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Agatha didn't like disturbances, something that was shared with the other three who lived here. So when she saw a car pulling up when she knew that both Aloysius and Liam were accounted for, she shifted the brocade curtain carefully and snuck a glance as some woman approached.

Letting the heavy fabric fall back in place, she walked over and locked the door to her room before pulling the chair carefully and quietly across the room as well to sit by the door and listen. There were never visitors here, not without reason, and since she'd made her home here, there had been exactly zero.

It made her bristle as she sat and listened, hearing the faintest hint of the door being knocked out. With her room further down the hall on the east wing, she doubted she would be able to hear much, but she didn't like the idea of an intruder, not when she'd settled here for the pursed of not being bothered anymore.

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Whether it was miscommunication or something else on Sakura's part, Aloysius had been displeased that there wasn't enough time to prepare things and preface them with Agatha. The woman who haunted the halls had spoken less than four words to him in the months that had passed since they'd been in Laurelite's office.

Opening the door quickly to stop the noise from disturbing the quiet of the manor, he looked down at Sakura before ushering her inside. "Come in, we can sit in the kitchen." His voice low and slightly clipped, he cast a glance towards the east wing before turning his attention back towards Sakura and then the kitchen. At least there it would be far enough away not to disturb either Desiree's work or Agatha's studies.

"Things have been busy, though at least there has been that hesitant peace for the time being." Aside from the unaligned hauntings and spectres that never failed to torment him this time of year. But that was something kept to himself and Liam, not for the general public to know if he could manage it.

With another glance at her, he noticed an anxious air over her, at least more than what he was used to when things came up related to missions or reports. "Are you alright?" He asked before pulling a chair out for her.

Sitting a bit closer to the door, she heard the woman's voice and was certain this was a new person. But the fragments she was able to hear didn't give her much to go on, just that they have something called an apartment and something related to seeing people.

It wasn't much, but with what she heard leading her to believe they weren't here to bother her or look for information. That enough led her to crack the door open just an inch to better hear while avoiding the tell tale creak the wood would make if she opened it any farther.


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Walking to the counter, he pulled things down to make tea as Sakura spoke, his attention still on her as he went through the motions of getting everything ready. The tension was palpable, something that bothered him since it had been a reoccuring issue for the woman.

"He did mention some things, everything has been in a jumble as of late considering the aftermath of such an event." Not considering the fact he'd been pulled from most of his repsonibilities for some time away with his now husband.

Turning back as he set the kettle on the stove to start warming, he leaned lightly against the counter as he listened. Some of the things weren't surprising, the smaller home in the city had been intended to only be temporary accomidations until he was certain things were stable, but the mention of a second job had him curious.

"A seamstress? That can be very lucrative, I know I have had to go to one recently for a new guest of mine. You should show Desiree your work, I know she looks at designs often to program things for her disguise. I might reccommend Melody as well but go through Liam for that." He was sure they'd met at least once through the Encore but with how things stood he would let Liam continue to play middle man as it left most of the stress out of his mind.

"I appreciate your care and understanding of not having many guests at my other home. I also understand how having young students playing piano or other instruments, poorly, can keep you from getting the rest or focus you need as well." Keeping his voice on the quieter end, things came out much less sharp as he spoke. With the distance he was hopeful that no problems would occur but he still kept some of his attention towards the hall that led towarrds where Agatha stayed.

At the mention of seeing someone, he noted to himself that something must have happened because the last person he'd met that had been involved with Sakura had been nothing troublesome from the one meeting he'd had. Though this he knew was also a point not to bring up, the memory of his own past taking that as a cue to bubble up in the back of his mind.

"You should let us know where your new place is, just in case you need us to show up in the event of an emergency, or more likely so that Liam can drop off any of the extra baked goods either of us makes. It is about that time of year where I start making things to leave in the teacher's lounge." Pulling down some options for tea, he set his own cup up with the proper number of sugar cubes and a teabag.

"I would hope that no trouble comes from your clients, based on your words, not mine, but if something does come up do remember Liam, Desiree, and I are here to help you whenever you need it."

Something about the man still rubbed her the wrong way; it felt too scripted, like it was an act. Leaning carefully, she held one of the extra skirts she had to the hinges to try and muffle the noise as she nudged the door open more, and she continued to listen to this new person. Their demeanor was the polar opposite of Aloysius, and she found the bits and pieces she could hear at least slightly interesting. The mention of an old life specifically drew her attention as she managed the door open enough with only the smallest of creaks, something she figured would be missed during the active conversation.

