She sits down and folds her hands in her lap and takes deep, even breaths.

After a few minutes, she says, "Alright, I'm ready."

"I'll go get Maran. Do I need to show you to the back room first or—" he glances at Serik "—no, of course I don't."

"He's convenient that way."

"Yes, 'convenient', that's definitely the first word that comes to mind," he says wryly, getting up and stepping past them to go find Maran.

"...You do have my sympathies for almost getting abducted."

He pauses, looking back at her. "Thank you," he says sincerely, and then he's off.

"Well, that was a thing," she observes. "Shall we?"

"I like him," says Serik, turning to head for the back room. It's only a couple of turns away, not really worth flying.

"So do I, oddly enough." She follows.

"I'm very glad I didn't abduct him. And that he seems to have recovered pretty well from the near miss."

"Well, you did say it's been ten years."

"Still probably the scariest moment of his life."

"Yeah."

They reach the back room. Serik admires the fucked-up floor.

Elodea lets him appreciate it for a bit before fixing it.

And this is enough time for Tarro to come back with Maran.

"Hello."

"Hello."

Tarro looks at Serik. "Staying to watch again?" he guesses.

"Yeah. I'm not gonna play this time, though."

"Heh, yeah."

Maran looks consideringly at Elodea.

"Does it bother you - the eyes?"

"Not really. It did when it was a surprise and I thought it was just pointless cruelty, but if it helps..."

He nods. "Yeah. All right."

"Take your clothes off, please," says Tarro.