At the mention of the ocean liner, Plicae’s eyes closed, and he really did try to imagine it. It was probably several hundred yards long, and quite luxuriously accessorized. He wondered what sort of entertainment would be onboard. Bands? Dances? Karaoke night? Perhaps even an open bar? He chuckled at the thought, and then opened his eyes once again to look into Koani’s. His excitement was reflected in her gaze, and for a moment, the lukuo felt quite close to his employer – like they were more than mere colleagues. This sentiment was set aside when Plicae leaned backwards and glanced around the room, as if now searching for another topic of discussion. There really wasn’t too much to talk about when it came to the Council of Thirteen and the cruise; Koani had outlined it pretty well. He was sure that a lot of details had yet to be hammered out, anyway. So, what else should they talk about? The evening was still young, and Plicae wished to engage and be engaged while spending time in the Grader manor. “So," the arden said after a moment, and he brushed his bangs out of his eyes once more. “Just tell me if I’m prying, but I’d like to hear more about Cayson. I know the basic facts about his upbringing and such. How are you two faring these days? Are you close? I hope so. I know how tough it is to be a single parent. Though I really have no idea what it’s like when your child grows up and begins branching off and beginning relationships. Especially ones with, well, the last pendragon you would have ever thought." . . . Villi stood in front of the coffee maker, tapping her toe impatiently as she watched the dark liquid filter down into the pot. She cast intermittent glances over her shoulder, but Cayson and Riot were being fairly boring. Riot was in front of the sink, scrubbing at the dirtied dishes, and Case was beside her, rinsing and wiping said dishes. After every glimpse their way, the white lukuo sighed to herself, unduly disappointed by their unwillingness to be affectionate around her. What she didn’t know was that a full tilt game of teasing was going on every time her back was turned. After Cayson’s ear nibbling, Riot squirmed a bit, but somehow managed to muffle her giggles by focusing on her work. She finished scrubbing at a rather large serving platter she was working on, then slipped it to her counterpart, before turning to grab at the next dish in the pile. However, she abruptly swung back towards the arden, and she soundlessly flicked out her arm and daringly prodded him between the legs. She gave him a friendly little squeeze, biting her lip all the while to keep herself from bursting into laughter, before turning teasingly away and resuming her dish washing. But it seemed she could not fully swallow the laughter. Some of it bubbled up, and Riot found herself bending slightly over the sink and snorting. This noise elicited a rather sharp glance from Villi, and her eyes narrowed curiously as she eyed the older arden and thill. What were they doing? She could hear snickering, and it became even more defined as the coffee pot finally filled up and the dripping spout stopped. They were definitely laughing. “What are you doing now?" the niotie asked, her voice a bit of a whine as she grabbed the full coffee pot by the handle. “And where should I put this?" “Just hold onto it for another second, we’re almost done," came Riot’s chortled reply. “We’ll take it into them and then head down to the basement to play some games."
Koani's quills drooped noticeably. Not because she was any less excited or uninterested, but more so because of the semi-seriousness in Plicae's choice of subject matter. They were things that she had thought often about. Thoughts that she rarely voiced, but they were always in the back of her mind when not in the forefront. “I don't mind," Koani assured Plicae. She had always felt a certain kinship with Plicae, perhaps solely for the reason that they were a widow and widower, respectively. “Cay has been a little closer to me these days. I'm not quite sure why, though I do have my ideas, but I am glad for the change. So we've been getting along rather well. He's still really torn between Jaceen and I." Koani paused for a moment. The fact that Cayson rarely called her Mom or Mother was also something that bothered her. She didn't want to pester Cayson about it though. Mainly because if he made it a habit, and they were in mixed company... well, a slip up like that was rather unwanted. “I suppose that really, in the end, it just makes me feel old," she continued with a laugh. “You know, he has his heart set on marrying her. It's one of those things that I'm not sure whether I should laugh or cry about." *** Cayson's breath caught in his throat when Riot grabbed him. He choked on air, coughed, then set about giggling. Riot too was laughing and having a hard time keeping it in. At about this time, Villi interjected and asked about the coffee. Most likely she had an idea that something was going on as well. Cayson swallowed his laughter and cleared his throat. “Yeah, just a moment." He dried the dish that he was holding onto and then set it aside. “Ri'ni, could you please grab the coffee mugs? I know they're in the top cupboard to your right." Case then set the towel down and stepped behind Riot, his back almost pressed up against hers as he successfully blocked Riot from Villi's view. “Would you like me to carry that out, or are you alright with it?" He asked Villi, simultaneously, Cayson's tail was doing a little wandering. Being mindful of his own spikes, Cayson's tail snaked between Riot's legs and wrapped itself around her left thigh before slyly unravelling. As it withdrew it brushed up between the division of her legs and then silently slipped away. Cayson was rather enjoying this game.
