And Talyr tells Kemar and Izaneth what's up, and they spend the following morning packing for the trip.

Khythen returns the next day.

Talyr greets him with a hug.

Hugs: continue to be so important.

"I don't think I realized how badly I needed a hug yesterday before you gave me one."

He smiles. "Noticing when someone needs a hug before they realize it is one of my most prized skills."

"It is the best skill and you are absolutely justified in prizing it."

Izaneth comes up and ruffles Talyr's hair. "We'd all be lost without you," he says fondly.

Khythen nods firmly. "I do not know what I'd have done next if I didn't have you to turn to for advice."

"Well. I'm glad I could help." More hug.

Hug. "So how have you all been doing while I was away?"

"Pretty great! I've been getting the renovation itch, it's just as well we're going somewhere in need of a remodel," says Izaneth.

He laughs softly. "It is at that."

He grins and rubs his hands together gleefully.

He laughs delightedly. "Nerine is going to love you," he predicts.

"She sounds like fun, from the one and a half sentences I've heard about her personality."

"She's very fun. And she likes being creatively tortured."

"Oooooooh. My kind of girl," he says, grinning.

"Yeah, I didn't need to be Talyr to figure that out."

Snicker. "I am not the world's subtlest guy."

"You are not," Khythen agrees affectionately.

Kemar emerges from the back of the house with several packed bags. "I think we're all set to leave," he says. "Although we should maybe have lunch first, I know I'm going to miss this kitchen."

"Sure, I'll make something."

"They actually do have a decent kitchen setup there," he says, "for all their sins."

"Bet you it's not as good as ours. But I'm sure we'll cope," says Talyr.

"Well. No. But that's a pretty high bar to clear."