(???)

("Aren't the green triplets mama and their papa dating?" She whispers to Karo, confused.)

Karo only mouths "Spring." at her.

(He is never quite sure what is weird about adults, but apparently spring is to blame for lots of it.)

"You're my dating life. Or the closest thing I have to it, these days."

"That's my concern. Look, I know this is not comfortable to hear, from me of all people, but... you should get out and find someone. Don't be stuck with me. I was and I am terrible for you."

Zofin does not push him back in the chair, but is not particularly gentle about depositing him back. "It's hard to find time or even find someone to date. Not with this place limited options."

"I knew you are going to say that. That's why I have a suggestion. Remember that firefighter crew that I visited to test my crystal healing on others? There was one called Kui, he is heavily scarred, but if you want to wait until next spring when I think I will have that fixed."

Zofin just makes a humiliated and strained noise. "You are evil."

"The most evil. So evil that I decided to try to find a new love for the mothers of my children. Well, Mura flat out refused. And Patiri considered and said she will get my help if-"

"Gah." Then again because she doesn't know what to say. "Gah." Pause. "I will think about it, just to not flat out refuse like Mura did."

"Great. Sorry, but sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind."

Lesi watches this whole conversation in wide-eyed silence. Once they finish talking she looks over at Karo. "Are they sad?" She asks quietly, guessing based on the words she understood. 

Karo isn't sure. "I think he was mean to her."

She hums, "Should we go hug her? Hugging us makes adults really happy, right?" 

"We should!" Karo says and he leaves their hiding place.

"What? Uff." Zofin says when she is tackled by a small child.

She is shortly tackled by a second small child, as well! 

"We thought you were sad so we came to hug you so you would feel better," she informs Zofin solemnly. She squints at Istevi, "You shouldn't make her sad," she insists.

"Yeah!" Karo says pointing an accusatory finger at Istevi.

"Yes, I shouldn't." Istevi agrees.

"This is the most humiliating moment of my life." Zofin says, picking up both children - with effort - but she needs hugs now. "What are you two doing here?"

Hugs!

"Looking for Mika. He's gone again." 

"And then you looked like you needed a hug."

Sigh. "You should have asked for a teacher. Istevi could you make a call?"

"Sure, sure." He takes out his pocket everything and calls.

"Okay, Lia and Patiri found him and Ovali. The little rascals."

Oh good. "Ovali makes it worse," she sighs. "Can we go to them?" In the meantime she will focus on hugging Zofin so she feels better. 

"How about if we take you back to your caretaker, and then we can meet Mika and Ovali there?" She says already moving, she deposits Karo on Istevi's lap.