Plicae’s rounded ears swiveled forwards as he listened to Koani speak. The fact that she was closer to her son than before caused him to smile. The lukuo knew the value of family, and he knew that he would never let anything wedge itself between him and Villi. Even when she grew up and formed a true life of her own, he would keep her close by, at his side. Though, to be honest, he would be totally flummoxed when it came to her dating, and Plicae was inwardly glad that such matters were still years distant. The idea of sharing his daughter with some strange, young arden caused odd butterflies to stir in his belly, and he wondered how Koani did it – how she tolerated someone so close to her “baby," especially considering who it was that he was with. “Did he tell you that?" Plicae said in reference to Case’s desire to wed Riot. “They’re right at that age, aren’t they? Hm, despite the history between you and Riot, from what I have seen so far, they are truly in love. They seem to really care about each other, and I also think Riot is quite diplomatic towards you. It’s hard to believe what she did not so long ago. But according to some officials I knew that helped to handle her case, she was never really as violent as she came across. Like the thing with you was a fluke or something, as if the perceived injustice caused her to snap. I don’t know. I think it would really be best if everybody just sort of forgot about that. I don’t think either party was in the right there," the lukuo said, his tone rather delicate as he tried not to slight on Koani. He had not agreed with her lack of due process of law, being a man of law himself. “Like I said, it all seems like a fluke, and maybe you two can grow to like each other after all. There’s nothing quite like love to help spread even more love," he finished up with a terse laugh. The dark arden cleared his throat then, and peered around the lounge. He wondered if this particular chamber was used often, or whether it was just here for formalities such as this meeting. It did not look very lived in; there were no photographs on the walls, and the furniture all looked starched and unused. In a house this grand, Plicae would not have been surprised if the parlor was scarcely ever used at all. “So, when will the public be informed of Cayson’s relation to you, if ever? I think the gala might be a prime opportunity to make everyone privy to his parentage. You know, it would also be really good public relations for you to do that, and to acknowledge his relationship with Riot. There’s still some hatred towards you in some places over that skirmish, and you could smooth out a lot of ruffled feathers if you two just made up and joined as one force, with Cayson being the common denominator between you. Ah, just think of how popular the three of you will be as a unit. Everybody will adore those two, and you for giving them your blessing. If you do, of course," Plicae tagged on, a gentle smile on his draconic features. . . . The pile of dishes finally dwindled down, and then they were finished. At Cayson’s command, Riot dried off her hands on a spare towel and leaned upwards to open the cupboard door to retrieve the mugs. As she did so, she felt the arden slip behind her, and she smiled to herself. His subtle positioning reminded her of their encounter just two nights ago, and she felt butterflies kick up in her stomach at the private memory. Said butterflies went a little bit wilder when the thill felt Case slip his tail between her thighs and brush against her, though this time she did not have to muffle a laugh so much as a bit of a gasp that tried to claw its way up her throat. Luckily – or unluckily, depending on how one looked at it – he soon withdrew his tail, and Riot was able to gather her composure. She successfully grabbed a pair of mugs, and then turned around to face Case. Since his body was blocking Villi’s view, she leaned forwards and seductively nibbled on his bottom lip, before slipping around him and approaching the awaiting niotie. “I’ve got it," the little lukuo said in reference to the coffee pot, and she gave the two older pendragons a confused look as they joined her and then prepared to leave the room in the direction of the lounge. She tagged after them, her eyes scrutinizing their backs because she was sure they were up to something. “What games are we gonna play, anyway?" she asked after a moment, holding firmly onto the pot of coffee, whose aroma floated up and surrounded Villi like a warm cloud.
“Yes. He told me a few days ago," she replied while not so absently twisting one of the rings on her fingers. Cayson had already given Riot a promise ring. He had actually shown it to Koani beforehand and she had looked it over. Part of Koani had been alarmed at that moment. The realization of just how fast Cayson was growing up had hit her strongly. Being a metal worker herself, Koani had also felt a little saddened that Cay hadn't asked her about ring making. Perhaps he figured that she was too busy for such a thing now. Then of course the fact that the object of his affection happened to be Riot really didn't make anything better. Koani had made herself promise not to meddle though. Cay was free to do whatever he pleased, and to love whoever he wanted. Koani rose an eyebrow as Plicae continued on about Riot. His views were rather typical of him. Being an “upstanding" lawyer, she really didn't expect anything else of him. Almost all of Koani's colleagues shared the same, if not similar views to Plicae. “I know I was in the wrong. However, I wasn't simply acting upon a hunch. If you, and well, if everyone knew what I know concerning the situation, I think that perhaps you'd be a little more on my side. Though perhaps not. I wish that I could tell you more... but it's really one of those things I need to keep to myself. I'd be digging my own grave if I didn't. It was a rash decision though, and I admit that." Koani sat up a little straighter and rested her right arm on the shoulder of the chair. She had no qualms or objections when it came to admitting that she was wrong. She'd known all along that going to court against Riot would be fighting a losing battle as well. Koani had lacked evidence. Or rather, failed to produce any. She'd managed to save face a little though and that had been all that had really mattered at the time. She wasn't really sure if Riot's acts of violence were simply a fluke either, but Koani didn't want to touch on that. Koani had been in worse scraps before, although the white slashed female had left her rather battered. The difference in this attack in comparison to all others was but one thing – the publicity it had received. “I'm not really sure when, or even if that will become public knowledge. I don't really want to pressure Cay into revealing his ties. Specially when things have been going so well for him. Most seem to think he's Jaceen's son, which has been working just fine. He has been running around with Zamfir's medallion though... and I suppose it's only a matter of time. I just don't know. He's really all I have left." Koani said, smiling a little in order to try and make light of the situation. While she wholeheartedly liked Plicae's suggestion of the three of them becoming a unit, Koani didn't much like the idea of pulling her son even further into the political web. It was a dangerous place – Vythe could vouch for that. *** “Alright." Cayson grinned to himself. Riot was simply precious. He loved being able to do things to her. His hand reached out for hers as they headed toward the parlour, Villi in tow. With the niotie watching, he wouldn't attempt anything too daring, but simple hand holding? He figured that was acceptable. “Oh, there's lots to do. We can play whatever game you want really. I've got... pretty much an entire play room down there," Cayson answered Villi with a laugh. “There's some old board games, a few consoles, some newer high end gadgets. I'm sure we'll find something fun for all three of us to do."
“Regardless of that situation, I am very much on your side, Koani," Plicae replied, a mixture of solemnity and fondness on his face. “And I understand. Like I said, we should all just put it behind us, and I’ll start by shushing about it and bringing up a new subject. How about we talk about something else?" Upon his own suggestion, Plicae tilted his face upwards towards the ceiling, <s>brainstorming</s> thought showering over something else to talk about. The truth was, he would have liked to continue their current discussion, and he would have loved to be in on Koani’s secrets, but he was not going to push or press her. He hoped, in time, that she would come to trust him – as a colleague as well as a friend. Until then, he could wait patiently for her, and in the meantime, talk about something a little less political. “Where did you learn to cook, anyway?" the lukuo spoke, latching onto a sudden idea. Culinary arts interested him, and it was no secret that Koani had skillz in the kitchen. “That meal was excellent. It actually reminded me of my wife’s cooking. I could always count on her to make a wonderful meal at the end of a hard day. I miss her quite a bit. Her cooking, as well as everything else, of course." . . . Riot grasped Cayson’s hand when she felt it nudge against her own, and she entwined her white fingers with his red ones. Many couples their age were busy doing things far, far beyond mere hand holding, but the thill found it to be a simple and wonderful way to feel close to the arden. She liked the way that there was no pressure, no expectations, and how they could both enjoy this plain gesture of affection without yearning for something more. On that note, though, Riot secretly did desire more. She was very good at keeping said desires in check, though. When Cayson had given her the promise ring, she had wanted to have sex with him right then and there. Make love, she mentally chided herself, as that’s what it would have been – a passionate demonstration of love. Of course, they had restrained themselves that night, and so far had kept up their vow of chastity, with only a little bit of cheating. And Riot was proud of that – of everything they had and stood for. Villi, in the meanwhile, was still pouty over not being privy to their special displays. She watched with colorless eyes as they held hands, but there was not much of interest in that sort of affection. She wanted to see them kiss, because she had never seen anyone do it in person before. Even her parents had only done it behind closed doors or when she had not been looking. It was frustrating, being a prepubescent who just wanted to see and learn. But Villi just had to deal, didn’t she? Riot and Cayson seemed very reserved in her presence. Finally, the trio wound up at the threshold of the lounge. Villi smiled a bit at her father as she set the coffee pot down on a table near to Koani. Riot was right behind her, and she used her free hand to set the cups down for the older pair. The two females and Cayson then bowed out of the room, to leave the political duo to their governmental chat. “You know what sounds good?" Riot said, glancing over her shoulder at Villi, her hand still clasped in Case’s. They were all headed towards the door to the basement. “A rousing game of Twister. You ever played that before, Villi?" “Yeah," the small lukuo said, and she began to brighten a little at the thought of that game. It involved bending and other weird things – and touching, above all. She got chills when she thought of the cool positions she could get in with the other two. “I like that game."
