Vlora Kawan's Story

Isla blinked and shook her head, "I would just coo him right on out of here. I can't be stern to a baby. He isn't a dog, Rhyan." She said softly before shaking her head. "And you are a lot scarier when you are stern. I always jump when I don't see it coming." She said.

Vlora laughed, "Ahh but I have had lawsuits, Bastian. More than once, mostly because I apparently went too hard on the guy or girl who was attacking those I was protecting. It happens." She said softly and thanked him when he opened the door for her. She smiled at the hostess and walked with them to the table before sitting and looking at the menu. "Oh goodness..." She said and sighed. It was going to be expensive. There were no prices on the side so she was just going to stick with a salad and water. It was her best bet of a low priced meal.

Talila smiled and then huffed when she kissed her nose, "So sneaky... you lucky I like you so much, Lychee." She giggled and smiled up at her. "I... am going to miss you a lot when you have to go. You really have no idea how much I look forward to seeing you." She said softly.

Rhyanid chuckled a little and nodded. "I'm sure cooing works now, but just wait until he's older. What is it they say? The terrible twos? You might not have a choice but to be stern when he gets there," he said. When she said he was scarier when he was stern, he laughed. "The trick with dogs is that they have to know who the boss is. If you're not strict and consistent with your training, then you get behavioural issues," he explained. "Sorry for making you jump, though. I didn't realize."

Bastian smiled when she said that she'd had lawsuits. "Perhaps, but there's a difference between doing your job well and assaulting people for the mere sake of it. You don't strike me as the type to do the latter," he told her. He barely looked at the menu, already knowing what he was going to want, and he glanced over at her when she sighed. "Is there a problem, Vlora?" he asked her gently, a concerned look in his eyes.

Elizabeth laughed when she huffed and smiled. "Well, I like you a lot, too," she said. When Talila said she was going to miss her when she was gone, she lifted a hand and gently touched the girl's cheek. "Well, I won't be going home for a while yet. And besides, you know I won't be gone forever. I'll come back and visit as long as you and Priscilla are here," she said.

Isla blinked, "Well... shhh those days aren't even close. Let me enjoy the cooing age." She laughed and shook her head. When he talked about the dogs and how he was sorry she shrugged. "I get it, it is the same with the fish." She smiled before putting up some can food. "And its okay... you have to do it and I should get used to it soon enough." She said.

Vlora smiled, "Nahh I have grown out of that. I used to when I was younger and all." She sighed. "It was... not my brightest moments." She laughed a bit and then looked up at him when he asked what was wrong. "Ahh your paycheck is a lot bigger than mine." She smirked.

Talila blushed and leaned into her hand, "I know, but the thought of it is hard. The more you stay the more I will get attached and the harder it will be to say goodbye. That's all." She said softly and kissed her hand. The food came and Talila thanked them before taking the bag and leading her out. "We have your next girlfriend to go see." She giggled.

Rhyanid laughed a little when she said to let her enjoy the cooing age and nodded. "Okay, okay, that's fair," he said with a grin. He nodded when she said it was okay. "Yeah, it's not really something I can stop. I've got to go sort some backstock stuff in the back room, and you'll probably finish work before I'm done, so just come grab me before you leave so I can come take over up here," he told her, giving a grin and a wave before heading into the back.

Bastian smiled and nodded when she said she'd grown out of assaulting people. "Ahh. So you were a delinquent," he said in a gentle, teasing tone. He blinked when she said that his paycheck was bigger than hers. "Oh, money?" he asked. "I apologize. I often forget that there are those who were not born into the kind of privilege I was. Don't concern yourself with the cost of lunch, though. I'll cover it for both of us. It's no issue," he told her with a smile.

Elizabeth smiled and shook her head a bit. "Well, then, don't think about it. Just focus on enjoying the time we're together," she told her. She looked up when the food came and she smiled, standing up and heading out with Talila. She laughed a little at her comment about going to see her other girlfriend. "Damn, do I ever miss her," she said with a smile.

