Home and Friends

A light rain falls from the sky, a sky full of fluffy gray clouds without an end in sight. It's the sort of day that's perfect for curling up with a book by the fire. Which is actually exactly what Auranar would be doing if not for the fact that she is expecting a guest any minute. Instead she is busily bustling around the house attending to absolutely everything as if there might be anything to go wrong at this late an hour.

After the third time checking to make sure that the water hasn't over-boiled in the tea pot, she's starting to get on her _own_ nerves.

Verna is not the culinary mistress Auranar is, but she can boil water. Or, rather, know when it is boiling in a pot. She was attempting some light reading, but after watching Auranar pace across the kitchen for the second time, she has relocated to the entryway between kitchen and lounge. "It is said that a watched pot never boils," she notes. "While factually incorrect, I believe it is intended to convey that frequent followup will not heat it any quicker. Is all well, Auranar? You seem anxious." Verna does have an eye for detail, afterall.

"Lemon, Poppy seed, Cinnamon? Okay all of them are here." Smiling cheerfully, she held the basket in her left arm resting. Excited to see her friend once more after it has been so long since she has, nonetheless her hope is it'll finally lead to relaxing instead of some huge big deal or adventure of some kind. Just friends getting together to chat. Once finally at the door of the house on the hill without hesitation Percy knocked on the door and patiently waited to be answered.

Auranar turns, smiling at Verna a bit crookedly. "I'm just nervous! She's the first friend I made after coming back to Alexandria and... I haven't seen her in months." She sneaks in to give Verna a hug which makes her feel a hundred times better before there's a knock at their door. Straightening she soothes her skirts into place and after stealing a quick kiss from Verna's cheek she makes her way to the door to open it. Seeing Percy there she smiles immediately, offering the other woman egress into the house. "Welcome!"

Any concerns Verna held at Auranar's anxiety melt away at that smile. And the hug. And the kiss upon her cheek. She is about to offer to tend the water so that Aura can get the door when... she is already smoothing her way to the door. A brief smile follows her before the bubbling of the pot has her move it off the heat as it -now- comes to a full boil. "Welcome!" she echoes from the kitchen while collating and consolidating any remaining items to bring to the table. Verna can carry whilst Auranar hostesses.

Percy beams with joy after greeting Auranar with a very chirpy hello. "Hi! How are you? I've missed you so much! Sorry I haven't stopped by to hang out with you recently. I've been busy with painting and exploring the most I can safely." Percy made sure to give a wave to Verna to return the pleasant greeting. She took a look back at her basket and back to Auranar with happiness. "I hope it's alright that I brought a little treat, though I must admit they're not home-made. Ahaha, no but they're from one of the shops we stopped by on one of our fun quests."

The wild elf smiles even more widely at Percy. The woman hasn't changed an ounce since they first met. "That's so sweet of you." Auranar closes the door behind Percy and offers silently to take the basket as she leads the way inside the home she shares with Verna. There are bookshelves everywhere, holding books of all sorts of variations from gardening to cooking and magical lore besides. Most of the home is actually made of stone, and there's a great pair of trees worked out of the stone on either side of the room with their leaves intertwining on the ceiling. "Would you like some tea?"

Percy handed the basket to her dear friend. "Hm? Oh tea would be lovely. It is really sweet of you to invite me here in your truly lovely home. I'm so glad I get to see you again and this time hopefully no quests or adventures for now, besides it's the least I could do for you after all I've been in battle with you." Percy straightened her dress clearly. She hasn't worn one before now, it's a sweet peach color with a pink lace collar. The basket itself had a few ribbons that matched her dress, clearly not the weather.

With Percy following her, Auranar gestures to the two couches and two chairs which are available for seating as she heads toward the kitchen with the basket. "Feel free to sit down Percy." Verna kindly enough starts to pour the tea for all three of them into the tea pot which is readied with tea. Auranar returns into the main area of the house a moment later with a small snack tray of various goodies and sets it on the table. She takes a seat near where Verna is comfortably reclined and looks at Percy. "Sounds as if you've been keeping yourself busy. I have to admit that I've been doing the same."