“Thanks, Plicae," Koani said quietly. It had a bit of an umbrella effect. Not only was she expressing gratitude for his companionship, she was also being thankful for the change of subject. He seemed to know when not to pry. His new topic brought a smile to her face. “Cooking, oh..." It was at that moment that the trio of youngsters chose to enter the room. Bearing coffee no less. Coffee, mugs... and Cayson had set down a small unit of sugar and other knick-knacks before taking off without even a word. They were such nice kids. Koani got up momentarily to pour both Plicae and herself a portion of the dark foreboding liquid. She handed him his mug before retiring back into her seat. She left her own drink sitting on the table between them. It was still rather hot, and Koani had always taken her coffee black. “I'm glad you liked it. I didn't really learn how to cook at any one place in particular. I guess maybe it started here though. My parents never cooked, but they did have an excellent kitchen staff. I used to lurk and watch them work... always getting in the way of course." Koani chuckled. “I've always loved working with my hands and making things... food preparation just fell under that. When I moved in with Saber, hm. Well, we didn't have a kitchen staff, but we did have Bajel. She'd help out around the house, and with the kids. We'd spend countless hours in the kitchen, chatting and making things. She's long gone now." It had been thirteen years after all. So much had changed, yet at the same time, so little. “Saber in the kitchen though?" Koani continued with a bit of a lilting laugh. “He was a pain in the ass. Well, not so much a pain. He was just funny. I remember this one time, he tried to make cookies... but misread something and ended up confusing the salt with the sugar. After that incident, he started to pay closer attention to the recipes and actually managed to pull off a few good batches." Koani reached out and took hold of her coffee mug. She sipped at it to test the temperature. Still quite hot, but bearable. “I miss that life." *** Cayson shot Riot a glance as she mentioned the game Twister. It seemed more like a game that they'd have more fun playing together, alone and without Villi's company. With Villi? Well, it seemed rather risque to the orange arden. Still, he could see where fun could be had in playing such a game. And wherever there was fun, Cayson would be there as if drawn by a magnet. It still seemed a little odd to him. It was painfully obvious that Villi was rather infatuated with the two of them. Would it really be “right" to feed that infatuation? Case opened the door to the basement. This specific stairwell to the bowels of the Grader mansion was rather wide, so Cayson didn't have to relinquish his grip on Riot's hand as they descended. Unlike the rest of the mansion, the basement was highly personalized and lived in. Cayson had tacked up all sorts of various things on the walls. From posters of some of his favourite bands, to random goofy drawings. It was fully furnished too with a nice long couch, some scattered seating, the entertainment system, and of course, the large storage area. Not to mention the expansive carpeted floorspace. One of the rooms that adjoined this one could have easily passed off as an arcade. There were a wide variety of multi-coloured flashing lights and mechanical blips coming from its open door. Cayson passed the entrance to this room as he led Riot over to one of the ceiling high storage units. He pulled open the door and peered inside. “Ah, I know the game was in one of these. I remember seeing it while I was looking for a spare er, ball."
Plicae accepted the steaming cup of coffee from Koani, and immediately took a sip of it. He loved a strong cup of black coffee right after dinner; it was actually a habit he had picked up from Jejunum. As he sipped at the warm, aromatic brew, he briefly closed his eyes and called up memories of his late wife. On icy Mia evenings like this one, the two of them had used to sit together in their own parlor at home, curled up against one another, sharing one cup of hot java, or even cocoa. A fire had usually been burning in their hearth, and more than once they had made sweet love on the couch or even on the rug in front of the fireplace. Of course, that had stopped when Villi had grown up a little, but up until Jejunum’s fiery death, they had often still cuddled together. Opening his faded eyes, Plicae grabbed his cup with both hands and held it in his lap. All of a sudden, the excitement of the evening drained out of his face, and he looked drawn. He peered across the room at Koani, and she was talking about her cooking, and her own memories of her deceased spouse. There was a fondness in her voice as she recollected things about Saber, and Plicae found himself wondering when he would be able to speak about Jejunum so openly, without his voice going raw or his heart exploding in his chest. He couldn’t bear to even think of her most days, much less speak about her. In fact, as his heart strings were tugged on by the memories of their fireside romances, Plicae felt tears brimming behind his spectacles. When the Grader’s soft voice reached his ears, saying the words, “I miss that life," he got that familiar feeling in his stomach, like the grief had settled in the form of a stone. He missed his own life that had gone amiss, and even as he sat there in the lounge with Koani Grader, both of them widowed by murder and destruction, the lukuo bent forward slightly and let a few tears drip silently down his face as he mourned for himself, as well as her – for both of them. . . . Riot gave Case an amused glance when he referred to having searched for a spare ball, and she laughed, before releasing his hand to open one of the storage unit’s doors. She had been down here before, and knew her way around, though she had never fished around in the cabinet before. How hard could it be to find a game box in here, though? Not too hard, it seemed. After just a moment of searching, the thill withdrew a box, and she stepped away from the unit. Flicking a digitigrade foot upwards, she shut the storage unit, and then padded into the center of the room. Balancing the box in her left hand, she used the right one to remove the lid, and she withdrew the plastic mat as well as the spinner board. “So, is someone going to sit out and spin, or can we set it to spin automatically every sixty seconds or something?" Riot asked Cayson, even as she set the box aside and motioned for him and Villi to help her spread the game mat out on the floor. The small lukuo eagerly stepped forward and took a corner of the thick http://shadowlack.com/stormwing/x/twister.jpgTwister mat</a>, and she began to lay it down and smooth it out. She was quite looking forward to playing the game, and if she could have had her way, she would have had Riot being the spinner with only herself and Cayson on the mat.