Isla smiled and nodded before going take his place. She had been talking to him without dreading it. She was growing and she wasn't letting her fear take over her. A few customers came in and one wanted to adopt so she nodded and brought them to the back to look over the dogs and they ended up taking a puppy and a kitten. When they were ready to buy and adopt she went find Rhyan and called for him from the doorway. "Hey..." she said softly. "There is a couple who is adopting a puppy and kitten and need to do the paperwork." She said softly.

Vlora giggled, "I was... I can't lie. I had it out for the world I guess." She sighed before blinking. "Oh no... it is okay. I can order, just nothing too fancy. The salads look good and water is fine." She smiled. "No need to bring out your wad." She winked and looked over the salads again. The shrimp salad looked delicious.

Rhyanid heard Isla call him from the doorway, so he set aside what he was doing and headed up front. He smiled and nodded towards her. "Got it," he told her before turning to the couple. He smiled politely, looking at the pets they'd selected. "Excellent choices. Those two are both quite sweet and well-socialized. They're good pets to cohabitate," he told the couple as he got out the paperwork. He quickly filled out his portion of the paperwork before turning it back over to them to fill out. He looked over at Isla, giving her a smile while he waited for them to do their part.

Bastian laughed a little when she said she'd had it out for the world. "A woman who can't lie? You just might be my kind of woman," he told her with a smile. When she said she'd just order something that wasn't fancy, he shook his head. "No, no, I insist. Lunch was my suggestion, so allow me to foot the bill. If you are truly so opposed to it then you can pay for us both next time and we can call it even," he told her. A waitress came sweeping over a moment later, smiling when she saw him. "Mr. De Larousse. I was told you would be back here," she laughed before leaning down, exchanging cheek kisses with Bastian. "Who's your lovely lady friend here?" she asked, and Bastian smiled. "This is Vlora. She's a new friend," he said, giving Vlora a bit of a grin.

Isla went finish some stuff up before watching him. She noticed him look back at her and smiling. She smiled back, not sure why he was looking back at her and smiling, but she looked away from him and watched them fill the paperwork. Victoria walked in and made an O face before walking and pulling Isla to the side. "Here is the schedule and the payment we will give you. It is next weekend. This doesn't include the clothes you wear in the shoot. We want you to wear what you wore on the streets, like an advertisement." She smiled and played with her hair, "Ugh... you are so cute... what are you doing after this?" She asked. Isla blinked, "I am going pick up my son and go home." She said softly and wondered how she got suckered into this girl attention. "Oh... well then maybe we can do it after the shoot..." She smiled. Isla blinked and Victoria giggled, "I want you and Rhyan to come over to my house and we can all... chat." She said and held onto her hair a bit before poking her nose. Isla giggled a bit and looked confused, "Uhm... okay..." She said softly.

Vlora smirked, "well then... a lawyer who doesn't lie." She giggled a bit before thinking about it. "Okay." She said softly and looked over the menu again before sticking with the shrimp but with pasta. When the lady came over and kissed Bastian's cheeks she smiled. He had introduced her as his friend and she was relieved that he did know where they stood. "Hello." She smiled softly and giggled a bit.

Sullivan had been in town for a week now. He had gotten to know the islands and where his cousins lived and what they did. He found out about James having a daughter and how she lived with him for a week and then the baby's mother for a week also. He knew where they dropped her off at daycare and then how Luther had a baby on the way. Neither seemed to be married. He also found out about the girl who delivered their mail and how she worked at the cafe she lived under. He walked in and blinked, smiling a bit, "Hey, aren't you the mail lady? Have you taken over the whole city or is this just a second job?" She smirked.

Rhyanid waited while the couple filled up the paperwork, looking up when he saw Victoria come in and grinning at her before looking back at the couple. He didn't hear all of the conversation between Victoria and Isla, just bits and pieces, but not enough to really say anything. He noticed Victoria holding on to Isla's hair and poking her nose, which seemed a bit odd, but also cute. He found himself wanting to pat Isla on the head or poke her little nose, but he'd refrained from doing so because that would probably be weird. When the couple was finished with the paperwork he rang up the supplies they'd selected and told them the total, looking forward to going to see Victoria once they left.

