Invitations and Introductions

It was already late when the deadbolt clicked in its chamber, announcing he was home. The door opened and then closed softly, and only the faint shuffling of feet on carpet and a jacket being hung proved anyone had come through it.

"Welcome home," a cheery voice called from the kitchen, despite the late hour. The large, sugar-brown Flemish Giant it belonged to almost had all of the dirty dishes from the week crammed into the dishwasher, and was finagling with the last few to make them fit. "There's pizza in the fridge, if you're hungry." That there was no answer did not bother her at all. Lua was well used to her husband's silence by this point. To receive an answer would be far more alarming.

Her attempts to finish the chores were cut short as he leaned against her back, pressing her hips against the edge of the counter, and wrapping strong arms around her in a needy hug. "Hmhm...long day?" the Rabbit grinned over her shoulder, where she could just see the top of Rikko's head pressed into her shoulder-blades and his long ears trailing down his back. He nodded against her, and subtly ground his hips against hers. "You need a little sweetheart time? I've got a quest to finish with GranularHoney , then--"

He rocked against her again, more forcefully this time, nearly causing her to double over the counter despite being two heads taller and more than a hundred pounds heavier than him. "Okay, okay!" she giggled, bucking her ample rump back against him to coax him into easing up, "At least eat something first, and give me a chance to let the guild know I'll be late."

She felt him nod again with a soft sigh, and pat her rump affectionately. His hand lingered there, giving it an appreciative squeeze, prompting a wry grin from her even as she gently shook her tush against his hand. "Mmm...will you treat me a little tonight, too?" Another nod against her shoulders. "...Maybe let me do yours?" This was followed by a brief pause, then another subtle press of his hips against hers, a gesture she could interpret well after ten years of marriage. "Such an agreeable sweetheart," she chuckled, twisting around between him and the counter and giving him a gentle kiss on the forehead and not-quite-so-gentle shove in the direction of the fridge.

The lean, cinnamon-brown Jackrabbit looked tired as he finally stepped away, and maybe a touch sad about something. It would have been concerning if that hadn't been his default expression since before they graduated from highschool. His wife knew better than to be bothered by that by now, though she had begun to think he looked moreso than usual lately.

Trying not to let it start bothering her now, the hefty bunny returned to her desk and the monstrosity of a computer that dominated one corner of their living-room. She replaced the headset in her ears, informed her guildmates that their raid would have to be postponed for a couple of hours...and snuck in a little extra gameplay while Rikko ate. She squeaked a few minutes later as his arms slipped around her shoulders and his hands slid down to brazenly cup each of her breasts, giving them a needy squeeze. "Eek! Seems like my knight has caught me, guys," she said quickly into her headset, "I'll be back in a little while. Don't burn the kingdom down without me!" Taking the headset back out of her ears, she hung it on the little hook attached to the side of her computer and swiveled her chair around to face him.

Rikko put his hands together in front of his nose and made a little bowing gesture, his sign for "I'm sorry" or "Please forgive me."

Lua just pushed herself out of her chair with a smile and pulled him into a firm hug between her ample breasts. "Well, games are games, but husbands are another thing," she noted with understanding, "Especially mine. Now come on," the large bunny urged him, turning him around and steering him down the hall to the bedroom...

---

"You should invite her to dinner," Lua remarked over breakfast the next morning. Rikko quirked a curious brow at her, pausing in crunching his cereal to be sure he'd heard right. "Don't give me that look," his wife giggled, "You realize it was after ten before you got home last night, right? You've been working late all week. That's my usual tip-off: you always work late when Kita's in town. Am I wrong?" He shook his head with obvious reluctance. "That's what I thought. So you should invite her to dinner," Lua repeated, "It's been forever since I got to hang out with her. We should all have a get-together. I'll even cook." She couldn't suppress a grin at the way his ears twitched excitedly at that promise. The lazy Bunny didn't cook often, but when she did she liked to think she was tolerably good, and Rikko's enthusiasm for her meals was reassuring. With a nod, he kissed her cheek and headed out to work, leaving her to her games and guilds for the day.

He spent most of the morning wandering aimlessly around town, looking for odd-jobs to do. He was officially employed as a grounds-keeper at the Masked Fox Lodge, but only part-time, so it wasn't uncommon for him to spend the morning in town and clock in at the lodge during the afternoon. The young Rabbit was well known and generally well liked, and had been earning money this way since before he graduated high-school. Nearly everyone knew that if they saw him walking the street in the morning, he was available for practically anything that called for manual labor, and he'd done just about everything: carried furniture, moved lumber, raised telephone poles, run wires...they even got him to scrub the tanks at the aquarium once! And if there was construction work going on anywhere, they always called on him to fill in for missing workers. Despite his small stature and only modestly-athletic build, Rikko possessed an unnatural strength that made him invaluable on big building projects. He might have made a small fortune in that industry, except that he seemed adamantly unwilling to work outside of this small community. And despite having a seemingly amazing ability, he never really seemed to have an idea of what to do with it besides the obvious.

This particular morning, he ended up helping unload a truck full of produce at Garend's Market, and scrub down all the statues and miniatures at Tiny Tom's Mini-golf (several of which needed a new coat of paint more than a scrub). Both paid him in cash for the service, generously for the time spent but still relatively little due to how quickly it had gone. After that, it was time for him to head off to the lodge while he could still make it before noon...

It was nearly nine in the evening before he walked back through his own door. Lua was tapping furiously on her keyboard as he hung up his jacket, but made some quick remark to her team-mates to "hold the line for a minute", and tossed her headset off to welcome him home with a hearty hug. "So...how'd it go?" Taking her hand, he pulled her over to where the calendar hung on the side of the over-head cabinets in the kitchenette, and drew a small icon of a fox's tail in the next day's box, then circled it. "Eep! Uh...a little more prep time would have been nice," the Bunny admitted, chewing her lips nervously, "Then again, I guess it's safe to assume she doesn't have a lot of openings. You got the first date she could clear, huh?" The Rabbit nodded sagely. "Okay...caaan I get you to go to the store for me?" she asked, thinking about what she could put together on the fly. He was out the door again a few minutes later with a list in hand.

The next day was...short, to Lua. She enjoyed the morning as much as she could, but the afternoon was spent entirely away from her computer, the console, and all other electronics more complicated than the microwave...which she also didn't use. That was always a slightly trying situation for her unless Rikko was around, but she took comfort in the thought that he would be home relatively early today, if her suspicions were correct. And, sure enough, it was barely after five when the front door opened. "Welcome home!" the Bunny called from the kitchen.

