INT - Windgrace Manor; morning
Dinah was in one of her moods. Oft unprompted, but today was just a particular little knot of spite. She had woken in an unexplainable foul mood, far too early, and now, she had mislaid her pen.
She'd been looking through the drawers with a steadily growing sense if irritation before letting out a shriek of rage and yanked on the drawer, sending the bureau spilling out all over the floor with a scattering of papers, trinkets, glasses and all the sundry items from inside the cupboard doors, stalking to snatch up her teacup from the table. Thankfully, dear Jupiter had been moved upstairs to spare the cook his harassment, otherwise he'd have been thrown all over the floor too.
Dorian came bombing down the stairs upon hearing the clattering below, perhaps sensing his twin's agitation. Did he come from his attic room, or Dinah's, the proximity of the doors up there might make it hard to know which. What was the leap from second level to landing for a winged person? Though he did stomp the rest of the way down, and once he was at the bottom set eyes upon his twin. Calling to her in jest he'd remark, upon seeing the mess, "Why not throw it all upon the floor next time if it offended you thus?"
Hector: doesn't normally sleep well. He has horrible PTSD nightmares. However, he was...rather wore out and in a comfortable position for...reasons. He slept far longer than he normally would and had no idea it was beyond noon. He made little sleepy sounds and rolled over, happily warm and comforted, only for there to come a sudden SHRIEK! Hector vaulted out of the bed going from 0 to 100 in an instant. Then he realized he wasn't in his bed which made the panic worse. He couldn't immediately reach his ghosts which was absolutely horrific to wake up to. He fell over trying to get out of Drystan's bed and was scrambling to the door. Shaking, panting, sweating, his head going HALP! help whatever was screaming. He might not have immediately thought to come bursting out of Drystan's room if he didn't wake up with a start. Hell, he probably wouldn't have come out at all, instead throwing a blanket over his head and pretending he wasn't there. Sadly, he has completely forgotten himself. WOOPS!
Drystan Windgrace: .me sat upright as Hector sprang out of bed and was having a fit by the door at the sound of one of DInah's screams. Maybe he was used to them, Maybe he knew she was okay or would be okay. But what bolted him upwards was the leaping lover at his door. "Heyyyy Hey its okay, " He motioned calmly as he got out of bed and pulled some clothes on. "It's just Dinah, she's okay...everythng is okay...He pulled open the double doors of his room with a concerned look on his face, then turned to look at Hector and shrug a little. "She's a little testy sometimes." Whispered over his shoulder as he made his way to the staircase, and started padding down, waving Hector to come along with him. Not even a Dinah tantrum would put clouds in his sky this morning. He paused and looked back with eyes perked. "We have all kinds of imported foods, mostly jams and sweets because we are overgrown children, but i think we might have some dried meats as well!" HOBOY, food.
Dinah heard the footfalls on the steps and part of her anticipated one of the help coming to clean up the ruination of her temper tantrum. Instead, it was Dorian, and he was cracking wise at her expense. Perhaps he'd expect the reaction, he almost certainly SHOULD expect her reaction as without much more than a sharp glare, she hurled the teacup overarm at her twin, likely sailing over his head to smash against the wooden beam behind him and explode into shards of porcelain and droplets of cooling darjeeling.
unaware that there was anybody in the house beyond the normal reprobates, she gritted her hands at her sides and seethed.
"I have had that pen since 1829. I have taken it *everywhere* and now it is *gone*! it was right there in the drawer, I *know* it was."
Dorian called to the part time help in the kitchen, and Dinah's tiny lady's maid, "Keiko, Hoshi, I beg you to go--" he ducked the cup, knowing that there was no catching it when hurled at that speed without shards, and after the tinkling crash, continued, "--to market and collect a few dozen macarons and some fresh lemons." It was entirely possible that they had these things in the house already but it was no good risking the help given the family track record in recent months. With his hands up in surrender and drawing ire and fire to him, he'd explain to his sister in a cooing voice, "Worry not, I am sure it is bound to be here somewhere. We can find your pen. Is it that one with the white gold nib?" He had not taken it seriously at first but clearly changed his tune when felt the heat of her anger rising hot off of her stressed voice and tense frame. Only with both hands up did he walk closer, brows raised and jocular smile down to a pursed minute version of a grin drawn upon one side of his face.
