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"Cordelia, are you sure you wouldn't rather I take you to a bookstore instead?" asked Adrian as they walked into the Durem Public Library. It wasn't that the man didn't like libraries, in fact he was quite the reader, it was just that he hadn't really found a need to frequent one in a very long time. Almost anything he wanted was available brand new, so why rent when you could own?

The smokey Raevan stopped and spun around to face her grandfather with a most annoyed look. "Granddad, shouldn't you be a little more mindful of our expenses? Especially now?"

He paused, mulling over her words. As much as he hated to admit it, Cordelia had a point. He'd already invested a lot of money into the tech cafe, money that could not be uninvested at this point mind you as the building was nearly renovated. Alongside Adrian's ongoing business expenses, there was also the matter of Ebony's medical bills. Surely things weren't tight, snug perhaps, but nothing to worry gravely about just yet. "Cordelia, I assure you, we are far from being broke. Though your thoughtfulness and concern are appreciated."

Delia couldn't tell if he was sugar-coating or not, but decided to let it go and sigh. "Well its probably best I start thinking frugally anyway. But honestly, I wanted to try using the library as a way to sort of test out books before I commit to actually buying a copy for myself. One of my online friends also said that some really good older books aren't available in the bookstores since they really only care about new stuff."

Of course Adrian failed to mention that said online friend could have easily found and purchased any book they wanted...online. But who was he to burst the Frei's bubble? He was just glad she wasn't as gloomy as she had been recently. The Brit had been worried that with everything going on that Cordelia might recluse herself, but here they were. Sometimes, it was nice to be wrong for a change.

"Now...if I were a computer book, where would I be? Oh excuse me?!" Delia caught sight of someone near the circulation desk and quickly called out to them, not even sure if they were staff or not. "Could you help me? I'm looking for books on coding languages."

"Cordelia I don't think..." But it was too late, the Raevan already flying off to the man currently situated near the desk. Adrian sighed. For heavens sake, the poor bloke was obviously on the customer side of the desk. Seriously, sometimes his granddaughter could be so insightful as with the whole family financial situation she'd just brought up a moment ago, but then she would do something like mistake a patron for staff like now. It really reminded him how young she still truly was.

The Basilisk tilted her head to the side when the man gave a slight laugh. What was so funny about books on coding? Her silver eyes followed his directions up to the second floor and nodded. With a smile, "Ah, gotcha, thanks!" She was just about to float off without another thought to the man when he spoke up. "Bottle?" she asked with a blink before her mind finally caught up. He was a Raevan-less guardian or rather, soon to be parent. "Oh! Sorry, my mind's a million miles away. I don't think we've met..." She gave his face a good look before continuing, "But you never know! Either way, my name's Cordelia, Cordelia Shade." Adrian cleared his throat, cueing both to his existence next to them. Delia chuckled, "And that's my grandfather."

Extending a hand to the younger man, "Adrian Shade, a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Though...do correct me if I'm wrong, but I do believe I saw you at the Lab's recent get together?"

"Ah, indeed. I imagine the barbecue was a bit of a sensory overload." The Brit gave a light chuckle before nodding. "My daughter, Ebony, had told me many stories of when she first joined the Lab. She said it was often nerve-wracking while she waited for Cordelia to be born and there was certainly lots of things to consider beforehand as well."

Already perfectly bored with how slow this conversation was going, Delia decided to jump in to ask the questions everyone was really wanting to know, or at least what she was most interested in. "So what kind of Raevan are you going to have Sven? Have you captured a soul yet? Oh! What about its essence?" The snake's excitement was most evident as her smokey voice got progressively huskier and she became more exaggerated in her movements, practically bouncing in place by then.

This line of questioning and level of excitement sort of took Adrian by surprise, but it was a happy surprise. The Lab had not seemed a topic worthy much of Cordelia's attention in the last year, yet it was nice to see she could still get excited over the birth of another of her kind. Hopefully when the shop was complete, it would encourage more interactions between them and the Lab, most especially between Cordelia and other Raevans.

Cobalt eyes slid to the Basilisk then. Adrian couldn't help tensing a bit when Sven mentioned his uncomfortableness with catching a living creature, which was of course completely understandable, yet it was Cordelia's reaction to such a subject that made the Brit uneasy. After all, she had issues when it came to her own soul.

Cordelia herself seemed a little put off by the remark, but not by much to keep the conversation from ending. "That's totally understandable Sven." The Raevan nodded sagely as Adrian sighed quietly to himself in relief, "Hmmm...the cloth on the bottles usually mean...you can only catch something that is that color right?"