For once, there came an answer. "Well, it's not mine, but thank you all the same," giggled a light, sweetly feminine voice from the doorway. The Caped Fox stepped through carefully, sweeping her cane in front of her in search of any furniture that needed avoiding before stepping to the side to let Rikko through. Closing the door behind them, he took her jacket and purse and hung them up next to his before guiding her across the living-room to the recliner.

"You're always welcome," Lua answered earnestly, pausing her work in the kitchen to come give their old friend a warm hug before she got sat down, "You should come by more often!"

"Oh, I would love to, but you probably wouldn't appreciate the extra attention," Kita giggled. Being a music icon and international celebrity, anywhere she frequented too often inevitably became the subject of tv-shows, news reports, documentaries, or investigations...location depending. "Still, it's always good to hear your voice, Lua," the Fox sighed happily as she settled into the comfortable seat, "How have you been?"

Already back at the stove putting on the final touches, the Bunny answered loudly, "About the same as ever: lazy, comfortable, allergic to sunlight, all that jazz."

The Fox giggled, then sniffed the air appreciatively. "Ooo, that smells lovely! Home-cooking tonight?"

"Yeah," Lua giggled, carrying two plates into the living-room and setting them within reach of Kita and Rikko, "Probably not on par with what you usually get these days, but I hope it'll do."

Kita laughed, carefully sliding her fingers along the edge of the table until she found both the fork and the plate. "I wasn't raised to appreciate what I usually get these days. Good country cooking is always heart-warming to have again," she promised, holding the plate under her nose briefly. "Mmm, yeah...like sauteed chicken and biscuits, fried okra, green beans and corn...and is that seriously an apple pie I smell in there?" she asked, turning her nose toward the kitchen, "I thought you said you've been lazy! You didn't have to go to all this trouble." The Fox and Rabbit both bit into the juicy chicken with audible appreciation.

Lua smiled at the wordless praise, sitting down with her own plate to join them. "Well, it's a special occasion," she remarked, "So I went all-out."

"It is delightful!" Kita assured her after sampling a bit of everything on the plate. They all set in to chewing in earnest then, and were nearly done before their guest admitted, "I'm afraid I must have forgotten something, or else wasn't privy to it: what's the occasion? Oh please tell me I didn't forget some kind of anniversary," she added quickly, confident that it was neither of their birthdays nor anything to do with their dating or wedding.

"No," Lua assured her, smiling as she pushed back her empty plate and leaned back on the couch, "It's just been a long time since we had a visit, and I wanted to talk about this little affair you're having with my husband."

Kita froze with her mouth wide open and nearly dropped the fork full of pie on the floor. Rikko stared at his wife like she'd grown a second head...and a third, for that matter. With all the mirth (and a fair bit of color) drained from her face, Kita carefully lowered the fork back to her plate and set both on the table. "Lua," she began very softly, trying to curtail the confusing whirlwind of her thoughts at the moment, "We've been friends for a long time. Good friends, I'd like to think. I respect you, and Rikko, far too much to do something so terrible to you. We absolutely do not have that kind of relationship...and I'm trying very hard not to be offended right now that you think we do."

Lua tilted her head curiously. "You don't? Well foot, I was going to talk about how we could make this whole thing a lot more convenient for you. There go my plans for the evening."

Kita usually kept her sightless eyes closed at all times. Something about her pale blue irises, run through with white strains like someone had poured milk inside them, tended to unnerve people. But at just that moment she opened both of them wide, seemingly for the sole purpose of blinking them several times in shock and confusion. "You believe me? Just like that?"

"Well, yeah," the large Bunny nodded reassuringly, "You've never been the dishonest sort, so I kind of expected you to start apologizing and explaining yourself, not deny it. And Rikko can keep a secret with the best of them, but he's never tried to hide...well, what I thought was going on. So are you, or aren't you?"

"I...Lua, what on earth are you doing right now?" the Fox huffed, putting her elbows on her knees and her face in her hands, "I'm so confused! No, emphatically, we are not! But if you thought that we were, why on earth would you...just...take me at my word like that?! And if you trust me that much, why would you think--?!" She broke herself off with a sigh, shaking her head, and fumbled around for something before remembering it was out of reach. "Rikko...will you please be a dear and bring me my purse?"

With a silent nod she couldn't see, the Rabbit got up to fetch it for her, never separating his confused expression from his wife, clearly just as dumb-founded as Kita was by this strange conversation. When he placed her purse in her hands, she quickly fished out her wallet, then a wad of cash from that. "I need something stronger than tea to go with dessert tonight. Would you mind going to Mr. Ansom's store and getting two bottles of 'The Old Water' for me?" After a quiet moment, she felt the bills leave her hand. "Thank you. Take your time. Lua and I need to...catch up, I think."

There was the shuffle of a jacket being taken off the hook, then the door opened and closed again. Kita took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. "Lua," she said as calmly as she could to the Bunny who had been waiting patiently while she put her thoughts together, "I'm a little hurt...but I don't actually blame you for thinking something was going on. He does stay at the lodge well past the usual work hours some afternoons to do chores for me, and sometimes keeps me company. Not that kind of company," she added quickly, rubbing her face, "With that said...why, oh why, oh why do you not sound more upset about it?! And what on earth do you mean, 'make it more convenient'? You were going to encourage it?! I need to hear your reasoning..."

"Okay, okay," the Bunny agreed gently, motioning with her hands (uselessly) for the Fox to keep her seat and relax, "Take a deep breath. I wasn't that upset even when I suspected something, so you don't need to feel like I'm going to attack or anything, verbal or otherwise." The Bunny sat back and got a little more comfortable on the couch, herself, "First, I'm sorry I accused you. I should have known better. It just seemed obvious to me. Rikko has been...wistful, lately. That's not the right word, I think, but he seems...not 'sad', not 'depressed', and I dare anyone to call him 'lonely'...but something like a mix of all those. That's had me worried for...well, a couple of years now, to be honest," she admitted with more of a sigh than she meant to. Kita's expression turned concerned, and her mouth moved like she wanted to ask for something to be clarified, but she kept the question to herself for now. "So, it's no secret that he likes you, and you like him, and the two of you probably would have gotten married if I hadn't gotten to him first."

"But you did," the Fox's discipline broke, "You won him over! Why do you think he'd--?"

