::Paige exits the basement with Azura and lets go of her hand.::

"Is that better?"

:: Azura ignores Paige and sits down on the floor with her head between her knees. After several minutes, her breathing is slowly returning to normal. She lifts her head and nods. ::

"Yes. Thank you."

::Paige crouches and looks into Azura's eyes.::

"I'm sorry. I didn't think."

:: Azura reaches out and plays with a strand of Paige's hair. She takes in a breath and lets it out slowly. ::

"It... Not many people are used to dealing with someone as badly affected as me. Just no more basements, please."

"Okay, you got it sweetie. I'm sorry again."

::She sighs.::

"Can I get you anything?"

:: Azura stares at Paige for a few seconds and then averts her gaze. There is one thing Paige could get her, well, do for her, but there's a slim chance of that happening. Maybe is she acts all pathetic and hurt, Paige will feel guilty and give in. ::

::Paige frowns, looking sad.::

"Are you okay?"

:: Azura figits with her hands, wishing Paige would just catch on. Instead, she shifts to the side so that she is kind of leaning on the girl. She grabs one of her hands and entwines it with her own. ::

(Catch on before I leap on top of you.)

"Ah."

::Catches on.::

"I see."

::Paige shakes her head a little.::

"Do you think of anything else?"

"That is kind of a hard thing to do when that is the only thing you can think about."

:: Azura stares down at Paige's hand in her own as she speaks.::

"Heh, right, sorry."

::Paige smiles a little.::

"Anything else I can get you? A drink? Something to eat?"

:: Azura nuzzles at Paige's neck, her thumb stroking the back of Paige's hand.::

"No. There is only one thing I want. Sorry."

:: Looks a mess, her hair tangled in places, her clothes all askew. Hm. And she's still missing her bra from ages ago. Lovely. ::

::Paige looks at Azura, concerned.::

"When was the last time you ate anything? Or drank?"

:: Azura thinks, but then gives up and resumes nuzzling and stroking. That's more fun anyway. ::

"A while ago. Why?"

"I'll let you kiss me if you have a glass of juice, then we can go upstairs and you can rest, okay?"

"I do not need to rest."

:: Azura protests for a second, but the thought of kissing Paige is one she can't ignore. ::

"But I will drink the juice."

"Good. Good girl."

::She takes Azura into the kitchen.::

::Grinning, Luke runs up the stairs.::

:: Walks to the living room ::

::Carys stops outside the living room and looks in, seeing Paige. She doesn't say anything, but leans against the wall and watches her.::

::Carys sends Paige a small smile.::

"Can I talk to you?"

::Paige walks out and looks around, making sure they're alone.::

"Hey."

"Hey."

(Mine mine mine mine. She's mine. I need more.)

::Carys takes a breath.::

"Paige...why didn't you believe me?"

::Andrea heads down the stairs with Azura, but stops short at the bottom, seeing who's standing there talking.::

(Great.)

::She sets her jaw.::

(Just keep walking, Az.)

::She heads into the living room.::

:: Azura stops short seeing both Carys and Paige talking. Her eyes flick between the two of them. ::

(Why. Why would Paige be talking with her. Why. Why.)

:: Remembering that Paige isn't at ease with her power, she continues on past them into the living room. ::

::Paige watches Azura and Andrea leave, then turns back to Carys.::

"To be honest... I don't know who to believe. You both said different things when you had the sins, and now you're still doing it. I... I don't know what to think. I'm sorry."

::Carys stares at Paige, looking disbelieving.::

"Paige..."

::She looks down, clearly 'hurt'.::

"It's just, how could you think I'd ever do something as awful as that?"

"I..."

(Is...)

"Perhaps I really should go to Andrea and ask her."

::Carys sighs.::

"Maybe. But, uh, Paige...our relationship was very volatile, and it didn't exactly end well. She was...well, it got spiteful. She can be- well, we both were- vindictive. I'm not sure she'd like you bringing me up with her."

::Paige looks unsure.::

"She doesn't really seem like the spiteful type. I'm sure she wouldn't say something that awful just to get back at you."

(Would she?)

"Paige, you don't know how bad it was. Of course I can't blame her, but she's not in control of her emotions and we fought pretty badly. She said some pretty awful things to my face...but it hurts a lot more that she's spreading lies about me to other people."

::Carys looks down for a moment.::

"We both hated each other for a long time, but I thought we'd moved on. Maybe not."

::Paige moves to the wall and thunks her head against it lightly with a sigh.::

"So Azura must've believed her lying, then, I guess. I mean, she pretty much swore to me it was true."

(But... Azura can hear thoughts... and what could Azura gain out of lying to me now that the sin is gone?)

"I think I need to... think about this..."

::Carys sighs.::

"It's really..."

::She grits her teeth.::

"It really hurts that anyone could think I'd do something like that."

::Carys shakes her head.::

"I think I'll just go."

::With a sigh, she leaves to her apartment.::

::Paige's face falls, feeling awful that she's hurt Carys, but she just doesn't know how to feel about this. With a sigh, she leans against the wall and closes her eyes.::

::Paige decides not to think about it right now, and orbs up to the attic.::

::Luke scans the lower level of the manor from this one spot in the hallway before taking the stairs.::

:: Lirie trails in and glances into the living room, seeing the sisters standing there. She shrugs and silently heads up to the stairs ::

::Hearing Phoebe call, Prue stops and turns to wait for her.::

::Phoebe catches up with Prue, panicking.::

"You need to hide! Now!"

::Piper walks out and sees Prue and Phoebe.::

"What're you two playing at? Phoebe, you at least know who's here!"