Heh heh heh!

They can do some of that after dinner, in fact! 

Yesssss.

And if they go quickly back to her and El's room after dinner they can possibly outrun the gossip.

Seems like a solid strategy.

Power walk! 

Wheeee!

They make it back unmolested (for now).

Then that means there's plenty of molestation-space available to be filled.

The fun kind of molestation only. 

That's the plan!

Hmmm good Dani.

Meanwhile, El is escorting Jialin to her room at a more sedate pace.

They run across a familiar face on the way there. 

"Liesel."

"El," she says. "People've been asking me about the rumors going around."

Sigh.

"Which ones?"

"You and Luthien being related is the newest one."

"Which half is harder to swallow?"

"I think the entire 'terrifying incestuous lesbians who keep picking up devoted girlfriends' packet, really. And a little that you're related to Gwen Higgins, but everyone was already used to that contradiction with Luthien."

"Fair enough. Are you looking for me to confirm the truth?"

"You're scary enough I've made a killing off promising people I'll get information for them. Up to you what you want me to tell them, though I'll want payment for anything blatantly false; can't go trading away my good rep for cheap."

"Cat's already out of the bag. Gwen Higgins is my mum, and Lu's my sister."