"Let me finish, please," Lua cut her off emphatically while trying not to be too harsh in her tone, "I hate saying all of this. I appreciate your confidence. I wish I had it. I'm not that type, though...and I just told you that he hasn't been exactly happy of late. So...you seemed like a likely outlet. Someone he's known a long time, and likes a lot, and trusts...probably more than me, actually. Now add to that: about the same time his mood started changing, he started working late at the lodge, at least whenever you're in town. Not just an hour or two, where I could put it down to traffic, but when he doesn't get home until eleven most nights...well, what sort of impression would that give you?"

Kita's mouth fell open. "Eleven?!"

Lua tilted her head. "Yeah. Not exactly, obviously. Sometimes by nine, once or twice as late as one in the morning, but eleven is right around the usual time. Didn't you realize how late you were keeping him?"

The Fox looked frankly horrified, and even a little betrayed. "Lua...I know you don't have any reason to believe me when I say this...but I swear he has never stayed at the lodge past six'o'clock. I didn't want you sitting around with dinner getting cold wondering where he was. Even with bad traffic, he should be back here by seven...eight at the worst! Where has he been?"

"Well, if I could ask him that and expect an answer, we probably wouldn't be having this little talk," the Bunny sighed. Now they both had questions that wanted answering, on top of having formed a crack in their friendship.

Kita reached up to pull on the tips of her own ears, a habit she had when she was frustrated or confused...and she was certainly plenty of both right now. "Right, right...that would be difficult, to say the least. So...it looked bad. It looks bad. I get that. But what about...the rest? Honestly, I'd be less upset if you'd called me a harlot and home-wrecker and thrown the pie in my face as soon as I walked through the door. That would have at least made sense to me, even if it was a misunderstanding."

"Yeah, I guess that would be a more typical approach," Lua admitted with a nod, "But I'm not a typical Bunny, and it goes without saying that neither of you is typical either. So here we are," she sighed, taking a deep breath, "I don't honestly know what to do anymore. I don't know why he's...whatever he is now. I just know it doesn't feel like happiness, to me...and I do want him to be happy. I may be lazy and self-centered...and a little scared of losing him...but not so much that I want to trap him in misery. Possessive, fortunately, is also something I am not...at least not much. So...I was going to suggest we could move in with you, as a compromise. At least I wouldn't lose him entirely...maybe...and he could be happy...-er...maybe. And you could have more time with him, which I thought you would want."

The Fox became very, very still, processing all that. After a moment, she breathed again, sitting upright with near-perfect posture in the recliner, and took her hands down from her ears to fold them almost ceremonially in her lap. She'd given up. Kita Peakwood, the Caped Fox who loved her town and its people, who sang songs from her heart and talked ceaselessly about the beauty and mystery of the mountains, could not handle this. There was another inside her, though, who had haggled over contracts and wrangled record labels and producers and managers, who had invested in venture projects and audited charities for her contributions, who had stood before crowds of thousands with a mission of putting smiles on their faces and good-will toward their neighbors into their hearts. That one could contend with a great deal more...but her approach would be very different.

She wasn't discussing a relationship anymore. It had become a contract negotiation.

"...I want to hear that in more detail," Kita insisted calmly, "What do you expect to gain by moving into my house?"

"Besides a happy husband?" Lua quirked a brow, noting the sudden change in her demeanor, "Do I really need more reason than that? Mmm...," she hummed thoughtfully, "Well, it's not like there aren't other perks. Unless I have grossly misjudged you in several ways...there won't be any rent to pay, for starters. Our financial situation becomes way more stable. Like, rock-solid stable. I can find a quieter corner for my gaming, where it won't be a nuisance to anyone else and no one will bother me, even as background noise. Whether my hubby's smile is the icing or the cake...well, no, it's definitely the cake, but I like thick icing too."

The Fox nodded quietly, keeping a neutral face. "Fair. So what benefit do you imagine I gain from allowing it?"

Now Lua looked downright dubious about who she was talking to anymore. The usual Kita was not this...stringent. Especially about her own gains. But in the interest of honesty and showing good-faith, she did list off what came to mind: "I'm repeating a little, but you get more time with Rikko, and less worry about trying to hide or explain it. Granted, that would have been a bigger benefit if you two had actually been having an affair, so maybe it doesn't count for so much now. You could take him off pay-roll, since he doesn't need a pretense for getting paid at that point, and I'm pretty sure you only do it so he can afford this place. I don't really know how much I count for in this situation, either, but maybe you'd like having company around that can actually talk to you about things, too."

Another quiet nod. Lua shifted to the end of the couch nearer to Kita, having gotten the sense now that these questions were not being asked idly or for self-satisfaction. She wished she had stronger answers, at least for that previous one, but she honestly had to admit it was asking Kita to possibly take on a lot of responsibility and sacrifice a bit of both privacy and liberty in her own home. "Since Rikko isn't here, and couldn't say much for himself even if he was, I will trust your estimate of what he stands to gain. Have you even told him you were considering this?"

"No," the Rabbit answered quickly and honestly, "I think, honestly, it's going to hurt his feelings a little. At least at first. I'm certain he wants to be closer to you, and spend more time around you, but I don't doubt he still loves me...or, at the very least, feels responsible for me and my happiness. His pride will be wounded. But I think...I worry sometimes that he regrets his decision. I don't want that," she sighed, rubbing her own forehead, "But I also don't want...no, I'm supposed to be thinking of him right now. Mmm...it may not sound like much in words, but he will benefit the most from having you closer, I'm sure. I hate admitting that. At the very least, it'll save him a lot of going to-and-fro...and maybe he won't get lost for several hours every evening on us."

Kita exhaled slowly. "And do you think all of those benefits would be worth the costs?"

She quirked a brow at that. "I know it would put extra financial burdens on you. I didn't really think you'd mind those. I know, given that he and I are married, there's bound to be talk. I don't really go into town, or have much of anything to do with most people...so that cost will be yours and his to bear, and only you two can decide if it would be worth it. I'm sorry to put that all on your shoulders. But if the three of us are happy...or at least content with things...those definitely seem like small prices to pay."

Surprisingly, the Fox actually smirked, though she tried to hide it behind a raised hand. "I don't mean to be harsh, Lua, but it doesn't sound like you've thought much about the fall-out this will incur at all," she declared, causing the Flemish on the couch to frown, "The monetary costs are downright negligible to me. I could purchase this apartment complex on a whim, to say nothing of seeing to the daily needs of two more people. It's the social costs that could become staggering. In the best outcome, it will be a scandal. I am a celebrity. Anything we do, especially our relationships...particularly intimate ones...always have an effect on the fans. And I have a very large following. There will be broken hearts and outrage. There will be disappointment, and outcry. There will be letters to the labels, and to the mayor, and news articles, and secret photos. If it is poorly handled, it will become an embarrassment to the town. Tourism will decline. Sales of my songs will drop. Contracts will have to be renegotiated, or broken entirely. It's a PR minefield. My career, to say nothing of my reputation, could be utterly destroyed...and the financial future of much of this town dragged into it, besides. I am not so much a person, anymore, as a personification of Three-Peaks."

