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"W-wha...huh? I don't...I don't understand?" Cordelia replied in a smokey sputtering. The basilisk frowned when the Sigel got right in her face and sneered like that. It made her feel apprehensive and in automatic response her sharp wings fanned back out, not that she was going to attack, although...like she'd explained to Ripley once, she would defend herself if the need arose.

"I...I like Zul, but who wouldn't?" She tried to explain to the scorpion whom she wasn't understanding just yet what her demon friend thought was so great about. All she saw was anger, yet Delia supposed she couldn't blame him for that. The remembrance that she was suppose to be apologizing bringing her wings down half mast. "He was the first Raevan I ever met and was very patient with me not being able to speak before, not that he knows I can talk now...but yes! I like Zul a lot! I don't see what's wrong with that. How is that getting between you and him?" Alas, the snake was still too young to understand what Rivener meant without him spelling it out for her. Though she probably wouldn't completely understand then either as she hadn't when Ebony was trying to explain her little complicated thing with David. In her book, love and like were the complete same thing.

"I think...I have it somewhere already, but thank you all the same. I should give her a call, it's been so long. And if I can help with this Lucia thing..." Again the woman trailed off since Aphismet was looking more and more sad the longer she went on about it. She could kick herself for not realizing he was missing Alex a lot right now.

Ebony tensed up when he suggested they get the kids to come back in. Oh god, was she overreacting like some overprotective, overbearing mother hen? Fighting to keep the intense blush she could feel creeping onto her tanned features, the British woman sat back and tried to regain her normal calm facade. "N-no, I'm sorry. They'll be fine, I'm just being stupid. And I wouldn't say lucky or vacation really. Keeping the house warm enough while a blizzard is raging outside so your cold-blooded charge doesn't freeze to death isn't exactly a piece of cake you know. But...I suppose I'd do about anything for Cordelia." She looked at Aphismet with a seriousness that was unusually tender and soft for her then. "Is that how it was for you? How it is now...with Rivener?" Ebony had to remember that the chef most likely didn't know about the Sigel's nighttime escapades. If she didn't want her secret out, best she didn't spill Rivener's even if she thought he deserved to know.

"Kiss? Like that thing people do with each other with their mouths?" Cordelia asked with a tilt of her pony-tailed head. The young girl knew what kissing was after an unfortunate encounter at the mall of which Ebby had to explain later, much to her embarrassment. Two human teenagers were right smack dab in middle of the whole place just...just licking all over one anothers' face! It was horrible! Like they were trying to eat each other!

Face paling just at the thought of doing that with the demonic Frei let alone anyone else made the basilisk's skin crawl. "Ewww! Are you kidding me?! That's gross! I would never EVER do something like that to Zul! I love him, but not that way." She shivered again and made a face like she'd just bit into a lemon.

"I want to keep him like I keep my Ebby or Basil or..." Delia had been about to say like how she kept Lucia, but was quickly reminded that she didn't place claim to that Raevan anymore. Not after what she'd done. She sighed light and tried to forget by striking up more conversation with the scorpion. After all, if she kept him talking perhaps they'd finally understand one another and maybe get to being friends? The girl could only hope.

"Do you want to do that with him? Do you want to kiss Zul? Is that how you like him?" It sounded so bizarre. Clearly Cordelia didn't understand why anyone would want to kiss since it looked so gross to her. Even though she'd witnessed other types of kissing that weren't as...urgent since that one, the initial sighting was obviously burned into her head and was her permanent foundation for all lip locking therefore after. Perhaps she'd learn and understand fully...someday.

Once again Ebony stiffened like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car. He knew. Did he know about her too? Or did he simply suspect? No no, there was no way could have, she was far too careful, nothing like Rivener.

Aphismet's new question was just as disarming and she wasn't quite sure how to answer that either. It wasn't enough that the thief didn't ever want to think of her dear, sweet Cordelia ever coming into contact with her secret dangerous world, Ebony didn't know how to answer without being a hypocrite. Sure the chef didn't know how close her and his charge's worlds crossed, but if he did, Aphi wouldn't approve of her either.

