<div class="bbm_float fright" style="float:right;margin:0 0 5px 10px">
<div class="bbImageWrapper js-lbImage" data-lb-caption-extra-html="" data-lb-sidebar-href="" data-single-image="1" data-src="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/attachments/youngreahairedgirl3-jpg.98662/" title="youngreahairedgirl3.jpg">
<img alt="youngreahairedgirl3.jpg" class="bbImage lazyload" data-src="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/attachments/youngreahairedgirl3-jpg.98662/" data-url="" data-zoom-target="1" height="174" src="data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' width='168' height='174' viewBox%3D'0 0 168 174'%2F%3E" style="" title="youngreahairedgirl3.jpg" width="168"/>
<noscript><img alt="youngreahairedgirl3.jpg" class="bbImage" data-url="" data-zoom-target="1" height="174" src="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/attachments/youngreahairedgirl3-jpg.98662/" style="" title="youngreahairedgirl3.jpg" width="168"/></noscript>
</div>
</div><span style="font-family: 'Georgia'">The two older women had put Rikkie in a prickly situation.  Rikkie couldn't imagine that Miss Daniels had brought her self-defense kit as part of a plan to harm any of the guests.  Self-defense was for self-defense and Miss Daniels was clearly talking about the possibility of an unknown intruder.  Nervously, Rikkie stepped forward.<br/>
<br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(247, 218, 100)">"Miss Corne,"</span> said Rikkie in a soft and diplomatic tone, <span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(247, 218, 100)">"I'm imagining that Miss Daniels keeps her self-defense kit with her, at all times, as a matter of habit.  Just when people forget to be safe and prepared, that's often when trouble happens.  Hurting people here would only get her in trouble with the sheriff's department."</span><br/>
<br/>
Rikkie hung her head down for a minute.  Miss Corne probably thought that Rikkie was some uppity girl and believed herself to be more than a mere housekeeper.  But Rikkie <i>was</i> just a housekeeper.  She hated interfering with the guests, but part of her job was to keep people comfortable.  If the two women decided to intensify their words into action, Rikkie reckoned that the only useful thing she'd be able to do was get the first aid kit to help them <i>after</i> the fight.<br/>
<br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(247, 218, 100)">"Miss Daniels,"</span> Rikkie continued, turning and speaking to the blonde woman in her mother's uniform, <span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(247, 218, 100)">"I'm sure that you didn't mean to scare anyone.  My mother and I just moved from this mansion to the city.  I should probably get a self-defense kit, too.  Maybe if you put your kit on the table for Miss Corne to see, she'll understand that it's quite limited in it's ability to handle a group of people?"</span><br/>
<br/>
Rikkie had now done all that she could for the two guests.  It would be up to them to decide what next happened between them.  <br/>
<br/>
Rikkie turned back to Miss Corne, to say, <span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(247, 218, 100)">"Miss Corne, I think Ms. Ishimoto would be comforted more if Miss Daniels remained near by.  Please excuse me.  But I'm now going to get the extra blankets and sheets."</span>  Rikkie didn't mention the first aid kit, but she'd be bringing that back, too.</span><br/><br/>*  *  *  *<br/><div class="bbm_float fright" style="float:right;margin:0 0 5px 10px">
<div class="bbImageWrapper js-lbImage" data-lb-caption-extra-html="" data-lb-sidebar-href="" data-single-image="1" data-src="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/attachments/toughguy2-jpg.98668/" title="toughguy2.jpg">
<img alt="toughguy2.jpg" class="bbImage lazyload" data-src="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/attachments/toughguy2-jpg.98668/" data-url="" data-zoom-target="1" height="326" src="data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' width='287' height='326' viewBox%3D'0 0 287 326'%2F%3E" style="" title="toughguy2.jpg" width="287"/>
<noscript><img alt="toughguy2.jpg" class="bbImage" data-url="" data-zoom-target="1" height="326" src="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/attachments/toughguy2-jpg.98668/" style="" title="toughguy2.jpg" width="287"/></noscript>
</div>
</div><span style="font-family: 'Georgia'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(84, 172, 210)">"As if you didn't already know how hard I can really squeeze?"</span>  He chuckled, realizing that Grace truly had been teasing him.  He'd have looked and felt like a total fool if he'd let his lusty side loose then and there.  It had been wise of him to hold back.  Giving her a rakish smile and a wink, Karl continued, <span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(84, 172, 210)">"You should know me by now, Grace.  Gentility for seduction.  Strength for ravishing."</span><br/>
<br/>
Karl had no doubts that his tie was on straight, but he took a moment to check the rest of his appearance in a mirror.  He wiped Grace's lipstick, from their kiss, from his own lips with a spare handkerchief and pocketed it.  Then he dutifully followed Grace down the stairs to the parlor.</span>