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"Form a bond with your sister... one day you may need her help," Tori smiled. "Sure they are pains in the asses now but isn't there a saying that goes something like 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger'?" She chuckled.

For a moment her face held a funny look. She couldn't remember the last time, if ever, she had called mom by anything other than mom- or a variation of it. Also she couldn't understand how a parent could love one child more than the other. "Why do you say Xai and not your mom? And why do you think she doesn't love you the same... It's a parents special ability to have time for everything- kid's' included," she emphasized the 's'.

Tori had been up to so much lately that she hardly knew where to begin, so she just decided to list it and let Evari ask about it. "Three times a week I go to the library to read to the tots, then go for dagger training, and then go back to the library for sign language classes. And, now amongst all that I practice for the teen symphony and on open nights I play at my uncles cafe... Oh, and then of course there are my sisters, personal days, and my studies."

"Who the ******** cares how I talk," Tori chuckled. "Mom says I get it from my dad. She says we both need to curve it. However, its just such a habit now that it slips out more often than it should."

She twisted a finger into the end of one of her curls. "Please, just hear me out... you don't even have to reply. She's your Xai that's what makes her special to you. But we have bonds that form with people and at the end of the day she is your mom. I'm not saying to make it an every day thing but remind her just once in a while how much she means to you. I bet you that's the difference between you and your sister... it has nothing to do about favorites." She knew in the end it was Evari's choice if she listened and also if she took it to heart and used it.

"Are my daggers real?" Tori chuckled as she sent the question back to Evari. She thought for a moment where the easiest one to access was. After a moment she leaned forward and pulled out the dagger that was strapped in place at her ankle. "You tell me," she grinned as she sat it down on the table in front of Evari.

"Just remind her once in a while how special she is to you. Actions speak louder than words and also help confirm thoughts. If mom is a weird word for you tell her that- you'll make your bond stronger in the long run," Tori smiled.

"As dad puts it... I wasn't born with claws, jaws, or a natural defense. Unless you count my smarts and he says that it is mostly book smarts and not street smarts," as Tori spoke she watched Evari. "What it comes down to is that now I have a way to protect myself," she chuckled. "I usually have at least four on me but he gave me a set of five."

"No one is perfect. Accidents will happen. So, of course I worry," Tori said as she forked a grape. "I am training so that I know how to use them properly- as a means of protecting myself," she added the last bit after a moment of pause after the word 'properly'.

If they both hadn't been so caught up in the bathroom Evari might have noticed at least one or two of her daggers... but, that moment was over now and the only way her friend was going to know is if she told her. "Strapped to my ankle and thigh. One in my hair and one in my violin case. The fifth would be the bodice dagger, but I have a hard time concealing that one so it is the least worn and the least used..."

"I don't mind that you looked," Tori whispered as she pushed their plates out of the way before she half stood up and leaned inward to be that much closer to Evari. She was careful not to lay on the table. "We were a bit caught up in the moment with each other," she winked and tapped her friend on the lips.

"It was my first and won't be my last with you," Tori rolled her shoulders as she winked again. The roll of her shoulders caused her hair to fall forward just to. She could care less if it wast first, second, or hell millionth kiss. A kiss was a kiss. "I cannot, however, promise that you will be the only one I kiss."

"If I make you uncomfortable just tell me..." she added when she noticed Evari sinking more and more under the table.

At the comment of 'popping out of her dress' Tori sat down. It was one thing to be in the bathroom and have a 'wardrobe malfunction' and another thing entirely different for it to be in public.

As she fussed over her dress she thought about the last question. Where did Tori want to go? She didn't have the slightest idea. There was so much she'd already done and accomplished. She really wanted to expand her horizon and do something new. But, what hadn't she done?

"I've never been to a picture show before," she finally said after a moment. She was referring to the movies- she just didn't know to call it that. "We could do that."

Tori tried not to let it show on her face that she was completely bewildered by her friends sudden and erratic behavior. What was so strange about having never been to a picture show- a movie as she put it.

Her mind drifted back a bit at the mention of picture show meaning move. Was that what her and her grandma and sister had gone to? In any case she wasn't going to say anything now... Evari was far to excited.

She had enjoyed 'How to Tame a Dragon'... but, if a picture show was truly a movie (and that meant going to a theater) then she wanted to see something more 'adult'.

"Don't people go to picture shows to make out?" She asked innocently enough. "or, do families go as well? Does it depend on the picture." Her interest was thoroughly awakened.