Koani looked over at Plicae and at once noticed the change in his disposition. He was hunched over and Koani could see the glimmer of tears. Her own stomach did a bit of a flip and knotted itself. She'd been careless with her words, hadn't she? This of course, was the very reason why her parents had always kept professional attitudes... why they had refused to converse about certain items and rarely took “discussions" past the small talk stage. Right behind that barrier of small talk, sometimes even poking through, there were emotions. Koani set her mug back down and hesitantly bit her lip. What could she do? What could she say? There really didn't seem like anything. Koani knew that she could relate to Plicae's loss, but to do that? She didn't want to risk the possibility of angering him. Jejunum's death had been so recent... and Koani had had thirteen long years to mull over Saber's. Well, the first seven years while a captive of the rapine, Koani had spent in complete denial. Although she had seen her husband struck down with her own two eyes, a part of her just didn't want to believe it. His lifeless, soul-less body, the cold already starting to settle into it... All that time she had hoped... it wasn't until she had returned to Ramath-lehi some time later that her hopes had been shattered. Karryasa had given her Saber's wedding band. Then of course there had been his grave site. She had found it peculiar that no grave had been marked out for her. As if somehow her parents knew that she hadn't died. Koani slipped out of her chair and soundlessly walked around the small table. She couldn't really stand to see Plicae like this and felt the need to do something, anything. The Grader sat down beside him, and quite cautiously, placed her hand on Plicae's back to gently rub it. “I'm sorry," Koani half whispered. “I can't really tell you that it gets much easier..." She'd be a hypocrite if she did. Koani still had moments where she wanted to die. If she had but one regret, it was that she hadn't died alongside Saber. That was the main reason why Koani drank, and she knew it. Even after so long, Koani still hadn't moved on. Saber's ring that still encircled her finger was visible proof of that. *** “Set someone as the spinner?" Cayson echoed with an incredulous look. “Are you kidding me? And leave one of us out of the fun? Nah, I don't think so." Case didn't want to play the game alone with Villi, nor did he want to stand by and idly do the spinning. Simply playing alone with Riot would leave Villi out... and that sort of seemed like the wrong thing to do since they were supposed to be entertaining their guest. The arden carefully pulled at the corner of the mat to unravel it some more. The corner curled up a little though, so Cayson pounced on it. He held it down firmly with his foot for several seconds. When he lifted his foot, it began to curl back up slightly. Case gave the mat a feigned threatening glare complete with bared teeth and all. It stopped curling immediately as if it understood his wordless threat. Cayson chuckled to himself. He had the touch. He then turned is attention to the spinner which Riot was looking over. “Sixty seconds sounds good to me. Although... thirty seconds might be even better. Villi can go first, then you, then me."
Plicae continued to weep quietly as Koani stood and made her way over towards him, and he did not react when she took a seat beside him and put her hand on his back. Unlike many of the male sex, the lukuo felt no shame in shedding tears in front of others. He had done so many times since Jejunum’s death, had often had little crying spells at work, even. Though crying made some other ardens disconcerted, most of the time, others understood and rushed to comfort him. Though Koani was so different from other pendragons, she was similar in this way. As she rubbed his back, the comforting motion seemed to put a stopper to Plicae’s tears. “I know it never will," he replied to her words, his voice a bit bitter and rough around the edges, though his emotions were not directed at the Grader. “I know it will ache forever, for me and for Villi. Work and things at least gets my mind off it," he added, sitting up a little straighter as the tears stopped flowing. “It’s almost odd, how it was pendragons acting on your behalf that ended my wife’s life, and here you are comforting me. I don’t blame your family, though. I know you have nothing to do with some of the crazies that follow you," he sniffled. “I’m sorry if I’ve embarrassed you, Koani…" Plicae turned his head sideways to make eye contact with her, and his gaze was silently thankful. One of his hands reached out and grabbed her free one to give it an appreciative squeeze, and then it quickly flicked back to join its counterpart around his warm coffee mug. This he brought to his mouth to take a sip, and when he’d finished off the black drink, he then leaned back and blew out a shaky breath. “This might seem like an inappropriate topic, but I want to ask you, because you’ve been there. How long do you think I should wait before I seek another mate, if ever? I have Villi, but I miss loving and being loved in the way that only a lover can," Plicae said, and he kept his eyes on his empty cup as he spoke, lest he make the moment more awkward than it already might have been. . . . Once the colorful mat was spread out, Riot grabbed the spinner board once again. Unlike the old Earthen version of the game – she had been told that it had been invented on that green and blue terrestrial planet – there was a way to set the spinner so it worked automatically. Per Case’s request, the thill set it to go every thirty seconds, and then she stooped over to place it directly next to the mat so that they could all see it even as they played. Almost immediately, the spinner began to whirl. In anticipation, Riot jumped on the mat, though her eyes remained glued on the spinner board. When it finally came to a stop, she licked her lips and cast Cayson and Villi a competitive glance, before she bent over to put her foot on the designated color spot. “Right foot on red!"
