[IC] Mystic Orphanage (Aristocles and Siaya Dragalorn)

[Riven Wight]

“You know he likes to spend time with the other boys sometimes.” Thayva took a swig from her cup. Until that moment, she had not realized exactly how thirsty she was. “If he needs an extra massage later tonight, I’ll have the time. He might need it after helping scrub down the dining hall!”

* * *

Nick was too busy enjoying his massage to notice as Jorn and Aurelian too, the tables on either side of him. He turned his head toward Aurelian when he spoke, the corners of his mouth pulling down.
“It definitely hurts the brain,” he grumbled as the masseuse worked a knot out of his lower back.
“Carry around that book of yours long enough, and it just might make your shoulders ache!” the woman said with a chuckle. She spared Aurelian’s massage therapist a quick glance as she scolded the child. “Come now, Saria! There’s no crime in letting the boy enjoy it without a lecture. This is a time for them to relax, just as much as it is to get treated.”

* * *

Kia thought about the question Laura posed her, letting out a groan of content at the release the massage brought. “Well, technically there was Gonan the Brave about two hundred years ago. He was a halfling raised by dwarves. According to legend, he was a mighty halfling fighter. But,” she drew out the word, “I get your point.”

[Aristocles]

(I am back! I will make this part a bit short to make up for lost time.)

"Yeah, I guess you're right. We'll see him soon enough. Best that he hang out with the other males" Serapis agreed. "Besides, its good for him to get used to the therapists. Arjun's quite used to your massages, my dear. At least he won't be able to complain that he's too sore to start scrubbing."

----------------

"Ah, alright. I suppose they should enjoy it." Saria admitted.

The masseuses continued to treat the boys, eventually flipping them over on their back to give a foot rub. Then, they checked their heartbeat and lungs. All was normal, and both indicators had slowed for Aurelian and the others since the massage began, indicating that it had the intended relaxing effect.

"Alright, you are done. Next group! Remember, if you want more massage therapy, come back in your free time."

"I'd like that, Actually. How about you, Jorn?" Aurelian said. "We're going to have to do a lot of cleaning, so I think we'll need it."

----------------

Laura got off of the massage table just after Kia was done. "Gods, no matter how many times I get it done, it feels better every time, somehow. Muscles feel like jelly. How are you feeling, Kia?"

[Riven Wight]

The corners of Thayva’s long lips pulled up at Serapis as she went to refill her cup, a tinge of hunger beginning to gnaw at her stomach as the tantalizing scent of the mutton filled the kitchen and floated into the rest of their top floor apartment.

* * *

Nick’s masseuse gave a content smile at her companion’s words.
When asked to roll onto his back, Nick closed his eyes and placed his hands behind his head, breathing deeply.
When she dismissed them, Nick stretched and followed after his friends. He sighed at the reminder of having to clean the cafeteria. “At least there will be a lot of us,” he muttered. "It'll take less time."

* * *

Kia looked at Laura, contemplating whether or not she wanted to poke Laura to find out exactly how much like jelly they became. Deciding against it, she instead answered Laura’s question. “Better than twenty minutes ago.” She stretched, arching her back and stretching her arms in a feline form. “So, we have until the end of the massage sessions before we have to report to the cafeteria. Which means we have some time to kill. Any ideas?”

* * *

As they neared the end of the twenty-minute session, the mute halfling started casting glances to his adversary. The dwarf child seemed to have fallen asleep on the table.
As soon as the halfling’s masseuse finished, he hopped from the table, gave the woman a quick nod in thanks, then hurried after the other boys heading to the exit. He disappeared between the legs of the elder boys and the faces of those around his height before the bleary-eyed dwarf could remember where he was, let alone that he had a revenge to enact.

[Aristocles]

Serapis looked at his wife and couldn't help but to chuckle. "Seems that there's more dragon in you than you let on, my love. But I can understand that you are hungry." He thought about something. "When we have time, perhaps I can give you a massage, my love. Maybe for your back? It's been a while, I know. You used to love those as a girl, if I remember correctly."

---------------

Aurelian nodded at Nick's words, then turned to the masseuse. "Can I keep my shirt off during the cleaning?"

"No. I know you may feel more comfortable that way, but we do have a dress code. It isn't just an excuse to go around in one's shorts" she replied. "But if you need to stretch without a shirt on before leaving this room, by all means, go ahead."

