* Tarri knocks breathlessly on San's door

* Sanriel opens his door, looking down at a book with a furrowed brow.

<Sanriel> uh-huh? ::distractedly::

* Tarri is carrying Corri in a sling across her chest, and a small basket over one arm. She smiles brightly when San opens the door. "Hello!"

<Sanriel> ::drops is book and looks up in surprise:: Tarri!

* Tarri laughs. "Hello, Sanriel."

* Sanriel looks around, grinning in an embarrassed "my room is such a mess" way, and quickly picks up the book and nudges some papers on the floor away from the door.

<Sanriel> Come in, please! ::beams:: It's great to see you!

* Tarri slips past him and into the room, looking around with interest.

<Sanriel> ::quickly tries to straighten up some of his tools and homework quickly:: Umm, sorry about the mess...

<Tarri> ::giggles and steps over a pile of books to sit on a chair::

<Sanriel> ::straightens up a bit more and grins at Tarri:: Having a nice day? Wow.. what a wonderful surprise! ::bounces a little::

<Tarri> ::giggles again:: Yes, a very nice day. It's even better now.

<Sanriel> ::flushes happily:: yes, definitely!

<Tarri> So... ::settling Corri a little more comfortably:: What were you reading that had you so interested?

<Sanriel> ::settles down on a bed facing Tarri:: Oh! Just part of the new reading lesson Glossaria gave us. She didn't wait long before giving us more to work on.

<Tarri> ::chuckles:: She's a very dedicated teacher. How are you doing with it?

<Sanriel> ::makes a little face:: Okay, I guess. ::grins:: She is, isn't she? Such a taskmaster! ::laughs:: I'm almost done reading, but I need to write a little about what I read, so I was kinda thinking about that as I was doing it.

<Tarri> ::nods:: That seems like a good idea. ::she makes a wistful face:: Am I distracting you too much? Should I go?

<Sanriel> ::quickly:: Oh no! I was just thinking about taking a break anyway. ::smiles:: I just didn't expect to have such a nice one.

<Tarri> ::looks down, smiling and blushing a little:: If you're sure. I *did* bring a book - if you want to finish your own reading, I can just wait quietly until you're done.

<Sanriel> ::shakes his head and sets the book aside:: No, that's okay! What did you bring? ::smiles::

<Tarri> You mean my book? It's a play... very sad. Val gave it to me.

<Sanriel> A play? In a book? ::looks puzzled:: I thought plays were done on stages?

<Tarri> Well, yes, they're best that way. But this contains the actors' lines, and the important things they do. It's almost as good.

<Sanriel> ::looks a bit surprised for a moment:: Wow... I never thought of that. What else do people put in books?

<Tarri> ::giggles:: Lots of things, I guess.

<Sanriel> ::slight amazed for a moment:: Wow... all this stuff.. ::smiles:: Is that why you like books so much? Because there are so many things they're used for?

<Tarri> ::smiles shyly:: Oh... I think I like them because I loved stories as a little girl, and the books were never too busy to tell me one.

<Sanriel> ::smiles softly:: That's kind of sweet... You know I'll be happy to tell you story any time you like... even if I have to make one up. Or even read it from a book. But I guess you'd have to show me the ones you know already.

* Tarri smiles at him. "I'm sure I'd love hearing a story from you, even if I already knew it."

<Sanriel> ::blushes a little and smiles:: Any time, then.

<Tarri> ::grins at him, a little mischievously:: Well... If you're not studying, perhaps I'll give you your present.

<Sanriel> ::blinks:: Present?

<Tarri> ::bounces a little:: Of course!

<Sanriel> ::blushing and smiling in surprise:: OH! You didn't have to.. I mean... ::trails off:: Umm.. Thank you! What is it? ::beams::

<Tarri> ::giggles and offers him her basket::

* Sanriel takes the basket gingerly and looks inside, grinning widely.

<Tarri> ::points:: Not the book; that's mine. The other thing.

<Sanriel> ::blinks and looks up, grinning:: Oh! Okay! ::lifts out the small, hard package, cuts the string, and begins unwrapping the plain brown wrapper::

<Tarri> ::bounces a little, watching him excitedly::

<Sanriel> ::lifts out a jar and grins at the sight of the red ribbon wrapping it:: Ohh! ::blushes a little:: The ribbon... ::smiles at Tarri and looks at the dark substance with growing excitement:: Is this what I think it is?

<Tarri> ::grins:: Depends on what you think it is, silly...

<Sanriel> ::grins:: Your preserves?

<Tarri> ::bounces:: Yes!

<Sanriel> For me? But! ::hugs Tarri, being careful of Corri:: Oh, thank you!

