes when Miki brings over drinks for everyone and casually says, "here you go, mom," when handing a glass to Mriy. 

[Bethany]

Bethany is still rosy pleased from Don's confession- which got him a quick peck when she had a chance (Ari might have rolled her eyes, but she didn't leer or stab at her so she'd taken it). She's also very excited and pleased about the work, eagerly talking with Cadmeus about some of the problems with setting up schools in Cattown, which means she almost misses that. "Huntress Deathglare is your-" Bethany's mouth snaps shut, mortified- and a bit worried she's going to get her ass kicked.

[GamesMaster]

"Deathglare?" asks Mriy, raising one eyebrow ridge. "I like it."

Miki winces a little. "Yes, yes, the Guardian is my mother. I told you I was good hunter." 

[Bethany]

"Sorry, nicknames are a habit I got from my dad," she mumbles. Clearing her throat, she glances at Miki. "I'm not sure it entirely works like that? I mean, unless she's been teaching you, I guess.." But I haven't really seen much evidence of that... Miki's not bad in a scrap but...

[GamesMaster]

"I have," says Mriy. "But Miki is not the most attentive student."

"Miki is good hunter!" he protests.

[Bethany]

"Miki is a very determined hunter," Bethany allows, offering him a smile. "But you might have better luck with more showing and less boasting."

[GamesMaster]

"Miki can demonstrate," he suggests, leering at Ari.

"Get lost," she snorts.

Mriy reaches out lightning-fast and swats Miki in the head, causing him to wince, rubbing at the spot gently. "Behave, young one."

[Bethany]

"About your hunting prowess," Bethany adds. "Girls don't buy if a guy tells them he's great. He has to prove it by showing it. Too many people boast and lie about themselves for them to trust just words."

[GamesMaster]

"Miki is quite skilled in lovemaking," he argues. "But nobody gives Miki a chance to show it."

[Bethany]

"Miki..." Beth asks slowly. "If no-one lets you, ah, prove it, then how do you know?"