Lua sighed, nodding quietly. "Yeah...you have to put up with a lot of stuff I can only vaguely imagine. Again...I'm sorry for even accusing you of the affair. From that assumption, though, I thought most of those risks had already been run, or that you were at least prepared for them. Things being what they are...I guess it really was too much to ask," she admitted, rocking her head gently from side to side, "Is that why you've been careful to avoid having one?"

Kita shook her head slowly. "No, Lua. I avoided it because I genuinely respect you and Rikko, and the decisions you have made, and the life you are building together. I don't want to put either of you in compromising situations," she assured the Bunny quietly...then surprised her in no small part by continuing, "Even so...if I could be certain it would not destroy you both...I would be very happy to have you closer. Even as close as my own house. I, too, am lonely sometimes."

Lua blinked a few times...and then grinned. "Ohhh...so not in an affair yet, but not against starting one?" she giggled, "Well, given what I already believed, I can hardly--"

"No," Kita said firmly, shaking her head, "I meant what I said. I don't want to put you in compromising situations...though I suppose this is walking very close to that line. I have no intention of entering into any affairs, least of all with my adoptive brother and his wife," she smiled, "He's dear to me, and you have always been a good friend. I am very concerned that he has been disappearing for hours at a time, and that you are so worried for him that you'd be willing to tolerate such an arrangement. If a room in my house can help resolve that in any way...I'll bear the other risks gladly enough. My door has always been open to you, anyway."

Lua wasn't sure if she was more touched or dubious. "Thanks," she said at last, "Think you can navigate that PR minefield well enough, then?"

Kita chuckled. "Oh, it won't be my first time managing a scandal some photographer invented. At the very least, I think I can prevent it from ruining the town," she sighed, rubbing her forehead as some of the confidence seemed to fade from her, "Forgotten gods, I could use that drink now, though."

"Hmhm...mind sharing?" Lua asked gently.

The Fox just smiled. "I did ask him to get two for a reason."

---

"Wow...you know, I don't think I've ever been here at night," Lua admitted, looking out the window as they approached the Masked Fox Lodge, "It's...kind of ominous, actually, with all the lights off."

"Really?" Kita tilted her head, "That's disappointing. I was very specific about making the approach bright and welcoming after dark," the Fox explained, "I wanted it to have that 'point of light in the darkest night' kind of feel, so visitors get a sense of relief after a long drive."

"Heh...well, I'm sure it would be lovely with the lights on," the Bunny sitting beside her in the back seat assured her, "I take it you don't have other guests at the moment, then?" The two women had agreed to ride back together while Rikko drove. There had been a lot to explain when he got back to the apartment, and they had done their best to be thorough and clear while also keeping it short. Frankly, he'd made Lua a little nervous by how long he simply stood there when they asked him if he would be agreeable to moving in, thinking it through carefully in his own head. At last, though, he had nodded agreement. From there...things had moved fast.

Having made their decisions, Kita could see no reason to put off acting on it for even one night, and instructed them to pack pajamas and a change of clothes for the night. She could have professional movers come and pack up the rest of the apartment tomorrow, delivering whatever the pair desired to their door and putting the rest in storage. Lua insisted on bringing her computer along immediately as well, so that was carefully disassembled and loaded into the trunk...then off they'd gone. She hadn't even stopped to think there might be guests staying at the lodge.

But Kita shook her head. "No. I don't mind guests lingering a few days when I first get home, as a kind of treat to finish out their vacations, but I block reservations from being made between my tours. Security considerations aside, I like a little quiet when I'm home."

"I'll bet," Lua giggled. She could do with some quiet after this evening, herself.

"Well, I hope it's more pleasant on the inside than the outside, in that case," Kita answered, "I have to put my trust in hired decorators to make the interior inviting, so please let me know your thoughts on any of it."

"Um...sure," the Bunny answered absently as they drove right past the veranda and main parking area, "Honey...I think you missed it?" she quirked a curious brow, not sure how he could miss a stop like that...

"Oh, he's taking us around to my door," the Fox explained, "I don't use the front entrance much. Too much risk of being seen, and hounded by visitors on their way to the trails."

Lua quirked a brow as they followed the drive on around to the side of the lodge, and Rikko turned the car onto a small road marked for deliveries. "It's...going to take some adjusting, to think of this as 'home'. Right now, it's still a vacation resort in my head."

"I'm sure," Kita answered sympathetically as Rikko pulled to a stop in front of what Lua could have sworn was a maintenance shed behind the lodge, barely connected by a little covered walk-way. The Fox got out of the car, taking a moment to get her bearings with her cane, then confidently made her way up to the door of the shed and slid her hand under a little covered panel beside it. A half-dozen quick key-presses later, there was a soft click, and she nudged the unlocked door open. "Welcome to my humble abode," she smiled over her shoulder at the pair, but particularly at Lua, "There's not much to see, but you're welcome to take the thirty-second tour if you want. I just need to grab a couple of things."

"Abode?!" Lua blinked, strolling up to the door herself, "You don't live inside the lodge?"

Leaning her cane just inside the door, Kita strolled confidently into the dark interior, which lacked any kind of light-switch or even a window. Obviously, that didn't matter a whit to the blind Fox, but it made it difficult for Lua to see anything besides the edge of a counter just inside the door. A light flared to life underneath the cabinets lining that wall, filling the entire, tiny house with light. Lua got the feeling that little LED puck existed exclusively for moments like this. "Not usually. Navigating wide rooms with lots of furniture is a pain for me, and wide rooms with no furniture are just a sort of cave. Here, I'm no more than three steps from everything I ever need, and know exactly where all of it is," she explained, gesturing a little circle with one finger.

It really wasn't much bigger than a toolshed. A counter ran along the wall by the door, housing a miniature refrigerator, sink, and handful of drawers. A toaster and single-serve coffee maker sat on top of the smooth surface, underneath a microwave and single set of cabinets that no doubt held only the barest of essentials and maybe some snacks. The opposite wall held a small couch between two end-tables, each stacked with a handful of books in braille. A tiny television was built into the wall above it, poorly located for watching but perfect for listening to from the couch. There was just enough room for one person to walk comfortably between the two sides. The refrigerator door would completely block the path when opened. At the end of that isle was a mattress on a raised platform, about the same height as the couch, flanked on either side by shelves supporting a handful of neatly folded outfits. Behind the door, not immediately visible to Lua, was the divider that separated the modest bathroom.