Bastian smiled at her comment about a lawyer that didn't lie. "We're not supposed to lie, Vlora. The job of a lawyer is to guarantee justice, and lies can obstruct such justice," he said. He was relieved when she relented and said that he could pay, nodding a bit. The waitress grinned at Vlora when she said hello. "Hello! It's lovely to meet you. It's been a while since Mr. De Larousse brought a lady here that wasn't a client," she said with a smirk before pulling out her little notepad and pen. "So, what can I get you?" she asked. Bastian looked towards Vlora for her to order first, since she was the lady.

Heidi was humming as she swept across the coffee shop, picking up empty cups and putting them on her tray to take into the back to be cleaned. She looked up when a tall man addressed her, smiling a bit. "Hush, not so loud. We can't have everyone finding out that I'm secretly a mail lady," she told him in a joking tone. It was her typical canned response for that question, since people often asked her about being a mail lady. "Take a seat. Can I get you anything?" she asked, pausing in front of him with a smile.

Victoria giggled, "Oh good... I was hoping you'd say yes. We are going to have so much fun." She leaned in a bit and moved some of her hair out of the way. "What are your sizes? So I can get the clothing ready for you." She asked and Isla blinked when she came closer to her before telling her and Victoria sighed. "Again... jealous AND you had a baby. Lucky you." She smiled and leaned over to whisper in her ear, causing Isla to go red. "U-Uhm... no... no I uhm... I have a scar where I had a c-section... I... I much rather not do that. You can get that other dwarf girl. I am sure she would be okay with that." She said and Victoria blinked. "Oh? Well how about high waisted? It won't show the scar... I promise..." She smiled and she blinked and looked down at her hands. "I am sorry, but that is a no... I will do anything else but that." She said softly. Victoria sighed, "Okay..." She said and looked back at Rhyan before smiling.

Vlora scuffed, "Just because you aren't supposed to don't mean ya don't." She said and smiled at the waitress. "It is nice to meet you too." She said softly before looking at him when she asked what to get them she looked at Bastian who looked at her and she smiled. "Can I get the shrimp pasta with a glass of White Zinfandel, please." She said softly and have the menu back.

Sullivan blinked before chuckling, "Oh man, you had me actually worried." He said before sitting down. "I would like a black coffee, please. Mmm and what would you recommend as a small dessert? I am new here and kind of would like to get the feel of some good little places I can make a regular." He smiled up at her. She was cute. He loved her hair and her face, she was something to watch.

Rhyanid noticed that Victoria was really touchy with Isla, touching her hair a lot and leaning in to whisper a lot. Then again, some girls were just like that. He'd seen Zelipia smack a female friend's ass before, and he'd seen her sitting in friends' laps, so he figured that Victoria was probably just one of those kinds of girls. When the couple was done with their paperwork, he bagged up their stuff and sent them on their way, and then headed over to the girls. "So, what are we talking about?" he asked, leaning down and kissing Victoria's cheek gently.

Bastian smiled and shook his head a bit when Vlora said that lawyer lied anyways. It was true; there was no denying it. He waited while Vlora ordered, the waitress jotting it down before looking at him. He smiled up at her. "I'll take the tagliolini with the rosé sauce and a glass of that sparkling blackberry lemonade," he said, and the waitress nodded. "I knew that," she said with a laugh before taking their menus. "Be back soon," she said with a grin before hurrying off.

Heidi laughed a little at his comment, looking down at him when he sat down. She nodded when he said he wanted a black coffee, smiling a bit when he asked what she would recommend as a dessert. "Well, I'm partial to the chocolate chunk cookies. The brownies are also really lovely, though, and the owners always get the lemon croissants when they stop in," she told him. "Did you want to think about it for a moment while I grab your coffee?"