Percy gladly took a seat crossing her knees and pauses for a moment and instead crosses her ankles. "Is that so? What have you up to?" Percy's gaze followed every part of the home in her sight, she could help but find it absolutely lovely, very cozy.

"Saving friends from dire straights, fighting too many undead creatures." Auranar shudders at the thought and looks at Verna just for her reassuring comfort. "It's been one thing after another really. I'm not surprised that you've been busy too. There's so many horrible things lurking about Alexandria. Demons and goodness knows what else." She seems unsettled by her own words. "Why just last week Verna and I found out that we were both infected by lycanthropy!"

Concern fell over Percy's face but she stayed calm. "You've been through a lot, I'm glad you have each other to keep comfortable and talk to. A shame it is the shadows that hide in such a lively place. The good thing is, you can't have shade without a sun to shine over. I'm sorry you've had to go through so much these past few months, though I'm glad you were able to get over being infected." Percy stopped for a moment to process, fixing the wrinkles of her dress."...Was anybody infected permanently?"

"Not that I know of but then..." Worriedly Auranar shifts her fingers over her skirts. "I'm not sure we would know. I didn't know that I was infected until Verna insisted that I be tested just in case. It turned out that her caution saved me. If she hadn't been so worried about me I'd be a werewolf by now." She shudders again and picks up her cup of tea in order to warm herself with it. Verna had been quietly pouring the tea cups while they talked and now they are ready for drinking. One is set before Percy of course.

Percy picked up her cup of tea to drink from it and sighed. "Well, It's a good thing you don't have to worry about being infected anymore. It's kinda odd I thought I was the most wild out of the both of us and yet we don't meet for a few months and this happened while I just did some painting, sketching and a little exploring. Ahah? Um how long so far have you had to relax? I just wanna make sure that I'm not keeping you from the rest you need." She took a sip of the tea and looked back to Auranar.

Auranar shakes her head. "It's been a while since that particular scare thankfully, and we're happy to have you - really. Guests make the house feel... full." She smiles at this and warms her fingers around her cup. "I'm glad you've stayed out of the trouble in the city to be honest. It's good to know you're safe."

Percy's fingers figited at the tips where they met, holding both sides of the cup. "When you say it makes the house feel full, do you mean you haven't had much connection with anyone? Or Should I get you two a puppy?" Percy attempted a joke but knew well if that was something she needed she'd buy it for her without hesitation. Anything is worth making sure her first friend is safe.

Auranar laughs, almost choking on her tea with amusement. "I meant that we haven't had nearly enough guests, not that I think we should have a puppy!" She laughs again and black eyes twinkling looks in askanance at Percy. "Were you anyone else I'd ask if that was some kind of werewolf joke!"

"Ahah, Oh no! I meant no offense by that! Purely I meant it as an offer to help out with anything you may need now or in the far or near future, don't ever hesitate to ask anything from me it won't be an issue." Percy relaxed now, pulled her hair out of the ponytail it was in before and put the hair tie into her satchel. "I believe that kind of joke would perhaps be too soon, so maybe a kitten instead? Ahaha."

Auranar shakes her head. "No pets for the moment I think." Though she smiles at the thought of a kitten getting into various troubles in their little home. "But your thoughtfulness is appreciated. Would you like some dinner?"

Percy looked a little surprised. "Is it that time already? I guess it's true when it's said that time flies, as long as it doesn't bother you, dinner sounds wonderful thank you." Percy fixed up her dress again, nit-picking at the wrinkles and uneven ends and to her collar trying to move it ever so slightly for a little more comfort.

The wild elf smiles at Percy and gets up to collect the food. They can talk more over the meal of course, and they likely will. But hungry bellies are not to be ignored and Auranar is ever the hostess. She collects the meal and serves it in the dinning area, surprising her guest with homemade pasta. A delicious mix of cheeses and sausage with warm sauce and more cheese. In short, it's a lovely meal and they get to enjoy it together.

-End