"Anyone can do our kind of magic where we're from, you don't have to be specially magic yourself to do it, but being specially magic helps, and Wilbur and I are." 

"Her moreso than I. Which is convenient, because if you think I'm tall, you should have seen her before she learned to shapeshift." 

"Seen me? Don't be disingenuous, you know I'm invisible in natural form." 

Wilbur throws a pencil at her. "You come up with a better word, then." 

Staven giggles. "Oh. I, um - interesting. I didn't know this wasn't what you really look like. I guess if you're invisible you don't 'look' like anything." 

"I mean, this is what I really look like, it just isn't what I look like all the time. But, uh, this body is still me, it's not a mask I don't identify with or anything. I'm half-human, I designed this face to look like my mom, I have white hair because she was an albino and not for weird magic reasons, I am a human girl, I just, also am other stuff." Deep breath. "Sorry, I'm not offended or anything, you didn't say anything wrong, I just--have a lot of feelings about what I am and how there's nothing else quite like me, like, my other form actually is shaped less like Wilbur than this one is."

"Oh. Um, sorry, I didn't mean..." Staven's cheeks are flushed with embarrassment now. "You did a good job, it's a really great body–" He goes even redder. 

She dissolves into giggles. "It's okay," she manages, "I have no tact either. And most people would be pretty if they got to decide what they looked like, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy being pretty, or having people notice it." 

Staven giggles too, somewhat nervously.

"All right!" Savil says brightly. "Listen, everyone. I've spoken to everyone and the plan for after this is to head to k'Treva - Van, sorry, I don't think I'd a chance to talk to you about it..." 

"Lucy told me," Vanyel says quietly. 

"I have a spell that's better than drugs. Teacher uses it for surgery. Van asked me to show him what it was like and I did."

"Really! That's excellent. The drugs don't even work perfectly at any safe dose." 

"Oh dear. I was more concerned about the part where drugs have lead-up and drop off that's unpleasant to deal with. When's the plan to leave, like, now, in an hour, tomorrow morning?"

"Tomorrow morning. I have to Gate, I'd rather be well-rested for it. And that gives us time to pack properly." 

Nod. 

"--I have a lot of hands and not much stuff, if anyone wants help packing." 

"Most of our things aren't that unpacked," Mardic admits. "Since we just moved over here. And I bet nearly all of Van and 'Lendel's possessions are still in boxes. But I'll take some help, sure." 

"Cool. Show me what's where." She reluctantly gets up from hugging Vanyel. 

It's mostly Donni who needs help packing, actually. Unlike Mardic, who has neatly arranged the clothes he wants accessible in a wardrobe and is now returning them to a travel-bag, every single box of her possessions has been opened and random things are strewn everywhere around her half of the room. 

"So obviously this is because you're just like this, but did this happen because you did it on purpose because of who you are as a person, or did it just sort of happen because of who you are as a person?"

Donni gives her a blank look. "Is there a difference between those two things? I never thought about it."

"--I mean, I guess the difference is how much you think about it? Which maybe sorta answers my question." Pack pack pack. Many hands make light work and tentacles are close enough. 

Vanyel and Tylendel have their own possessions packed by suppertime; Vanyel is only really taking what he took to k'Treva the first time and hasn't especially unpacked yet, though adding in a few nice tunics from his boxed possessions. Tylendel has to unpack boxes and dig out things he wants. Staven doesn't actually have any possessions here in Haven. He can borrow a set of clothes and the hertasi will go crazy making more for him, Savil promises. 

They all sit down to eat supper together. The last time in a while that they'll be eating in this room, Savil notes. 

Lucy nods solemnly and appreciates the room and pays attention to how much Vanyel is eating and glances at Staven a lot. 

Staven is still casting the occasion baffled look around him, clearly he's still finding the entire situation surreal, but he makes conversation with the others, cracks some jokes, teases his brother.