Victoria giggled and looked up at him, "Modeling and how you two are going to be coming over to my place after the shoot. Isla is a bit shy when it comes to her body so she won't be doing bathing suits, but that's okay. I have enough babydoll dresses and there outfits to put her in. You two can look like a couple going to the park or other things besides the beach." She smiled and then giggled. She held Isla's hand and Isla smiled up at Rhyan as if for him to take his touchy girlfriend and run. Plus he was way too close to her.

Vlora listened to his order and smiled when she left. "Such a fancy smancy man you are, Bastian." She said and laughed softly. "So... I hear an accent in your voice, are you French or just know it?" She asked, leaning in a bit. He was handsome as all hell and that accent wasn't helping. The moment he actually talked to her in French she was all his. She was done. She couldn't have had said no.

Sullivan listened to her and smiled, she was absolutely adorable. "I think I will try that cookie and that will be it. Thanks." He smiled and gave her the menu. He was going to get to know her pretty well, since she seemed like the type of girl to know a good bit of things.

Rhyanid nodded when Victoria said they were talking about modeling, blinking when she said they were coming to her place after the shoot but giving a nod. "Sure. Sounds fun," he said. He frowned a bit when she said that Isla was shy when it came to her body and he nodded. "I don't blame her. Lots of girls are. You want bodies, you talk to my sister - oh, speaking of Zel, she's in the back if you wanted to talk to her about meeting her dwarf friend or something," he said. He paused, and then looked at Isla. "You want to grab Zel for us?" he asked, figuring that if Isla went to get Zelipia it would give him a second to ask Victoria about all the touching and hand-holding. Isla was smiling, but there was something uncomfortable about her body language.

Bastian blinked when she called him fancy smancy, shaking his head a bit at her choice of terminology. When she asked if he was French or just knew it, he raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk coming to his lips. "Perhaps I misjudged you, Vlora, meeting a man with a name like Bastian De Larousse who has a French accent and then questioning whether or not he's French?" he teased with a smirk. "And here, I thought it was evident, but if it answers your question, then oui, ma belle, c'est plus que juste la langue*," he said with a smirk.
*"Yes, my lovely, it's more than just the language."

Heidi nodded when the man said he would try the cookie, taking the menu from him. "Of course. I'll be right back," she said. She headed to the counter, setting the menu down and placing her tray of empty cups down by the sink for someone to wash. She grabbed a fresh mug and poured the coffee, putting a chocolate chunk cookie on a little porcelain plate before carrying the coffee and cookie back over to the man. "Here you go!" she said cheerfully, setting them down before heading off to clear away some more empty plates from the next table over.

Isla nodded, "Sure and then you can get your half naked dwarf." She smiled and sort of yanked her hand free before running off to the back. "Heeeyyyy you gorgeous lady who just saved me from an awkward situation. Victoria wants to talk to you about your dwarf friend. The pregnant one but she won't be showing if she isn't far along so she can totally do this." She smiled. "The darn woman wouldn't stop touching me. I can use a nap." She sighed.

Vlora blushed a lot more than she had in a good long while and she sighed. "It was a lapse in judgment. Excuse me." she smiled and then he went and started to talk French to her. She bit her bottom lip and crossed her legs the other way. "Well then... I guess you really are French." She smirked and rubbed her knee. She had to be good with this one. "Is that how you normally win girls?" She teased.

Sullivan watched her walk away and then thanked her before watching her leave. He looked out the window and sipped his coffee before taking a bit of his cookie. He would wait till she came up to him again to talk to her about the town, maybe a bit about herself. Her name would be a good start.

