"What-- no. I don't know him," Cythina told Tracy. "It was just a guess," she dismissed. "A good guess." She rubbed goosebumps off her arms, falling uncomfortably silent as they two pooled around the table and bantered.<br/><br/>Cynthia was half torn between being amused by Tracy's antics, and being unsettled by his growing interest in this place. Surely, she reasoned, it was fleeting and nothing serious, Tracy liked to explore all things new. If she had resisted, it would have any made him dig his heels in. She took a deep breath, riding out her unease.<br/><br/>"You're right. They are for protection against 'evil ****.' That's why I don't sell them. I don't want any association with that." Des looked at Cynthia and she forced a polite smile.  "If you're just looking for some ambient lighting, try blue."<br/><br/>"And we don't need them." Them, being the black candles. "It's an old house, the wiring is just fucked." She snatched up a blue one, shaking it at Tracy. "We're using these until it's fixed, as much fun as it is to hear you scream--" she prodded him with it. "I'm done having bulbs explode in my face." She turned to Des, unconsciously reluctant to address him. "Well take a box, or as many as you have."