RP:Settling Down In Sage Forest

Summary: Lanara meets up with Aira and Alvina in Sage Forest, and takes them on a house hunting tour, in hopes that they will match up with the perfect home. Afterwards, they head out for celebratory drinks as they will all be neighbors!

(Post 1 of 2) Lanara had spent most of the morning in Cenril, speaking with Vice President Shaina Murkinder, of Realty Headquarters. They had become friends after Tiber and Lana had purchased a home, since the realtor they used hadn’t been all that fond of Lana, and so naturally the witch had complained. Shaina felt strongly about her new friend, and a fellow practitioner of witchcraft, and so she had no qualms about handing Lana the folders on all the houses that are for sale in Sage Forest. She even had duplicate keys made, so that she could show Aira and Alvina the interior of each of the homes! Lanara had been giddy with excitement and spent the early afternoon pouring over the details of each home, before she set out to meet up with her friends.

(Post 2 of 2) The wind unexpectedly picks up and then seems to settle on one spot before the Kelay Tavern, as though the air had been sucked into a vacuum. With a ‘whoosh’ sound from above, followed by a soft thud as shoes hit the ground, Lanara dismounts from her fancy new broom and smooths her long locks into submission. She’s clad in a denim skort, so that no one gets a peep show with her flying through the air, a cute frilly pink blouse that shows off a hint of her navel, and a pair of white sneakers. A little breathless from the ride, Lana approaches Alvina and Aira and pulls them each in for a tight hug, though she keeps it brief in the case of the huntress. She knows that Aira isn’t overly fond of affection, but Alvina is, and so after their hug, she admires the woman's outfit and playfully tugs on a crimson lock. “It’s so great to see you both! I have six houses that we can take a look at today, so hopefully you each connect with one! Shaina, over at Realty Headquarters, is letting me play realtor for a day, so it’s just us! But, I read up on each house, and I have the keys, so we can take our time and you guys aren’t pressured into making a decision.” She peers into the folder for a second, “The next step, after deciding on a home, would be to get in touch with the bank in Cenril, and they can work out a payment plan.” She pauses and excitedly clasps her hands together, “Are you guys ready?! Let’s go find ya’ll a home!”

Aira leaned casually against the outside wall of the Kelay Tavern, looking either bored or like she was waiting for a group of gang members to cause trouble with. She wore a pair of tight denim pants, a plain black shirt, and a leather jacket with matching boots. She watched passersby idly before pushing off the wall and approaching Alvina when she spied the red head draw near. She wasn’t the world’s best conversationalist, but would engage in small chit-chat if the bard so wished. When a curious sound reached her vulpine ears, Aira cast her metallic eyes skyward, only to watch Lanara descend on her fancy broom. Aira’s loose, blonde locks fluttered behind her in the gust of wind and she stuffed her hands in her pockets. “Thanks for doing this,” she said genuinely to the witch after sharing a brief hug (meaning the showing of houses) upon her dismount and brief explanation of the itinerary. There was no weaponry on the huntress, at least none that any could see. She only hoped that Lana had some houses that weren’t all white picket fences and frilliness–she might vomit on the spot if that were the case.

Alvina ’d arrived just before Lana’s grand entrance. She’d spotted Aira and only had time to offer a brief greeting before her hair’s blown wild. Laughing, the bard should have guessed that the familiar broom and it’s rider were responsible. Her clothes are white simple summer shorts sporting lace along the legs complimented by a navy halter top and matching flats. She’s ready for summer dang it! “Are you adding realtor to your long list of skills?” Alvina chides Lana when she tugs on her hair. “Thanks for the hairdo! Are those skorts? I literally can’t with how cute you are.” To be perfectly fair, she’s equally adoring of Aira’s look but the woman probably wouldn’t appreciate being fussed over. It was so difficult to keep from hugging people uuuugh! “Yes, thank you for taking care of everything.” With one wide sweep of her arm, she begs Lana and Aira to lead the way.

