vision

[calescent]

Kiri's up early the next morning, restless with various low-level simmering concerns, and wanders out of her room.

Comments

[free_flowing]

"You could, if you wanted! You could also go somewhere slightly more comfortable than my kierten and think about me naked, you know what else I miss about Thiyec? No one has a room at the front of their house that they can't put any useful furniture in because people would be snobs about it!"

[salt_of_the]

"Nobody has a kierten? That sounds weird," says Patience, apparently distracted from thinking about Loel naked.

[free_flowing]

"Yes! Nobody has a kierten. I was really happy about that when I left Welce," he says, laughing a little. "Kiertens always bothered me as a kid, they just seemed so pointless. I care less about it now but it's still fun to complain about. Anyway," he gets up, "I do actually wanna sit somewhere comfier than this floor, so what'll it be? Meeting everybody else or finding somewhere comfortable to flirt?"

[salt_of_the]

"Why don't you give me a tour of the whole house. Wherever the others are can be last."

[free_flowing]

"Sure," he says, grinning. "It's a pretty house! I like my house."

[salt_of_the]

"It is! I was here once to meet Nerine but it was years ago."

[free_flowing]

"I never came here back then."

[salt_of_the]

"Yeah. It was a long time ago. You went and got all - interesting to imagine naked."

[free_flowing]

"You can see me naked, if you want," he offers cheerfully. "You might've guessed I'm not shy about it."

[salt_of_the]

"I did kinda guess, considering! Mmmmaybe. Since you're offering."

[free_flowing]

"Well, y'know. If you want. I won't be offended if you'd rather stick to imagination."

[salt_of_the]

"Backing out of your tantalizing offer, huh?"

[free_flowing]

"Nope. You can absolutely still see me naked if you want to."

[salt_of_the]

"Right, where in this big old house of yours is suitable?"

[free_flowing]

"Lots of places! Of which," he says, "my room is probably the prettiest, and it's also right up these stairs."

[salt_of_the]

"All right then. Can I leave Mud in your kierten?"

[free_flowing]

"Sure."

[salt_of_the]

"All right. Stay put, Mud."

Mud sits and wags.

Patience smiles at Loel.

[free_flowing]

Loel grins at Patience!

And leads her up to his room, which has a breathtakingly gorgeous view of the Marisi River. His kierten had windows just as big looking in the same direction, but it's even better from the third floor.

[salt_of_the]

"Ooh, view. Of the outdoors, for the time being."

[free_flowing]

"For the time being," Loel agrees, and then he starts taking off his clothes.

[salt_of_the]

Patience flounces gracefully into a chair and supervises this process approvingly.

[free_flowing]

When he's done, he grins at her. "So how do I compare to imaginary me?"

[salt_of_the]

"Faaaaavorably. Much less fuzziness around the edges."

[free_flowing]

"Good!" he says, laughing.