Gulping slight, she answered the best way she could think of, vaguely. "I don't know Aphismet. I try so hard now to shape her into a responsible, valuable member of society, but...she is part basilisk. That has to still have some effect on everything she says and does. That's the one thing the virus taught us about them at least. The soul still has a say."

Ebony was quiet for a few moments as she sat on the couch watching her white haired friend as he turned back to look out the window again. Finally she sighed and gave in. Hypocrite or not, this time she had to be truthful about something. "I suppose, no matter what, I'd try talking with her. Like I do now. Sometimes just by talking, things find a way out."

When Cordelia scrunched her nose in slight distaste as she did then, the girl looked so much like her guardian it truly was uncanny. But she was soon giggling and nodding at the scorpion. She didn't quite believe him when he said that it wasn't gross, but whatever, Delia didn't want to fight with him. "If you say so Rivener."

Obviously they weren't friends just yet, but at least they had come to some understanding now and that pleased the basilisk. Smile still plastered on happily to that scaly face, despite the Sigel's own sour puss, Cordelia floated up to join Rivener on the actual porch and resumed her 'sitting' from earlier. "Zul likes you a lot too. I could tell by how he talked about you. You're very special to him. You won't lose him. By the way...how is he? I haven't seen him in a long time." Cordelia seemed a bit shy asking this of Riv so suddenly, but she was curious as to what her demonic friend had been up to since their last meeting. Though things seemed to be going smoothly thus far between the two, she would understand if he didn't want to answer her.

Ebony chuckled as well. It was true, Rivener was as easy to irritate as his arachnid brethren, so it was safe to say he was mostly scorpion if nothing else. Then did that mean because of how Cordelia acted that she was more smoke than snake? It was odd to think of smoke having any kind of humanoid characteristics. "She's still a tot Aphismet. You know how they are. Besides, the main reason for her being as talkative as she is now is simply because she went so long without being able to. I'm sure she'll clam up too once she's more grown."

The idea of Cordelia's pending teenage years was something Ebony most definitely did not want to think about right now. Jumping up and clapping her hands together loudly, "Then let's not think of it anymore! I most definitely did not come over to paint a cloud on your day. The Raevans don't seem to be trying to kill one another this time, so maybe...we can try our hands at one of those recipes in your new book? You did promise to teach me after all."

As Riv was relaxing, Delia quickly took up his previous state of defensiveness. Quickly that smile melted into a dark grimace and her black wings gave off an agitated clicking as the bone-like appendages rubbed against one another. Her lips pulling back to reveal her own set of delicate fangs, the basilisk gave a low hissing snarl. "Lucia?! What is Zul doing with her?! He could get hurt!" Yes she realized how stupid that sounded as the baphomet was more than capable of taking care of himself, after all he took care of so many of their kind sort of. But she couldn't help worrying about him, it was just in her nature to be protective.

"She's...she's a betrayer. She can't be trusted." the young girl muttered as she folded her arms over her chest again and pouted. What exactly was Zul thinking? Hanging out with that deranged cat?

Ebs couldn't help taking a quick peek out the window as she passed it. They were sitting and talking to one another politely enough. Had they reached common ground then? Neither of the two half beings seems overtly angry or upset from where she could see, so maybe there was hope for their future after all. That thought made Ebony smile. She didn't want to be forced into a situation where she couldn't visit Aphismet again. She'd grown quite fond of the snowy haired male over the couple of years they'd known one another. It would be a shame to have their time end so soon.

Peering over the book as well, Ebony immediately felt lost and uncomfortable. This was so far from her comfort zone it was almost painful. Maybe she should have suggested a walk or something instead. Oh well, too late now.