(Post 1 of 2) Lanara meets Aira’s gaze and their eyes lock for a long moment, because she feels the heavy emotion behind the gratitude. Aira had been abandoned by a man that had promised to love her for all time, just as Lana had been left at the altar and kicked onto the street by that Eli bastard’s butler! “You don’t need to thank me, it’s what friends do for each other.” Alvina is the next to thank her, and Lana’s high cheekbones are tainted with pink, from both the compliment and that show of thanks, “Oh my gosh, those lace shorts are so cute!!! You don’t have to thank me, either! Honestly… I’ve been where you both are right now.” Homeless. Heartbroken. A bit lost. “Friends are always there for each other, right? I just hope you both find one that you like! We can be neighbors!” She laughs, and leads the pair towards the northern section of the forest, along the way making idle chit chat. She points out all the key reasons to move to Sage Forest, “Near enough to a bar!” And, “Close to businesses, but also far enough away for privacy.” Let’s not forget, “Hide and seek is so fun in such a big area!” Especially to Alvina, “Close to excellent public schools, and family oriented as the park is nearby!” And oddly, moreso to Aira, “You can even hide bodies and not have to worry about being caught!” Eventually, Lana has to pull out the map and she slows in her walking, “Okay, the first house should be right… There.”

(Post 2 of 2) The home sits at the center of the block, mirrored by two houses on either side, all of which share the same design and color. A brick house with a tall chimney, secure with a thick steel door, and surrounded by a white picket fence. Obviously, the owners valued their safety, and the house is simple and straight to the point. “This one doesn’t have many frills or any fancy features, but it has a large sitting room with a cozy hearth. It has two bedrooms, one washroom, a small kitchen, a tiny basement, and it comes with a security system in case anyone breaks into a window or the doors. It has all the usual water, heat, and air enchantments… It is one of the smaller homes, but you would have neighbors and it’s only a few minutes walk to the bridge that leads to Larket. Let’s check out the inside!” The witch walks her friends up the path and lets them into the home, to get a much closer look.

Aira offered a half smile at that significant look Lanara sent her way, only there must have been something lost in translation (the huntress had never been good at friendships with women). She assumed the significant look was for helping save her ass against the group of men that cornered the huntress in Cenril, not the significant betrayal she felt at her mate’s sudden and unexpected abandonment. Still she followed both women into the woods, listening to Lana prattle on about the benefits of living in Sage. She didn’t much care about being close to businesses–although being close to a bar was a plus. She didn’t have a need for public schools or play areas. Although, Lana’s mention about ample space to hide bodies was met with a bark of laughter and a swish of her tail, clearly indicative of her amusement. She only hoped Alvina wouldn’t be put off by such conversations. The trio approached the first house and already Aira knew it wasn’t for her. There was that damned picket fence! And -two- neighbors! Her lips pressed into a thin line as she trailed after the pair of women to further inspect the house she would -not- be purchasing.

Alvina joins in the chit chat, thinking about the school system. It is a lovely area. When Lanara jokes with Aira about hiding bodies, her face pales. Her own little murder spree (of exactly one helpless little girl) was almost constantly on her mind. She hides it by turning to examine the path they came from, letting Aira take the brunt of the conversation momentarily. She hopes it’ll just be attributed to Alvina being a little ‘fancy pants’ that felt uncomfortable with dark humor. At Lana’s call that they’ve arrived, she turns back to look at the first house. It’s very practical and cute in it’s own way. Even with the houses around it, it would be easy to feel isolated with the right decor. It is, unfortunately, too small for her brood of children but she’s still curious to see what it looks like inside. Plus, maybe Aira would like it! She’s set to step inside when she notices Aira’s expression. Oh, no good? Alvina chuckles to herself, catching up with the other women and asking casually. “What sort of thing are you looking for in a house Aira?”

(Post 1 of 2) Lanara can sense that neither of the women seem to like this particular house, and so she quickly ushers them inside to give it a brief once over, “This is the cheapest of the homes, so I figured we would start with the lowest price and move upwards. It’s fine that you ladies dislike it, we do have more to look at!” The interior is what one would expect in a starter home that needs a little TLC, basic and a little outdated. It -is- too small for Alvina and her children, and Aira probably wouldn’t do best with neighbors. Plus, it’s a far cry from the solitude of Frostmaw! “Okay, the next home isn’t too far from here, but it’s a log cabin that was once used as a summer camp for kids! It’s a five minute walk to the nearest Healer, and about a twenty minute walk to Shinnan’s Glade.” She assumes these are landmarks that a good realtor would mention, and she’s pondering if Alvina was onto something with her earlier comment. Is Lanara Lowell -that- business savvy? Along the way Alvina asks Aira what she’s looking for in a home, and the witch listens in, a smile on her lips, “Yes, you both should mention some things you desire in a home and some things that would be definite dealbreakers!”