<Tarri> ::grins and kisses his cheek when he hugs her:: I hope you like it.

<Sanriel> I *know* I will! ::bounces and then sets the jar of preserves on his bed:: I'll be right back! Don't move! ::kisses Tarri quickly and dashes though the door and down the hall::

* Tarri watches him go, bemused...

* Sanriel returns a few minutes later with a few pieces of bread, a spoon, and a big grin.

<Tarri> ::laughs when she sees him return::

<Sanriel> ::carefully unties the ribbon and folds it, then sets it down on his pillow with a little smile before opening the jar and spreading some of the preserves on a piece of the bread, which he then offers to Tarri.::

<Sanriel> mmm.. it smells *wonderful*

* Tarri takes the bread, but waits for San to get his own piece before trying it.

<Sanriel> ::quickly prepares another piece of bread for himself, and holds it up to his nose to take a deep whiff:: mmmmmm.... ::smiles widely at Tarri::

<Tarri> ::grins at him::

<Sanriel> ::looks at his piece of bread for a moment, then blushes, smiles, and hold it up to Tarri's lips:: It only seems right to do it this way again... ::softly::

<Tarri> ::blushes, then smiles and carefully takes a bite before offering her slice to him::

* Sanriel takes a small bite and closes his eyes, making a happy sound. "Wonderful!"

<Tarri> ::laughs:: I'm glad you like it!

<Sanriel> ::beaming:: I *so* do! ::offers Tarri the bread again::

<Tarri> ::giggles a little and takes another bite::

<Sanriel> ::softly:: We'll probably need some more. And a bigger basket...

<Tarri> ::laughs and offers Sanriel her slice again:: Maybe.

* Sanriel takes another bits and blushes slightly looking at Tarri watching him, then offers her some more slowly.

* Tarri flushes a little, but continues to watch him as she takes another bite and holds out the bread for Sanriel.

<Sanriel> Maybe next week? I mean, the one after we do the fishing thing with our friends? ::smiles and trades bites again, never taking his eyes from Tarri::

<Tarri> That sounds nice. If the birds haven't eaten them all...

<Sanriel> I hope not. That's our patch, now. ::grins::

<Tarri> ::shyly:: Well... it can still be our patch, even if there aren't any berries. ::blushes::

<Sanriel> ::nods slowly, flushing again as well:: Of course... ::moves their arms slightly and slowly leans over to give Tarri a kiss::

<Tarri> ::sighs into the kiss:: Mmmmm...

* Sanriel sits back down and sighs happily, eyes half closed, and slowly lifts Tarri's hand up to take another bite.

<Tarri> ::sighs and smiles, watching him::

<Tarri> ::quietly:: You get better at that every time... ::she blushes and grins::

<Sanriel> ::blushes furiously::

<Tarri> ::giggles::

<Sanriel> ::still blushing:: I have a wonderful teacher, who's even sweeter than her preserves..

<Tarri> Oh! ::blushes harder and smiles bashfully:: Well... Good teachers are always enthusiastic about the subject... and their students...

<Sanriel> ::giggles a little:: My *favorite* class.

* Tarri smiles, then lifts San's hand. She hesitates a moment, looking at him, then eats the last bit of bread, almost - but not quite - licking the preserves from the tips of his fingers.

* Sanriel shivers and watches with wider eyes.

<Tarri> ::blushes and looks down, twining her fingers with his before looking back up with a shy smile:: I love you.

<Sanriel> ::holds Tarri's hand tightly and starts breathing again:: I love you, too... ::leans over to kiss her again gently::

<Tarri> ::leans into Sanriel's kiss:: m..

* Tarri pulls away after a moment, then grins bashfully and offers Sanriel the last little bit of bread in her hand.

<Sanriel> ::smiles and eats that last bite:: Thank you again, Tarri...

<Tarri> It's just preserves, Sanriel...

* Sanriel maneuvers onto the floor beside the chair and leans his head on her shoulder

<Sanriel> ::smiles:: But they're *your* preserves.

<Tarri> ::rests her cheek against the top of his head briefly:: "I'm glad you like them."

<Sanriel> ::sighs happily:: And thank you for coming to visit.

<Tarri> Oh, well... You've come to visit me so often...

<Sanriel> ::chuckles:: I *love* coming to visit you.

<Tarri> ::smiles:: I'm glad. ::giggles:: Even if you have to face Ingaliese at the door?

<Sanriel> ::blushes:: I still feel like she doesn't really like me... but yes. ::grins again:: Even if I have to face her.

<Tarri> ::giggles and kisses the top of Sanriel's head:: My hero - braving the dragon to come to me!

<Sanriel> ::giggles:: A Prince could do no less for his Princess!