---------------

Laura thought about it. At length, she spoke, keeping her voice down so that only Kia and the others nearby could hear. "How about we talk about the males? I know we're young and that the staff wouldn't like it... but that just makes me want to talk about them more!"

[Riven Wight]

“Genes do tend to distribute rather unevenly, my dear.” Thayva turned her smile to him, then drank from her cup, making a mental note to draw more water before the storm hit that evening, just in case.
“Oh, that would be wonderful.” She placed a hand on her lower back and stretched in emphasis. “And perhaps I could return the favor.” Thayva returned to Serapis and gave his muscular shoulder a squeeze, before rubbing between his shoulder blades with her free hand. “You’ve been rather tense yourself lately.” She stopped rubbing, letting her hand rest gently on his back as they waited for the meat to cook.

* * *

“Use your dirtiest shirt,” Nick suggested once the masseuse finished. “Not like it’s going to make it any worse.”
Some boys from the next group had already begun to filter in, some sitting on the tables, others laying down, and some unknowingly mimicking Jorn with late stretches.

* * *

Laya and Illyrana joined Kia and Laura just as the dwarf whispered to the youngest in the group.
Kia rolled her eyes. “You and your boys.” She grinned.
“I know a good spot,” Laya put in quietly. “As long as you don’t mind heights too much. Change out, then follow me.”
Kia quickly changed back into the standard daily dress, then waited with Laya for the other two. Once all four of them were there, Laya led the way.
“I’ll meet you in the cafeteria later,” Illyrana said when they entered the hall outside the changing room. “I have some things I need to do beforehand.”
With that, Illyrana headed in one direction while Laya led them the other.
Two flights of stairs up and plenty of avoiding a couple staff roaming the halls, Laya opened the door to what looked like a classroom that was now used for storage. She crossed to a set of doors that led out onto a balcony overlooking the backyard. A ladder was attached to the wall, ivy clinging possessively to the bars.
The ladder led to a part of the roof that, from where Laya stood, looked almost level. A perfect place to sit and talk.
“We’ll be capable of keeping an eye on the time.” Laya nodded to a large sundial in the expanse of yard as she gripped a rung of the ladder.
Having absorbed the light and energy from the sun while it was out, the roman numerals of the sundial glowed a faint golden color in the gloom cast by the ominous clouds hanging in the sky. The gnomon now moved along with the minutes, keeping track of the time despite the lack of light.
“How’d you find this?” Kia asked, following Laya as soon as she had enough room.
“Belle showed it to me.” She hurried up the ladder with Kia in her shadow.

[Aristocles]

(I should be able to reply daily from July 7th onward, after my birthday tomorrow.)

Serapis growled a bit in pleasure, but gently had to remove his wife's hand. "As much as I'd like to do that now, we do have business to attend to. And we still have to eat. As soon as I'm done, I've got a mound of paperwork to attend to. Besides, you know I'll be fine. Your health and happiness and that of our Arjun's is far more important to me. Especially our son's. All of the children here, really." He got up and checked on the food. It was still not done. "Then again, maybe we can take a few minutes to comfort each other. I know you like making others feel good, and I wouldn't want to get in your way when you're trying to be nice."

----------------

"I don't see why we use a shirt at all" Aurelian grumbled. "I mean, we're warm enough as it is, and the dracon and lizard kids don't wear much at all. I mean, a piece of cloth around their waist, but that's it. Like Arjun over there!" Aurelian pointed at the young dracon, who was quite confused by the conversation he overheard. "What? Different species dress differently." The young dracon replied. "If you don't like it, you can ask my father about that rule."

---------------

Laura was quite impressed with the little hideaway. "Very nice. Never seen this place before, even though I've been here for years. Wow."

[Riven Wight]

“I didn’t say at this moment, love,” Thayva said gently, lightly holding her hands behind her back. “That’s why I stopped.” She smiled warmly at Serapis declaration of putting the children and her ahead of himself. “That’s one of the reasons I married you, you kind ol’ reptile.” Her snout scrunched in a playful smile as she watched him check the food.

* * *

“Don’t mind him.” Nick went to where he had left his garments and slipped his own shirt on. “He’s just in a mood,” he said through the fabric of his shirt before his head reappeared. “How’s it going, Arjun?”