Koani continued to gently rub Plicae's back. The action in itself seemed so foreign to her. When was the last time that she really had tried to comfort someone? She'd been on the receiving end quite a few times now. That particular incident with Vythe being the most recent. It still made Koani a little queasy just thinking about it. Cayson was rarely in need of comfort. Koani really couldn't recall a time when he had come to her with a problem. That really seemed to be Jaceen's area. Jaceen with her soft, quiet voice. Yes, Koani could definitely see why Cayson would entrust her with his problems. “You haven't embarrassed me," Koani assured him, a bit of a weak smile on her muzzle. She was glad that Plicae's tears had subsided... and that he hadn't lashed out as she had feared he might. Koani knew that she was the type to typically turn down any form of comfort with a vengeance. Most simply left her to her own devices these days. She even managed to keep what few friends she had at arm's length. Never quite letting anyone get too close, lest they catch a glimpse of who she really was. Plicae was right on so many accounts. It was a little eerie just how similar they were. Koani herself used her work as a distraction. She didn't really know if Plicae drank much, but she suspected that he might. Perhaps every so often. The both of them also had kids. Villi being so dependent on Plicae... and well, Koani would like to think that Cayson was dependent on her, but it just really didn't seem that way any more. The “crazies" that acted on behalf of the Grader name were quite the reality too. It never failed to make her ill whenever she came across someone who was attempting to act on her, or her parent's behalf. There were even those who had such gall that they even used the Grader sigil to identify their doings. It came as a relief that Plicae harboured no ill feelings against her for the horrible deed that her followers had done. That had in fact been the main reason for Koani's hesitation when it came to contacting Plicae. In a way, she felt rather responsible for the pain that she knew he was feeling. That horrible ache. That gaping hole that she knew he was carrying around with him. It could have been this shred of guilt that caused the Grader to momentarily drop her defences. Whatever the case, she wrapped her arms around Plicae in a loose, friendly hug before she answered him. “Whenever you're ready. I've tried... I guess a few times now. I suppose my heart's just never been in it." *** “Left hand... green!" Cayson said as he looked over and read the spinner as it changed. He slipped onto the mat and deliberately chose the green circle nearest Riot to bend over in front of and place his palm down upon. He got the feeling that this game was going to get complicated really fast. He looked over his shoulder, crossed his eyes, and then playfully stuck his tongue out at Riot.
“Left hand green?" Riot asked incredulously, peering over at the spinner board. Indeed, that’s what it read. Grunting, the thill tried to stretch herself out so that her left hand was on one end of the mat and her right on the other, but it sure was quite a stretch. She felt like she might split down the middle. This condition was made worse when she started to laugh. Cayson’s posterior was right in her face, and when he glanced over his shoulder and made a face, Riot nearly collapsed right there and then. Instead, though, she steeled herself, craned her neck forwards, and bit rather ferociously at the arden’s rear end, a playful snarl rumbling forth as she delivered the love bite to his ass. “You just bit his butt!" came Villi’s voice not a second after Riot’s stunt, and the older thill glanced over at the lukuo. Obviously, the surprise at seeing the older two nibbling on each other’s backsides had caused her to fall over already, and she peered at them with bulbous eyes. “Hehehe! You bit his butt!" she cried again, and before Riot or Case could react, she began to roll around on the game mat. Little limbs kicked Riot’s arms out from beneath her, and she tumbled forwards into Cayson, dragging him down along with her. She made a quiet “oof" noise as she landed, and then she glanced towards Villi, wondering whether to be amused or scared by the niotie’s unseemly delight in their quasi sexual display. This kid was fucking weird, Riot finally decided, and she began to stand in order to dodge anymore flailing arms or legs. Villi soon stopped, anyway. Actually, it was a rather abrupt halt. She made an expression akin to a fish out of water’s, grabbed herself unceremoniously between the legs, and then leapt up, all within seconds of each other. The little lukuo then flew up the wide steps towards the upper level, apparently making a beeline for the bathroom. “Phew…" Riot breathed as she watched after Villi. “What the hell is up with that kid?" she added, blinking owlishly as she turned towards Cayson. “Bet you fifty bucks she’d pay to watch us do each other," she quipped with a laugh, before shrugging and leaning over to roll up the Twister mat. It was apparent that the game was pretty much over before it had even started. . . . Indeed, the heavy, uproarious laughter had squeezed on Villi’s bladder, and she careened down the hall towards the pink bathroom. She slammed the door behind her and immediately ran over towards the toilet, tearing her pants down and sitting upon the porcelain throne. When she was finished, she quickly flushed it and padded over towards the sink, still trying to catch her breath from her bout of giggles as well as her dash up the stairs and down the hall. After drying her white hands on a towel, Villi reached out for the doorknob and stepped into the hallway. In her rush, she had not even peered across the corridor, towards where her father and Koani were chatting. Now, though, she glanced at them, and her jaw dropped a little. Plicae had accepted the Grader’s loose hug with a watery smile, and was even now leaning into it. When his daughter flew past, slammed the washroom door, and then reemerged, all in a matter of thirty seconds or less, however, he went a bit rigid and drew away from Koani. Their conversation and their bonding came to an abrupt end as Villi stared in at them. “What are you… doing?" the little female asked, and the spikes on her heels rose, though it was hard to tell with her pants. “Just talking," Plicae answered, standing to go to his daughter’s side. Due to being quite a bit taller than her, he crouched and reached out his hands to hold her around the middle. “Somethin’ the matter, babe?" he said quietly to her. “N-no," Villi replied, going stony faced and crossing her arms. The wonderful dinner, her admiration of Koani, Cayson, and Riot, the game… all of it was forgotten as thoughts about her mother and this complete act of treachery flooded her young mind.
Cayson nearly toppled over in a fit when Riot playfully nipped his ass. He managed to keep himself righted, at least for some time. He was quite unable to save himself from the chaos that resulted next. Villi had found Riot's action so funny, that she started to throw a laughing fit. She was everywhere at once it seemed. Then the next moment Cayson felt Riot crash against him, and he too was sprawled upon the floor... a startled look on his face. He barely had enough time to cast a glance at Villi before she righted herself and took off, fleeing from the basement. “I've... no idea," Cayson answered Riot with a bit of a laugh as he rolled and started to gather his feet. “She's a special case though." He cracked up at Riot's mention of Villi paying them. Cayson held onto his stomach, which was aching a little because of his belly laugh. “Man, I bet that she would too. She'd probably offer us whatever is in that little kiddie bank if hers and then some." He added, his speech still littered with random giggles as he helped Riot put away the Twister mat. “I think that we should probably trail her. I'm starting to get a hankering for dessert too, and I know that if Koani is still discussing politics, she'd probably not want to be disturbed." *** Though, mildly disturbed Koani already was. If she hadn't been embarrassed before, she most definitely could feel a lick of embarrassment in her stomach now. It had only been a friendly hug... but Villi seemed like such a sensitive type. The spiked thill mentally chided herself. Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Koani slipped into her tried and true stoic demeanour, her hands folding gently into her lap as Plicae gave up his seat and went to his daughter. Koani didn't know much about Villi at all. She didn't know how she was coping. How she was dealing with the loss of her Mother. When Cayson had been little, it had been quite easy to tell when he was upset. Cayson had screamed. And screamed. And screamed... He'd quite literally made ears bleed. Koani thought it a wonder that she hadn't lost her hearing. He'd been able to hit such high pitched notes. Villi seemed to be quite the opposite of Cayson. She'd grown quiet... withdrawn even. “Is she alright?" Koani inquired at last as she brushed some pale aqua hair out of her eyes.