<Tarri> ::sighs:: And you are definitely my Prince.

<Sanriel> mmm... Definitely!

* Sanriel leans his head back and kisses Tarri's chin with a smile.

<Tarri> ::giggles a little and leans down to kiss Sanriel::

<Sanriel> ::sighs happily and looks into Tarri's eyes:: I *love* you!

<Tarri> ::smiles:: I love you too, Sanriel.

<Sanriel> ::a little shyly:: would you like to sit on the bed with me? It's a little softer...

<Tarri> ::pauses a moment, then meets his eyes and smiles softly:: All right. I was just thinking that didn't look too comfortable...

<Sanriel> ::smiles back:: It kind of is and isn't'.. ::blushes a little::

* Tarri smiles and stands. "I think I know what you mean..." She looks around for a minute, then down at the sleeping Corri in his sling. "Do you think Val would mind if I put Corri on his bed?"

<Sanriel> ::smiles and shakes his head:: I don't think he'd care. Corri's so cute and all... ::grins::

<Sanriel> The sling's working out well? ::smiles and looks down at him::

* Tarri nods and carefully lifts Corri out of the sling and hands him to Sanriel. She pulls the sling off and unfastens its cradle, spreading it carefully on Vallel's bed. "Yes, it really helps to have my hands free..." She takes Corri back and lays him carefully down.

<Sanriel> ::takes Tarri's hand:: And he looks so comfortable in it, too.

<Tarri> ::smiles at him:: He generally stays quieter... I think he likes hearing my heart beat.

<Sanriel> I can see how that would be nice... ::blushes a little and sits down on his bed again, leaning back a bit into the wall and smiling up at Tarri::

* Tarri smiles and sits hesitantly on the edge of Sanriel's bed. She glances at him briefly and then slowly scoots back a bit, leaning back against him.

* Sanriel snuggles happily up with Tarri.

<Tarri> ::relaxes a little and snuggles closer::

<Tarri> ::glances across the room to check on Corri, then sighs softly:: I hope you weren't too upset when I slapped Val.

<Sanriel> ::shakes his head:: No, just... surprised.

<Sanriel> I knew you wouldn't do anything like that without a good reason.

<Sanriel> It was still very startling, though. I thought everything was okay already.. but I guess just one little meeting wasn't really enough, was it?

<Tarri> I... I hope it helped. I wasn't really mad at him... But he... ::she looks up at Sanriel seriously:: He was... hurt. In his mind. And he... he says he did things? ::she shakes her head:: I guess you probably already know more about it than I do. ::she rests her head on San's shoulder again:: But he acted like he needed... to be punished. Like he needed someone to *tell* him, "Yes, you were bad. Now stop it, or else."

<Tarri> So I thought if I let him... believe that he still *owed* me - that I was still a little angry with him... I thought it might help.

<Sanriel> ::nods a little:: Yeah... I think you might be right. He just... well, it seems like he won't let himself let any of it *go*.

<Sanriel> He's told me a few things, here and there. Not a while lot. Enough to know he really scared himself.

<Tarri> ::nods slowly:: He didn't tell me much. I think he was trying to protect me... ::sighs:: I hope it helps him... Though how he's going to get his hands on that much money - even as good a singer as he is! ::she laughs a little nervously:: And what I'm going to *do* with it...

<Sanriel> ::hugs Tarri:: I don't know... maybe save it for something you really want to do? Or if you feel bad about taking it, you could hold it all until he feels better and offer it back? I don't know, it's... ::laughs a little:: I can't picture that much.

<Tarri> Me, either... I mean, I've *seen* it - Papa's a moneylender... But I can't imagine it being *mine*.

<Sanriel> It will still take a long time anyway, Tarri...

<Tarri> ::nods:: That's comforting, anyway.

<Sanriel> And if it really does help Val, it's worth it.

<Tarri> ::nods, then giggles:: We're talking about two hundred g-gold pieces as if we wouldn't *want* it...

<Sanriel> ::hugs Tarri tighter:: I don't really care about the money. I know you don't either... Heck, I bet we'd both be willing to try to come up with that much, somehow, if it was what Val needed.

<Sanriel> ::smiles:: And I think it's made him a little more focused, what you did. He's started muttering things about resins and strings and wood... he sounds like he's going to try to make some musical instruments, I think to sell.

<Tarri> ::nods:: Of course! ::thinks for a while:: On the other hand... I can think of some ways it might come in handy, down the road...

<Tarri> ::laughs:: Oh, well, maybe it won't take him so long after all... Instruments are expensive, and Val's pretty good. He made his lute, did you know that?

<Sanriel> ::smiles and nods:: Yeah, I did, actually.

<Tarri> ::glances up at him and smiles:: Oh, I guess he would've told you.

