"Yeah, but we're going to, aren't we? And I don't know about you guys, but I'll find it easier to think up games with the coins actually in front of me."

"All right, who wants to haul the other end of the bin of blessings?" asks Aleko, getting up.

"I'll do it," says Loel.

"Yeah, she did."

"Isn't her dog cute? He grew really fast but for a while he looked like a weird-colored dust bunny, all fur and feet and ears."

"Her dog is adorable! I love her dog."

"Thought you would. How far are we gonna have to haul the blessings?"

"Not that far, I guess. Down some hallways. At least it's all on the same floor; I wouldn't wanna have to lug that thing upstairs."

"Yeah, me neither."

He laughs.

Meanwhile, Patience finds someplace to sit, just about exactly five feet away from Kiri so she might absently lean or gesture into range but isn't going to have a hard time scooting out if she wants. "So this is us, I guess. Loel met me at the door and stuff and I've known Kiri for years, tell me about yourselves?"

"I often find that a difficult question," says Sarelle.

"I... grew up in Malinqua?" says Ekador.

"Okay, um, well, you're not wearing your blessings, what are they?"

"Intelligence, flexibility, resolve," says Ekador.

"Clarity, vision, talent," small sigh, "determination."

"...Insert obvious question?"

"Absent-minded father neglected to count properly," she summarizes. "Now my twin and I have four blessings each. Which, as you may imagine, is why I don't wear them."

"Makes sense. And I guess in Malinqua you can't buy sets of blessings in a dozen configurations and more materials so you don't have yours yet?" Patience asks Ekador.

"Correct. And I think I will make them myself," he says.

"Ooh, I hadn't even thought of doing that. I like my hairclips, though, I've had them forever. Maybe if I lose one I'll make myself a new set. I haven't tried doing anything yet."

"Are you going to try doing something, or will you wait?"

"Probably going to go out on the grounds and mess with... the ground."

He chuckles.