Hector: sighed out heavily putting a hand to his chest. Drystan. He was at the Manor. It all came crashing back quickly. His face flushed and he dipped his head, raising a shoulder. He swallowed hard and rocked back and forth on his feet. "Ah, oh, er...sorry I...there's a reason I sound-proof where I sleep." He laughed nervously, but trailed after Drystan quickly. He reached out and took the tail of the man's shirt between two fingers so he could hold onto him, but not look overly close. Just two fingers to his shirt tail. The mention of food made his stomach growl. "Ah...I could eat. If it's...ok." He trailed off, mumbling about Drystan wanting to keep to himself and Hector being ok with discretion and such but it died on his tongue as they got to the bottom of the stairs. The shouting now makes sense to his ears and he immediately bites his tongue so he doesn't snicker. Swallowing hard he hangs his head to try and hide in his many messy black tresses and stays quietly behind Drystan.
Drystan Windgrace plops his bare feet onto the floor at the base of the stairs and looks around, spying the fuming sister and the fixer in his brother. He still exclaimed, because he could, "What EXACTLY has gone missing and WHY are we throwing things??" He lifted his brows at them, his sibling, the dark haired man a shadow just behind him. "I'd love to get into the kitchen, shall I just avoid these areas for you to smash something else? I'd hate to have to pick porcelain out of my fucking feet." He was stern, but not meanhearted in anyform. More like, this was something that happened from time to time, just as Drystan had his moments and DOrian as well. He held his hands open in a gesture of calm, but didnt step forward, as there was shattered bits all over, which he mentally started to sweep to the side. "Also, Good morning, we have company." He lifted his brows higher at them both and too a small step to the side to reveal more of Hector.
Dinah was too feeble to throw a chair at him, though she did glance at it and consider it, to weigh it up to see if she'd be able to get it lifted up and thrown with enough distance to take him out. At least he was attempting bribery, which nearly always worked. Her lower lip trembled at his words, nodding that it was indeed the white gold one that had gone missing.
"if one of them has *Stolen* it, so help me, I will feed them to the sea in strips..." she hissed, though as Dorian approached, she reached her arms out for him with a wail, burying her face against his shoulder.
She lifted her head to glare at Drystan over his shoulder, looking sullen.
"My pen is gone. my good fountain pen from 1829, the white gold one" she sulked. At the notion that they had company, she sniffled and muttered "Hullo Hector" for a moment, before she paused and considered it a little longer and blinked in some surprise. "good morning"
Dorian felt Drystan before he heard him, and it was not until his brother mentioned that they had company that he realized that he'd heard another voice. His focus had been his sister so fully that he actually turned and looked blinkingly at the man past Drystan, and murmured, "Blimey." Hector's timing left the elder twin in blinking disbelief but he caught up his twin in his arms and held her close, petting her back, moving her hair over one shoulder to facilitate this. He'd bought the Japanese women time to get out of the door, and kept cooing to Di, quietly, "They did no such thing, beloved. We shall find it. It could be in your new office, or perhaps I mislaid it when I--" He'd been in her room, and he was so often underfoot with her, he would not put it past himself to have helped with this mystery, which he was actually invested in resolving to cosset his twin back to her calm collected self.
He'd call to the big brother, "She won't throw anything at you, or your friend, unless you have the pen. I remember when she got it, she raved for a month at least about how lovely it was, how perfectly it wrote. Was it you or me that told her she should name it if she loved it so much? Get it a Christmas gift?"
Hector: freezes when Drystan said they had company and stepped out from in front of him. He's shock still and wide eyed, not sure what to do at first. His mouth opened slowly and he lifted a hand. His black tipped fingers wiggled and he started to smile a bit. "Ah, hi...good morning." He cleared his throat and swallowed hard, not sure if he was about to get hit upside the head with something. He was thankfully completely clothed and it was COMPLETELY clothed from head to toe. His sweater was pulled down nearly to his fingertips and it came all the way up past his chin. He was dwarfed by it and likely there were marks beneath that were purposefully hidden. Clearing his throat he shook his head. "I definitely do not have her pen. I could...enchant a bird or a mouse to look the house over for it, however. Small creatures, work quickly and get in and out of spots we might miss." Hector, ever desiring to be helpful.
