Gath lifts the sword to block the strikes and the blades clash into it. There's a smear of red and Gath flexes his hand. "Just a little scrape." He swings again and tries to hit Aara with the flat of the blade.

"Tell her what?" Two sighs.

"Oh yes, you finally won me over, Duckling."

She shakes her head. "It's- I don't have the words, but I'll try to explain," she says, and drinks more.  "If we're friends, we'll be close, then you'll be like family. You already to Goddard. I don't have a good record with family. They leave or die or send me away.  I thought it'd be fine if I kept distant but I don't like it." She lays near need against his arm again. "That doesn't make sense."

"Thank you so much," Goddard says with a nod. "You've been so helpful. Come on love, let's go see what else we can find."

"I bet it was much nicer than the talk we just had. Seeing as how you're his favorite apparently," he chuckles.

"Yes, Duckling," she laughs, backing off a bit so he doesn't get spooked. "Baking."

"That I can't help I am...was druchii? I just don't understand how my lord is immune to that," he shrugs. "We can go back to your silly questions about my past if you wish."

"We have plenty of time to make it up to them."

Aara watches him go, letting out a relieved breath. That's done, then. This can work...

Her nerves melt away and a wide grin slides across her face. "Nuur'eni..." she calls, heading for her room. "Are you ready?"

Goddard looks down at his hands. "I...I only did anything that once...I wasn't quiet all there when it happened, and I regret it. I'm sorry. But never anything like that lecai. Not ever."

"I wish-" She stumbles over her dropped cup, dragging the sheet through water. "Damn it," she mutters, kneeling to clean up the mess.

"Anything with Kryn involved is interesting," she laughs. "Right around this corner? Ha! There it is!"

"Oh you're mean," he grins. "But this doesn't seem like it's going to be what I thought it would have been." He goes into his room and after much muttering and rummaging, finally gets dressed. "Alright lecai, do with me what you will."

She gasps and straightens up. "You injure me nuur'eni," she says dramatically, a hand in her chest. "I only moved here so I could flatter and cuddle you and take care of you."

Tallyn chases Aara down and grabs her arms. "Listen, I don't know what is happening, and later I'm going to have a serious talk with you and Gill. But didn't you order lunch for two and there's only one upstairs?"

"I can't go up there like this. He left a handprint!"

"Tell him there was a fight and you got caught up."

Aara starts to argue. "That might work...but Gath will say something."

"Well then he looks like the giant ass, doesn't he? Go upstairs," he commands, pushing her inside.

Gath sits on the floor, a little shocked at what he almost did.

Goddard gasps for air and sits up, wrapping his arms around his mid section, trying to slow down his breathing.

Two and Kryn fall into the apartment in a riot of giggles and kisses. Aara looks up from her book and laughs when they hurriedly try to fix their clothing.

"Oh...hello Four, Sheik," Two laughs, angling so Kryn can adjust her dress.

"I'd say we're even Kryn," Aara laughs.

"That's part of what I li..." Gath clears his throat and quickly goes back to his drink.

Lizards

"I hate sand," Goddard complains as the group enters their apartment. "It's in places I didn't know existed! All for some stupid lizards..."

Aara pales and looks away. "I- uh..."

"I myself have learned more from doing and less from books."

"Laughing and saying you don't care about something sounds like someone who's given up..."

"If you don't know the antidote, then it will kill you. I, however, just drank it. In will be sick, go to bed early and have some rather vivid hallucinations, and wake up tomorrow thirsty."  She turns in her chair to look at him. "If you trusted me, you'd believe me."

When Tallyn steps out to check on her, she's sound asleep, curled up in her chair with her book abandoned on the table beside her. Chuckling, her drapes a shawl he's brought across her and let's her rest peacefully. After plucking a few herbs, he crushes them and throws them on the heater, the sharp scent filling the air around her.

Two bristles. "I think that you aren't well yourself, and my lady might have need of me.  She is the reason I'm here."

"Don't bicker like two old women," she groans.

Waterlogged

Shivering, Aara beckons Two to follow her into her room.

"That was some job!" He exclaims, pushing his damp hair off him face. "We actually breathed under water! And fought...whatever they were! Four that was amazing!"

"It was," she says tiredly. "Although you were a bit unhelpful."

He grins sheepishly and goes to help her out of her wet leather. "Good thing this is waxed," he says. "It should be fine."

"Just help me out of it," she sighs. "And I'll need you to bandage these wounds, too."

"I'll leave you to your soap. I've had enough suds for today but I'll gladly give you an all over massage when you're done," he grins. Goddard goes into his room and changes before he heads into the common room to wait and relax.

"There they are," Goddard says, finally spotting them in the crowd. "And look. They are either drunk or worked something out."

"That's a long list," he chuckles. "Wait..." he says, narrowing his eyes. "You won't care? So you do care?"

Goddard lets her go but remains sitting on the ground. "But...you hate him. I thought he'd be the worst."

"Whatever you say," he shrugs with a grin. "You're going to let Two recognize his ability before you? Tsk."

"I appreciate your concern," she giggles, wrapping her arms around him. She pulls him down for a scorching kiss and toys with both his ears.

"No. He says he wants to drink all my gold away or he won't work for anyone who's not a druchii. We're still druchii to him. Maybe one day he won;t feel that way. Eventually he'll have to and then who knows what he'll do."

Tallyn gets back to his feet. "Gill, I told-" he opens the door wide and scowls. "You. Look, she doesn't want to see you."

Everything seems perfect again. Perfect enough. Otto is back and Goddard is laughing and smiling. Then then warm glow from the fireplace dims and the shadows dancing on the walls feel sinister. Otto doesn't seem to notice, but Goddard begins to panic. The shadows become tentacles and claws, grabbing at Otto, pulling him away. Goddard screams, but there is no sound and he can't breath.

He jerks awake and whimpers, "Father?" He looks around the room before his eyes fall on Aara beside him.

"This may end up being our favorite store then. That's all we want after everything else we go through daily."

New World

Goddard jumps to his feet and rushes into the room with a sword. "What happened?! Where is it!?" 

Gath frowns. "If we can't make it out of here, I would rather be dead. Just...keep that in mind. I'm trying not to lose all hope just yet."

Farewell Koroush, Hello Newcomer

Aara starts preparing their gear to leave as Koroush orders the bodies of the dead Khalifs onto the wagons. When she hears Koroush say he's going to the sultan with them, she pauses.

"My lord...no," she argues, coming to his side and grabbing his arm. "No."

She returns his smile. "Why the sudden interest? I didn't think you paid them much attention."

Two nods, his face grim. "Some cannot keep their heads, even when granted such...gifts."

Goddard let's out a long sigh of relief. "Good because I was going to be really disappointed in myself for talking about being nice and happiness."

--

"I'm teasing, Goddard," she assures him, hugging him tightly. "I know you better than that."