Welcome to Gaia! ::

Rolling his head back as though it had become heavy, Kudzu gazed up at Lonan silently...only a thin silvery line of drool revealing his lack of attention. As Elle leaned forward to tie the bib on, he shifted one little foot against Lonan's thigh. Hard crystals ground as the babe's leg shifted.

"Desperate is...kith and kin to Nisha. They shouldn't be seperated, so..." A bit of concern was in her voice, but it was far from urgent. She trusted Aki, and Nisha wasn't fussing...so the Daemon hadn't wandered too far.

"Anyway, he's an elephant! Just a little one." Laughing at the way that sounded, Elle shrugged. "And rather better behaved than his counterpart, usually."

Nisha was rather enraptured at the moment, actually. As the feather twirled closer, settling on her tray, she stared at it in amazement...lifting her pale amber eyes to Lonan across the way. Little fingers dipped to reach for it, drawing back at the last moment as the feather stirred. Grunting in fascination, Nisha yanked back as the feather took to the air once more...this time fluttering to the floor below. Well, that was fun while it lasted!

"Okay! We have acorn grits, blackberry pancakes, and bacon for those of you that eat meat!" Obviously Elle was the exception...though Kudzu had refused to try it so far as well. "There is also toast, hard boiled eggs, and the rest of the strawberries. Just let me know what all you'd like and I'll fix you a plate!"

Laughing at the memory of her late night strawberry snack, Elle craned up to peer towards the counter. "Acorns, pancakes, and a few strawberries! Lonan, what are you in the mood for?"

Ignoring the soft napkin against his face, Kudzu kept staring...keeping Lonan busy by producing more. With a smile, Elle leaned forward...pushing the babe's mouth closed with a single gentle finger under his chin.

"Yes, bonded! Aki hinted that she thinks they are halves of a whole...but they're entirely too different for that to seem so." Elle was happy to discuss the babes, though she wasn't mother to either, she cared for each as though they were her own. Of course, with Nisha, that care was a bit more worn.

Mumbling to herself about butter as she fixed a few plates, Aki sauntered back to the breakfast table. "Here you are! The grits didn't turn out bitter...you were right! Sand works better than cheesecloth." Setting Lonan's plate down, then Elle's, Aki frowned for a moment at the picture.

"Right. Water. Oh, and let me pull out the other chair for him!" It was an antique highchair, actually made of wood, but it had been deemed too easily unlatched for use by Nisha. Once Kudzu was settled in, leaving Lonan's lap free, Aki returned with drinks and her own plate.

"Please! Enjoy! Between bites you'll have to tell me how you met Elle!" though she was high energy, Aki didn't come across as pushy....nosy perhaps, but not pushy. Her tone was light and interested as she spooned a bit of cooling blackberry pancake for Nisha.

Elle scooted Lonan's napkin roll with the silverware toward his plate, and smiled at her roommate. "Thank you, Aki. It looks delicious." She certainly didn't expect Lonan to launch into the tale now, though he was free too. If he was even half as hungry as she, he'd take a few bites first. Feeding Kudzu from her own plate, Nisha offered the babe a spoonful of the buttery acorn bits. Kudzu accepted happily, both hands poking against his own tummy as he opened wide.

Nodding at Lonan's words before remembering her agreement couldn't be seen, Elle finished her bite and took a quick sip of her tea. "I understand, but once you meet him, you'll see what I mean. It's as though they started out as one, and have grown in two different ways."

Glancing to the side to see if Nisha agreed, Elle laughed at her steady glare. Obviously, the young girl didn't care to be discussed. "Boh."

"Same to you, darling." Blowing Nisha a kiss, Elle smiled again as Nisha winced, even across the table. Shaking her head, she tried a bit of the acorns for herself before tilting her head to Aki in agreement. Not bitter at all!

"Well, I was off to see Devmani, actually! You remember him? There is a story to be told, but I'll make it simple." Her hand found Lonan's side gently, fingers tucking into the brim of the side of his pants. "I'd stopped by, but Devi wasn't there...so instead, I more or less invited myself in for a cup of tea and ended up staying the night."

Amusement was evident in her tone, and obviously the important bits hadn't been mentioned. Aki, however, got to hear exactly what she wanted too. "Oooh, how lovely! So, you hit it off right away?"

Pondering the question, feeding Kudzu strawberry mush, Elle smiled at Aki's words. "Hit it off? It was more of a connection than simply a good time, but yes. I don't think I've ever spent a more meaningful night. It's so rare to actually find substantial conversation and genuine warmth....much less someone over eighteen months." Sticking her tongue out at Nisha, a gesture the babe promptly repeated, Elle shook her head and laughed.

"So, was that about how it was, Lonan?" Aki grinned, pushing another bite into Nisha's mouth as the tongue withdrew once again. She loved how Elle tailored stories to her attention span!