* * *

Laya cleared her throat nervously. “Well, technically the door to get here’s supposed to be locked.”
Kia laughed and gave an approving smile as her friend reached the rooftop. “You little rebel!”
“Hey, Laya,” a soft voice said as Kia pulled herself up.
“Well, speaking of!” Laya smiled at the other girl lounging on the roof with a quill in hand, her knees drawn into her chest and a pad of parchment resting on them. She had her back against a part of the roof that rose up behind her.
The human girl watched them clamber from the ladder with her big, brown eyes. Her short hair as rich in color as her gaze, she gave them a smile in greeting. Her eyes fell to Laura. “I don’t think we’ve met.” She sat her quill and parchment beside an ink bottle and got to her feet as Kia stood at the very edge of the rooftop, looking out, her hands on her hips almost triumphantly as if she had just climbed a great mountain. “Not officially, at least.” The girl extended a hand to Laura. “I’m Belle.”

[Aristocles]

"Well, you were rubbing my shoulder earlier but now you say there is no time, so- forget it. We can do that later. Unless you change your mind now. You know, probably best just to eat something. Food's still cooking, but I can get us something immediately." Serapis walked over to a cabinet and pulled down some bread and cheese. "You like gouda? It was shipped in from the north just a week ago, or so they told me at the market."

-------------

"I'm fine, but I think Aurelian is right to be like that. Really. We've all got to clean the dining area up. Anyone who isn't upset about that is just faking a good mood." Arjun replied. "And he's right about the shirt. At least, I think so. I mean, I don't see the need for one indoors. I'm a dracon, you know. Just what we wear." He thought about it for a moment. "Let's just go, Nick. I think we're all on edge. The food incident is just one more thing on top of other stuff that's been going wrong here lately. Even my parents aren't making as much sense as they used to."

------------

Laura extended her hand in turn. "Laura, the dwarf. Pleased to meet you. So, I originally asked to come here because I wanted to talk about boys, like Jorn. He's a halfling. A very cute halfling." She sat down, cross-legged. "I like him."

[Riven Wight]

Thayva crossed her arms and sighed through her nose. “I was merely emphasizing my suggestion.” She took a deep breath. It had been a rough day, for everyone. She watched him pull out the other food items.
She nodded. “That I do. Haven’t had any in ages, though.”

* * *

Nick scowled at the reminder of having to clean the dining hall. It had been great while it lasted, but he had not thought about how bad the cleanup would be. But, then again, the look on some of the faces of the crueler students made the whole thing worth it. Besides, if he had not agreed, Kia would have probably made him one of her direct targets.
“Personally, I don’t mind shirts,” Nick said when Arjun paused. He nodded in agreement at the dracon’s observations and suggestion to leave. “I’ve noticed. The atmosphere’s been different lately. Tenser. Even among the other staff.” He moved beside Arjun as a few other boys readied for their massages. “Any idea what’s going on?”

* * *

“Same.” Belle smiled at Laura as the two shook hands.
Kia got onto her stomach and laid down near the edge, placing her chin on her hands as Laya mimicked the dwarf and sat on the slate tiles. She looked back at Laura’s declaration.
“Oh, really?” Kia’s voice dripped with sarcasm, a grin on her face. “I never would have guessed!”
Belle bit the inside of her cheek and looked up, trying to place a face to the name. “Sorry. I don’t think I know him.” She went to her writing materials and bent down to stopper her jar of ink and place it in a worn satchel beside the items.

[Aristocles]

"Well, here's a bit of cheese, and some of that rye bread" Serapis replied. "Not exactly sure what the difference between rye and wheat is. Different kind of grain. Hmm." He knew it was an inane topic, but it kept his mind off of the craziness of the orphanage.

He sat down with the food and sighed. "I guess there's no avoiding the topic. We have got to address the staff about the money issue. Then figure out what to do to fix it, then do it. It'll only get worse if we let this wait another few months."

-----------

"Well, I don't wanna spread rumors but I think there's some kinda money trouble" Arjun said. "Either we've got too many orphans or too little cash flow. Or both" Arjun said, shrugging.

Meanwhile Aurelian just took off the shirt, throwing it to the side. The masseuses noticed, but said nothing for now. If he was to get in trouble for it, it was now on his head.

-----------

"Oh. Well, you wouldn't think it, but he's really kinda hot. In a cute way. I mean, he's a halfling, but he'll get bigger. But not so big that he'll be able to push me around. And he's got really nice eyes and hair and... and feet!" Laura paused a moment. "Well, that part matters more to halflings, I know. Eh, forget that last one. Jorn's good. So, do any of you girls have your eye on anyone?"

