ORRIE:

Why are you making breakfast 'stead of Fin?

KARANTHIR:

That, my boy, is the very question I've been asking myself since I

was forced out of bed at this ungodly hour of the morning.

ORRIE:

Fin sick?

KARANTHIR:

No, he had to drive the little monster to school.

ORRIE:

Why you call Brynie that?

KARANTHIR:

I honestly don't remember. I just always have, ever since he was born.

ORRIE:

K'ranthir guess what?

KARANTHIR:

sigh

What?

ORRIE:
Today’s our happy meal lunch day!

KARANTHIR:

Is it really?

ORRIE:

Uh-huh. You gonna pick me up at school so we can go?

KARANTHIR:

I wouldn't miss it for the world.

Later …

KARANTHIR:

Hey ‘Chi, long time no see.

SHICHI:

Hi Karanthir, Zyfan.

ZYFAN:

Please join us.

SHICHI:

Actually, I was hoping to speak to you. It's about Phae.

KARANTHIR:

Oh goody, we’re going to discuss our Miss Phae.  How very exciting for me.

SHICHI:

Perhaps it would be best if Zyfan and I did this alone?

KARANTHIR:

You don’t think I should be included in this little tete-ta-tete? 

I believe I've just been insulted.

SHICHI:

No disrespect intended but ...

KARANTHIR:

You still want to me to leave? You’re throwing me out, giving me the heave-ho, whatever that is. Really 'Chi, you come to my table where my prince and I are enjoying our lunch, and you ask me to go. Honestly, if that isn't offensive I don't know what is.

SHICHI:

I see you’re in one of your moods, Karanthir.

KARANTHIR:

I don't know what you mean.

ZYFAN:

Karan, perhaps you are over-reacting, just a little.

KARANTHIR:

Moi? I think not.

ZYFAN:

I must disagree. We are not having lunch, only I am. 

You will have lunch later with Orrie, it is his happy meal day.

KARANTHIR:

You’re always welcome to join us, my prince.

ZYFAN:

I really do enjoy spending time with you and your little brother but …

KARANTHIR:

Go on.

ZYFAN:

I do not appreciate his taste in food, or its smell.  

SHICHI:

Perhaps I should come back later? You seem to be in the middle of ...

KARANTHIR:

Are you suggesting that Orrie's choice of cuisine 

isn't satisfactory to your palette?

ZYFAN:

In a word - yes.

KARANTHIR:

Really Zyfan! What do you expect, he's only a child.

ZYFAN:

True, but I have noticed that you do not eat the food either. 

You drink a beverage while Orrie eats. 

SHICHI:

Yes, later would be better. 

ZYFAN:

That is not necessary Shichi. Please sit down. Karanthir is leaving.

KARANTHIR:

It seems I have been dismissed. The prince has spoken. Fine. 

It’s time for me to get Orrie anyway. There's just one thing …

KARANTHIR:

… I found this all to be quite stimulating. You've successfully managed to 

get me sufficiently hot and bothered with your brilliant bantering, my 

prince. I look forward to continuing this later, in private.

ZYFAN:

As do I.

KARANTHIR:

And that my friend, is one of our forms of foreplay. Enjoy your chat. Tah.

ZYFAN:

Please forgive us. It is a game we play to see who can be

the most like a drama queen. It is quite fun.

SHICHI:

No need to explain.

ZYFAN:

I think Karanthir won this time, but then he has much more experience at it, at least I think so. Do you not agree?

SHICHI:

I … uh...

ZYFAN:

Never mind. Now, what of Phae?

SHICHI:

Yes Phae! Please remember that I'm speaking to you as her advisor. I received a notice from the Council. They… uh… feel it's time that your intentions were made clear. 

ZYFAN:

My Uncle sent a letter stating the same thing just yesterday. I do not

understand this urgency. Phae is too young to officially be anything to me.

SHICHI:

I reminded them of that, but ... if she's not to be your 

wife, she needs to return home.

ZYFAN:

This is supposed to be my sabbatical. Fifty years of freedom before I am 

coronated. Yet they have allowed me very little peace since this all began. 

Forgive me, I do not mean to complain.

SHICHI:

I understand, and I want you to know that Phae has nothing to do with this. 

She isn't aware of the pressure they're putting on you, or me.

SHICHI:

… And, Usagi expects me to return to my Clan soon.

I'm in her debt, so I have no choice but to go. But first, I'm honor 

bound to remain with Phae until this is resolved. My sister 

understands this but she's in hurry for me to be on my way.

ZYFAN:

I see. Well Shichi, I will be honest with you for I consider you to be 

a friend. I like Phae. I cannot say I am in love with her, but that is not a

requirement for marriage. I will tell her this, and if she still wishes to 

be my wife, then, when the times comes, it will be so.

SHICHI:

Thank you, that’s all I needed to know.

RACOLO:

Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt.

ZYFAN:

It is OK, Racolo.

RACOLO:

You sure? This sounds serious.

ZYFAN:

We were finished. Please, join us.

RACOLO:
Thanks. 

WASHI:

Zyfan, I have come to bid you fairwell. I am returning to

our realm and expect to be out of here within the hour.

ZYFAN:

I see. That is ... unexpected. I wish you safe travels.

RACOLO:

What - no parting words for me?

WASHI:

You - human, yes I have this to say: Usagi has my 

blessing to do what she will, concerning you.

RACOLO:

Huh?

WASHI:

There - it has been said. Good day.

Washi leaves. 

RACOLO:

What the hell … ?

ZYFAN:

Racolo, do you mean to tell me that you have not heard of the Blessing?

You, who have spent much time among Elves.

RACOLO:

Guess I missed that memo. What is it?

ZYFAN:

Well, he is married to Usagi, and … he just let you know 

that she has his permission to … to ... 

ZYFAN:

… Perhaps you should tell him. She is your sister, aftern all.

SHICHI:

Well, in simple terms, you have Washi’s permission 

to pursue an intimate relationship with her.

RACOLO:

You mean - he just invited me to have sex with his wife?

SHICHI:

Yes, exactly.

RACOLO:

What makes him think I want to?

ZYFAN:

That has nothing to do with it. This means she has expressed an 

interest in you - to him. Do you understand?

RACOLO:
No! No I don’t! That's just crazy!

RACOLO:

…I can't even conceive of a conversation where a wife tells her 

husband that she wants to have sex with another guy - and he's 

OK with it. So OK that he tells  the guy to … to … go get her. 

ZYFAN:

Racolo, you do not need to act on it.

SHICHI:
No, he’s just giving the Blessing so if you wanted to …

RACOLO:

 I don’t! Man, you Elves! Who does she think she is?

RACOLO:

… Oh sure, she’ll just snap her fingers and I'm supposed to be like this obedient human. Geez! This is just too much.

Racolo storms off.

SHICHI:
He didn’t take that very well.

ZYFAN:

I have known Racolo for many years and I have not

seen him act like that since ... Esmodonti.