Drystan Windgrace quirked a small smile and shook his head, "No...I don't have her pen. But I do know exactly what it looks like and the last place I saw it, so I can give it a go, no guarantees." He held up his hand and took a short breath. "As cute as little undead mice helpers might be? We have to keep our staff healthy and happy, and I don't know how well that would go over with those ladies, as sweet as they are." He settled in again and closed his eyes and pictured precisely where he last saw the pen, willing it to move to him. telekinesis worked differently for each that had its gift, and one thing he had managed to learn was to use the ability whilst blinded, for ceremonial purposes. If he knew pretty much what it looked like and where it was last, he could use his mind to pull the thing to him. But - it wasn't 100% and of course if it had been moved since then, well..nothing would happen. And....that was pretty much what happened. a big fat nothing. He sighed a bit perturbed at himself. "I'm sorry Dinah. I wish sometimes you could do this yourself." He wiggled his fingers then moved them up to his temple and made a little face. If nothing he was endearing - as she had said so many times? "We can...go look by the desk, and make our way to the kitchen, if you don't mind.. food is really great you know."
Dinah sniffled, resting her head against Dorians' shoulder again as he assuaged her explosive wrath. Despite his fiery true form it was her with the burning temper, and Dorian with the icy cold rage.
"it *is* lovely." she mumbled petulantly, but she lifted her cheek, looking hopeful at the idea of animal companion assistance, and Drystan using his powers, but.. sadly, nothing. she huffed out a sigh but she nodded, detaching herself from Dorian enough to pad towards the study with her hand outstretched behind her towards him, completely ignoring the broken and wrecked things she'd tossed about in her wake.
"if i'd known you were here, Hector, i'd not have been slouching around in my robe at midday" she said almost apologetically, still sulking "..thank you for looking, Stan."
Dorian had just sent the help off, so poor Drystan and Hector would likely be on their own in the kitchen. His kin knew not to take Dorian up on his offer to cook, because it would be sandwiches, and he'd somehow make the whole kitchen a mess across every surface in the doing. With results that would look impressive but likely be inedible with one's hands for the heaping of things poorly chopped inside on uneven hunks of bread. Who could forget the honey, orange, ham, mustard and carrot sandwiches on black bread he'd proudly presented after they'd dismissed the help for one ritual?
When Di rested her head on his shoulder he'd be leaning down to kiss her cheek while she looked toward the other guys. When she drifted off toward them and said what she did, he'd suggest, "Well Hector, I suppose I had better accept that we can be casual acquaintances no longer, hm?" For the first time he'd dispensed with the Mister before the man's name. "I can loan you my pen until we find yours, Di. I know it is not as fine as yours, but you are welcome. Should I go make us some sandwiches? Pull up some ale?"
Hector: gasped faintly and shook his head. "O-oh! No, I mean yes, but no." Gives a sheepish expression. "I can ask live animals to help. Like a Princess in a fairy tale." He gave his long hair a toss teasingly over his shoulder and winked. "Less precise, but it sometimes works with finding things. I would ask my ghosts and they could find it immediately but ya know...Wards. They can't come in here. Feels strange...I woke up and couldn't reach them. I'll...have to get used to that I guess." Then Drystan was attempting to cast and it didn't work, ending up rubbing at his temples. Without thinking about it, Hector reached out and placed his fingertips into Drystan's hair and started to gently rub at his scalp. His fingers were filled with gentle warmth and rejuvenation. "Easy there...I'd be put-out if you give me the ole' 'I have a headache' tonight." Shakes his head at Dinah. "Oh no no, please. I didn't mean to stay so long. This is YOUR home, I'm the one in your space. I would have gladly hopped out the window come sun-up but apparently my body had other plans." Shifts a bit. "Let's see...let's see...Homing won't work, since most everything here belongs to you, not specific enough. Umm, I don't have my spell book with me." Clucks his tongue. "There is a Spell of Lost Items, but I don't know it by heart...it might...drag quite a few misplaced things out from under your bed and couches." Looks to Dorian and immediately blushes. "Ah, well that is entirely up to you." He wasn't offering up any details and made no assumptions. He kept himself a 'respectable' distance, but it was clear from the little touches here and there he had a desire to be close to Drystan, but also not be intrusive. "Sandwiches?" He looked towards the kitchen and made a face. "May I be so bold? My grandmother made sure I know all I need to. I cook, clean, bake...farm...I may be an alcoholic songster, but if there's ingredients and a pot, I can make a fine meal."