(Post 2 of 2) As they detour down a thick forest path, it seems as though the map is wrong, that there cannot be a home back here in the middle of all these trees and bushes! But alas, the majestic cabin comes into view, and the clearing is quite picturesque. The home looks newly built, despite the fact that it’s been here for many many years, and there’s a large trout-filled pond in the front yard. A storage shed sits to the east, the doors ajar, and from the looks of things, it seems as though the previous owner left the landscaping items with the home. “This home comes partially furnished, so you would just need to fill in the guest rooms, or swap out the furniture you dislike. It’s a four bedroom home, but two of the bedrooms hold four sets of bunk beds, as it was used as a camp, as I earlier stated. There are two bathrooms, a large kitchen and dining room, a large living room, and there is both an attic and a basement. To the rear of the home is a greenhouse, which hasn’t been used in years, but is still functional.” She looks at Aira, “It may seem a lot for one person, but you could probably rent out some space to earn a little income.” Then to Alvina, “You don’t have to keep the bunk beds, but this place was built with kids in mind!” Lana wants a look at the interior, as the exterior is beautiful, and she encourages both women to join her inside. They won’t be disappointed as they take in the fine hardwood floors, the polished surfaces, the possibilities of all the space the home has to offer, as well as the solitude in this corner of the forest. “If Tiber and I didn’t have a place, I would definitely consider moving here.”

Aira turned to look at Alvina when she noted the slightly sour expression on her face. She smiled in an apologetic sort of way and lifted her left shoulder in a shrug. “I’ve spent the last several years in a one room lodge. It -will- be nice to have some more space, but I’m not exactly a picket fence, flower box in the windows kind of person.” While standoffish in appearance at the moment, those who knew her best, would understand that her murderous behavior (which had escalated as of late) wouldn’t be suited for such a place. “I also don’t know how I’d be with close-proximity neighbors.” She could only imagine an unsuspecting elderly woman knocking at her door to borrow a cup of sugar to find the huntress drenched in blood from her latest kill (animal or otherwise). Still, she doesn’t wish to appear rude to Lana who is doing this voluntarily and has obviously put some work into it. The three women make quick work of the first house which didn’t suit either of them before making their way to the next one. Aira, Alvina, and Lanara walked down a dense, forested path when they came upon the cabin and the vixen's face visibly brightened. This was definitely more of what she was looking for! She approached the pond and dipped the toe of her boot in the water to scatter the trout nearby before approaching the door. “It is rather big,” Aira agreed as she stepped over the threshold and found herself in a massive great room with a large fireplace as the focal point. “It’s just me,” she said, looking up at the wooden beams of the ceiling. What business did she have with so many bedrooms?! But then the thought of having space to work–although she doesn’t voice what kind of work–would be nice. “I love how secluded it is. How far is the closest neighbor?” she asked Lanara before moving deeper to peer into the kitchen area.

Alvina understands Aira’s point of view. She’d very much been a flower box, picket fence gal once but now she looked at things in terms of practicality with a mix of extravagance, like a bad habit. “Honestly, neighbors are the worst. Unless they’re already your friends and won’t judge you for eating cake on the lawn.” Or being covered in blood from a hunt. She likes the idea of a little kid’s camp cabin. Her wolf children would enjoy the open space to shift and run in safe seclusion! Hopefully not biting any poor campers or hikers. Might need to consider a fence, for Meadow. She nods along with Lanara’s suggestion about ditching the bunk beds, which she’d have to, for their sake. Her spoiled children would rather DIE than have a bunk bed. Except maybe Meadow, who was the youngest and also spent all her time in wolf form. She’d probably think anything was the coolest. Very agreeable child when she’s a wolf. No talking back (in common anyway). Aira seems to have taken a shine to it and that fills Alvina with warm butterfly happiness. She follows them inside to examine the rustic decor, hanging back while Lana continues to tour with expert ease. “Could also have a room for visitors?” She suggested, not sure how Aira would feel about having the type of visitor that would stay the night, with her love of personal space. “Lana and I could come, have sleepovers.” It’s a silly suggestion, they weren’t teenagers, but it feels fun to think about. Really, Alvina just wanted Aira to not feel alone. “We’re all animals, really.” Aren’t they too? “It’s beautiful,” she chimes in, “and I hate to sound so picky but it’s still just a little too small.” She hoped Lana didn’t think she didn’t appreciate all the effort! But it looked wonderful for the huntress!!