Rhyanid noticed the way Isla yanked her hand free and all but ran off, blinking a bit before looking down at Victoria. "Hey, what's up?" he asked her with a smile. "Isla looks a bit uncomfortable with all the touching and stuff. She's sweet and all, so I know she won't say anything, but maybe just...you know, a bit less?" he asked, hoping she wouldn't be offended. Zelipia looked up when Isla came in, blinking slightly when she said she'd saved her from an awkward situation. "Won't stop touching you? Weird," she said. She looked down at the little dog, frowning a bit. "Something's missing... oh!" she said, grabbing a pink bow and clipping it to the dog's fur. "There ya go, Dollie. Now, you wait right here with Isla while I go talk to the weird touchy-feely girl out there, okay?" she said, and then headed out to the front, smiling when she saw Rhyanid and Victoria. "Hey. You came back," she said, and Rhyanid frowned. "That's my line," he pouted.

Bastian noticed the flush in her cheeks and smiled a bit, nodding when she called it a lapse in judgment. "Fair. We all have them," he told her with a nod. When she commented that he really was French, he nodded, and he blinked when she asked if that was how he normally won girls. "Listen, Vlora, I'm going to tell you something my mother always told me," he said, leaning in a bit. "They say that French is the language of love, but that's not true. Spanish is the true language of love. The rhythm and flow of that language are stunning and the words they use for everything are simply exquisite. If I were to make any attempts at 'winning' a girl, I would certainly not be speaking either of my own languages," he told her.

Heidi waited a few more tables, poured some more coffee, washed some dishes, and cleared away some more dishes before the supervisor working at the counter told her that she could take a break. Heidi nodded, taking off her apron and hanging it up on the wall near the sink before taking one of the chocolate chunk cookies from the display and putting it on a plate. She emerged from behind the counter, her outfit now fully visible without the apron on, and she sat down at the empty table near where the man had sat down, setting her cookie down before taking a small bite.

Victoria blinked, "Mmm I think you are reading too much into it, babe. She just doesn't want you to be offended that I was so lovey-dovey with her that's all. She likes you as a co-worker and the last thing she wants is you to be upset with her, okay? She is fine." She giggled and looked up when Zel came out. "Hello!" She giggled. "I was wondering if you could get you little dwarf friend to be a model for my catalog." She giggled.

Vlora smirked, "Mmm I have heard enough Spanish to know that that isn't true. Lo sabría desde que hablo el idioma, Señor De Larousse." She said a bit seductively before giggling. "I spent some years in a Spanish speaking country when I was a guard for a little girl." She smiled softly. "Pero te hablo así si quieres." Her lips left open a slight bit before smirking.
1.I know since I speak the language, Mr. De Larousse.
2. But I speak to you like this if you like.

Sullivan looked up and saw her without her apron and eating alone. He smirked and got up, taking his stuff with him and sat down across from her. "I see you are on break and have some more time to talk. I am Sullivan Goldenbaun. I am a business man that has taken a liking to the gorgeous islands and was wondering if you could tell me more about this place and the community." He said softly.

Rhyanid nodded a bit when Victoria said that she thought he was reading too much into it. Perhaps that made sense, that Isla didn't want him to be jealous or anything. He wouldn't be, of course; he didn't mind, he was just concerned for her. "Oh, okay," he said with a nod, glancing up when Zelipia came out. Zelipia blinked when Victoria asked if she could get her dwarf friend to be a model, looking at Rhyanid, who blinked as well. "Yora? Or Una? I don't remember which one you said was your friend, just that there were two of them and one of them won't talk to you," he said, and Zelipia laughed. "Oh! Right, Yora. Una's the shy twin. I met her in passing and she wouldn't say a word. But yeah, I'm sure Yora would be happy to be a model. I'm actually swinging by her place after work tonight to see if she wants to snag a late-night coffee. You should come! Yora loves meeting new people," she suggested with a grin.

Bastian blinked, a grin slowly creeping across his lips when she started to speak in the other language. "My, my. You certainly are full of surprises, Mademoiselle Vlora," he told her. At her last words, he smiled and shook his head. "You needn't speak to me like that. I'd much prefer speaking in a first or second language over a fourth. It's much easier like this," he told her.

