So we spent the night in Heatherfield. Eli wore out pretty quick, what with all the running around waving his sword and demanding candy from people we passed on the street. Maybe he should just be a highway robber next year...

We did have a good time though, Eli got lots of candy and a new cloak that Hay Lin had made him. It went really well with his costume. Will asked how that 'barrier spell thing' had been coming along, and I impressed them with the whole dragon fiasco...you could see Jalen trying not to cringe. Ha ha.

Gran and I had a...talk, this morning. About stuff I'd been too scared to tell her. And everything's okay. I'm still kinda upset/jumpy though, so we might not be heading back until tonight. Plus I couldn't get the damn portal to open more than a foot when I tried after lunch, anyway.

[There's a crackle and hiss of static, then Amy speaks, sounding anxious.]

Seph, tell me that you've found Aria by now? Please? 'Cause I'm about ten seconds away from just opening a portal and-

No you're not.

Yes I am. I can't just sit here and- Hey!

[More static, and a thump as if the laptop's been moved and possibly dropped a small distance onto something wooden.]

This post has now been hijacked by Amy's long-suffering husband, who regrets to inform you that she won't be going anywhere.

Jalen!

You were arguing against it yourself, remember?

[Amy mutters something the microphone doesn't quite catch, and the sound turns off.]

[Jalen adjusts the laptop on the dresser before moving to sit on the edge of the bed facing it, and sighs. He runs a hand back through his hair and speaks.]

Amy and I-

[But that's as far as he gets before the bedroom door opens and his wife sweeps in.]

Out.

[Jalen turns and gives her a confused look.]

What?

Out. I need alone time.

Right now? But-

[He seems about to gesture to the laptop, but Amy cuts him off by moving over to him and grabbing an arm to try and pull him up.]

Yes. Out.

[Jalen snorts and lets her pull him up.]

Where's Eli?

With Song. She's telling him a story about pirate dragons, or something. I didn't stick around to listen. C'mon, out. You can come back in a couple minutes.

Thank you so much for your permission.

[There's only a little sarcasm there, but Amy ignores it and literally pushes Jalen across the room and out the door, shutting it after him. She leans against it for a moment before reaching into her pocket and pulling out Awiergan's illusion pendant. She eyes it for a second before closing her fingers around it. There's a slight ripple in the air, and then instead of Amy by the door, it's Ray. She goes over and inspects herself in the mirror on the wall before snickering.]

Good grief...wait. Thanks for not telling me it changes the voice too, you brat.

[Amy makes a face at herself before the illusion of Ray fades to be replaced with Song, then Maleficent. The air ripples again as Amy changes back to herself. She glances down at the pendant in her hand and hums a bit before tucking it back into her pocket. ]

Now if only I could not get myself into trouble using that.

[There's a knock at the door followed by Jalen's voice.]

If you're going to be long, will you at least shut off my laptop?

[Amy freezes, then slowly turns to look at it before smacking herself in the forehead.]

Oh for-

Saelig?

...Yeah, I got it. [She goes over and shuts the lid.]

Y'know what's kind of hysterically funny? Dreaming that I'm facing off against Sephiroth, my magic doesn't work, and yet I still manage to beat the daylights outta him with a wooden sword. Of course I ran like hell after he went down, because yeah. Ended up hiding in my surrogate-grandma's garage (The whole dream took place on the street where my grandpa lived when I was a kid), and eventually got caught...only it was Seph who found me crouched behind a broken washer and was pretty confused as to what I was doing. I didn't really have an answer for him. ^^;;

Just thought I'd amuse everyone~

So I'm getting we're gonna go with the 'Ignore Medrau and enjoy ourselves until the First Darkness eats us twenty years from now' option? Not that I think we should take her up on her idea of a 'battle plan', but more of you have gotta have an opinion than just Mabry, Song, Jalen, Seph and me. If you have one, you oughta at least voice it.

Otherwise one of us might do something stupid.

It's like a sleepover, but with an undercurrent of Doom.

Yeah, I've had too much sugar over the last day or so.