Random 45

Sylvie hung up the cloaks and hat in the corridor, and carried her boots to the same spot, placing them so on the board below the hooks that they woudn't get dripped into, before returning to the front. She said in an undertone, "That may have been a very good idea. She's terribly curious, and I have no idea what to say..."

You don't? was what he wanted to ask but didn't for various reasons. Sebastian handled the mop with no real hurry and a good idea of what he was doing. "What does she want to hear?" he asked then, looking at Sylvie.

She considered for a moment and hmphd disapprovingly. "Saucy rumours."

Sebastian blinked and considered. "I'll see what I can think of," he said with a smile most innocent. He never stopped wiping the floor, making note of exactly how dirty the mop was. Ewh. "Kick me under the table if I go to far. I have a tendency for exaggeration."

Sylvie muttered something on the lines of "can't have you damaged with work still to do" and pushed herself off from the doorframe.

To that, Sebastian only smiled.

Riya was keeping busy. She had just gotten the pan on the stove. "Oh, hello," she purred. Then a pause. "Hey, where's the lizard?"

"He's with Auker," Sylvie answered. "Need any help?"

"With Auker?" Riya asked, shook off the surprise and continued as she went through their tea collection. What was it that the guy had liked again? "Uhhm, no, I think I'm fine. Just have a seat and warm by the stove."

"Thanks." She sat down, stretching her legs and wiggling her toes. The question registered belatedly. "Yes. She found him adorable, I think."

Riya snickered and rummaged through the tea still. "I knew Sister Auker was a few coins short the full price sometimes, but that's taking it a bit far. You're serious?"

"And I thought she won the lottery.

Yes, I am serious."

"Crazy," Riya decided with a nonplussed look at Sylvie. "Well, okay. What have you been doing, then? And I hope you've had something to eat," she said with a click of her tongue.

Sebastian poked his head in at that moment. "The mop's place is in the corridor, right?"

"Er, right," Riya said. "Did you --"

"I gave it a tiny wash. I'm starting to think you'll need a new one by tomorrow though," the half-elf said, and continued talking as he pushed into the kitchen, looking at the stove and then Sylvie. "The mud really is as bad as you told me. I'm willing to bet Mister Crow won't be happy to see me at all, considering."

Riya finally figured it out. Mint. "That's fine. Have a seat. You're wet too."

Sylvie moved away from the stove to make room for him there, figuring he was more of a guest than her, and besides he'd have to go out again later.

"Thanks," Sebastian-Kai said politely and started pulling off his gloves. His palms ached, and he was starting to slowly look a bit more relaxed and thankful than when Riya had first mentioned tea.

"So, long day, huh?" Riya asked.

"Oh, very. I thought I had seen the last of a mop," Kai said with a sheepish look. "You would be surprised how much dirt a shrine will gather in weather like this... although it could just as well be that Sister Auker hasn't, uhm, found the time to clean up properly."

Riya looked at Sylvie, eyebrows raised.

"She does cook excellent chicken soup, though," the half-elf added.

Feeling vaguely uncomfortable, Sylvie returned Riya a blank look, which hopefully could be blamed on her being tired just looking at it.

The mention of cooking and Auker triggered a memory. "I wonder if that was the recipe Montmore asked her for."

Riya chuckled. "Wow. Are you thinking of joining the church?"

Kai looked a little uncomfortable this time. "She's just been helping out since I mentioned it's been getting a little out of hand," he said and made his face the perfect image of embarrassment. "So, so much for relaxation..."

Riya snorted and gave them both a cup of tea. Then she passed on the sugar. "It beats doing nothing," she said contemplatively.

Kai decided to just smile and warm his palms with the cup of tea. That was good.

"Dull work relaxes the mind," Sylvie commented.

"Hear, hear," Kai said and sipped his tea.

Riya shrugged and felt a little disappointed. "I can't argue against that." Tap, tap, went her foot against the floor. "Well, you'll be happy to know it's been dull here."

A deep breath of minty steam later, Sylvie nodded.

"Dull is better than any number of things."

"Yes yes, just like being dead. Or married," Riya said. Kai only nearly choked on his tea. He didn't go spewing it all over the table or coughing. There was a loud swallowing noise, however. "So I take it you guys haven't been having a dull time at all?" the girl asked, using a tone Gemma could just as well have patented.

Kai set his cup on the table, taking a few deep breaths and blinking repeatedly.