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Rhona's ears perked at the mention of cupcakes, and she eyed the muffins already on the cooling racks. Great minds thought alike, she supposed and flung the dish towel in her hands over her shoulder. There was never such a thing as too many baked goods anyway. What muffins they didn't eat Rhona would send home with Kelly anyway. She was friends with Lavender's brother, right? She couldn't wait to tell Lavender about that... they had both just been so busy...

Not the time.

Rhona took a deep breath and pushed the miserable feeling of missing the love of her life away. It would only be until summer. Once summer rolled around she wouldn't have to miss her anymore.

"Hey Jelly Belly," Rhona greeted with an easy, bright smile. "Come on in! Mind the vines. They tend to catch hair." She pushed a tendril of ivy out of her way as she led Kelly into the apartment properly. Spring had sprung at the Lee house and every surface possible was covered in green again. Even the miniature citrus trees were starting to bloom out on the fire escape with other potted plants.

"I thought we'd have tea out here," she chirped, tossing open the bay windows onto what she affectionately called her veranda. She'd miss the fire escape when she moved away, that was for sure. Alois was already out there, nestled into the shade of a rather large fern and snoozing the afternoon away. He opened one yellow eye when the window opened, trilled as he yawned, and went back to sleep.

"Go on and head out. The tea is already out there with milk and sugar, I'm just going to grab something else. It seems we had the same thought, you and I. Though I'll admit, those cupcakes look a great deal better than these old muffins. I hope you like blueberry though."

Was she talking too much? Rhona felt like she was talking too much. Why was she nervous, Kelly was a friend, right? Or... trying to be. Maybe Rhona was afraid of scaring her away... Which was what talking too much would do exactly. Rhona needed to get a handle on herself... She couldn't ******** this up.

"Anyway," she sighed, setting a plate of muffins down next to the teapot, "how did the dinner go?"

Rhona winced as she was corrected, not because of the correct, but because she saw the pain cross Kelly's face. Had she reminded her of someone? That black and white senshi that Rhona had yet to encounter? The last thing she wanted was to cause someone close to her pain...

Close to her...

Were she and Kelly close? Would Kelly think that? Rhona tended to go a million miles an hour with everything, including her relationships, so she didn't have an issue with it but... Kelly had been hurt before. She would have to put the breaks on to avoid scaring her away.

Besides, this is nothing compared to how nervous you were when you started dating Lavender again. You can do this.

"Oh. of course," she answered cheerily despite her own embarrassment, "Sorry about that. Force of habit..."

By Kelly's ankles, Alois purred loudly enough for Rhona to hear.

"I'm never going to judge someone for sneaking a taste of their own baking. I can't tell you how many times I've brought friends whole takes with a sliver taken out. It's quality control, really. I should be thanking you for doing that for me."

While Kelly ate, happily so, Rhona filled the role she was most comfortable with -- hostess -- and poured Kelly a cup of fragrant tea.

"I'm so glad it went well. Even if it was super awkward with your brother.

Kelly was kicked out? Something protective curled around Acubens' heart, eliciting and barely contained growl. She hid her expression behind her teacup, however, and quickly regained her composure.

"You're alright now, though? I mean you have a place to live, food on the table, everything to be comfortable?"

She tried to keep the concern from her voice but to no avail. It didn't really matter what Kelly said, though. Rhona had already resolved to put together a care package at her first possible opportunity. The only trick would be figuring out where to drop it... worst case scenario she tucked it into subspace and pulled it out when they crossed paths while patrolling.

"I'm glad we could work passed it too. I was so worried about you, Kelly. The castle had been so traumatizing and... for you more than the rest of us." Though the question of what if often kept Rhona up at night. did they chose the right side, or had they made a grave error? They would never know but... it didn't stop the wondering.

"It makes sense that you would have avoided me. I was the most... active... that day." She chose her words carefully so as not to stir up any lingering sorrow from her new friend. "But I am glad to hear that you're feeling more comfortable in your own skin. And your fuku. It's important to me that everyone in our little family feel loved. Be careful with fighting your gloom though. I have learned that it's not so much about beating it back as it is about learning to let it have its time and then letting it go. Every emotion needs its time. The more aggressive ones will take the time that you don't allow it to have, and that's always more painful."

Her smile faltered only slightly when Kelly started talking about her brother. She felt the cord around her heart tugging as Mischa went about his life... somewhere else... mourning the sister that he didn't know was still alive just... different.

Where once the soil may have shifted as Rhona's long-dead turned in their graves, there was only stillness. It was the first time, Rhona noticed, that she was able to think on Mischa without a lump sticking in her throat. It was odd, to say the least, and Rhona would have to dwell on it later. Instead, she latched onto something far more comfortable -- the idea of dinner.

"Dinner sounds lovely," she gushed, smiling so hard the corners of her eyes crinkled shut. "I would love to meet Leander, he sounds dashing and sweet." For a moment, Rhona toyed with the idea of bringing up her own brother, but at the last moment thought better of it.

"As for the work," she said instead, pouring herself more tea, "I always have positions available! If not in the store proper, then in one of the stalls run by other people. Off the top of my head... the ice cream stall needs someone and so does the meat counter. I think we could also use someone on the main floor as well, though. That'd be stocking and working the cash wrap. We can adjust the hours to meet your school needs, and there isn't really a uniform. Just dress for a lot of walking."

Rhona smiled at Kelly's exuberance. She was so young, and Rhona kept forgetting that. And the ice cream counter would be a really good fit for her. It was a less technical job in that she didn't have to be trained on the slicer at the meat counter. She also wouldn't have to learn how to cut and butcher, which was a plus. Rhona wasn't sure she could do some of the things she'd seen the people at the butcher stall do. She could barely pull the bones from a fish without mangling the meat.

Yes, the ice cream counter would be a great fit. The most she'd have to do is work the ice cream machines, and that wasn't too much.

"Well, as far as I'm concerned, you are. But you'll have to apply with the counter itself. I'll let them know you're coming, that way the application and interview is more like a formality than an actual... thing. Don't make me look bad, Kelly." She tossed the younger woman a wink, a smile playing on her lips. She knew Kelly would put everything she had into this job. She knew Kelly wouldn't let her down.

"How's school going," Rhona asked as she finished her first cupcake and reached for another. "Finding a balance between our work and classes can be killer. I don't envy those of you who are doing that. I wouldn't do it again for all the money in the world."