Han snorts in defiant triumph. This round goes to her. She's chased off the dumb knight, and everybody else got the message. Don't mess with her. Go away. Don't bother her. Don't open your mouth unless you're you've got something useful to say. Like the server! Who had demon swords and knew where castles were and stuff. Which was weird, but that's good. That's something. She can take those swords, or maybe go to the castle, or, no, first she needs the rain to stop, what if it's already too late, she's waited long enough, she doesn't know what she's doing to her she's got to go stop it now she's going to find her she has to find her

Tea. Just a little hot. But not too hot. It forces her to sip it slowly. The way it's meant to be enjoyed. A trickle of warmth flows down her throat, carrying with it the sweet, gentle touch of flowers. There it lingers, in her belly, on her tongue, seeping into her with every fresh taste. There is a deep magic in tea. Magic enough to give even the wildest hearts pause.

Tension. A start, when hands come to rest unexpectedly on her shoulders. A moment where no one in the tea shop breathes. But only a moment. The tension can only live a moment under Giri's hands. Gently, she kneads. Always felt, never pushing. Do not be alarmed, little Han. You're okay. You're safe here. Lean back into her chest. Let your breaths become as one. Do not forget your tea; it's still perfectly warm. You're okay. You're safe here. Breathe.

Quiet. The witch takes her hand in hers. She wraps her other round her shoulders. She envelops the little flame, and Han falls back, back, further back, letting go and falling deep into Giriel's embrace. The tea shop melts away. No more prying eyes. (Everyone knows you don't look directly out of which at work. You keep her in the corner of your eye, while thinking of all the great embellishments you'll add when you tell your friends about this later.) They are alone. Nothing will disturb them now.

Words. Slow, and careful. Dredged up from the depths of a battered heart.

"Melody of Silver Bells. That's her fancy priestess name. Her hair's blue. Real blue. Maybe...from the coast? She wears it short, no longer than her shoulders. One of those short cuts that kinda curls a little? It's got a name. I don't know. Then there's the glasses. She wore big round glasses. Real glass, I think. And. Her eyes were...brown? More than brown. More different browns. Like."

Stuck. Lodged tight. Squeeze her carefully, and it works itself out.

"Gems. Gems that you can't see anything through, it's just. Deep. And. Sparkling, they sparkled a lot. Her. Eyelashes were. Long. Fluttering. Kinda... And, she paints her eyes too, with. Uh. Colors, and stuff. Dunno about the rest of her face, she always had one of those blue veils on. With the silk? Not sure what the design was, it was just all fancy embroidery and soft when..."

Questions. Hanging thick in the air. Realized for the first time.

[i]"Uh.[/i] She gets excited about, like, everything? Taking her through a market takes hours. She wants to pick everything up. She wants to hear every story the shopkeepers want to tell her, even the real obvious scams. I don't know. Maybe she was seeing something I couldn't? She wouldn't stop trying to show me things. And. I guess, if you heard her, you think there was something special about them too. Even if you had no idea what she was talking about.”

”Didn't like crowds either. Always wanted to go around or hide behind me. Little bud. She's so small. And slender, like. I could pick her up with one hand. I don't know how she doesn't blow away with a stiff breeze. And she's.... she's...."

"She's the only priestess in the whole flower Kingdom who isn't terrible. She. Actually. She tries, dammit. Even when no one else will. But it's her first time out in the world, she hasn't got a clue what she's doing, and-"

Flood. Hold fast, Giri. Do not let it swallow her whole.

"And that. Stupid Ven. Grabbed her right out from under me. She trusted me. She asked [i]me.[/i] To watch out for her, and now."

"And now I have to get her back."

[Han clears [b]Afraid.[/b]]