Drystan Windgrace surprisingly perhaps, did not shy away from the coddling actions upon him, and instead smirked at the little joke and just shook his head rolling his eyes. He looked over at Dorian and gave him a reassured look, and leaned to the side to press a quick kiss into Di's hair on the top of her head as she passes by. Hector mentions being able to cook and immediately jumps after his words, "OH! Wow! That is such a gift, I'd love it if you could share your talents with us. Brother you are too kind to offer, but imagine what a witch could do with our imported ingredients all over?? It may be a new calling, you never know..." Anything but Dorian's sandwiches, bless him. He turned and followed round towards the piano and ran his fingers along it, wondering out loud. "Did you take it out to the greenhouse or the bench? outdoors? on your balcony?"
Dinah paused to look over her shoulder in Dorians' direction when he suggested sandwiches and she smiled faintly, but shook her head. not that it would come as too much of a surprise, with her eschewing most food that wasn't sweets. she glanced at the smashed teacup and sighed mournfully. she'd liked that cup. "I'll be quite alright, Dori. but thank you" she paused and leaned in to accept the kiss to her hair and she wrapped her arms around him in a brief embrace before stepping away again.
"You shouldn't feel compelled to cook, you're a guest" she protested to Hector quietly, even though Drystan seemed enthusiastic about it. She entered the study and hummed, shaking her head in thought
"the last I remember having it was in those drawers. I don't remember having it anywhere else" she sloped over to one of the chairs and dropped into it with a weary sigh, raking a hand through her own golden tangles.
Dorian eyed Hector to make sure the man did not look askance at his robe-donning, fine goddess of a sister. Drystan was allowed and allowed much from Hector, who Hector did nothing of the sort. The witch even answered Di like the queen she was, even offering to search for the missing pen. So they might one day actually bridge the gap all the way toward friends, absent any further suspicion from the middlest WIndgrace. For his part, he felt certain the thing would turn up, and free from kitchen duty, he'd consider the pen again, trailing toward Di and dancing around porcelain shards. He made a list of places to check, and did not move to pick anything up she'd tossed onto the floor, nor broke, because that was not his job and he had not even considered it. His elder brother actually named off a couple places on the list, so he'd look to Di to see if she had input from there, gesturing for Hector to follow them all. It was proof that he didn't doubt the man as much that he didn't insist on bringing up the rear but let the man take his six while he followed after his twin. He'd keep quiet, though, and move to put his hands upon and then massage his sister's shoulders through silken robe.
Hector: gasps when Drystan starts asking Dinah where she might have left it. He claps his hands. "Recollection potion! I can kill two birds with one sto-..." Looks around at his present company. "I...am going to make use of what I am sure is a wonderfully stocked kitchen. I am going to make breakfa...lunch for everyone and I will brew you a Recollection Potion, Dinah. So you can recall the exact place you put your pen last. So if it's not there, you know it was actually moved and can shake down your help accordingly." He hoped that would be pleasing. He double-stepped after Dorian, stopping just long enough to run his hand down the eldest Windgrace's arm and then making his way the rest of the way to the kitchen area. He immediately started rummaging through cabinets, humming at first and then bursting out in song. He rolled up his sleeves, a bite mark and a bruise visible on his forearm for a split second as he washed his hands and went to town despite Dinah saying he was a guest and shouldn't be cooking. He soon had THREE pots going and ingredients were floating around. A piece of meat floated down to the dog and herbs tossed into some water of their own accord and stirred with a wooden spoon. As for Dorian watching Hector, he wouldn't so much as look at Dinah sideways. There was absolutely no lust there and even in the touch to Drystan's arm was almost in worship more than anything else. And he sang, seemingly completely over-joyed to be 'serving' them and making himself useful. (( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKNxeF4KMsY ))
Drystan Windgrace rummaged around the desk but it didn't seem to be there, but he was confident it would show up. I mean he was filled with confidence actually, in a way that he hadn't been since the damned Hound took a bite from his leg and siphoned memories and time off his freshly tapped ritualized self. The bite had done real harm and he was still spilling tiny time shards out of his calf. But, he stopped in the doorway to the kitchen, leaning his shoulder there, crossing one leg over the other, eyes just watching the cooking being done and how happy it seemed to make Hector. He huffed a little smile to himself, looking down before looking back over at his siblings. He didn't like it when Dinah was so drowned in her worry, but he would never truly mean to inhibit her wildness, broken dishes or otherwise.