[Riven Wight]

“Thank you, love.” Thayva smiled at him. “And, of course the flavor,” she added to his ponderings, glad for even the simple distraction. She followed Serapis, and sat beside him with a slice of cheese atop her piece of bread.
She frowned when her husband brought up the topic that had been eating at them for a while now. She stiffly nodded her agreement. “I’ll get the word out about a meeting. When should we hold it? Tonight--perhaps afterhours--or tomorrow sometime?”

* * *

Nick frowned at Arjun’s speculations. “You've lived here your whole life. Has it ever been this bad before?”
The elf watched Aurelian toss his shirt to the side, and shook his head. “C’mon. What do you say we see if we can find something to do until we have to go be maids for a night?”

* * *

Laya and Belle grinned at the excitement Laura displayed in describing Jorn.
Kia laughed at Laura’s comment about Jorn’s feet. “Aww, don’t be shy. If you have a thing for feet, I won’t judge.”
“He sounds wonderful.” Belle gave a kind smile. With her items shoved back in her satchel, she joined the other girls, creating a triangle, with Kia the odd one out.
Laya blushed at Laura’s question, while Kia gave it a moment’s thought.
“Nah,” Kia said with a shrug. “Not really.”
“Aurelian,” Belle admitted. “He’s a human. He’s just so cute!”
Noticing the red on Laya’s cheeks, a mischievous glint entered Kia’s eyes. “Who is it, Laya?”
Laya cleared her throat, biding her time. “Nick.”
“Nick?” Kia sat up, staring in surprise.
“What?” Laya’s gaze stayed on the rooftop. “He’s smart, nice, and easy on the eyes, to boot.”

[Aristocles]

"Tonight, after the children are asleep. We might have to make some cutbacks. It's best to get them out of the way as soon as we can" Serapis sighed. "Anyway, the food should be cooked by now."

---------------

Aurelian smiled. "Maybe we can spy on some of the girls. See what they're up to. I've heard that a few of them hide in places around here. And maybe we can get Jorn to come along with us. That dwarf girl really likes him, I think." For the moment, Jorn was sitting down, contemplating the events of the past day. Arjun had wandered off for now.

---------------

Laura blushed a bit. "Well, maybe a little thing for that. It's not his feet, but the muscles in them. I like strength. A lot of dwarves like strong things. It's in our blood, I guess. Or it's just me. I don't know. But Jorn isn't so strong that he'll be able to beat me easily, as I said. A male dwarf is gonna be a lot stronger than I will be. We can see it in the staff. But a halfling guy, that's different. I guess we all grow up a little like a halfling here. No shoes at this place, you know?"

She reacted with a laugh when Nick came up. "Smart? Well, I guess so, but the other stuff? I just don't know!"

[Riven Wight]

Thayva gave a slow nod in agreement. “I’ll get the word out once we have eaten.”
At the prospect of the food being done, Thayva clasped her hands together in front of her. “Ah, good. Perhaps we’ll both be better for the full stomachs.”

* * *

Nick glanced to Arjun as he walked off. He could not help but give a boisterous laugh at Aurelian’s suggestion and observation.
“So I’ve noticed!” he said, his voice hushed to keep from alerting the masseuses of the attraction. “Wouldn’t they make an interesting couple?” He looked to Jorn. “Sounds like a plan to me.”
Nick sauntered toward Jorn, ignoring the contemplation on the halfling’s face. “Hey.” He nudged Jorn to get his attention. “We’re,” he nodded to Aurelian, “going to go see what the girls are up to. Want to come?”

* * *

Laya’s blush deepened, making her face look more like a cherry. “Yeah, well,” she muttered, looking to the rooftop beneath her. “At least it isn’t because I could beat him in a fight.”
Kia grinned. She readjusted herself so she instead faced the others. Still on her stomach, she propped her head up in her hands, and lifted her feet behind her, swinging them in the air.
“To each their own,” Belle said with a shrug as she rummaged around inside her satchel.

[Aristocles]

"Yes. Maybe it'll calm us down. Seems like the orphans aren't the only ones who need to relax" Serapis noted. He brought in the food and served it up to Thayva, then got some for himself and sat down at the table.

--------------

Jorn thought about it for a moment and laughed. "We could get in a lot of trouble if we are caught alone. 'Boys and girls and not to mingle without staff supervision present' and all that. For all we know, they're probably hanging around, still in their massage clothes or something." Jorn thought about it for another moment. "Let's go find 'em!" Aurelian and the others left to go look for the girls, heading into another wing of the orphanage.