Aki's cheeks went decidedly pink as Lonan spoke calmly....tips of her ears dipping as she chuckled. Elle laughed as well, taking a huge bite of the pancakes and shaking her head. "Well, it sounds like you had a lovely night nonetheless. But please, call me Aki." Leaving Nisha to squish fistfulls of strawberries, Aki leaned back in her seat with her tea.

Finally swallowing, Elle let her touch slip from Lonan's side. Kudzu ate a few more bites quietly...most of it making it into his mouth. "I was going to walk home with him a bit later to-"

"Ooh, I can keep Kudzu if you'd like! He was an angel." Aki jumped in without being asked, earning a smile from Elle and a death glare from Nisha.

"Oh, thank you, but I'd love to have him along. He loves being out and about. If...that's okay with you, Lonan?" It wasn't an after thought, but Elle thought perhaps she should ask if the Shattered would care for the extra company.

"Are you okay with Nisha, then, Aki?" She shifted her gaze to her roommate with a hopeful smile.

"Of course! This way you two can enjoy your walk!" A glob of strawberry hit the wall to the side of Aki's head, but no one paid it any mind.

Feeding the boy another bite of acorn, amazed that Kudzu never seemed to get full, Elle wiped his chin and smiled. "I'm sure he'd be fine. He seems to love attention, but doesn't seem too bothered without it. Isn't that odd for one so young?"

Finishing up her last few bites, leaving some pancake bits for Kudzu to paw at, Elle set to work on her tea with a content sigh. "I'm looking forward to it....and that was Nisha throwing strawberry at Aki. She missed."

Elle was obviously trying her best not to laugh. Babies threw food, it was a fact of life, but there was no point in encouraging a disposition like Nisha's. Instead, she sipped her tea...glancing to the side at Lonan's plate.

"Ah, yes! Would you like seconds? Anything more?" Already rising to get herself another pancake, Aki beamed at the pair. They were so cute together, like a moonlit forest night!

With a straight face, Nisha listened...waiting until Lonan finished to stick her tongue out at him grimly. No reaction. Little brow wrinkling, Nisha stuck it further out...finally pausing with drool starting as Lonan turned away.

"Hoh! Bahbah!" He was leaving! Nisha waved in confused acceptance and mushed more strawberry in her other hand.

Elle simply nodded, feeding the babe the last few bites. She hadn't questioned that it was her choice, as sweet as he had been to grant it. It would be a lovely walk for all of them.

Mumbling about good advice, Aki plucked Nisha from the high chair and made for the sink. "Meet me by the door before you go! I'll pack food."

Elle nodded. "Breakfast was great, thank you. Don't go to trouble!" She walked with Lonan towards their clothes from the night before...arm in arm from affection rather than conscious aide. Kudzu rested silently upon her far hip, licking blackberries studiously from his powder blue hands.

"Would you like to stay a while, or are you eager to stretch? We are in no hurry, so your choice!" Elle reclaimed her dress from the pile, folding it as best she could one handed.

Shaking her head, Elle shook out his pants...critically gazing at the rumpled stains. "Would you like to leave them with me? I need to work on my dress as well, so I'm happy to do both when I get back. In the mean time, I have....these!"

It didn't take much digging to find the pants she'd worn on Halloween. Shaking them out, glad she'd folded them so neatly, Elle offered them to Lonan.

"They're slacks, pinstripes...mostly dark, with a slight and thin silver sheen where the fabric changes. They're men's pants, I wore them when I dressed up with Asra for the costume holiday!" They wouldn't be comfortable to sleep in, but then, the sleeping was past! "They'd look...well...you'd be hard to resist. Perhaps not exactly your style, but sleek, and a good cut! They are yours if you'd like them."

Passing them to Lonan for inspection, Elle glanced up the stairs to make sure the door was shut before slipping out of her own dress. The sun had looked inviting through the kitchen window...even if it wasn't a rare sunny day, she'd still warm by walking. Tying a green print sarong about her waist, leaving the slit along the side, Elle ducked into a tank top as well. She'd grab her long coat by the door, and her sling for Kudzu.

"Is there anything I can bring as a gift? I'm not sure what Draconayzia likes, but I have herbs, tea blends, seeds..." Trailing off, Elle glanced over one shoulder...curious to see if Lonan was trying on the pants.

Elle didn't move to aid him in his search...he was close enough to the rest of his clothing, and seemed more than capable even if it did take a few moments longer. Slipping into her baby sling, Elle made sure Kudzu was comfortable. It was so cute, like a little hammock that spanned diagonally across her chest! A strain on her shoulder, perhaps, but worthwhile.

Poking the babe's nose, Elle turned back to see if Lonan was ready. "As I thought. They look wonderful. You cut a very striking figure, Lonan!" Appreciation was obvious in her tone, and reinforced by her hand slipping into his.

Glancing towards her cabniets, Elle considered his warning...finally lifting a gently fragrant pouch from the shelf and tucking it in her bag. Hitching Kudzu a bit higher, she made a satisfied noise. "I'm looking forward to our walk. Ready when you are!" Kudzu burbled in agreement, a broad leaf from his verdant hair curling over his forehead.