A slender finger pressed to her lip as her grey eyes looked widely at all the choices, all of which she had no idea of what they truly were. At that moment, Ebony sort of held a Delia quality to her mannerisms of which was cute. God help Aphi if he even remotely hinted at her being cute. "Umm...maybe we could try something simple-ish for now? I wouldn't want to put you out especially if you're low on ingredients already."

She laughed a little though and shot the cook a knowing smile. "Oh? Well then I guess it's good I got him the pastry book instead. Speaking of..." The Brit looked around just in case the boy came wandering in then. "Where is your brother? I do hope I'm not taking away any of your time with him."

When Rivener admitted to her that it was Lucia who had hurt him, it instantly made the basilisk loathe the girl more. With a pained look on her face, "She...she tried to burn me. It didn't work, but..." Delia sighed and slouched sadly in on herself then, hands on what would have been her lap had she a lower half.

Scooting a bit closer to the scorpion, the Frei gently patted his cheek with her slightly chilled hand. "I'm sorry to hear she hurt you so badly. I'm glad you're okay though..." Her grey eyes looked to his damaged wings. "Well...mostly. But you'll recover quick! You're strong! I, um...remember that..." She blushed light again admitting she remembered their fight and how they squared off. He truly had been strong and either one of them could have killed the other if their humans hadn't intervened, which she was glad they had. Cordelia also blushed because she realized now that she'd very much like to spar off with Rivener again someday. Not to kill one another of course, just to see who really would win. It was a big question mark in her mind right then which both intrigued and frightened her.

Her blush only deepened at Aphi's admittance that Isikoro was out today. Ugh, she really was starting to wish she was cold-blooded now too. With Delia, it was hard to tell she was blushing unless you looked at her straight on since her blush was so light even when she's intensely embarrassed. But Ebs knew her own had to be bright red despite her own tanned complexion.

"Okay! No problem!" she replied a little too enthusiastically, snatching the knife up quick. She should have been careful about it all since cooking was obviously a delicate art and she was most definitely assured to cut herself.

Ebony tried to cut the pieces the same as her experienced friend, but frowned deeply when she finished only to find all her carrot chunks were of greatly varying sizes. Her silver orbs scowled a bit at Aphi's perfect little pile, but the anger was for herself, not him. "How many of these do we need?"

"Opps, sorry." Delia said, giving a husky chuckle. Quickly she pulled her hand away and vigorously rubbed them together like her guardian had done for her so many times before. "I keep forgetting my skin doesn't keep heat as good as the rest of me. Ebby's always having to remind me, but..." She laughed again as she trailed off, holding her palms out to him in case he wanted to check for himself that they were indeed warmer now.

"See? All better now. At least for a few minutes. I've probably been in the shade too long..." The basilisk mumbled and look up to the sky where the sun hung, delicious in its warmth. If only it were so giving all the time. "Hm? A Sigel? What's that? I thought you were a Raevan? At least, that's what Ebby said we were. Or did I get it wrong?"

Suddenly the girl fretted over what was obviously a minor thing, but seeing it from her point of view, it was down right horrible if she'd mixed up or god forbid forgotten the word of her own race! She knew Ebby had said the word Raevan in context to her and the other floating half beings, but Sigel? It sounded vaguely familiar, but Cordelia couldn't be sure where she'd heard it from if ever at all.

"Okay..." Those silver eyes narrowed slight and her nose crinkled slight as she handled the white vegetable. Onions...just great. It wasn't enough that she'd been blushing like some foolish school girl in front of Aphismet, she was going to cry as well. Just great.

With a sigh, Ebony slowly began chopping the onions as Aphi had instructed, though as presumed, no where near as neatly if the man had done it himself. How it was that she could be so graceful and elegant in her aerobatics, yet a simple task such as cutting veggies was beyond the Brit?

Concentrating on trying to get the pieces even, the complete opposite of what she'd just been told, Ebony nearly severed a finger when asked such a direct and personal question. Wiping the unfortunate wetness created from the onions off her cheeks with the back of her hand, the too proud woman was trying to hide her burning cheeks again. The thought of cooking for a certain someone had crossed her mind a couple of times, but things didn't seem to be heading that way as she'd hoped. At least, not from what she could tell.