"I believe it's something along those lines if I remember correctly." Adrian responded as he squinted at the younger man's soul bottle to get a better look. "Luckily most things I can think of off the top of my head that are grey are typically inanimate things like metals, rocks and gemstones."

Both grandfather and granddaughter soon shared a confused look between them when Sven mentioned his fel essence. They knew that the Raevans' essences were all unique and were usually things found in nature that weren't working exactly like they should be, like Cordelia's which was smoke that never dissipated. Yet Milk of Kindness? That was one not easily figured out by its name alone...or was it? Speaking up, Delia asked, "Um, what exactly does that kind of essence do?"

They didn't quite get it, yet smiled and nodded politely all the same. Maybe once they were in its presence or saw the would be Raevan's abilities, perhaps the two would properly understand. Until then, they would just have to take Sven's word for it.

"Oh yes, probably a very good idea not to do that. Science experiment and all." Adrian replied in good humor, the likes of which Cordelia could not. Honestly, the joke sort of rubbed her the wrong way as the idea of consuming a fel essence seemed...well wrong. And not to mention downright dangerous!

Though the snake may have been rendered momentarily speechless, her grandfather had not. "Aside from soul research, was there anything else that brought you to the library today?"

The snake looked curiously towards Sven as he addressed her while tucking a strand of that lovely blonde hair of his back, so long and pretty. It was probably really soft too. 'Would it be rude to ask to touch it? No no no! Concentrate Shade.' After quickly shaking the dumb thought away, Cordelia thought some on the question being asked of her. For a moment, her features soften as if remembering something touching, but soon a tinge of sadness crossed those grey eyes before steeling once more.

"Ebony taught me everything herself. She was very strict. Always had a new lesson plan or homework ready for me to do before the ink was dry on the previous one." This made the Raevan huff in bitter amusement. Oh how she'd hated doing those worksheets! But she supposed that if it weren't for that hard push in the beginning, she wouldn't be able to even begin to understand her current studies. "Granddad's the one teaching me stuff now. Mostly to do with computers and other tech. So I'll be more helpful when our shop opens. That's why I was asking about the coding books earlier."

Adrian didn't interrupt, even when he saw how conflicted his granddaughter had become with her feelings. He knew it was hard, but trying to shelter her from these types of conversations and whatnot would probably only make matters worse in the end. Though the elder gent was somewhat surprised (but proud!) that Cordelia had even dared to speak Ebony's name, let alone speak of her at all! Chiming in with his own two cents, "Since they are all so uniquely different as you had said Mister Beyer, I think most of them are home schooled. I have yet to hear of one that has actually attended a proper school. Though you never know!"

"I've never met one." Delia said as she placed her arms behind her head, seeming to be reverting to a more normal state than prior. "A lot of the Raevans I know get info from the telly and the net. Man is the internet great! I've made so many friends and learned so much!" The black Frei had been all smiles until some of her newfound knowledge was remembered. Looking a bit embarrassed, Cordelia quickly blurted, "Uh...you should probably invest in a good parental control program by the way. You know, just to be safe!"

Raising a brow, Adrian asked, "Is there something you're trying to tell me Cordelia?"

Looking as innocent as possible, Delia replied, "Nope." Like hell she was going to have this conversation with him here and in front of other people no less! Best to feign innocence while she still could.

"Mmhmm..." Obviously he wasn't buying what the Basilisk was selling, but this was a conversation to be held privately later. There was no need to subject Sven to this any longer than they had. Speaking of, Adrian addressed the younger man once more. "I don't think you need to worry about education too much. There are a multitude of options available nowadays. Besides, just like any other race, Raevans need to develop social skills first and foremost."

Adrian gave the younger man a gentle pat on his shoulder as a show of encourgement. "Don't think anything of it. You're part of a big community now and we tend to take care of our own. All you have to do is ask." As if purposely choreographed, the Brit took out a card with the Silver Fox's logo printed on it and handed it to Sven. "As an aside, please feel free to come and visit us at our shop as well once it opens."

The Frei raised an eyebrow at the card. When exactly did he have those made? And how long has he been waiting for an opportunity to use them? Cordelia just sighed, she had to admit, her grandfather could be quite sly when he wanted to be. Hmm, maybe that's why he wanted to name the shop after a fox then? Whatever the case, "You should totally come! There'll be tons of cool stuff to do there and I'm sure your Raevan will love to visit too once they're born. I look forward to meeting them!"