okay but do we have to leave so soon

[liakoura]

The Ardelay twins loiter in the palace for a few days, then fall back to the Chialto house, in plenty of time to receive any prompt reply to the correspondence Kiri sent out when they arrived in the city.

Comments

[calescent]

"Do you cook too or do you just know what it looks like when done well?" Kiri inquires of Sarelle.

[calendarofcrime]

"I cook. Competently, at that."

[free_flowing]

"You sure sounded like you knew what you were talking about," says Loel. "If you wanna borrow my kitchen sometime, feel free."

[calescent]

"Heh. I can do a little, too, but not well enough to ever chase anybody else out of a kitchen if they're willing to feed me."

[free_flowing]

"And I'm always willing to feed people," says Loel, grinning.

[liakoura]

"Ekador might want to try your cilantro later," remarks Aleko.

[free_flowing]

"Yeah?" He glances over at Ekador.

[pyrophyte]

Ekador is currently chewing on a bite of rice, and therefore cannot answer immediately.

—And then a look of extreme startlement crosses his face and he starts coughing into his hand.

[liakoura]

"Are - you okay?" exclaims Aleko.

[calescent]

Kiri looks at Sarelle, who will know better than she will if Ekador needs extra help with his airway.

[calendarofcrime]

"He is not in danger," says Sarelle.

[pyrophyte]

Still coughing, he nods several times.

The coughing abates.

He stares at Loel.

[calescent]

Kiri calms down, and looks at Ekador instead.

[liakoura]

"...What's going on?"

[pyrophyte]

...Ekador is at a loss for words.

[free_flowing]

Loel raises his eyebrows. "And you are giving me this look because...?"

[pyrophyte]

"I am... astonished," he says, "astonished is the word - I am astonished by the number and variety of otherwise healthy bones that you have broken in your life."

[free_flowing]

"...mm," says Loel.

[calescent]

Kiri manages a "disturbed" facial expression largely untainted by other knowledge.

[liakoura]

Aleko looks maybe more worried than disturbed.

[free_flowing]

"It's... not a problem I have anymore," he says. "And I'd rather not get into it."

[pyrophyte]

Ekador looks deeply conflicted.

[calescent]

Kiri waits to see if anyone needs her to confirm that it is really not a problem Loel has anymore or that he would really rather not get into it. She doesn't think that her talking too much can improve anything.

[pyrophyte]

"I can... see that it is no longer a problem," he says. "It seems not to have been a problem for... several years. It troubles me that it was ever a problem. It troubles me further that—" He cuts himself off and shakes his head.

[free_flowing]

"Sorry," says Loel, smiling crookedly.