"Haven't come up with a good plan for that yet. I mean, I guess at a certain point we could just shoot people and then steal the amulets off 'em."

"When're we at that point -"

"I think once no one's selling anymore."

Nod.

"Some people are hunting elementals expressly to sell them - I suppose if there keep being new ones that might not happen -"

"If the shops close up and the attacks on elemental-owners continue, hunting for pay stops looking like a good deal."

"They're still worth money, people are just also trying to come up with working security measures."

"Have they come up with anything?"

"Occasionally they manage to pick off a soldier."

"That's not going to do it."

"I know, I've been very impressed with the soldiers."

"Real good at their jobs."

"He pretended to be grey for the war with Voa."

"And a good thing, or I wouldn't've met Peka."

"Is this a story?"

"Kinda is, yeah."

Snuggle. "Tapa kills kids born without a credit. Peka was leasing one - unexpected pregnancy - and behind on payments, so she joined the army. Telkam heard this and decided Peka and Katin - our oldest, she's over there -" He gestures. Katin is playing with her baby cousins. "- anyway he decided they should just run away to Anitam and we could make Aitim fudge the papers."

"...wow. Congratulations."

"I can't imagine life without her."

"I love youuuu."

He's watching Maurabel thoughtfully. When Aitim glares at him he stops.

Maurabel doesn't notice. "I'm glad you made it."

And after dinner she goes home - she has moved out of the hotel and has an apartment with Penumbra and Ice in a green neighborhood near the school instead - and goes back to churning out artifacts and artifact development research and prepping for the next day of class.