Heidi glanced up from her cookie when the man in the suit from before moved seats to sit across from her, blinking in surprise but giving him a polite smile. The girls here talked a lot about how men would often try to hit on them and it hadn't yet happened to Heidi, but she had a feeling that might be about to change. Polite and aloof, she reminded herself of the advice the other girls gave when they talked about men trying to flirt with them. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Goldenbaun," she said calmly. "I'm glad you're enjoying the islands. They really are lovely. I may be able to answer some questions, but I've only been here a little over a year myself, so I might not have all the answers."

Victoria smiled and his sister talked. She wasn't as cute as her brother or Isla, if it wasn't for her hair should have have been plain as all that was plain. "Oh no no... I kind of wanted to spend the afternoon with your brother. Just have her show up at my shop this weekend and if you could give your brother her sizes and he can give it to me tomorrow that would be great, thank you." She smiled before looking up at Rhyan. "I tried asking Isla to hang with us tonight but she has her baby to get so... which I bet is just as adorable as she is." She smiled.

Vlora laughed a bit, "Oh so you know some Spanish, oh my... well Spanish is MY second language, but French isn't in either of mine." She sighed. "But I much prefer you to speak it." She said softly. "You could call me a dirty old hag and yet I would still find that very attractive because I wouldn't know that you were saying it." She laughed softly. "So... when you aren't working, trying on suits, and being stalked what do you do?" She asked softly, her fingertips tracing over the design in the napkin.

Sullivan shook his head, "I am so sorry. I just figured you had since you worked at the postal service. Excuse me for thinking such things. But you have a year over me, so you might know a bit. As a businessman, I strive to do my best to serve the community. My business expands from flower shops to big corps. Would you be willing to share your thoughts on what you would like to see come to the island? I know some new business people have moved in recently like the Silverson brothers." He smiled and blinked before shaking his head, "I am so sorry, I didn't catch your name." He said softly.

Zelipia smirked a bit when Victoria said that she'd wanted to spend the evening with Rhyanid, nodding. "That's fair. I can definitely have her come by your shop this weekend, though," she said. "Okay, well, I'll see you around," she said, smirking and winking at them before heading back into the back. She went over to Isla, smiling. "Do you wanna hide out back here with me until she's gone?" she asked. She figured that Dollie's owner would probably be in soon since the time approximation she'd given her had passed. Rhyanid smiled down at Victoria when she said she'd tried to ask Isla to hang out with them tonight, nodding. "Yeah, her baby's her life, pretty much. He sounds so sweet. I haven't met him yet. She was saying earlier that she doesn't wanna bring him in just yet because he might not want to leave once he sees the puppies," he laughed.

Bastian smiled when she commented on him knowing some Spanish and he nodded. "Yes. I speak English, French, and German fluently, I'm mostly fluent in Spanish and Dutch, and I speak some German. I would tell you that I speak Latin, but Latin isn't really a language that one speaks; rather, the study of Latin is done mainly through texts, through reading and interpreting rather than speaking and conversing as it is a dead language," he said. He smiled a bit when she said that she would prefer him to speak French and that it was attractive, a little amused by her comment that she wouldn't know it if he called her a dirty old hag. "I assure you, ma belle, I would never call you a dirty old hag," he said. When she asked what he did when he wasn't working, he gave a slight shrug. "I enjoy reading from time to time. Chess is lovely when I have a partner available to me. I like to visit museums and galleries when I get the chance, especially when travelling - oh, and I love word puzzles. Crossword puzzles are a particular weakness of mine," he said. "What about you, Vlora? What is it that you do when you aren't patrolling the streets?"

Heidi smiled a bit when the man apologized for his assumption that she'd know a lot about the town, blinking when he told her that he wanted to know what she thought the island needed. Maybe this wasn't an attempted flirtation so much as it was a genuine attempt to hear from the locals. "It's Heidi," she told him when he said he hadn't caught her name. "And as for what businesses we need on the island... hmm. That's a tough question," she laughed, thinking it over for a minute. "This might sound lame, but the island doesn't have a thrift shop as far as I've been able to tell. Clothes are expensive when they're not second-hand," she laughed. "There are stands in the market that sell odds and ends and trinkets, but even those are pricey compared to the things available in a second-hand store."