Riot nodded in agreement when Cayson suggested they go upstairs. She finished rolling up the end of the mat, and she placed it in the game’s box. She then placed the spinner board atop it, and put the lid on the box. In a few more seconds, she had returned the game to the storage unit and was at Case’s side, grasping his hand as she moved towards the stairs and up to the main level. As they emerged into the upper hallway, Riot took the opportunity to give Cayson’s rear a friendly squeeze, this time with her hand. There was nobody around to spy on them or have a giggle fit over it – except for Riot herself, of course. She was able to control herself, and only smiled mischievously as she then inserted her hand in the arden’s rear pocket. This same smile was upon her face as they finally reached the lounge, where they found Plicae and Villi in the doorway, and Koani still sitting beyond. “Villi…" Plicae was saying. He reached up a nimble fingered hand to brush his daughter’s hair away from her face. “Koani was just trying to be a good friend. She gave me a hug because she knows how sad I am, how sad both of us are, about your mom’s death. She didn’t mean anything by it, okay?" The white niotie blinked and looked past her father’s shoulder, gazing blankly at Koani. Was this kiom a threat to her mother’s rightful position at her father’s side? Who cared that she was dead and gone? Villi was very resentful of the thought of a stepmother, even if it was the wondrous Koani Grader. No amount of money or fame or notoriety was worth pushing her mother out of her mind completely and having someone else fill that role. “Okay," she said, despite her churning emotions, and she glanced up at Cayson and Riot, who were standing nearby. They were exchanging glances over Plicae’s words, but she looked away from them and at her feet. “I want to go lay down…" she said quietly, before lifting her blunt face and peering at her dad rather woefully. “Ah," Plicae said thoughtfully, and he looked over her shoulder at Koani. “I really hate to be overbearing, especially since you’ve been so hospitable all evening, but is there a place where Villi can rest? Could we perhaps, ah, spend the night?" The lukuo’s face burned beneath his dark fur. This was awkward, and what was more, he wondered what Cayson and Riot were thinking, and whether they were curious about the relationship between the Decatur and the Grader. “She can probably spend the night with us," Riot interjected then, having felt the tension. She wanted to smooth it out, and though Villi was a weird kid, she felt bad for her confusion. She had no real idea what it was about – it seemed she had caught her dad and Koani cuddling? – but she wanted to step in and help anyway. “Right, Cayson?" the thill pinned on, giving the arden a glance as she spoke. “If it’s all right with you guys, and with Koani, that would be great," Plicae said, gratefulness apparent in his voice. He stood, but kept one hand splayed on Villi’s shoulder. “I’m sorry for upsetting you, baby girl. Is there any way I can make it up to? Would you like some dessert? Better yet, would you like to hear about the awesome cruise plans Koani has for us?" At these words, six ears perked up, and Villi nodded slowly but enthusiastically.
Cayson playfully bumped against Riot as they walked together. He loved every part of her. Her quirky personality. Her voice. Her body. The way that she just... pinched his ass. There really seemed to be a bit of an obsession with his ass tonight. It wasn't really a bad ass, actually, Cayson thought it looked rather good. Grade A ass in fact. So he forgave Riot for not being able to keep her hands off of it. He grinned wolfishly as Riot slipped her hand into his back pocket. His own hand slipped around her, and it too sought out and found her pocket. So it was with arms crossed over that they walked through the hallway together. Cayson's gay expression faltered only when he and Riot reached the parlour and picked up on the tail end of a conversation. Plicae's words struck a chord in him and Cayson found himself exchanging glances with Riot. Koani had what? Cayson stole a glance at Koani. She seemed innocent enough, simply sitting there with her hands in her lap. Her placid expression really didn't tell him anything. No clues there at all. Cayson didn't know quite what was going on. It wasn't until Plicae mentioned staying over that Cayson detected a slight change in Koani. She didn't seem to be opposed to the idea, but Case could sense that she was biting her tongue for whatever reason. “Oh, oh yeah." Cayson said as Riot shot him a look after she had piped up with her suggestion. “We wouldn't mind looking after her. We were actually having quite a bit of fun playing games in the basement." Koani slowly nodded her head. “It's really fine by me. You're not imposing at all. There are plenty of spare rooms in this place after all, and I know that they really don't mind being occupied every now and then." She chose that moment to remove herself from her seat. Her bad shoulder was flaring hotly, but Koani resisted the urge to nurse it. Right at that moment, she rather liked the pain. “Hn, dessert. Ah, but the cruise." A bit of a playful look came into Koani's eyes. “I hope that you're free the last two weeks of Dyo, Villi. You, your Dad, Cay, and even Riot are all invited to come along. It's pretty much going to be a two week long party. With food, games, shows, lots of pendragons... plus it's all going to take place right on the ocean. We've got one of the most spectacular, if not the most spectacular Ramathian ocean liners booked. It'd really be a shame to miss."
Villi’s eyes grew wide as Koani stood up and began talking about the cruise. She had never been on a cruise ship before, though she did love water and all things related. After all, she attended school in Aurius, and she dearly adored the underwater metropolis. The sound of this yachting trip almost washed away the fact that she was upset, but it was Cayson and Riot’s invite to have a “sleepover" that really drove away her moodiness. “Cool," she whispered, and she slipped from her father’s grip and padded over towards her two older friends. She tilted her head backwards and gazed up at Riot. “Do you have some pajamas I could borrow?" she questioned, antennae flickering. “Um… I’m sure we can find something for you," Riot said distractedly. She came here to the Grader mansion fairly often, and always wore Cayson’s clothes considering they wore the same sizes, save for their heights. Perhaps they would be able to rummage up something of his from when he had been young? To be honest, Riot was not really concerned about the lukuo’s pajama predicament. She was looking between Plicae and Koani, though she was not particularly interested in whatever had transpired between them, either. She was ensnared by the idea of this cruise, and the fact that she had been invited along. It sounded like a magnificent gala, and it also sounded very public. The thill wondered how the Grader was going to deal with her and Cayson, and whether the older thill would acknowledge the orange arden publicly. She would have to ask for details later – now did not seem to be the right time. “Are we going to have dessert in the kitchen?" Villi piped up, opening the question to any of the adults. “Or can we take it to our room and eat it while we make up our beds? Can we make a fort?" the niotie added on. Riot finally snapped out of her thoughts and offered the white lukuo a smile, before leaning her head on Cayson’s shoulder. She was not at all against the idea of trailing Koani and Plicae to the kitchen, grabbing a few sweet snacks and treats, and then pilfering them away to their room. She would wait for her counterpart to lead her, though, as she had no idea where he wanted to set up “camp," so to speak.
