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[cozen]

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[sulahnan]

Oh shit, lemme check.

[ Hmm...yep. This is definitely her room. ]

Yes, unless my room sprouted feet.

[cozen]

I think we can safely assume it has not.

[ Is it unfair to ask potentially personal questions when she is like this? Yes. Is he going to do it anyway? Yes. At least the odds are good she'll answer with nonsense anyway. ]

Why do you need help sleeping?

[sulahnan]

But what if it did? Like an aravel with bird legs instead of wheels...

[ A long enough pause that she's clearly thinking about it more than it warrants. ]

I dunno, maybe there's just not enough...sky in here.

[cozen]

Not enough sky in your room?

[ Hmm. ]

You slept well in the jungle.

[sulahnan]

You're right. There wasn't enough sky there, either.

[ A kitten has joined the discussion, trampling on her and getting annoyingly close to the crystal. Loud purring and a mrep. ]

Maybe it's the trees. Percy, is it the trees? [ Myaaawn. ] I think that was a yes.

[cozen]

[ Aw, kitty. ]

Maybe we could experiment, when you have not already taken something. While it’s warm. Sleep in the garden. I could come with you—not forever, I am too old to sleep on the ground much if I don’t have to.

[sulahnan]

[ Aw! Bastien! ]

That's a great idea! I'll make you a feather mattress for your not-old bones.

[cozen]

My hero.

[ They can also just carry an existing mattress out, but he’s not gonna harsh her groove right now. ]

Don’t cut your hair. Not now. If you still want it to cut it in the morning, we can talk.

[sulahnan]

[ Her put-upon sigh is all play-acting. ]

Ugh, fine. I don't have shears anyway.

[ Squints. ]

Don't cut your hair, either.

[cozen]

Maybe I will grow it out as long as yours.

[sulahnan]

[ An awed whisper as she imagines it: wooow. ]

You'd be too powerful. The world isn't ready.

[cozen]

Next year, then. When they are ready. But you will have to teach me to braid.

[sulahnan]

Hm. Hm.

[ A noise that accompanies exactly two nods of agreement. ]

But I can only do threes and sixes. You'll have to ask someone else for the complicatored ones.

[cozen]

I don’t know. I am not sure I could trust anyone but you with my beautiful long hair.

[sulahnan]

Not even someone with my enders-ment?

[cozen]

Even then. It is more than knowing how to braid, you know? It is about trusting someone to hold your head in their hands.

[sulahnan]

Oh— [ A soft moue and she claps her hand over her heart. Bas. ]

Maybe I can learn to do them by then. You dessert the compelling braids.

[cozen]

Yes, I do. Thank you.

[sulahnan]

You're wylcome. I'll make a spice cake and then she'll teach me.

[cozen]

Who?

[sulahnan]

Derrica. She's great at braids.

[cozen]

Ah.

[ Hesitating. But he doesn't tell her that she doesn't need to do that, because the whole premise of him needing someone to braid his waist-length curls next year is ridiculous to begin with, so of course she doesn't need to do it. ]

Is everything all right, with you and her?

[sulahnan]

[ She's not in a state to think terribly deep thoughts, so the soft hum that Athessa makes is more sleepy than thoughtful. ]

I don't think now is, but maybe it'll someday. 'S a lot.

[ Then, more quietly, more sleepily: ]

I might...wanna go home soon.

[cozen]

Home?

[ Could be several places, as far as he knows. ]

[sulahnan]

Oaken staff and... cedar branch...

[ She's mumbling now, because she finally closed her eyes instead of fighting to keep them open. ]

We can bring your... ravens... feather bed...