"Them backing off is about as likely as the world expanding right now and dumping us in right in Leandros world." Belle snorted. She was sitting outside as well, Dejaal on her legs to keep her seated.

"Don't say that," Andy replied. "Given our luck lately, it could happen." She scratched behind Kaelas' ears gently and gradually eased her legs out from under his paws. Kaelas noticed, and pinned her down again. "Darn it."

Belle snickered. "Already tried it," she said, shaking her head. "These guys are too good." She ruffled Dejaal's fur and left it sticking up purposefully. He gave her a baleful look.

"Which is exactly why we wanted them in the first place," Andy replied. She grinned a bit. "It must be some sort of karma or something."

"Definitely," Belle agreed with a grin. "It was bound to happen sometime, right?"

"I don't know if I synced with you, or the other way around, but either way, I think we're in for it now," Andy replied. "I need to stock up on emergency chocolate next time we get to a town."

"Seriously," Belle muttered. "Thomas usually has some around to placate me with, but I need to stock up anyway."

"I know I've hit the end of my stash," Andy said. "Sess had to dig out my truffles. He managed to get the other two to let him by, and he brought me tea and Swiss chocolate."

Belle snorted. "Well Thomas didn't have to bring out his stash yet," she said with a litle grin. "So I guess I'm not quite out yet. Not quite."

"Yeah, you are," Thomas said from across the fire. That was as close as anyone else had been allowed to get. "I was about to dig out my stash for you two."

"Is any of it salted chocolate?" Andy asked, curious. She was rarely able to get her hands on the stuff; it was one of those things where you either loved it or hated it, so few places carried it.

"I don't have any currently, but I can get some," Thomas said with a shrug. "With enough warning, I can get just about anything."

"I'm not even sure I want to know," Belle said, though she was grinning.

"It's mostly legal."

"That doesn't surprise me at all," Andy commented. "I know where to find salted chocolate, though. I was just curious."

Thomas nodded, already making note to have some around at all times. Hey, no skin off his back to have some.

Belle narrowed her eyes at Saetan as he moved over to check on them both.

"Tea, anyone?" he asked mildly.

Andy could tell he was still trying to fuss over them, even if he was a bit more subtle about it.

"I wouldn't mind some tea," she said. Hey, at least his fussing had a purpose, rather than Lucivar's.

"Sure," Belle agreed grudgingly. "You can ask the others, if you want."

Saetan just smiled a little, calling in a kettle and heating it with witchfire. "We'll see," he said quietly. "Any preference on tea?"

"Here." Belle handed over a loose-leaf tea. "Long as you don't mind, Andy. It's good stuff."

"Fine with me," Andy replied. "I'm not all that picky about my tea."

"This is good stuff that I got at a tea shop a while back. Actually Thomas picked it out, but." Belle shrugged, watching Saetan make tea for them. He looked like he'd done this. A lot.

"I usually just keep a stash of tea bags," Andy said. "You know, the ones you get like a hundred in a box?"

"Oh trust me, I have those too," Belle said with a grin. "I have more of those than the loose leaf. But sometimes I feel like having good quality stuff."

"The good-quality stuff is nice sometimes," Andy agreed.

"Mmhm." Belle took one mug from Saetan with a nod of thanks, and he handed the other to Andy. Then he wisely backed off a step or two, sitting back to hover from a little distance. Unlike Daemon, who was sitting almost in Belle's personal space keeping everyone else away.

Andy accepted the mug and took a sip. It really was good tea.

"You know, I'm almost considering making a bunch of 'permission to fuss' slips like in the book," she commented. "I feel like I suddenly understand the need for them."

Belle snorted. "Yeah, no. Not me. I can understand the need for them, but I'd rather not. Best not to encourage them." She rolled her eyes, ruffling up Dejaal's fur again. He just sighed and let her.

"Still, it's like I suddenly understand the books that much better," Andy said. "Which is kind of neat, but also kind of annoying." She nudged Kaelas as she said it, but he ignored her.

"No kidding," Belle grumbled. Dejaal just rearranged himself over her legs with another sigh.

"We could have been worse," Saetan pointed out, hiding a grin.