(Post 1 of 2) Lanara loves the kitchen and she runs her fingers across the center island, a little envious that this room is twice the size of her own. The sunlight filters through the glass double doors that lead to the patio and Lana imagines that it’s the perfect place for a barbecue and a fire pit. Aira’s inquiries surprise her a tad, but Lana is pleased that she likes the place, because out of the two of them, she will be the harder client. “Let’s see…” The folder is opened and she rummages through a few papers, before she finds what she’s looking for, “The nearest neighbor to the west is a mile away, there aren’t any within five miles to the north and east, and…” She squints, “To the south you have two neighbors, but they are several miles away. It seems that this lodge was built to be off the beaten path and afford privacy. This is one of the larger properties, as the boundaries show that it’s a six acre forested lot.” But then! Alvina seems to like this home, too, and Lana looks a tad torn! Clearly, there is tons of land to expand, and just today she read a post on the tavern board that some dragon with a long name is looking to do construction work! The comment about sleepovers has her giggling, as she cannot imagine the huntress painting her nails, or wearing makeup. Aira would definitely paint her nails in someone’s blood and wear warpaint on her fair face, but staying up all night and acting girly definitely isn’t her idea of a good time! “I’ll bring the popcorn!” A cookout and camping is more Aira’s style, and Lana and Alvina would love a night out! “There are a few more homes, so you don’t have to decide right now!”

(Post 2 of 2) The walk to the third house takes them through Kelay and just past the border, so they are in the middle of Sage Forest. It’s noisy and the house stands at a busy intersection, an average distance from the forest, but a great deal closer to the businesses. “Um… This house is actually a two family, with two big bedrooms and a washroom on each side, and the kitchen would be shared with another dweller.” The ‘roommate’ is currently standing on the front step, itching the crack of his ass, and chewing on an unlit cigar. He looks as though he hasn’t bathed in the past month and he suggestively eyes the redhead, blonde, and brunette, as though they have materialized for his pleasure. “Ew. We aren’t going in there… Let’s go to house number four!” The next house is a comfortable cottage, nestled in the silent forest, a few miles southeast of the archery range. “This home doesn’t look all that big from the outside, but the inside is huge, and it’s very charming!” The lawn is well manicured and there are flowerbeds surrounding the front of the house, along with a little garden to the rear. Lana unlatches the fence, “A big fenced in yard is fantastic for pets, or little ones that like to explore!” She smiles at Alvina, knowing she will love this home. The cobblestone walkway brings them to the oak front door, which has a heart shaped wreath that makes guests feel welcome, “This is a five bedroom home, two floors, three washrooms, along with an extra room that can be used as an office or for storage. The previous tenants used it as a little library, as it has a bay window that overlooks the forest.” She pushes the key into the lock and turns the knob, before she leads them inside, “It’s modern, up to date with all the latest enchantments, and the second floor has a ton of sunlight streaming in, despite the fact that we’re in a forest.” The witch walks them through each of the rooms, pointing out the fine features of each, stemming from the fresh carpet, the immaculate tiles, the spacious master bedroom, and the entertainment room that is massive. “There is a large basement and attic, as well, for extra storage. And, although they never used it and it will need to be filled, there is a pool on this property!”

Aira seemed practically charmed by the idea of the kitchen. Once upon a time when she was still playing “perfect fiance” in Rynvale, she cooked all sorts of meals. Living where she did the last several years only gave her an open fire to cook on. She stepped back out into the great room where Alvina and Lana stood and playfully (yes, playfully!) wrinkled her nose at Alvina’s suggestion of a sleepover. “Uh, I mean you two are always welcome. I just think you might be disappointed in my nail painting abilities.” She continued to explore the rooms, being cognizant of Alvina’s interest as well. She knew the bard had a pack of children and would definitely benefit from the larger space; however, Aira was pleasantly surprised when she admitted that the cabin was still a bit small for her brood. She seemed pleased with the lack of nearby neighbors and silently thought that unless something else wow’ed her, she could see this being her home. She followed Lanara and Alvina to the third house, which was somehow worse than the first. The vixen wrinkled her nose in disgust at the man who would occupy the attached dwelling and plucked both women by the elbows. “Absolutely not.” Clearly, she’s made a blanket decision for everyone which Lana clearly agreed on, and she was quick to steer them in the opposite direction. As they approached the next house the first word that came to the huntress’s mind was ‘cute’. It’s charming but it’s definitely not some place that she would feel comfortable staying in long term. “This place screams you,” she said, nudging Alvina up the cobblestone path and towards the front door.