Cayson didn't quite know what to make of the situation. Hearing about his mother committing an act of consolation was one thing. Somehow Cayson had always felt that comforting others was beneath her. But this cruise? What was that about? Surely Koani wasn't planning some sort of... family vacation? He knew that she had been busy working away at things, and that she kept so many secrets from him. A two week long party though? How had she been able to keep that from him? It was things like this that made Koani seem like such a stranger to him instead of his Mother. Cayson continued to gape a little at her even as Villi spoke up about pajamas. His rather open stare seemed to bother the spiked thill, for a faintly annoyed spark came into Koani's eyes. “I'm sure that Cay and Riot will be able to find you something to wear," Koani said as she began to make her way out of the room and into the hall. She paused momentarily beside Cayson. Riot was leaning her head on his opposite shoulder. Koani deftly rose a finger, placed it underneath Cayson's chin, and forced his mouth shut. The result was a barely audible soft –click– as Case's teeth connected with one another. Cayson hadn't even realized that he had been gaping at her. He blinked several times in quick succession. “Don't look so surprised," Koani continued as she gave Cayson a pat on the arm and then walked past him. “It's for the inauguration of the new Council. We'll have time to talk about it all later on." This seemed to snap Cayson out of his daze. Instead of trailing Koani out though, his attention turned to Villi who had inquired about dessert and making a fort. “A fort? Goodness, Villi. I think you may have read my mind!" He exclaimed as his arm slipped around Riot. “There's cushions, pillows, and all sorts of different blankets in the basement that... well, I bet we'd be able to make the coolest fort ever. Bringing our dessert down there with us shouldn't be a problem either." Cayson said as he maneuvered Riot around and turned them both into the hallway.
Plicae trailed after Koani, his mind flitting from thought to thought, though none of them involved desserts. He wondered just how awkward he had made the hostess feel, and how badly it had pained Villi to see the two of them embrace. Of course, he knew it had been strictly platonic, but the arden understood why his daughter would feel betrayed by their hugging. She still hadn’t really dealt with her mother’s loss, as far as Plicae could see, but she seemed very sensitive to the idea that anybody or anything could ever fill the gap her mother had once occupied in her life. Soon, they entered the kitchen, and Plicae’s mind finally flicked off as he focused on the idea of dessert. His stomach was still quite full from the gourmet meal and the coffee, but he could use a few sweets to balance things out. He noticed a tray full of cookies and the like on one of the counters, not too far from where Riot had laid her suede jacket earlier, and he immediately moved towards it and plucked a treat off it. Swiveling around, he made eyes at his daughter as he then bit into the sugary snack. “So good," he said with a laugh as a few crumbs dribbled down his chin. He grinned at Villi before turning to gaze at Koani. “Man, you have some really stellar skills when it comes to cooking…" Encouraged by her father’s actions, the niotie reached up towards the platter of sweets, and carefully selected a cookie with a dabble of chocolate drizzled on it. Holding it with both sets of white fingers, she brought it to her mouth and nibbled on it. She normally did not have such reservations, especially around sugary confections, but the fact that Koani had made these suddenly made her hesitant and unwilling. She did not want to admit that the Grader kiom’s cooking was comparable to her mother’s… she didn’t want to enjoy something that was done better than her mother could have. “Pretty good," she said nevertheless, and turned to look at Cayson and Riot, who had brought up the rear of their small party. “Should we grab a bunch and take them to the basement?" Villi asked, her feelers flickering and her eyes brightening a bit at the entire idea of their slumber party. After all, how often did she have sleepovers with boys, big boys? “Sounds like a plan," Riot replied to the small lukuo, and she removed her hand from Cayson’s pocket and her head from the niche in his shoulder. She padded over towards the plate stockpiled with cookies, and grabbed a handful. She then grabbed her trench coat, and stepped back, waiting for Case to do the same. When he had collected his own portion of the sweets, Riot turned away and began to exit the kitchen, giving Koani and Plicae a good night smile and wave as she left. “You have a closet with some old clothes downstairs, don’t you?" the banded female asked Case as they moved once more towards the basement door. “Possibly with something for her to wear?" she added on, gesturing towards Villi, who was trailing after them. Just then, Stormwing froze, and lifted a finger in the “oh!" sort of gesture. Swiveling around, she only said, “Bathroom," before slinking back down the hallway, in the direction of the foyer washroom. She had not drank a lot at their meal, but it had been a while now, and she was running on full. “Case, you wanna give the loo a visit too before we get to our fort building and whatnot?" she called to the orange arden as she went. It was sort of a suggestive statement – sharing the same bathroom – but they had seen each other pee before. No big deal.
Koani entered the kitchen, her tail gently swaying to and fro. She was mildly perturbed. If there was one thing that she didn't like, it was to feel awkward. Usually in situations like this, she'd end up yelling. Vythe quite often caused her to raise her voice. Koani knew that she could have a rather explosive temper when things came down to the wire. She hadn't wanted to poison the evening with harsh or bitter words though. So the Grader had set out a step ahead of everyone else, taking a few measured breaths and rebuilding her composure. Once in the kitchen, she felt as if she could tackle just about anything again. Her bad shoulder hadn't relented though, but Koani was trying her best to ignore that once again. She'd take care of it soon enough. Of course, now that their guests were staying overnight, she might just have to put off tending to her shoulder for quite a little while yet. Once in the kitchen, Koani leaned lightly against the counter that held the platter of various delicacies. She wasn't interested in them at the least. Of course, come three am or so, she might change her mind. So instead, she quietly loitered. Koani shrugged a little nonchalantly at Plicae's comment. “Thanks," she said with an amiable smile as she discreetly worked the muscles in her left hand one by one. Cayson in the meanwhile had echoed Riot's actions. He lingered near the platter for a few moments though, as if thinking something over. He popped an entire cookie into his mouth, chewed on it, swallowed, and then seemed as if he had been struck by an idea. Perhaps he had just figured out how to create world peace! Or, wait, no. Cayson just thought it'd be a bright idea to bring a plate of cookies with them, instead of getting grubby hands all over things. He carefully pulled a plate out of the cupboard and loaded it up with a few cookies. Cayson then gave Koani a thumbs up, and skedaddled out of the kitchen with some enthusiastic parting words. “Thanks, Koani. These are awesome!" “Yeah, I've got a few of my older things. Heck, if worse comes to worse, I think she could probably just wear one of my big tee-shirts. I've got quite a few of those hanging around." Cayson answered Riot. She was already headed for the bathroom, and the orange arden thought that this was perfect timing, for he felt as if he were about to bust. He was actually planning to shake a leg soon after Villi had taken off to go, but had ended up being distracted by the going-ons in the parlour. “Aye, yeah. Wait up for me." He caught up to her at the bathroom's door. Cayson held out his plate of cookies with a bit of a chuckle. “Want to add yours to my collection?" He asked her as he set the plate down on one of the high tables that lined the hall.
