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[prayingone]

[Action]

[Sometime this morning, Shirley "casually" mentioned to Stella that fresh fish from the large lake would be "so nice," especially if it were brought back at around suppertime. Stella, of course, agreed with a wink and a nudge and left Sophie with Shirley

Comments

[Action]

[markofthewise]

[It's around this time that Sokka was headed home for his lunch break, having forgotten his sandwiches at home. But then, Sokka has been pretty distracted for the past few days by home drama. So much that when he gets to the fork in the road heading south and east, Sokka keeps on walking south.

It's only when he reaches a huge community housing in his way that he realizes he went the wrong way. Feeling more alert now in the face of his error, he turns around to go home the proper way this time. Only he happens to spot a familiar face on the way. More alarmingly, he sees something he hasn't seen in nearly five months now. A curious Sokka wanders over, hoping that it will go unnoticed that he stupidly turned around like he did.]

Hey. [A small wave.] ... nice day, huh?

[Action]

[prayingone]

[Shirley waves back, smiling; she's a great deal more cheerful since Sokka last saw her and either did not notice or is wryly choosing not to remark on his mistake. Sophie, on the other hand, stares at him in an almost :| fashion because who is this stranger in her yard.]

Hello, Sokka! Well, it's much nicer than yesterday... [Not that Shirley really minds the rain.]

[Action]

[markofthewise]

Yeah. All sunny and stuff. [Sokka is just staaaaaring back at Sophie. Very, very distracted. How did this happen?]

[Action]

[prayingone]

[Don't think you'll beat Sophie in this staring contest, Sokka. It's impossible. Shirley notices this, and reaches out to smooth Sophie's hair.]

... this is Sophie. She's my niece.

[Action]

[skyborne_mage]

[High above the pair sitting on the bench, a witch flies around on her broom. Arche's been uncharacteristically listless lately, but a good fly around the village does a lot to perk a person up.

Not nearly so much, though, as seeing a little kid you know. Glancing down at the ground, Arche sees little Sophie and her aunt, though of course she has no idea what Shirley's relationship to her is. Grinning to herself, she alters her course to head down.]

Heeeeeey! Sophie, kiddo, look up!

[Action]

[prayingone]

[Sophie is, as always, delighted to see Arche. She giggles and reaches up to Arche, while Shirley gapes a little. She's gotten used to a lot of weird things in Luceti, but girls flying on brooms is not one of those things.]

[Action]

[skyborne_mage]

[Pulling up to a stop just in front of the two, close enough to reach out and touch Sophie's outstretched hand with a laugh, Arche turns to give Shirley a big smile.]

Hey there. I'm Arche Klaine, a friend of Stella's. Who're you?

[Action]

[prayingone]

[Sophie giggles again, and holds onto Arche's fingers. Shirley smiles shyly in return; Sophie seems to like this girl, and she's claiming to know Stella.]

Oh, um... I'm Shirley. Stella is my older sister...

[Action]

[goldenfirefly]

[Indeed, here comes big sister. She had spent longer than necessary fishing, as she decided to just hang out for a while and give Shirley plenty of time to get things ready. Of course, she knew exactly why she was sent here. It'd be ridiculous not to realize it. Kind of hard to believe that she's this old already...

But once she has three fresh fish in her possession, and after offering a prayer and thanking Nerifes for the meal that will follow, Stella heads home with the food safe inside a basket. It's late in the afternoon, and thus Shirley probably had plenty of time to prepare for her birthday. Hopefully, anyway.

As she passes by her former home, Stella's gaze lingers. It's so familiar, and yet with the arrival of a new family to fill it, it's also the opposite. It isn't her home any longer... Stella shakes her head out of such thoughts and walks further, back to her new home. And lo and behold, waiting for her are her sister and her wonderful daughter.]

Shirley! Sophie! I'm back!

[Action]

[prayingone]

[Sophie immediately brightens up at her mother's voice, wiggling on the bench and calling out for her; Shirley helps her down so she can toddle down the path towards her. Shirley follows her, a broad smile on her face.]

Welcome home, Stella!...

[Action]

[goldenfirefly]

[Stella gives her own broad smile as she kneels down, sets her basket down and holds her arms out, allowing Sophie to toddle into her embrace. Once she stands, she takes Sophie up with her, and the little girl holds onto her shirt and leans against her shoulder as she finishes her walk to Shirley.]

I've gathered the fish, just like you asked. [She nods towards the basket at that.]

[Action]

[prayingone]

Well, we should get them inside then, shouldn't we? [Shirley holds her hands out in an offer to carry the basket, since Stella is carrying Sophie.]