"Eee--a little warning wouldn't've hurt--"

"So sorry. However shall I make it up to you?"

"Oh, I'm guessing you have a few ideas."

"Mm, pretty and a good guesser."

"Mhm."

Productivity ensues.

Eventually, though, she does have to leave, with a promise to not go so long between visits this time. She didn't ask for time off from her apprenticeship, after all.

And eventually they come back. Not married at all.

Marille does not know this instantly because she's been reaching out to her sister with osanwe periodically since it became plausible for them to have been back in range, so the first time she talks to her sister she can't see her eyes.

Ahya! Welcome back, I missed you!

I missed you too!

You didn't, like, impulsively marry him, right?

No!! Why would you even think that?

It came up as a possibility while I was talking to Maitimo.

He has in point of fact kissed me but it hasn't gone any farther than that.

Congrats! What prompted it?

Dinosaur-related stupidity, I'll explain later.

How do you feel about...leaving Valinor?

Oh, that came up with Maitimo too, I talked to Amil and Atar about it, we're good to go.

You are the best sister ever.

Out loud: "I have the best sister ever, and you can't even argue with that because your siblings are all boys."

"Sure, conceded. What'd she do?"

"Maitimo brought up the leaving Valinor thing while we were gone and she already talked to our parents about it."

"And they're on board?"

"Mhm."

You know, I'm not totally sure where we go from here, but I'm really glad the answer isn't 'of necessity, nowhere.'

Yeah. Nice to - be able to figure it out.

Marille says Maitimo thought there was a chance we were going to come back already married.

Wanna?