"I can't exhaust you any way else?"

"That's usually the one you get to first."

"Perhaps I need to try some other ways, then..."

Elesse coughs, gently.

Bellona giggles. "I'll save it for later. Sorry."

"The biscuits are quite good, though."

"And some very excellent coffee."

Sip. "Yep."

"Good company, too. Thanks for joining us - and listening to me."

"It is always a pleasure to hear one who loves her topic speak."

"Probably why El puts up with me and my exhausting ways."

"I am sure that contributes."

She grins.

"About ready to head back? Speaking of rest and exhaustion."

"I think so."

"Cool." She handles paying for the meal, and then they can walk back. The street's just as populated as before.

Bellona falls into a light conversation with September about her studies, offering to help with her homework - "Can you guys entertain yourselves until you're ready to sleep?" she asks their guests.

"We'll manage somehow."

"Okay, cool. Feel free to come get us if you need anything, though..."

"Don't let us interrupt your routine unduly."

"Alright."

There isn't a ton to do before Bellona naturally goes to bed - and it appears there's no artificial day/ night cycle, here, the lights outside never dim (but all the windows have heavy curtains you can pull to block the light, and the interior lights are most of the illumination, anyways, and those can be turned off). She helps September with her homework, does some of her own work, and then settles in to cuddle El.

"So this is an alternate universe," Elesse says to Ashes.

"It's certainly interesting," she says. "Bellona is - especially odd to see."

"She has a very different outlook than the others."

She nods. "Though I think one more similar to me, with some differences - I don't think it's that she doesn't understand cruelty, but..."

"She came to that understanding in a different way."

"Far sooner than I did, too."