"Wow," the Bunny blinked, feeling cramped just stepping through the door, "I will never let anyone accuse you of living lavish in the lap of luxury. This is...depressingly economic."

"I like to think I remember the humble roots I come from," the Fox grinned, turning to seat herself on the foot of the bed. She then reached out to open the drawer in the front of the nearest end-table, revealing a small collection of neatly ordered contents: a trio of small keys lined up next to each other, a tiny book that might have been a journal, two thin wallets, and a plastic card on a lanyard. It was this last thing that she pulled out and put around her neck before closing the drawer again. "There are ten guest rooms and suites on the second floor," the Fox explained, "And the third floor, of course, is the penthouse, where I supposedly live. I've entertained there on occasion, but mostly it's a red-herring to where I really live, or was until today. That will be your home now. I had it designed with a family of four in mind, so it has plenty of space and plenty of beds. Take your pick of your favorite."

Kita took one step away from the bed and reached out her left hand to push a little button on the wall under the cabinets. The sound of a ringing line came through the speaker beside it, but didn't get to the second buzz before a voice answered, "Yes, Ms. Peakwood?"

"I'm coming inside, Richard," she announced simply.

"To the penthouse, ma'am?" the voice confirmed, well familiar with his responsibilities in this event, though it didn't happen often.

"Yes, to the penthouse. Please make two guest keys as well," she added.

"...To the penthouse, ma'am?" This time he sounded more skeptical, like he hadn't quite heard right. Not that it was uncommon for her to have visitors, or to meet with them in the penthouse...but...

"Yes, to the penthouse," she repeated gently, sympathetic to his concern. This was the first time she'd ever asked him to create extra keys for a guest. That was, after all, supposed to be her private residence. She wondered what he would make of that, but declined to elaborate at the moment. He would need more than a brief word to explain this, and she could explain in full in the morning.

"...Yes, ma'am," he answered, in spite of his hesitance, "They'll be sent up in the waiter as soon as they're ready."

"Thank you, Richard. Good night."

"Good night, ma'am."

Having made her arrangements, the Caped-Fox turned off the little light, took her cane in hand, and stepped back out the door. It locked automatically behind her. She held a hand out for Rikko to help guide her, but the Rabbit had a suitcase in each hand, so Lua stepped up instead. "Okay, there's a door at the end of this walkway," the Fox explained, gently swinging her cane in front of her as they went, "It lets into a stairwell at the end of the hall by the cafe. Straight down that hall will be another door marked for employees only. That's where we're going."

"You have staff here overnight?" Lua blinked as the Fox scanned her key-card to let them into the building, "Even when there aren't guests?"

"Only Richard, usually," she smiled, "You might think of him as my butler. He's head of guest services when the lodge is available, and handles the night-reception. Actually, he manages just about everything around the lodge when I'm away. I'll explain the situation to him in the morning, so don't be afraid to call on him if you need anything." The hallway was empty and dark. Rikko motioned for Lua to wait with Kita while he went to turn on the night-lights, being plenty familiar with the lodge's layout even in the dark. Soon little trails of soft light glowed along the baseboards, outlining the hall and many of the common rooms that were usually open to the public. In the dim light, the three made their way to the very clearly marked door Kita had described, and which she opened with her key-card.

On the other side was a small room not unlike any other elevator lobby, save for being separated from the rest of the building by a locked door. There was even a padded bench and vending machines to one side. Kita scanned her card once more, and the silvery doors slid silently open to welcome them.

"I know I kind of asked for this," Lua admitted softly as the door closed and the elevator began a smooth rise to the top floor of the lodge, "But it feels kind of weird, now that we're here. I always thought of this place more like a luxury resort than a home...and it still kind of has that feel, what with the private elevators and key-cards and all. I think it'll take a while to think of it as 'home'."

Kita nodded understandingly. "I built this place, and even to me the line between house and hotel has been blurred. That's what happens when you open up your home to the community as a whole, I suppose. I hope the penthouse will help alleviate that for you, somewhat." The Fox tilted her head with a sympathetic smile. "Moving in to new places is always strange at first, isn't it? I will understand if you change your mind about this arrangement later, but for now please make yourself comfortable. It is my home, and you are welcome to it. That has always been true, though you were polite enough not to take advantage of it."

"Hey, I didn't suggest this just to back out in the same night," Lua bumped her hip against the Fox's, "Though I do feel a little bit guilty for making you go to such trouble for a misunderstanding."

Kita laughed as the doors quietly slid open again. "Lua, you are hardly capable of making me do anything. Rikko is family," she tapped the silent Rabbit's chest gently, "And so are you. This is just the kind of trouble families give each other," she finished with an earnest smile, like she was glad for the opportunity.

The doors let out directly into a small lobby like the one on the ground floor, except this one had coat racks instead of vending machines, a couple of umbrellas leaning in the corner, and some of Kita's fancier boots tucked under the bench. "Well," the Fox sighed, sweeping her cane gently in front of her as she lead them into the great-room, "Welcome home..."

It was big. Even bigger than Lua had expected, honestly. Most of their old apartment could have fit just in the area that had been sprinkled with couches and armchairs in no less than three distinct sitting areas. One of them was grouped around a large, wall-mounted television, another in front of a full-mantle gas fireplace flanked by glass doors leading out onto a terrace, and the last around a large coffee table. The largely open floor-plan continued around the corner, where a dining table sat encircled by no less than sixteen chairs, in front of a spacious dry-kitchen which was, itself, set in front of the main kitchen. A short hallway off to one side probably lead to bed and bathrooms, and a balcony looked down on the common rooms from somewhere on the floor above. "Holy forgotten gods," she whispered, looking around as they walked in, "I thought you said it was built for a family of four! This place could hold sixteen, at least!"

Kita laughed. "Well if they lived up here, they wouldn't be a poor family! And they might invite friends over for dinner, or holidays. I do entertain up here from time to time, so it's important to have space. But yes, it is hardly what you'd call 'cozy'. That said...I hope you'll find it comfortable," she smiled, slowly working her way across the room, adjusting her path as her cane encountered the legs of various chairs. "Now, I know it's late, and you're probably at least as tired as I am. The master bedroom is upstairs, on the right. I'll take one of the rooms down here for the night, and--"

A hand caught the back of her shirt. "Oh heck no!" Lua insisted, "We are not going to kick you out of your own room."