It was easier to hear, and the open door kept her hidden at least as she listened more fully to the exchanging of words. The mention of Liam's actions wasn't surprising in the slightest; it all lined up with how things worked with her interactions with him as a whole. The man was always caring and worrying over others, never seeming to leave anything unsaid or hidden unless it pertained to Aloysius.

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Nodding, he had been aware of the visits to the home in the city and the bits that Liam had mentioned to him in the few moments between all the hectic nightmares that were popping up and plaguing the city again.

"Understandably so, with how everyone was effected by things and the power still being out in some areas, we were both worried over how everyone was faring."

With the kettle just beginning to whistle, he turned to pour the hot water into both cups before bringing them over to the table with a few options of teabags for Sakura as well as the small dish of sugar cubes.

Finally, sitting as she continued, he could understand focusing on work to avoid thinking and dwelling on things. Even if now Liam frequently tried to get him to stop and face things, no matter how hard on uncomfortable they might be. "I believe it is good to have something to work on, a creative outlet, as it were. It is also good to have something from before that you can bring forward and work with as well." At least without it coming up as a reason for doubts in the current path they were on with the Negaverse.

At the mention of them being a heavy sleeper, that brought a laugh from him. "Well, that is wonderful, considering when I was there, the sound of cars on the street would keep me up some nights."

Though his laugh abruptly stopped at the mention of trouble, his icy eyes watched as they still had a smile on their face. "I knew of the troubles you had and that if a specific individual appeared, they were to be dealt with accordingly. Though I am curious if you mean someone else, because there would be more concern if it were the other." Picking up his cup, he swirled the spoon in it slowly to disperse the sugar evenly as he waited to see what their response was.

While she couldn't see from how far her room was down the hall, she was certain that she had questions bubbling up around things. Pulling her book out, she scrawled the names that were mentioned in it, watching them twist into encryption before fading into the page.



With a slight frown, she closed the book as the words faded away and continued to listen as a mention of family and the complexity of reconnecting came up.

Something felt odd as she thought about family; even without querying her book, she had a feeling that it would respond with a verification of absent data. But none of the present inhabitants would know about it, that much she knew without needing to think on it.

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"Liam is wonderful when it comes to being helpful and supportive. I do worry sometimes, though, that he might get in trouble at times due to it." Quieting down to say that last bit more to himself. It was something that hung in the back of his mind, but his husband was just as stubborn as he was about how things should go.

Noting how things might have been a risk if this brother had been on order, he decided to keep that to himself for now and sipped his tea as they spoke of this sibling. It perplexed him, considering the difference in glamour that would have happened with a change, but when the clarification of it having been while she was powered up, he could see how that may have been a workaround.

"I see. Well, as long as they are smart enough not to cause any liabilities to your identity, then perhaps this is a silver lining of sorts. Of course, if you get along with them. You, of course, know that Melody and I are proof of the opposite happening with siblings. Though at this point it is solely on her." Not that his part in handing over the business side of things was free of its own problems for the woman.

With the mention of Faustite and Fafnir, he took mental note to watch out for them, considering the disorganization and mess of a team he felt that all was.

More and more names came up, and Agatha wrote all of them down for now, with half a mind to try and learn more about how this all played out. Perhaps after the woman left, she could look around. But for now, she was content with eavesdropping and staying out of sight.

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It was interesting hearing things from this point of view. But something in it made him think about those people who needed to remain dead and buried. So as he sipped his tea and listened, he chose not to interrupt until she looked towards him, almost asking for advice in a way.

"Be that as it may, he did find you again, and that is something. It may not be the same, but sometimes having an answer is better than having to search for a grave when there is none." Something he had been doing over the years since Natron disappeared, at least until Benitoite had let him know what happened.

A prickle of distaste went up his spine at the mention of how brash this Villiaumite was, something that twitched at the corner of his lips as he took another sip of tea. Sakura was right about them not being a good fit for the team, considering he preferred things to be kept as subtle as possible to keep any undue attention from being put on them.

"I had heard that. I will let Liam know. And while I would normally take offense, there is no argument about Liam being the better person in this case. I doubt a visit by one's boss would be appreciated during a sensitive time. Liam, on the other hand, is perfect for times like that. I should make something for him to bring to her though."


Setting his cup down, he stretched slightly. "Keep an eye on Akito, he may not be on my team, but a liability is a liability and nobody likes those." Lowering his voice as he emphasized things, he then stood up to refill his cup with more hot water and swapped out the used tea bag with another one.

"You have put in the work and have done well so far. I am certain that you can be a better example than some of the members of that team. And even if you may not remember things, he needs to learn that some things are best left forgotten. You were not in a great place back then, and even if things are rough currently, you have support this time and have people who care and can help you. "