Welcome to Gaia! ::

It would appear that he is, indeed, home as he looks up from where he is busily scrubbing at the floor as Rika allows herself entrance.

Seeing who it is, Hitsuga smiles, returning the projected greeting readily as he moves to stand, brushing dust off of the front of his clothes. As her visits had become a regularity, he had come to expect them....and the relief of being allowed his privacy once more after weeks of feeling like a cornered animal, allowed him to even enjoy Rika's company by day.

And how is Lady Rika this day, he inquires? He apologizes for his appearance, punctuated by running a hand absently over the loose, flyaway bun he's tied his hair up in to keep it out of the way as if in some futile effort to straighten it. He's been cleaning since he got up this morning sweatdrop

Oh...! His eyes fall to the bottle. That is most appreciated, and he thanks her very much.

He pauses at the other end of the table in question to pick up a cloth resting there to wipe sudsy water away from his hands with.

At her question, he nods in the affirmative. Furnishings or no, he finds it much more restful here than he ever had at Madame Phaerna's home. The projection comes with a flutter of remorse, though the good-natured look doesn't leave his face. She hadn't been particularly happy to have him go, as she'd assumed she was the reason. ....but they'd managed to find middle ground in the end.

Hitsuga gives a chuff of laughter. It is funny Lady Rika should mention that as.....well, that was the middle ground they'd found.

It would seem that her brother's wedding is not a public affair and is going to be kept to a small gathering of close friends and family.

......however, Phaerna has made it quite clear she would like for him to attend, and he is, apparently, allowed to bring a guest.

He blinks, a bit startled by her sudden eagerness. But at length, shakes his head.

He's not found anyone, he tells her. He has, in fact, made only one friend that he's seen more than a single time since arriving here, and he is currently speaking to her.

.....if Lady Rika would like to accompany him, he would be most relieved to have the company.... sweatdrop He will know no one there, much less what will be expected of him.

Hitsuga waits for her to take her soda before reaching for his own as well. He's afraid that he isn't quite sure. But he had planned to bring a gift regardless as it seemed the proper thing to do. And he wishes to, perhaps, cement the idea that there are no hard feelings between himself and Phaerna's family.

As he conveys that, his eyes skate the front showroom, looking at what he's done and what still needs doing. He makes note that he will likely need to put some more shelving up. And near the wall where the wood has been discolored by water damage, he will need to, if not replace that portion of the flooring, at least find a rug that will cover it.

He fusses with the cap of his soda as she speaks, giving a startled jolt at the eventual fsst!! as he succeeds in opening it. Though, thankfully, he manages not to drop it... It would seem that, even having relaxed from the frantic jumping-out-of-his-skin demeanor he'd been stuck in before finding the center and control having his own space offered, a certain amount of his nervousness is simply part and parcel to his person.

He may have to speak with Setsushi, then, he concludes. If he can, perhaps, find a time that he is at home and not busy. It seems that Master's schedule and his own seldom coincide with one another.

He leaves that alone in favor of listening to Rika's thoughts on wedding gifts, however, his own expression becoming ponderous.

There seems to be an unusual emphasis, in this place, on reminding people to love one another. At least that's what he's tended to notice in Gaia's advertisements while shopping. So he would be willing to bet that weddings were covered extensively -somewhere- easily-accessible...

Hitsuga considers this prospect for a moment, watching the unusual number of bubbles in his drink rise to its surface to pop before he nods. It would be his honor to have Lady Rika and Master Setsushi as company on such a venture.

....especially since he has no idea where he would begin, even if he knew what he was looking for. He's just recently learned to navigate Gaia's grocery stores with minimal pains, he admits with a self-conscious chuckle.

Even as that thought completes itself, he watches her struggle with her bottle of soda, furrowing his brow a bit. As he does not wish to offend her, he remains quiet for a long moment in case she should manage on her own.

At length, however, he timidly inquires if he can be of assistance...?