When the trio of youths had departed from the kitchen, Plicae turned to Koani and smiled at her, though it was something of an awkward grin. He still felt bad for what had happened, and even worse because they had been bonding on some level or another. They really did have a lot in common, and if Plicae wanted to be totally honest with himself, he knew they could be therapeutic to one another. However, he knew for a fact that Koani was not as open as he was, and he had no interest in jeopardizing their professional relationship. Things could get too weird if they got too close – or that was his line of thought, anyway. He never entertained the idea that being friends – or more – could perhaps be quite symbiotic. Shifting his weight, the arden snatched another cookie, and nibbled on it as he moved idly around the kitchen. He was feigning interest in the room’s wares, and as he moved, his tail flicked as if he was curious. Once he’d appraised the room for a few moments, he wound up next to the Grader female, and he leaned forwards on the counter for a moment before addressing her. Though Villi was all for an overnight stay here at the manor, Plicae found it to be quite nerve wracking. It felt like he was invading his employer’s personal space. “Thanks for the extended invitation, for letting us stay. I’m sorry about Villi… she’s sensitive even though she’d like to think she’s tough. I’ve put you in an awkward position, and for that I apologize. It’d probably be easiest if you showed me to my room now, to avoid any further… anxiety. I’ll wake Villi early and we’ll both leave before we can be anymore of a burden." . . . As Riot swerved in the hallway on her way to the bathroom, and then Cayson, too, Villi was left standing there, her mouth slightly agape. The entire idea of sharing a washroom was a novel concept to her, and it seemed so intimate. The fact that those two could go in front of each other gave the little lukuo a bothersome, tickly sensation along her back… it almost felt like jealousy. And she was envious of them, and their comfort with each other as she was left out here in the hall. . . . “Oh… yeah," Riot said when Cayson caught up with her and offered the plate. She emptied her loaded hands onto the dish, and then grinned at the arden as he put it aside. She also dropped her coat next to the table where he had put the cookie plate. In the next moment, she grabbed him by the hem of his shirt, drew him into the bathroom, and shut and locked the door behind them. “Me first," she said, and pounced towards the toilet as if she was about ready to wet her pants. “I’ve actually been holding it for a while…" she joked as she then unbuckled and unzipped her jeans. She easily wriggled them down her legs, along with a cute pair of pink underpants, before sitting modestly upon the seat, her snout turned towards Case as he stood near the sink. “You’re, like, the only pendragon on the planet who I can stand being around when I’m taking a pee," Riot said, and she snorted just then. “Don’t you feel special?" she added on, before finishing up her business, cleaning herself up, and then flushing the toilet. Just as easily as she had removed them, she then slipped her pants back up, moving towards the sink as she did so. “Hoo boy… I wonder what it’s going to be like having a sleepover with that kid," Riot said even as the arden passed her to make his own way towards the freed john. She squeezed the soap dispenser near the sink and lathered her hands as she spoke. “She’s either going to request to sleep right on top of you… or you’re going to end up waking up in the middle of the night to find her on top of you and snapping candid shots with her camera phone or something…" The banded thill cackled amusedly as she turned towards Cayson, but she soon enough glanced away and studied her reflection in the mirror above the sink. As she dried her hands on a pink towel that matched the washroom’s décor, she noted that she looked rather tired. It had been a long and eventful night so far.
Koani reflected Plicae's grin, although hers was a little more half hearted. This evening had been rather disjointed. Plicae's and Villi's prolonged visit didn't bother her much though. Cayson and Riot had already planned on spending the night – what were two more guests? Although, Koani had to admit that the position Plicae had put her in had definitely made things awkward. She had been wanting to expand on their minute friendship a little. Koani was seriously lacking in the “people I can trust" department. Still, it felt as if she had dashed that prospect and that there was no real salvaging of it now. Right now one of her greatest secrets rested with Riot, and truthfully, Koani wasn't completely comfortable with that. Koani watched with a bit of a skeptical eye as Plicae surveyed the kitchen. The place was rather sterile though, so whatever interest he found in it, Koani figured was feigned. He was only trying to be polite. When he finally came to a stop beside her, Koani sighed quietly. “I'm sorry too. I'm not usually... well, I don't think I should have done that. Both you and Villi are always welcome here though. So don't feel bad about the extended invitation." Of course, Koani's hospitality did have its limits. She would have much rather liked if this 'sleepover' had been planned. Yet, sometimes life threw you unexpected punches and you just had to deal. “Cay used to be quite the handful... anyway, yes, I think it'd be best if I showed you to your room. Save our faces a little... ah. I think I know just the one. Come?" Koani queried as she gently pushed herself away from the counter and looked to Plicae. *** “Ri'ni, I can't go if you keep on making me laugh!" Cayson said with a bit of a snort. Riot was currently washing her hands. He had already unzipped his pants, moved his undergarments out of the way, and had his penis in hand. Riot's comment about Villi taking candid photos had put a bit of a stopper in his works though. He snorted again. “You know, I wouldn't be surprised if she did something weird like that. I really wouldn't put it past her." Cayson took aim and was eventually able to coax the urine out of himself. It flowed steadily for almost an entire minute. Well, not quite, but close to. Once finished, he shook himself off and coughed. “I was kind of holding it for a while," he informed Riot, in case she had been wondering. He then dutifully fixed his underwear, casually zipped up his pants, and acrobatically flushed the toilet with his left foot before moving over to the sink. Case soaped up his hands and paused before he rinsing them. “I saw you looking," Cayson commented, as he flashed Riot a cheeky grin and shoved his hands under the tap.
