"It's important to manage your expectations."

"Max out your rate of pleasant surprises."

"As opposed to the other kind."

"Important to keep track of."

Small smile. "Oh, now that the new year is begun... I did have something personal to ask you two - maybe not in the hallway?" She hasn't actually mentioned anything like this to Bea.

"Sure, we need to put this stuff away, anyway."

They'll follow to El's room. 

...Which has very helpfully combined with Luthien's room! They now have a double wide and don't even need to move the furniture. 

Public service has its rewards, apparently.

" - How'd you guys swing a merge?" 

"I don't actually know. It wasn't like this this morning."

"Reshuffling hadn't happened yet, this morning."

Luthien touches her elaborate collar, speculatively.

...It is a neat bit of artifice.

She sends Bea a knowing smirk. "But that isn't what I wanted to ask you about..." She nods to Luthien. "That collar is marvelous." And to El: "Do you take commissions?"

"For a collar? Depends on the offer. And the use you're planning to put it towards."

"It'd be a gift for Bea." She's fine with giving that information out for free, or at least in exchange for El hearing her out. "And payment is negotiable."

Blush!!

Cute.

"Acceptable. It'll work better if you have a hand in the construction yourself, though."

"Of course. And I certainly have design opinions." She smirks at Bea again, and raises a hand to brush her hair back, accentuating her lovely neck. (And drawing the eye to how nicely she's cleaned up, too.) "Something a bit simpler, more elegant... Like a plain golden band, with golden chains..."

"I can see how that would fit."

"Could add a leash."

Interested noise. 

"A little subtlety might be warranted," Bea murmurs.

"Optional leash," she says after a moment.