The Fox gave her an appreciative smile, but one that said Lua wasn't thinking about what she was saying. "Before today, it would be more accurate to think of this place as storage. 'My room' is that shed out back. My extra clothes are in the closet up here because they don't fit down there. But I'm tired, and would just as soon not bother with going back down tonight, or with the stairs, if I don't have to. Every room here is guest-ready, so I promise I will be quite comfortable." She tilted her head with a slightly embarrassed look even as Lua let go of her shirt. "Although...now that I think about it, I could use a set of pajamas from up there. Would you be a dear and bring some down?"

With a slightly guilty sigh, Lua nodded. "Of course. I'm going to be up for a while, anyway. I won't be able to sleep until I know my computer's set up and connected to the net."

Kita giggled gently. "Thank you. The wifi password is 'songs for my heart', with no spaces. If you want a wire, I'll get maintenance and IT to set you up tomorrow."

"Eheh...thanks," Lua nodded, definitely wanting the hard connection. Her past experiences with trying to game over wifi had been...disappointing. She didn't trust that kind of connection for anything beyond casual browsing.

Upstairs, she and Rikko found the stairs let out into another common room, complete with seating and a coffee table under yet another huge television. Ahead of them was the balcony that looked out onto the great-room below, and an open door to their left lead to some kind of study or library. Wandering around a little, they eventually found the pair of doors leading to the master bedroom, bathroom, and the other guest room on this floor.

Kita was sitting at the foot of the bed, waiting patiently and apparently lost in thought, when Lua knocked gently on the wide-open door to let her know she'd arrived. "Here's those pajamas you asked for," the Bunny smiled, "Sorry it took so long. You have a lot of really pretty sets."

The Fox giggled. "Do I? I don't tend to be picky about those, since hardly anyone will ever see them. All I know is that they're comfortable," she admitted, holding out her hand to accept them. She chewed her lip thoughtfully as the fluffy clothes touched her hand, though. "Lua...may I ask a personal question?"

"Of course," the Bunny assured her, quickly adding, "But first, can Rikko borrow your key? He's going down for my computer box, but won't be able to get back up without it."

"Ah, I almost forgot," Kita gestured vaguely at the door, "At the back of the kitchen, there's a door to the laundry room. When you go through it, straight ahead you should see something like a cabinet with a speaker beside it. That's the dumb-waiter. If the speaker is beeping, your keys are inside. They should be ready by now."

"Great! Thanks! I'll be right back," Lua promised, hurrying out to get their new key-cards and give one to Rikko. Kita was already finished changing and was just pulling the fluffy night-robe around her shoulders when the Bunny returned. "Thanks for that," Lua said again, turning over the little plastic card in her hands, "Now...what did you want to ask?"

"You're welcome," Kita chuckled, patting the space beside her on the bed and waiting for the hefty Rabbit to sit before continuing, "I am more than a little worried about how ready you were to engage in a love-triangle. That is not at all like the Lua I remember from school. You were very possessive back then. We nearly came to blows in our little rivalry over Rikko at one point, if I recall. Now, frankly, I feel regretful that I have distanced myself from you so much that I never saw the change developing. So my question is: are you okay?"

That surprised the Bunny. A lot. She reassured the Fox by putting an arm around her shoulders in a half-hug, since Kita couldn't see her smile. "Thank you. I do feel a little like we lost you after graduation, too, sometimes. You've learned to handle yourself a lot better since then, so it's easy to forget how shy and soft-spoken you were. You always look so confident in your videos now. You were a good friend, and I don't begrudge you even one ounce of the fame and fortune you've earned...but I have missed you." The Fox nodded, returning the affectionate gesture. "Now, as for your question...the short answer is that I think I'm fine. There's a lot to unpack behind that, if you need convincing, and I don't think anyone ever really knows how bad they are or aren't screwed up, but you're tired, and I'm not overtly hurt or scared or anything like that, so we can talk about it later."

The Fox took a handful of her sleeve before she could get up. "I am never too tired to hear a friend's problems," Kita promised, "Or too busy. And I do need a little more convincing, if you're not too worn out."

Lua giggled. "Oh, I last well past two in the morning most nights, unless Rikko wants attention," she promised, glancing at the clock which brightly displayed a paltry ten o'clock, "...Okay," she nodded after a moment of thought, "I told you earlier that I wish I had your confidence. I've never been as sure of myself as I...hope...I looked back in high school. I was possessive, because I was very self-conscious, and afraid." She chuckled, softly, taking Kita' hand off her sleeve and laying it on her well-padded thigh, "You can't see it, so you wouldn't think twice about it, but I'm not a very shapely girl, nor the prettiest face. And you know I'm lazy. Like, only does laundry when the closet is completely empty level of lazy. I think approaching Rikko was arguably the hardest, bravest thing I ever did in my school life...so when he didn't reject me immediately, I latched on hard. I'm still sorry for some of the things I said to you, and about you."

"Water under the bridge," Kita assured her with a dismissive wave, "I didn't believe you meant them even at the time, else we would not have continued to be friends."

"Yeah...thank you for that, too," Lua nodded sincerely, "I'm better about that now. Rikko's been good to me, and good for me. I want to be the same to him. But I'm about out of ideas. I'd say he communicates well for someone using his own personal brand of sign-language, and I'd like to think I've gotten pretty good at interpreting him by now...but he really doesn't communicate well. And when he decides to go quiet, it's really quiet. Maybe that's started to bother me at last," she sighed, "That's nothing new, though. The new part is that...distance...we seem to be gaining. We can't talk about it effectively, and I don't know what to do. So...I'm sorry this is going to sound horrible...but maybe I kind of wanted an affair between you two to be the situation. I could cope with that, I think. Better than not knowing why he isn't happy, and trying hard not to think it's something to do with--"

"Stop right there," Kita interrupted, awkwardly searching for Lua's face with her free hand and placing it over her mouth when she found it, "I think I know where this is going, and I know an outsider's assurance doesn't count for much, but Rikko is definitely not unhappy with you. Or about you. He's always been the loyal type. Frankly, he was probably more hurt than I was that you suspected us of something."

The Bunny dipped one brow, carefully removing the hand from her mouth. "I appreciate that you're trying to be comforting," she answered softly, "I really do, so please don't take this harshly...but how would you know? You don't see the expressions he makes. It's hard for him to communicate with me, and he has to go out of his way and take special measures to 'say' anything to you. You lived with him for years, so I do trust that you know his general character, but how can you be sure of...something like this?"