Alvina shakes her head at Aira’s remark about sleep overs. “Hey, I can’t paint nails, but I can make a mean s’mores.” She actually did contact that very dragon with a long name about a house design in case she’s too picky (so sorry Lana) and can’t find a house that suits her. She’d mention it but now they are being ogled by some creepy man. Unable to help herself, she barks loudly at the man, hoping to make him as uncomfortable as they’d made him with his existence. The fourth house is absolutely darling. She meets Lanara’s smile with her own, nudged by Aira, stepping through the fence after their witchy realtor. “Am I that transparent?” Alvina teases Aira with a grin. Lanara says the words ‘bay window’ and Alvina swoons. Bay windows were a rather embarrassing weakness of the bard’s. The room count fits, and the extra space and washrooms would really help. All those kids need space to fight over them. The entire tour Alvina is starry eyed, touching everything an annoying amount, testing the enchantments and windows to check for drafts. She’s kind of extra guys, her writer is horribly sorry she’s like this. It’s embarrassing. “I love it…” she starts, feeling guilty for saying what she’s about to say. “Don’t hate me.” She groans, hiding her face. “It’s still just a little too small, I’m the worst, but I love it so much. Maybe Xiem could build onto it?” She waits for their contributions patiently.

Lanara is still smirking at Aira’s comical response to the disgusting man from the prior house, and she elbows her and taunts, “Not your type, huh? Just think, you could have scored a new home -and- a date!” The teasing turns serious though, as Alvina seems to be on cloud nine as she waltzes from room to room, a look of satisfaction on her pretty face. If Lana was a true realtor, she would be tossing out some sort of hook to reel in a sale, but they are close friends and she’s not in the housing business. “This home is on two acres, so you absolutely could build an addition, either to the rear of the house, or perhaps another floor. It’s lovely, isn’t it? I can honestly see you here!” Lana looks at her folder, “I have two more homes for us to look at, but I will tell you a bit about them, before we proceed as it’s a bit of a walk. The one home is technically in Enchantment, but it’s right near the Sage Forest border. It’s on a one acre plot, it’s a good starter home and needs some work, but the sale is currently pending. So, unless the other buyer backs out, it won’t be available. And the last home is actually next door to where I live… Tiber and I would be your only neighbor for a few miles, and the house is huge and beautiful. It has a balcony and stables in the backyard! However, I -do- have to disclose that someone died in the master bedroom on the second floor. There was an accident…” Lana glances away sneakily, but then she remembers she trusts these women, so she confesses, “A pair of hyenas escaped the sanctuary and took out the poor guy… Tiber and I were actually going to buy that home, but after the scandal… Well, there were a -lot- of investigations being done and I had to hide the animals before I could release them into the wild, to avoid them being euthanized or myself being thrown in jail. It’s back on the market and the price was just lowered! So, I can show you those, unless you ladies have decided?”

Aira glared at Lana when she made the jab about the man not being her type. “Absolutely not. Not to mention, the idea of going on a date is the furthest thing from my mind.” Women scorned and all of that. Aira followed the other ladies through the house, watching Alvina’s proficient focus on every minute detail of the establishment. Aira cared not about drafts–she had spent the last several years of her life in Frostmaw, Sage was practically balmy even in the dead of winter to her! She looked at Alvina in surprise when she said the house -still- wasn’t large enough. The huntress hadn’t actually built the lodge–only made repairs–but she nodded in agreement with Lana. “With the acreage you can definitely do an addition. If you like the quaint-ness of the cottage, I would recommend knocking down the back walls and expanding outward as opposed to adding another floor, but that’s just me.” Was Aira secretly an architect? She would never tell. “I think this place definitely suits you, though.” The huntress turned toward the witch when she explained the last two properties. The first was a no from her–she didn’t want to deal with another buyer. And the latter… “Lana, I do adore you in small increments–” Trouble-making Lana was more Aira’s speed, but sometimes social butterfly Lana was a bit much for her. “But I worry if I was your neighbor I’d potentially want to murder your husband from time to time.” Tiber was growing on her, that was true, but she still felt that he lacked a lot of skills. The vixen turned towards Alvina then. “What are you thinking?”