Isla looked up at her and smiled, "I would but I feel if I do your mom will get mad. If I run really fast she might not see me." She laughed softly. "Thank you though. Plus your brother can occupy her." She smiled and waved before walking out. Victoria looked up at him and giggled, "Aw it is a boy?! That is just the cutest. Ugh well I hope I can see him soon too." She said softly and leaned into him. "So... you want to take pick up and had back to my place?" She asked. Isla came out and hurried to pass them making Victoria blink. "Too cute... look at her little legs go." She smirked.

Vlora listened to him. The more he spoke the more she felt like she didn't know jack shit, but she knew she knew exactly what she needed to. Plus her niece was determined to teach her all the things she didn't know. She smirked when he said he wouldn't call her a dirty old hag. "Oh good... I really didn't want to be called that." She smiled. Vlora really did like having him talk. "Mmm well... what do I do? If I am not sleeping I am being taught by my niece." She smiled. "Or I am talking to a very handsome man. Back home when I had free time I would go to the tavern. I kind of go to the one here. They have some nice people there. Their stories are pretty funny. Hmm, l do like to travel, but since getting my niece I just try and spend as much time with her until she gets bored with me and finds new friends." She smiled. "I have only ever played chess once before but with the way things are going I feel like I might be playing it more." She said and then laughed a bit. "Crossword puzzles are a weakness? That is terribly cute, Bastian." She smiled.

Sullivan listened to her talk. Her voice was lovely and she kind of reminded him of Loren. "A thrift shop, huh?" He said and blinked. "Well, then I guess I will have to invest in one. I may look like money but I do know the hardships of people with lower income and have strived to try and make it so they can live just as anyone with a bit more money. So, Heidi..." He said and flashed his dazzling smile. "The name suits you, what are some things you enjoy doing?" He asked.

Zelipia laughed a little when Isla pointed out that their mom might get mad and she shrugged. "Fair enough, I guess," she said with a shrug, waving before Isla left. Rhyanid laughed when Victoria seemed to die over how cute it was to think that Isla had a little boy and he nodded. "Yep. I hope so, too," he agreed. When she leaned in and asked about getting food and going to her place, he nodded. "Yeah, we could do that," he said. He glanced over when Isla hurried by, smiling before looking back at Victoria. "Too cute," he agreed. "The girls have been giving me a hard time about working too much. I'll go let Zel know that I'm leaving," he said. He leaned down to kiss Victoria's cheek before heading into the back.

Bastian smiled as he listened to Vlora talk. She had such a lovely voice, much less delicate and musical than most of the women with whom he spoke regularly. He kept quiet while she told him about what she did, glancing up and thanking the waitress softly when she brought their drinks before turning his attention back towards Vlora. He smiled at her comment about playing chess more with the way things were going. "You may be right about that," he agreed with a nod. "I have a lovely chess table in my house. Perhaps you and I can play together some time. I could show you a thing or two," he suggested, and smiled when she questioned his weakness for crossword puzzles. "I did not think that a cute factoid about myself, but what do I know, apparently? I love a good crossword puzzle," he said.

Heidi smiled a bit when Mr. Goldenbaun suggested that he would have to invest in a thrift shop on the islands, nodding a bit at his comment about knowing the hardships of others with lower income. "I am sure there are many on the island who would appreciate such a venture," she told him. When he commented that the name suited her and asked what kinds of things she enjoyed, though, she blinked slightly. "Oh, well... I really don't do much outside of work. Between the two jobs there really isn't much downtime," she said with a bit of a shrug. She didn't usually tell people about her writing unless she was close to them, because then they asked all sorts of questions like what she wrote, whether she wanted to publish it, whether they could read it...all sorts of questions that made her get all flustered. The only people on the islands who really knew about it were her bosses/landlords and two of the other waitresses.