Dinah leaned backwards against Dorian's hands as he joined her at the desk, reaching to grab one of his arm and draw it around her collarbone. She watched Hector with interest and a mild, bemused bafflement as he hurried his way to the kitchen, tilting her head back against Dorians' hip to study him.
"recollection potion.. rosemary i wager? for remembrance?" she asked curiously, though she tittered as the dog was fed some meat, and she rested her cheek against Dorians' arm. She watched Drystan pass them by and she poked Dorian a few times, then pointed towards his back with an amused, but pleased smile.
Dorian was happy to be used like a stole for Di, and bent down to hug an arm around her and just stay near, nodding his head and grinning at Drystan's back, about Hector. He'd stay quiet, yet, busying his mouth with nuzzling the side of his sister's head. If she was really worried about the pen at this precise moment she'd not be sitting, not holding him from going to search. The arm that wasn't around her in a hug, would start toying with the ends of her hair.
Hector: has water boiling and is mixing up some pudding. He was going to do Sticky Toffee but decided his stomach couldn't quite handle even MAKING that. Too much booze and blood loss over too short of days recently. Not that he didn't love it, but no...Spotted Dick, that was sweet and thick and could fill a hole. Hue hue hue. He stirred furiously at the thick mixture, nodding and leaning to look back to Dinah. "Rosemary, Thyme, crushed fennel, just the right heat, a tiny pinch of Pixie Dust, a single hot pepper flake." He rattled off a few things, including the hair of a Witch which made him wink and yoink out one of his long strands to toss it into the boiling pot which stirred itself over and over. "Reduce, reduce, reduce...My Gran when she got up over 200 used to keep them on hand. She...was the type of healer that took someone's ailments into herself. If she hadn't done that, she probably could have easily lived to be 500. Instead, she ended up gnarled and in pain by 200, dead by 280. But yeah she kept Recollection Potions because in her elder years she'd forget where she put things all the time. Bless her, by the time I took over her home it was...a mess." His voice trailed off and he cleared his throat, reaching down to pet the doggos and going to baking some sweet and savory cookies with oatmeal and a bit of bacon. Then he was chopping vegetables and tossing them into another pan to steam, strain and then smoosh into a dip while he was making some fried breads. It was quite the spread, finishing off with Chamomile and honey tea.
Drystan Windgrace had turned just in time to see the twins smiling their twin smiles at him, but he didn't get the joke or was too distracted to notice the bemusement at his expense. He looked back at Hector as he cooked up a storm and spoke of his granny, and the potion. A clearly impressed look on his face, he looked back at the pair and made the sturgeon frown and nodded his head, holding out his hand silently, as if to say, "See? See this? Isn't this great?" But he had not whispered an iota to either of them about Hector's sense and need of servitude, to Immortals, or specifically to him. He was still figuring it out himself, but with the hand still, "Would you just look at that. The man cooks quicker than anyone we've ever had." He pointed to a cupboard, "Flakes of spice would be up there. Thailand I think?" he was trying to think of manifests and shipping and things he'd requested just because he could. The kitchen was a veritable treasure trove of foodstuffs from around the world. Drystan liked food very much.
Dinah didn't object to Dorian playing with her hair, leaning herself back against him whilst she kept her eyes on Hector in the kitchen. She seemed thoughtful, still mulling over where her beloved pen might be even as she listened to Hectors' story. "healing magic can really take it out of a person" she agreed. "I am thankful that my healing capabilities are more...innate than educated in that regard" she gave Drystan an innocent smile as he turned back to look towards her, shifting in her seat.
Whereas the boys ate a lot, Di didn't, but she nodded in amiable agreement at her elder brothers' remarks about Hector in the kitchen, giving Dorian's hand a squeeze.
Dorian said conspiratorially in reply to Drystan's supposition, "Oh yes, it is rather wonderful." He did not get it, whatever it was about healing magic, because he was too busy being amused that his big brother seemed excited and delighted. He had no understanding that he was showing a mirror of what his sister did in that grin, but he did mirror her thoughts, "I shall look in the greenhouse, and in your room, in a moment." Once he could stand to not be touching her any longer. Just a few more moments of her soft sweet skin and hair. He was not doubting Hector's potion's ability, but he did ask his twin silently, [Are you going to drink a potion to remember, is that not... dangerous?] Afterall there were things she'd seen and her brain might have locked away for good reasons and what if they came flooding in. Worrying was in his nature, especially when she'd already been having a fit of pique. He'd bring her hand that was twined in his up to kiss her knuckles.