Alvina laughs and said “What do you mean, Lana, that’s just how I flirt” regarding the man she’d barked at previously. She also was not in the market for dating of any kind, even if her and Hudson were irrevocably separated. “You really have an eye for this kind of thing, you know. Doesn’t she Aira?” She has to stop herself from touching Aira’s arm while teasing Lanara. They both fill her in on the changes she could make and the bard nods along. She knows absolutely nothing about building houses. “That sounds reasonable. I’m glad I have you two experts here with me.” The grin slips as Lanara starts talking about the other properties. “Lanara!” She shouts, hands clasped on each side of her face. Holy Sven! She also loved the witch so much but the idea of dangerous animals breaking in, even if they were all wolves, just…no no. Aira asks Alvina what she’s thinking. “Right now all I can think about is this man!” This has been a lot of talk about murder today. In the end, she laughs, just completely blown away by this revelation that Lana is kind of responsible for someone being killed by sanctuary animals. “What if I buy that house and sell it to you on the sly?” She offers, looking around this last house one more time. “Can I have more time to think about it? Bring the kids and see what they think? Maybe get Xiem out here to take a look too.”

Lanara wonders how Aira knows all this information about building, but she’s impressed, to say the least. She’s not making any sort of commission, as she’s doing this for her friends and the actual realtor gave her free reign, but Aira is definitely helping her to sell this house! Poor Alvina feels a little bit traumatized after the admission that her favorite witch just happened to be involved in killing a man, and Lana tries not to laugh at the look on her face. “I covered it up, and I’m pretty sure they cleaned up all the blood that seeped into the floors! A little bit of sage? It will be right as rain!” She would love to have either of them as neighbors, she thinks, but then she narrows her eyes on Aira, “I could just see you skinning your kills on my front lawn, or using Tiber as a target when you practice archery.” On second thought? “Honestly, Aira, I think the big cabin that was used as a camp is -perfect- for you, and I think that this home suits you the most, Alvina!” Had she found them new homes that they would love!? “Why don’t you both think about it, no pressure! If you’re interested, just meet up with Shaina, at Realty Headquarters, in Cenril. She can arrange any future walk-throughs with friends and family, go over pricing and payments, and answer any other questions. And if you don’t like any of these homes, it’s okay, we can keep looking. I’m happy to help!” Lana pulls them both in for a quick hug, “Why don’t we head to the tavern for some drinks? My treat!”

Aira blinked her metallic eyes in surprise when Alvina expressed genuine concern over the man that had been killed in the house neighboring Lana’s. It was only then that the vixen realized she never even gave it a passing thought, let alone comment on it! She shifted from one booted foot to the other and stuffed her fists in her pockets once more. “I’m sure the man lived a good, long life?” she said with a question in her tone. She really had no idea but she hoped the thought would put the bard at ease a little. She rolled her eyes as Lana explained that the house would be good as new with a little scrubbing and sage smoke but smirks all the same. “I cannot help the fact that Tiber is slow and would be unable to get out of the way of my arrow fast enough,” she teased the witch. She had gotten in the habit of picking on Tiber even before him and Lana were an item. Lana’s assessment of the homes and which one was right for whom is met with a nod from the vixen. “I agree, I really liked the cabin. I would like to take another look at it, but I can bother the realty lady.” With the promise of free drinks, Aira does something very unlike herself–she looped her arms with Alvina and Lana and angled them towards the tavern. “Come now, dear Alvina. Don’t fret about Lana’s hyena troubles. I can tell you all about my skull collection to take your mind off of it.” She was teasing. Probably. Maybe.

Alvina’s brain is still trying to untangle the madness of this dead man while Aira and Lana joke about making Tiber suffer the unusual friendship of being shot with arrows. Ah, Alvina's experienced friendship quite like that in her lifetime but that subject was best avoided. “It’s a beautiful cabin?” She agrees through the haze, further surprised when Aira loops her arm through theirs. The offer to discuss skulls further pales her face. “Maybe we can…talk about gardening tips.” Alvina sighs, delighted by this little reprieve from how life had been lately. “...or maybe how to build a porch? Literally anything else, please!”