<div style="margin-left: 20px"><div style="margin-left: 20px">"<i>When in doubt, cook."</i>​</div></div><br/>Elody nearly laughed outright as she stood at the stove, chicken frying away as potatoes boiled. Her mother's favorite piece of advice played over in her mind, and it made perfect sense. No wonder it was etched on her tombstone. At the time, Elody could barely stand the sight of it. Now, however...it felt like her mother was practically helping her make dinner.<br/><br/>"Do you think we can trust him?"<br/><br/>Elody looked up, smiling as Little John knelt down and tousled his hands through Crixus's fur.<br/><br/>"What do<i>you </i>think?"<br/><br/>Little John stood, chocolate brown eyes twinkling as a smile danced behind his dark beard.<br/><br/>"Well now, seems to me like maybe we can. I was the one who gone an' asked 'em to stay wasn't I?"<br/><br/>Elody smiled, taking the potatoes and draining them into a colander in the sink. She was quiet as she reached for a bit of milk and butter after pouring the potatoes into a large bowl, combining all three before she began to smash them.<br/><br/>"You most certainly were, I just..." she hesitated, the tumult of the whole day beginning to catch up with her. It had been an ordinary day. They were simply hanging Christmas wreaths.<br/><br/>What magic in an ordinary day...a terrific, evolving magic...<br/><br/>"...I say we take what help we can get."<br/><br/>She finished smashing before handing him the bowl and a whisk.<br/><br/>"Now whip." She smiled, and Little John smiled in return as he began to beat the potatoes.<br/><br/>"I brought my razor and strop down..." Little John began, looking up from the potatoes.<br/><br/>Elody sighed, chiding herself for having forgotten to ask. Not that her mind had anything logical in it at the time.<br/><br/>"Of course he'll want to shave..."<br/><br/>She wiped her hands on her apron before grabbing the shaving kit off the table and moving into the hallway. A brush against her legs nearly stopped her heart as Crixus bullied past and, with a firm press of his snout to the door, sauntered straight into the washroom.<br/><br/>"Please tell me you're an angel."<br/><br/>A smile formed on her lips, then, as Crixus stuck his nose over the side of the tub in response, tail wagging intensifying as he found his target.<br/><br/>"No angel, just the undefeated Gaul.." she stepped into the room, trying to keep her eyes averted as she set the shaving kit on the stool.<br/><br/>"Little John thought you may want to shave, Crixus go lie down!" She smiled as she forced him to back up from the tub.<br/><br/>"Dinner is almost ready..." she paused near the door, motioning to the shaving kit.<br/><br/>"I...I can help you, if you need, after dinner." She smiled a bit, clearing her throat.<br/><br/>"I usually help Little John, when his hands get to aching sometimes..."