The Fox chewed her lip, ears flicking thoughtfully as she tried to form a clear answer to that. She was obviously struggling. Lua wrapped her in a tight hug again. "I'm not criticizing you," she promised, "I'm just not that easy to comfort. But thank you. It still feels weird, but I think being here with you will help...even if I'm not entirely sure of how, yet. Maybe he'll be happier. Maybe you and I together can figure out what's going on. Anyway, I've asked a lot of you, and you've been very generous in taking it all on, so thank you."

"Heh...I really want you to stop that," Kita smiled, patting Lua's arm, "The trouble was mine to take or to leave, and I've taken it willingly. You're welcome. You don't need to say it again."

"Okay," Lua chuckled, giving her one more squeeze before letting go.

"Good," the Fox sighed, "I can't say I feel much less worried, but the reasons are less urgent, at least. I'm glad to help. I think the hour has caught up with me now, so I'll see you both in the morning, if that's alright. Good night, Lua."

"Of course. Good night, Kita," Lua answered, getting up from the bed and gently closing the door behind her.

---

Kita awoke to a soft tap on her door. "Kita? Are you up?" came a gentle, curious call from Lua.

The Fox yawned, and quickly pulled the night-robe on over her gown before opening the door. "I am now," she answered with a smile, "Good morning. Did you sleep well?" Her nose twitched, picking up the smell of scrambled eggs and warm pancakes, along with her favorite coffee. "Oh, that smells delicious."

Surprisingly, Lua seemed a little alarmed by the sleepy sound of her voice. "Er...yeah, that's why I thought you were already up. Someone made coffee. And breakfast. It wasn't you? It was ready and waiting when Rikko and I got up."

"Oh, that was probably Richard, then," Kita chuckled, suddenly understanding the confusion, "He doesn't know the situation yet, so he's showing our five-star hospitality."

Lua chewed her lip, taking Kita's hand to help guide her to the dining table, where Rikko was laying out plates for each of them. "Um...not to be ungrateful...but could he not? The thought of someone coming in uninvited while we're all asleep kind of creeps me out."

Kita nodded sympathetically, leaning against the Bunny to divert her away from the table and toward the counter of the dry-kitchen. Taking the phone off the wall there, her fingers traced over the keypad until they found the large button at the center of the bottom. "Good morning, Richard," she greeted when the line was picked up, "Thank you for breakfast. Would you please come up to the penthouse for a moment? There's someone I want you to meet. Thank you."

They had barely gotten to the table and sat down to eat when the elevator chimed to announce an arrival, and a large, red-furred Coon-hound entered the penthouse. He was young, maybe late in his twenties, with a hint of a smile crooking up the corners of his mouth even when he relaxed. His eyes looked tired, though, like he spent too many nights not getting enough sleep. He was dressed formally in slacks and a button-down, crisply pressed, but carried himself casually, like he had just gotten off work and was visiting a friend for drinks. "You wanted me to meet someone, ma'am?"

"Indeed," Kita smiled, standing back up from the table and motioning to the two Rabbits, "You know Rikko, of course. This is Lua, his wife."

"A pleasure, ma'am," the Dog inclined his head to the Bunny, who gave him a nervous wave, "Will you be staying with us for a while?"

"They will," Kita answered, "For the foreseeable future. Hopefully permanently," she added with a surprising firmness, and Richard's eyes widened for a moment. "That's why I wanted you to meet them. Also, it was very kind of you, but we would appreciate it if you did not come into the penthouse unasked again."

"Of course, ma'am," the Dog nodded, catching on quickly, "Sorry if I alarmed anyone. Should I have the cleaning crew skip the penthouse from now on as well?"

Lua's eyes went wide, as if it just occurred to her that Kita had staff to handle pretty much all of the regular, daily chores of maintaining a house. And the Fox seemed to be waiting for her to answer the question. "Uh...I'm not fond of surprise visits," the Bunny answered with a sheepish smile, "Can I just call them when the place needs a vacuum?"

"Naturally," the Dog smiled, turning one of the spare chairs around to lean against the back of it, "So, just to be sure I understand everything correctly: Mr. and Mrs. Peakwood will be moving in as permanent residents, with their own keys to the penthouse and all other facilities. Is that right? How much preferential treatment do they require from the staff?"

Lua waved her hands quickly. "Oh, none of that! I don't get out much anyway, so just think of me as an ordinary guest. I know Rikko already works here, so...," she gave her husband a look to gauge how well he got on with his co-worker here...or possibly manager? She didn't know the details of the hierarchy around here.

But Rikko just gave the Dog a thumbs-up and a smile, and Richard inclined his head in polite acknowledgment with the same, so she figured they were at least on good terms. Kita interjected, "Two small notes on that: first, any services they require should be placed on my personal account. Room service, laundry, anything purchased from the first floor, that sort of thing."

"Understood," Richard nodded, "They are 'you', for purposes outside business management. Congratulations," he added with a smile to Rikko and Lua...which the Bunny wasn't quite sure she understood...then continued, "And I think I can guess the second: be discreet about all of this. You don't want them getting the attention of paparazzi and the like."

"Thank you, Richard," Kita nodded with a grateful smile, "You're as sharp as ever."

The Dog chuckled, inclining his head in acceptance of the praise. Then to Lua he said, "I'll make a pair of VIP passes for you. That way the rest of the staff will know to give you the deference you merit without me having to make introductions or explanations. Use them in place of payment anywhere in the lodge, or when you need to ask anything of the staff. We'll take good care of you," he promised. Flattering as it was, something about the thought of special treatment embarrassed Lua, and she silently vowed not to be seen on the lower floors without Rikko or Kita arm-in-arm. That wouldn't be any different from her usual lifestyle, anyway.

To Rikko he simply asked, "See you on the usual schedule?" The Rabbit gave him another thumbs-up, and Richard patted his shoulder confidently. "Anything else, ma'am?"

"A cable connection for the internet," Kita added finally, "Coordinate with Terrance to get it put in. Lua will tell you where she needs it. That's everything I have for now. Thank you again, Richard," Kita smiled, taking her seat again as the Dog excused himself. "I'll introduce you to Terrance later," she suggested to Lua, offering the Bunny a chance to finally eat her breakfast in peace, "Just so he'll know your face. You'll need to brace yourself for him. He's...less refined...than Richard."

Rikko grimaced around a grin, nodding firmly in agreement, which wasn't very encouraging to the larger Bunny. "And who is he?"