Hector: had no idea he was 'judged' as a happy commodity. This was just how Hector was when he was given a chance. Of course, the twins had seen him working at the pub. He took pride in it. He could clean, sling drinks and pop out snacks to people all while chatting people up and singing at the same time. He just enjoyed being busy with his hands and making people happy. He pointed with a spoon over his shoulder and the indicated cabinet opened and peppers flew out and to the counter starting to chop themselves. His eye twitched and he was clearly pushing himself a bit, so he slowed his roll and went to putting the pudding in to cook. He sighed out and got himself a glass of water, gulping it down. "Mmm, I was born with healing as well. I CAN pull someone's injury into myself in an emergency, but mostly I use the energy of the world around me. Like for instance, if there's a watermelon on a table and someone broke their arm, I can suck the life out of the watermelon, turn it to mush and viola...the broken arm disappears, there's no imbalance in the world and I use very little energy. I had...begun to teach others the technique before I ended up here."
Drystan Windgrace made a bit of a face, "Interesting.... I can't heal anyone but me, unless its with field dressings?" HE shrugged, and wandered a bit further into the Kitchen, away from his siblings prying and stepped to the other side of the kitchen to hold up the house by leaning there instead. He could feel all the effort being used, so he pitched in and twirled a finger and stirred a pot for him. He watched him gulp water, and he was glad for being a bit out of sight now because hungry eyes watched his mouth since most of the rest of him was covered in clothes. He just sort of stared wistfully. "You know, maybe later we can both talk to them, about the things you told me...about the island?" He spoke to Hector in a lowered voice, pulling himself upright and stepping up behind Hector and pressed his hand against the small of his back, "And then later.." He didnt say anything else, but left the pressure of his hand there, for just a moment more. FInally he made way back towards the twins, "Well I'm going to go get cleaned up some. Dinah, we will find your beloved pen. And I won't even tell you to go marry it if you love it so much." He grinned at her and gave his brother a hearty pat on the chest as he passed by. "I'll be back down for the delicious foods in just two shakes!" He wandered back upstairs, a happy and satisfied brother, for a change.
Dinah tilted her head up towards Dorian at his concern and she smiled, giving his hand a squeeze <"I saw it once, didn't I? I'll be fine, darling>" came the mental response, and she nodded towards Hector. "I don't think I was born with it, but it was something I gained over the years. I must confess, my manipulations are a little similar to the Hounds in that regard" she admitted, "when I heal, it spreads it throughout time. That's where those random bruises come from that you never quite recall where they came from" she smiled slightly. She did perk a little at Drystans' mention to talking about the island but as Drystan made his escape to get cleaned up, she nodded and stood.
"I ought to get dressed too." she watched Drystan head upstairs before turning those silvery eyes onto Hector again. "...he's happy today. you ought stay around more often" she smiled, kissing Dorian on the cheek and heading upstairs too so she wasn't sat around in her dressing robe.
Dorian aimed a backhanded thwap that just missed his brother's back, fingernail barely caught fabric as Drystan walked away. He did not speak aloud his worries to Di, but he offered her a hand up when she stood, smiling fondly at her, and after she'd headed off, he'd call to Hector, "What she said. I am going to check the glasshouse, and I guess if everyone else is cleaning up... be welcome." That said he'd come and snatch a carrot for his bunnies, then pad off and outside barefoot.
Hector: felt pressure off of him as Drystan pitched in to help him with the mind chores. He was intentionally pushing himself. Seeing what Drystan could do lit a fire under his butt. He didn't think he could ever get as far, but he wanted to be stronger. He gave him an appreciative smile and then went back to what he was doing, unaware his throat work was being appreciated. "Won't be long now." He said about the food, leaning back into Drystan just for a brief flicker as he stopped to touch him. He nodded at the idea of 'later.' Then he was gone and Dinah said Drystan was 'happy' and he should come around more often. He blushed. "Ah....I'm glad. I...I'm happy too." He ventured sheepishly then made sure that the heat was turned down on the pudding so it wouldn't burn. And then he was alone with the doggies. He breathed out heavily and released a whole bunch of tension in his shoulders. He smiled to himself and then just sort of...giggled in a very unmanly way.