Good morning - Things begin again. (Ami thread)

[Bean Bandit]

Ami shrinks back a little. "She's not inside me anymore." she offers meekly and holds up a wrist, showing her mother her talisman. "I managed to seal...her...in here." she finished uncomfortably. "And Professor Tomoe examined me last night for problems, and he's asked me in today, too. I'll be looked after..."

Biting her lip, she nods. "I'm sorry...I know it was reckless, but I didn't know what else to do...I couldn't get enough information in time..." she sighs, slumping a little, the twinges of guilt growing larger, and not sitting particularly well in the face of her mother's worry.

[Anastasia]

Mom rises, turning away and taking what is clearly several deep breaths.

1...2...3...4...

"Ami," she finally says, quietly and not turning back. "Why? Did you really have to do such a thing?" Turning, you can see her struggling not to cry."You're my only daughter, and I hear that you're doing something so dangerous? Ami, if something happens to you..."

[Bean Bandit]

Ami finds herself suddenly welling up, as well. Unfortunately, moments like these both touching, and horrifyingly guilt inducing...I'm so sorry, Mother...

"I...couldn't stand by and do nothing..." Ami swallows. "I...I'm so sorry....I didn't do it because I thought I could...or I wanted to make you worry...she was conscious while Celcia was killing her...begging someone to help her. I was the only one who was in a position to do something..." she murmurs, a few tears spilling down her cheeks.

[Anastasia]

"Ami-chan..." Mom croaks, almost brokenly while trying not to cry. And starting to fail, too.  "But...Ami...you're..." Going to you, you find yourself in a maternal hug rather quickly.

[Bean Bandit]

Ami closes her eyes, burying her face in her mother's shoulder, and hugging back tightly. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean to hurt you this way...I didn't..." she whispers, her voice wavering.

[Anastasia]

Ami is hugged back....

A short time later.

---

Wiping her eye with a bit of breakfast napkin, Mom lets you go as the both of you disengage. After a few more shaky, still rocked breaths, "Ami, you said that Professor Tomoe could help you with this?" she asks. "That's something...but regardless of that for the moment...

Ami," she says, catching your eyes in her own. "Was....was there any other way? Did you save her, at least? Was it worth it?"

[Bean Bandit]

Ami nods somberly. "Professor Tomoe scanned me last night, before I came home, to make sure I wasn't in immediate danger...but he's asked me to come in again today at noon for follow up tests." she explains quietly, wiping discreetly at her eyes. "Y-You can come if you'd like."

She pauses a moment, remembering. "I think we did save her...but she's still in serious condition...possible hypothermia, and Celcia...the Ice spirit...was altering her, on a cellular level."

Looking up sharply, Ami nervously raises a hand to ward off renewed worrying. "I suspect that the worst of her changes were because she willingly allowed Celcia into her...from what she said, she was dying of cancer, and Celica froze it out of her..."

[Anastasia]

Mom takes that in, finally nodding after a period of staring and studying. "I'd like that, Ami, to go with you. "Hopefully that will hold true...on a celluar level..." she repeats, chilled by the words.

"But...how are we going to get there? The roads are almost shut down entirely and it's stilla  blizzard out there."

[Bean Bandit]

Ami smiles a bit. "A friend is coming to pick us up..." she bites her lip. If Eudial...no. I'll ask her to slow down. After this, all I need is for mother to be convinced my friends are trying to kill me. "We'll be able to get there."

[Anastasia]

"In this?" she shakes her head. "It's not safe to drive in, Ami. Is there any other way?...If we wait for Artemis to get back, maybe. He said he had a way to get through the storm."

[Bean Bandit]

Ami smiles and shakes her head. "If I remember what was said last night correctly, we'll be travelling under it..." she clarifies, then blinks. "Artemis...?Where did he go this early?"

[Anastasia]

"He said he'd have to leave early, but I haven't seen him since I woke up," Mom says, not knowing herself.  "He wanted to talk to someone, I think..."

[Bean Bandit]

Ami nods to herself, smiling faintly. "Well...if he said he has a way to get us there, I suppose we can wait for him..." She decides, suspecting Artemis will have called the professor himself.

[Anastasia]

Mom nods as well, willing to wait. "If he did, can you call them directly," she gets to the point, going back to her breakfast with almost no energy now. Somehow, you don't feel as hungry yourself, at least for the moment.

[Bean Bandit]

Ami nods, and goes back to her breakfast as well, guiltily picking at the remains. The first time in ages, and....I ruined it.