--------------

"That's a comfortable-looking pose. Think I'll try it" Laura leaned down onto her stomach, resting there with her feet propped up behind her. "Yeah, this feels good. Anyway, I know it's thinking very far ahead, but we are supposed to be adventurers someday, yes? At least that's one of our choices? I figure we'd best find a mate while we're here and adventure with him when we come of age. I'd hate to adventure alone."

[Riven Wight]

“Thank you,” Thayva said, showing her teeth in a warm smile at the kind gesture.
At the table, Thayva took a piece of the mutton and placed it on the remainder of her bread and cheese, and took a bite, savoring the flavor.
“Besides the obvious,” Thayva began, trying to lighten the mood if only by a tiny bit, “how was your morning?”

* * *

Nick gave him a look that said, “What’s your point?” as he recited the rules. The elf crossed his arms, an eyebrow raised, as Jorn paused again in thought.
“Now you’re talking.” Nick grinned, and followed the others. “I need a break from trying to decipher that stupid book.” He frowned, his head starting to hurt just from the thought of it. He had spent months of his free time on it, and he still had made so little progress. “I think someone wrote it just to annoy me.”
Nick glanced around them watchfully, looking for any sign of the staff.
“You know,” he began as they walked, “maybe we’ll even run into that dwarf girl... What’s her name again?” He looked to Aurelian in mock thought. “Laura, or something like that?”

* * *

“It is,” Kia nodded vigorously at Laura’s comment. She watched, amusement glittering in her green eyes.
“True,” Laya stretched her legs out in front of her and leaned back on her hands. “But wouldn’t you want someone who could fight, in that case? Someone you know could watch your back?” She glanced to Belle, who had pulled a few rather unusual odds and ends from her bag, including the wad of parchment and quill she had had out earlier, a ball of twine with a wooden peg attached to one end, a rope necklace with what looked like a miniature petrified octopus tentacle dangling from it, a small pouch that had opened slightly, allowing the muddled daylight to glint off what looked like marbles inside, and a little wooden box.
Noticing Laura’s gaze, Belle glanced up. “I haven’t cleaned this thing in ages,” she explained, a gust of wind blowing through her hair.

* * *

The mute halfling stole along the hallways, his bare feet silent against the stone floor. Determined to put as much distance between him and his archenemy, he found himself nearly on the opposite side of the mansion. Finding a classroom emptied for the day, he stole inside.
The child cast a quick glance around the room, then began collecting the cushions, stacking as many as he could in his small arms, and taking them to a corner. He laid them out in the start of a bed shape, then went back for a couple more trips.
Satisfied with the number of cushions he had piled up--a number that had all but cleared the tables of them--he plopped down on his make-shift mattress with a contented, tired sigh. Still listening for any sign that it was time to head to the kitchen, he propped his head up so he could look out the window he faced, watching the clouds as they billowed through the sky, picking out various shapes in them.
Soon, the child found himself dozing off, the comfort of the cushions welcoming him into sleep.

[Aristocles]

(Sorry if it's a bit short. Had chores to do!)

"Otherwise, it was actually not so bad. I got a lot of paperwork done" Serapis noted. "And none of the teachers had serious issues."

---------

Jorn winced at Laura's name. "Yeah... maybe we'll find her. I just don't understand that girl" he shrugged.

"She's a girl, like all the others. What's so special about her? I mean, she acts tough, but that's just because she's a dwarf" Aurelian replied.

--------

"Well, I'm sure that Jorn could put up a better fight if he put his mind to it" Laura admitted. "Not that halfling usually do that. Too busy with their gardening and brewing and... folksy halfling stuff" she sighed. "Of course, none of that really shows up here. This place is... it's like a boot camp, almost. All that exercising and sparring. It's why I like this place!"

She then looked at the 'octopus' Belle had pulled out. "What is that thing?"

[Riven Wight]

Thayva took another, thoughtful bite of her partial sandwich, her stomach welcoming the food fondly.
“I’m glad to hear, love.” She sighed. “It seems there is always paperwork to be done. Sometimes, it would be nice if it would do itself!” She offered him a smile.

* * *

Nick Laughed at Jorn’s comment. “The day we can understand the insanity of any girl, is the day I’ll be watching for the end of the world to happen.”
The elf grinned at Aurelian. “Attraction’s a funny thing that way. So, where are we going to start? We don’t exactly have all the time in the world right now.”