<Sanriel> ::grins back:: You pick up a few things when you room with someone.

<Tarri> ::giggles:: I hardly ever see you two together. I forget sometimes. ::she snuggles closer, sighing contentedly::

<Sanriel> mmmmm... well, sometimes I don't see much of him, what with going to see Gloss, and me coming to see you... ::smiles::

<Tarri> ::giggles::

<Sanriel> I think he's been sleeping a little better since we went to the Hall, though. ::smiles again:: You never cease to amaze me with how smart you are, Tarri. ::kisses her hair gently::

<Tarri> ::blushes:: That's not *smart*. That's... taking care of someone. ::she gives him a quick squeeze:: But thank you.

* Tarri reaches over and picks up the ribbon from where it lies on Sanriel's pillow. She twines it around her fingers idly for a moment, then lifts Sanriel's hand and playfully weaves it in and out of his fingers.

<Sanriel> ::seriously:: But it is... you figured out something that was wrong, and how to fix it. That's definitely smart... *and* taking care of someone.

<Sanriel> ::grins and spreads his fingers out::

<Sanriel> it's a very nice ribbon... would you like to take it back to use for something else?

<Tarri> ::grins and carefully weaves one end of the ribbon through Sanriel's fingers. She glances up at Sanriel slyly:: Do you remember what I told you about the Maypole, back home?

<Sanriel> ::nods a bit:: The dance with the ribbon, right? And you don't know who your ribbon is attached to, and one person has to give something to the other. Umm.. gold was the really good one, right?

* Tarri sits up a little to look at him, and nods, grinning mischievously. "Did I tell you about the red ribbon?" She toys with the end of the ribbon that isn't wrapped around his fingers.

<Sanriel> ::smiles a little and shakes his head:: I don't remember.. what does the red ribbon mean? And am I the giver or receiver? ::dances his fingers around a little::

<Tarri> ::chuckles and looks at him from under her eyelashes:: Which would you prefer? We don't have a pole to dance around...

<Sanriel> hmm.. we could use my bow... ::blushes a little looking back at Tarri:: But if I had to choose, I'd like to be the giver, I think...

* Tarri grins at Sanriel and slides further away from him, almost to the foot of the bed. She takes her end of the ribbon and slowly begins reeling it in, gently tugging Sanriel closer.

* Sanriel gets up to slowly crawl with his ribboned hand held up to the edge of the bed. He moves slowly closer with each pull, smiling the whole way.

<Sanriel> ::softly:: you still haven't told me what the red means...

* Tarri doesn't say anything until their hands on the ribbon are nearly touching, then she smiles at him. "Master Tailorson, you owe me a kiss."

<Sanriel> ::smiles back, moving slightly closer and flushing slightly:: A kiss? Where would you like your forfeit, Miss Mandeil? ::voice lowering slightly::

<Tarri> ::pretends to consider, looking him over slowly, smiling just slightly::

* Sanriel tries to wait patiently, but fidgets just a little as he watches Tarri's eyes.

<Tarri> Hmm... ::she grins at him:: Did you have a preference?

<Sanriel> ::blushes suddenly:: Of course! But it's your prize... ::smiles::

<Tarri> ::leans just a little closer and whispers:: But I'd much rather share it with you...

<Sanriel> ::whispers back, drawing still closer:: I like sharing... ::brushes his lips against Tarri's::

* Tarri takes a quick breath as their lips touch, then sighs softly and leans in to kiss him again. She drops the ribbon and twines her fingers into his hair.::

* Sanriel puts his ribbon-fingered hand around Tarri and shifts slowly, not breaking the kiss to put his other arm around her. He pulls her close, sighing happily.

<Tarri> ::shifts just enough to lean comfortably into Sanriel's embrace:: mmMm

* Tarri pulls away finally, reluctantly, breathing hard. She sighs deeply and lays her head against Sanriel's shoulder. "I could kiss you for*ever*."

<Sanriel> ::blushes and catching his breath, then smiles:: Oh Tarri... ::whispering:: I was thinking the same thing...

<Sanriel> ::small giggle:: Imagine how good I'd get with all the practice...

* Tarri giggles quietly and snuggles closer.

* Sanriel slowly runs his hands up and down Tarri's back, the ribbon almost forgotten.

<Tarri> ::shivers slightly, making contented sounds:: That feels so nice...

<Sanriel> mmmm-hmmm.... you do....

<Tarri> ::sighs and lifts a hand without looking up to softly caress his cheek:: I love you so much, Sanriel...

* Sanriel rests his head lightly on Tarri's and continues slowly stroking her back.

<Sanriel> ::contented sigh:: And I love you, dearest Tarri... ::softly::