"I felt bad about you making all those meals for me all by yourself, so I thought the least I could do was help and learn at the same time. Besides, it might come in handy. Cordelia's bound to grow a stomach of her own at some point, so probably best if her guardian knows how to make a few things other than burnt toast." Ebony laughed, but it was a tad deflated as what she'd said was more truth than exaggeration. She was a horrible cook. It was a miracle she'd lived this long without her father.

As expected, Cordelia slithered after the scorpion like an extremely excitable black puppy. Hell if she could managed it, her ribbon probably would have been wagging at how happy she was that things were going so well with Rivener now. Zul would be so proud of her! "Oh! I didn't know that. Hehe, cool. I'm a Frei and you're a Sigel and we're both Raevans. Yay!" She giggled profusely at her new bit of information. Rivener was so smart! And he must be seeing as from what he said, he was older than her.

Not entirely forgetting their tentative truce, Delia made sure to put plenty of space between the two of them as they laid in the warm grass. Giving a great stretch of her arms, the black snake flopped easily onto the ground. "Mmmmm...that feels nice..." she stated with a very pleased grin. Sometimes being all black had its advantages, absorbing heat quickly being one of them. "Ebby? Ebby's great! She made my room all pretty with black and green, though I would have been just happy with the green, but she said it was unsightly. And AND! She got me a violin! I'm not very good, but I'm trying REAL hard to get good fast."

Once put on a roll, Cordelia was basically an unstoppable force of nature. Now that she was able to communicate and learn with ease, she was always up for conversation no matter the topic. That girlish grin still plastered to that olive toned face, "What about you? Your man seems really nice. I bet you and him have lots of fun together!"

It took several breathes and totally not making direct eye contact with the chef to keep from blushing again. Once she was sure her face wasn't glowing crimson, the Brit went back to chopping onions like nothing had happened. "Aphismet, there is no special someone. There is only Cordelia and she's plenty special." Ebony said this last part with an air that felt more like she was appalled that anyone would ever think the girl anything other than such.

Trying to redirect the conversation away from this very touchy and uncomfortable subject matter, "I'm finished with the onions. What's next?"

Cordelia was simply Cordelia and was totally unaware that people labeled her with having a certain personality that should have associated with how she looked. Certainly she could understand the idea of dangerous at first, but what was else was she "suppose" to be? Moody? Gloomy? Sure she was that sometimes, but who wasn't? Most of the time she was just happy and content with how her life was going thus far. To her at this time, nothing could be further from perfect.

The basilisk gave a disapproving pout. "You should do more things with him, then maybe you'll have more fun." She nodded as if this was the obvious answer. Oh to be young again. Delia tilted her head curiously at the scorpion then. "Classical? I dunno. I only know what Ebby plays and listens to. Are there different kinds?!" The thought of this made the girl eager to learn what else Rivener could teach her about this world. If he was willing to impart his wisdom onto her that is.

Ebony gave a light sigh at having effectively taken the heat off herself. Still, she felt sort of bad for how she'd gone about it. Seemed like anytime someone tried to get closer to her, she'd completely shut down and run the other way. Rejection was hard and opening your heart again was painful, especially if those you open it to end up leaving you as well.

Wiping her hands on a nearby towel, "Ah, okay. Hmm, yeah I suppose that wasn't so bad, but you're here after all. If I were to try it by myself...well let's just say thank goodness Cordelia feeds on smoke." She gave a tiny chuckle and eyed the cold bottle in front of her. Wasn't it a little early for drinking? Then she remembered when they'd arrived her and supposed it wasn't that bad as it was well into the afternoon now.

The Brit quickly popped hers open and took a swig before her grey eyes trailed back to the front door again. It'd been awhile now since they'd left the two alone..."You reckon the kids are okay? I mean, it's been awfully quiet."