* * *

“That’s why I hate it,” Kia grumbled. “Think about it. We’re all basically being trained to be warriors by the same people. Sure, we learn some things about the cultures we come from and teachers for magic, but it’s not like we’re living by those standards. It’s all fine and dandy for you dwarves and the reptilian types since it’s so close to your normal, but what about the rest?” Kia rolled onto her back and stared up at the sky. “I still remember some of how things were in our elven community before coming here. It’s nothing like this. So, even if there was an elven couple out there who wanted to adopt, they’d have to basically rewire our brains, especially for those who have been here since they were little.”
“You’ve put way too much thought into that.” Laya’s brows rose.
“Hmm?” Belle said to Laura’s question. She followed the dwarf’s gaze. “You know, I’m not entirely sure.” She picked up the strange pendant and let it dangle between them, offering for her to take it. “I can’t even remember when I got it. It’s probably to ward off evil spirits or something.”
Kia looked up as a faint peal of thunder rumbled far off in the distance. “Bet this is going to be one heck of a storm.”

[Aristocles]

Serapis thought about that. "Well, there are spells which can enchant quills to write down whatever the user says, but... ah, once we work out the financial situation, maybe we'll consider that." Serapis said, taking another bite.

---------------

"I know a place we can look. Just follow me" Aurelian said, smiling. Jorn sighed and followed, not knowing what he'd find.

"Let's try not to get into too much trouble. I mean, I-I hate to sound like the teachers here, but we are still young and they don't like us spying on the other gender, you know? They might be dressed down to their... what am I saying? Let's take a look!" now the halfling was eager to see them.

A few minutes later, Aurelian had led them near to where Laura and the other girls were resting, below the rooftop, just within human hearing range, The young human laughed as he listened in.

"Rewire their brains. Heh. And would you look at that pendant? What dimension is that thing from?"

------------

"Well, the world is a hard place" Laura sighed. "Even if it doesn't match our native cultures, we're still far more prepared here than anywhere else. I don't want to imagine what would happen to us if we were still left all alone. Probably enslaved or begging in the streets. Or in some situation which I don't want to be overheard talking about. Maybe a sweatshop. Ah, if only Jorn were here to listen to my grim talk."

[Riven Wight]

“Quite true, my dear.” Thayva’s tail thumped lightly against the floor as she thought about it. “But those tend to cost a pretty nobel that could always be put to better use. Perhaps someday, by the miracle of increased finances.”

* * *

“Why does this not surprise me?” Nick grinned at Aurelian.
He chuckled at Jorn’s reaction. “I knew you were secretly a peeping tom.”
He followed Aurelian alongside the halfling as they quickly traversed the halls. “Sure you didn’t take a wrong turn?” he asked when they stepped into the cluttered classroom-turned-storage-room, but followed his friend nonetheless to a balcony area where he heard Kia’s voice floating down to them.
“Okay,” he whispered, “I’m kind of impressed you knew about this.”
He craned his neck to get a better look at the pendant Aurelian spoke of, the angle odd with the girls above them. “The twenty-seventh?” he answered jokingly.

* * *

“Pretty good point.” Laya stretched her arms out above her.
“Yeah, I guess,” Kia said through a sigh. “I don’t know,” she said tauntingly when Laura finished, her dour expression changing in the range of a split second to a grin befitting her tone. “Maybe he’d find it attractive.” She drew out the last word and bobbed her shoulders, her back rubbing against the shingles.
“Personally, I’m glad to be here.” Belle began to replace the items in her satchel in a more organized manner, leaving the pendant out for the time being.
Laya nodded her agreement with Belle, then paused. "Did you guys hear something?"
Kia shrugged. "Thunder? You talking?

[Aristocles]

Serapis finished eating a couple of minutes later. "Right. I'll clean the dishes, my love."

-------------

"Well, they are in a public place. Sort of. I happened across this place a year ago, when I was playing hide and seek. There's not a lot of privacy in this orphanage in any event, and if they just happen to talk about things and we just happen to overhear..." Aurelian told the other males, laughing.

"You don't think they'll hear us, do you?" Jorn had pressed himself against the nearest wall, underneath the roof, trying his best not to be seen.

------------

"Attractive? The pendant? Well, it is certainly eye-catching. But that's not the same thing as attractive. Mesmerizing, perhaps. No, that's not the right word. Intriguing? Yeah, that's it." Laura replied. A moment later, she looked to Laya.

"You hear something? Oh, is it one of the staff?"