"My head of grounds-keeping," Kita explained helpfully, "Technically Rikko's supervisor, though that's mostly so Rikko doesn't have to handle meetings or instruct staff or a lot of other things where a voice is expected. Terrance has enough voice for two anyway." Another firm nod from Rikko. "He handles maintenance, and just about everything outside the lodge, including all of the trails and campsites. In short, he stays very busy, and very grumpy. Would you agree that his work is still worth the attitude, Rikko?" He rapped his knuckles once on the table in affirmation. "I'm glad to hear it," Kita smiled.

They spent a few minutes quietly eating, and the larger Bunny reflected on a few things she hadn't considered in detail before. Like the fact that there would always be activity in the house, and strangers coming and going, if only on the ground floor. The Masked-Fox Lodge was as much a community center as a residence, with a cafe and small sporting-goods outlet among the offerings. The penthouse was private, but the rest of the "house" might as well be a shopping mall. "Whew...this place is livelier than I thought," Lua admitted, standing up as they finished up their meal and collecting the empty plates, "Guess I should have counted on that. You never really close, do you?"

"Rarely," Kita admitted, handing off her empty plate and taking up her coffee cup, "Things should be pretty quiet up here, though, especially in the afternoon," she offered encouragingly, "Rikko will take his shift at work, and I've got...oh dear," she tilted her head, as if just realizing something, and quickly patted her pockets in search of her phone, "What time is it? Now that I think about it--"

The elevator chimed to announce another arrival. "Kita?" came a stern, if not entirely certain female's voice, "Are you here?" A charcoal-furred Cat came marching briskly into the living-room, looking around for any sign of the music star. She was dressed in a neatly pressed, sky-blue jacket and skirt that hugged her shapely thighs, and a white button-down underneath. A pair of narrow, thin-rimmed glasses sitting astride her muzzle and a clipboard stacked with papers tucked into her elbow completed the professional look. "There you are! Not even dressed yet?!" she huffed as soon as she found the Vixen, "Where have you been? I've been calling for over an hour!" It took another second for her to register the Rabbit sitting with his back to her in the high-backed dining chair...and when she did, she stopped practically in her tracks. "You had a man up here?!! Overnight?!!" she gasped, noticing the Rabbit was still in pajamas of his own, and leaping to the obvious conclusion.

"Um...hi," Lua greeted softly from the kitchen sink, waving even as she startled the Feline, who hadn't gotten so far as to notice her yet.

"Flarea," Kita chuckled gently, putting down her coffee cup, "I refuse to believe you don't recognize Rikko. Take a breath, and please meet Lua, his wife." The Bunny waved again even as she winced, appreciating neither the look nor tone of this woman who had barged into the penthouse like she owned the place, and Kita, for that matter. "I do apologize for being late, and for not answering your calls. It was a busy night, and I seem to have misplaced my phone."

"Busy?!" the Feline looked livid, marching over and slamming the clipboard on the table, "Are you out of your--?!"

"Flarea," Kita interrupted firmly this time, though still with a smile, "Breathe. Rikko is family, and Lua by extension. Nothing. Happened. I'll go get dressed now," the Vixen promised, getting to her feet. But she turned toward Lua instead of the bedroom. "This is Flarea Luna, my assistant. You'll have to forgive her, I'm afraid. She gets jealous easily, is very protective, and lets her imagination run wild. I'll be back in a minute." She did turn toward the bedroom then, leaving the two Rabbits and the Cat to their own devices.

"...When she says 'jealous'...?" Lua quirked a brow, coming back over to stand beside Rikko, who seemed highly amused by something and trying hard to keep the smirk off his face.

Flarea took a long, deep breathe, just as Kita had suggested, and exhaled it slowly before turning to squarely face the Bunny. "My apologies for jumping to conclusions," she declared formally, ignoring the subtle question, "Kita's reputation is precious, both to her livelihood and to this town. I get anxious at anything that might create a scandal. I didn't recognize you in...that," she apologized directly to Rikko, indicating his pajamas with a contemptuous flick of her wrist before bowing in formal gesture, "Kita didn't tell me she was having guests for the night. May I ask what the occasion was?"

Lua chewed her lip, leaning on her husband's shoulder and really, really wishing he could speak on their behalf for a change. "I...don't think you're going to like that answer."

Flarea nearly hit Rikko with the clipboard, smacking it against the frame of the chair beside his shoulder. "She's practically your sister, for goodness' sake!" the Cat yowled, "Keep your hands off--!"

"Flarea," Kita called from the bedroom, "Please come here for a minute." With a hotly disapproving look at both the Rabbits, the Feline marched off to the bedroom Kita's voice had come from.

"Do you know her?" Lua asked Rikko softly once the volatile Feline was out of sight. Her husband nodded, now openly grinning. His amusement was a little reassuring to his wife, though not much. "She's not always like that, is she?" He shook his head, correcting his posture to perfection for a moment and straightening the shirt of his pajamas like they were a suit jacket, suggesting she was usually very prim and proper. Something about finding them all in this casual setting had set her off, giving Lua a regrettable first impression.

After a couple of quiet moments, Flarea returned from the bedroom. Her whiskers were drooped in embarrassment, and her eyes lowered squarely to the floor, until she was once again standing by the table, almost exactly where she'd been when Kita called for her. Taking a deep breath, she made another low, formal bow. "My apologies," she repeated simply, and rather more quietly this time, "Please forgive my poor manners. I will do my part," she promised at last, straightening back up and picking up her poor, abused clipboard from the table. Lua wasn't quite sure she understood what the woman was referring to, but didn't want to risk setting her off again by asking. Rikko snickered and flashed her a grin and a thumbs-up. Indignation flashed in her eyes at that, but she managed to keep it out of the rest of her expression, and waited patiently for Kita to finish changing.

"Okay," the Caped Fox sighed when she emerged, fully dressed if not quite groomed, and faithful cane in hand, "I have a commercial to shoot, and an event to host at the children's hospital, so I likely won't be home until late. I'll call you if I get back early enough to visit, but this is probably the last you'll see of me for a couple of days, so please make yourselves comfortable in your new home. Call Richard if you require anything. He'll be arranging for the rest of your things to be delivered, so don't be surprised if he calls you a little later. Let's go, Flarea," she insisted, almost at the elevator already.

Flarea, walking practically at her hip, shot her a near-horrified look. "...'New home'?" she asked quietly. The elevator closed before they could hear Kita's response to that.

Lua shook her head, "I think we might have broken that woman's brain. I hope it doesn't mean trouble for Kita..."