This place is FANCY. Their old house wasn't like this! Priyja is so excited!!!

“Now that Uncle Arm is gone, let’s explore! He won't catch on and come find us!” Tida whispers. It's early. If they leave the suite, Mama will get mad. But Priyja doesn't care. Mama said she would love them and take care of them no matter what. She’ll do the same if they sneak out and explore super early in the morning.

“We can go down to the kitchen and see if they will give us breakfast!” Priyja whispers as she gets out of her bed, “Let’s go now!”

“We gotta brush our teeth first!”

Priyja doesn't see the point if they are going to eat breakfast and get food in them anyway. Why can't they brush after breakfast like they sometimes do?

“No!” Priyja says, then crosses her arms defiantly. Tida drags her to the bathroom anyway. Priyja only relents when Tida sticks the toothpaste covered toothbrush in her mouth. It's annoying and pointless if they are going to get food from the kitchen, but she will humor her sister.

“Let's go,” Priyja says once they are finished. This time, Tida agrees.

They sneak to the elevator without being detected. It’s a little easier with Uncle Khun and Uncle Arm being on their trip, but Auntie Hansa, Auntie Nalin, and Auntie Preeda all live close by too. Auntie Preeda seems to always know when they are up to no good, just like Uncle Arm does. It's annoying. They have to be EXTRA careful. They are getting better about that. They make it to the elevator without anyone interrupting their plans.

“Maybe we should sneak food from the kitchen,” Tida whispers as they crouch down in the elevator, “Make sure no one sees us.”

Priyja nods in agreement. They should avoid getting detected for as long as possible. As practice. If they hear Mama is scared and worried, they will come right back. But they are big girls now, and big girls explore.

So that's what they do! They sneak around and get food from the kitchen without anyone seeing. It's still REALLY early. The sun isn't even up yet, and Mama probably isn't either. So while they still have complete freedom, they find a sitting room, act like they are having a fancy lunch, and practice their secret language. They came up with it themselves a long time ago, but now they are trying to make it even bigger so they can talk about everything!

“Yom Rok Oglebay Belt-ka,” Tida suggests.

“Gear-Rum Magletoff Hom,” Priyja responds. It really is a good idea, but Priyja is only going to agree if they can both wear purple.

But before Tida can agree or suggest a compromise, they hear a man clearing his throat, causing them to turn their heads.

“I believe you have taken residence in my morning sitting room,” Korn says as he walks in to sit over on the couch with a cup of coffee in one hand and a newspaper in another, “Is your mother or one of your aunts around?”

Priyja is hesitant to answer. Uncle Arm made it clear to stay away from Korn if they could help it. He told them not to be disrespectful, but to never trust him.

But he seems nice enough at the moment. He isn't going off and telling Mama. Priyja supposes he can stay in their new tea party room for now.

But her opinion on him changes when he reaches for his phone in his pocket, “I will put out a notification and have a guard escort you back-”

“But we’re having fun!” Tida shouts, getting to her feet to stomp, “You're mean!”

Korn chuckles at that. Priyja has a feeling Korn secretly enjoys being mean.

They will need to handle this differently.

“ Sech vae toon unta makay,” she tells her, causing Korn to pause. He's probably pretty smart. Priyja can tell.

But he isn't as smart as them. When she glances over at the chess table by the window, she decides she is going to prove it.

“Come on!” She says, taking the paper away from him to pull on his hand, “We want to play chess with you!”

“It's our favorite!” Tida agrees, pushing at Korn's waist.

“For some reason, I feel like that isn't quite true,” Korn says, but seems okay with being moved towards the table, “However, if you would like me to teach you the basics, I would be happy to.”

Ugh. Grown-ups can be so annoying sometimes.

“Play,” Tida demands as she climbs up on the side with the black pawns. Priyja joins her on the chair and waits. Korn eventually learns his place and sits on the other side.

“The pawns can move one or two squares forward for the first move, but can only move one square after that,” Korn says pointlessly, moving his center pawn two pieces. Priyja holds back the desire to roll her eyes.

“He's really smart!” Priyja says to Tida instead, then grins, “Maro tolas minco alloine.”

As Tida grins back, Priyja knows they are on the same page. They make a couple of rookie moves at first - ones that likely surprise Korn. For some reason, he thought they couldn't actually play!

They’ll show him.

“Bast,” Priyja tells Tida. Tida must feel the same on the next move since she picks up the knight and immediately takes Korn's bishop. Korn briefly looks stunned, but also seems to be more aware of what he may be dealing with. His moves become more calculating and aggressive after that.

Priyja personally thinks he just comes off as silly.

“Kutch puck long,” Tida says, as if she doesn't know that already. Within three moves, Priyja captures Korn’s queen and lets out a squeal! Tida does as well and they both get up to dance out their victory.

“We won!” Tida says, shimmying over to Korn in her bare feet, her nightgown swaying back and forth, “We’re good at chess, huh?”

“We beat you, so that means this is our sitting room now,” Priyja says, dancing over to him as well, “You gotta say yes. It's the rules-”

“One more game,” Korn says, determination in his voice as he puts the pieces back in place. Priyja glances at Tida at that point. She doesn't know why Korn wants to lose again.

“How did you do that? I demand to know,” Korn asks them, almost sounding accusatory. He sort of sounds like Mama when they get into her makeup and wash it off before she can prove they actually did anything wrong.

“You're really funny!” Tida says with delight. Priyja bursts into giggles as well and they both come over to throw themselves over his lap and laugh into his knees.

Uncle Arm and everyone else said to be careful around Korn, but Priyja isn't scared of him at all. He is going to be so much fun to mess with. Priyja can't wait to beat him at every single game there is!