[ Hells, he almost seems happier about this than he is. Not that Adelis isn't pleased with the idea, mind you- he certainly is. Not a coin spent, to get as far from Ostoya as possible? It's nigh a dream come true.

Not that he'd admit that, god forbid.

Adelis quirks an eyebrow at that, if only from their recent discussions. ]

If her generosity extends that far.

[ Generosity is used very loosely here. They both clearly aren't too fond of her, but he keeps the idea open. ]

So long as I've never the misfortune to see another kindred again. If it is just as half as plentiful as it is here, I wager we'll both be fine- adapting is how we oft survived in the first place.

I suppose after a few months of abiding by her frivolous whims, a bit more seems minor in comparison.

[ Really, he won't say he's gotten too used to it, per-say, but...it's certainly better than trudging through Ostoya's forests and wastes. One way or the other as long as his feet are not on Ostoyan soil, he'll be (mostly) content.

That's enough of a bold claim he has to stop and blink, before shaking his head. ]

Let's save the loftier aspirations for later, shall we.

[ He's never stepped out of a single country, so he'll have to get used to everything else first, if they end up going. Adelis goes back to what he was doing, tapping the can of tea on the counter alongside two mugs, but pauses mid-open at the other's voice.

He clicks his tongue. ]

Of course he did. Because hells forbid he bring it up himself. [ He's less bitter now then he was, but he's still not totally pleased, either. ] I've little time to think about it since we got back, admittedly, between the aftermath and...other things.

[ Like the faint dizzy throbbing in the back of his head, and the red tint of his ears. Really, a few days should be more than enough for this to pass, but to be Adelis is to Suffer. ]

[ Yeah! Don't worry about it!

He measures out the tea absentmindedly, even if Syrlya's words nearly bring him pause again. What have you been saying to my boyfriend... ]

It's a hairpin. Nothing more, nothing less. Tacky thing, as well. [ Wheat, really. These farming motifs...at least it blends in with his hair well enough, although he hasn't worn it yet. ] I've had it shoved in a drawer since he deigned to deliver it.

[ Adelis' head cranes around lightly, so Syrlya can see the unimpressed glint in his eye. ]

Yes, the note. The note which said nothing beyond the fact he got it from the Goddess, and it would help with my affliction. I suppose he didn't tell you he broke in to my bloody house to deliver them both whilst I was out, did he?

[ Yeah, that's about what he expected. ]

As I figured. He doesn't deign to see anything wrong with his actions over half the time, so I doubt he saw a reason to mention it.

[ Right. Syrlya doesn't know anything- as nobody should. The whistling of the kettle is distracting enough he reaches to pull it off, but he supposes that's something he'll have to address somehow. ]

...Well, at least somebody thinks that way.

[ Truth be told, if he could afford to be neglectful, he would be- but that isn't how life works now, unfortunately. ]

I would say I'm surprised he turned to somebody else to do his work for him, but that would be an obvious lie. [ He's still a little a salty. ] ...But I may use it in the coming days, regardless. We have....discussed things.

[ Ugh...don't look at him like that. Adelis goes quiet for a moment, but as the tea is steeping, he can't really do anything else...finally, he sighs. ]

We did. At the resort.

[ Yes, the resort they were all at. The nightmare resort. That one. ]

We...came to an agreement of sorts.

[ Of sorts, he says. He's still trying to detangle that mess himself, nevermind explaining it to someone else quite yet. ]

[ Adelis is, notably, not looking at that smile. No sir. He's just going to look raptly at this tea kettle instead, willing it to steep faster as he pulls the mugs closer absentmindedly. ]

...In a sense.

[ Kind of? He apologized for something, not everything. And he's still pissed off about that...as well as other aspects of that conversation that he's trying to not think too deeply about. ]

The conversation lost track eventually, but I'm not going to shank him in the street anymore, if that's what you're worried about.

[ Don't...Don't look at him like that. Adelis turns around and finally taps both cups on the table, although he is definitely not making eye contact just yet as he finally sits. ]

I suppose somebody has to be. [ It's a grumble, as he wraps a hand around the handle. ] I've little idea what to do now, frankly, but I suppose I'll figure it out. Sooner, rather than later.

[ There isn't much time left, as he's come to learn, and that idea still makes his brows furrow before he takes a sip. Well, no need to think about that now. ]

[ A moment of reprieve...although it doesn't last, as the question has his fingers halting mid-lift, before he slowly taps the cup back on the table. ]

He did. [ His tone is unreadable. ] Rather, he told me everything.

[ Luckily, there won't be a murder today! But that question makes his gaze level on Syrlya, unblinkingly. ]

I'm going to guess he's discussed it with you, then.

[ That makes him pause for a few moments, eyes widening somewhat before he flickers his gaze down to the liquid in his cup. Hm. ]

Well. Would that he had bothered to say it before.

[ Rather than...everything that had happened, really. ]

But I've already accepted it, so there's little I can do now. [ He could try to sound happier about it, but also, Adelis, ] I'm surprised your needling managed to wrest anything out of him, knowing him.

I would have advised against it. He listens to it from me, but had you pushed him too far, he might have taken it very wrong. He's not fond of disrespect.

[ Really. He's not concerned, definitely not.

His grip around the cup tightens in the slightest, gaze a bit far off. ]

...At least. [ So there's a chance they could do better. To be honest, he hasn't heard anything of the fine details, so he doesn't know what to expect, but he would prefer a Mishka whole in every way. ] He said it would be easier, if I was there.

[ He knows what you're thinking, plant-boy. He's known you for too long to not. Still, if Syrlya won't comment, neither will Adelis, and he'll take a tentative sip of his own drink in turn.

Although, his face twitches at that. ]

...Mm. [ He. Doesn't really know how to handle that. ] I can't say I've been that important to anyone in a way that wasn't padding their pockets in quite some time, so I still can't fathom it. Then again, he's always been cracked in the head.