<div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Yeah, I've been pretty tardy in my posting as well. Sorry for that, I've been busier than I expected. I should be able to return to daily posting now. I suspect that this is a busy time of year for almost everyone, and I've been hit just as hard as Kitts and Nocturnewolf.</div></div></div><br/><br/>Though she did not react noticeably, Xali did not miss out on the significance of Chelsea's just-slightly-uncomfortable smile when Kahimori attempted to pay for his accommodations with whatever worthless detritus was close to hand.  On the surface it was mere naivete, but as charismatic as he was, it proved to be an effective method for acquiring kindnesses such as what this naive girl was so eager to provide.<br/><br/>Just as Xali was silently chiding Chelsea for being so easily manipulated, the cow-girl unknowingly handed her a timely reversal. When Chelsea said 'dessert', several things ran through Xali's mind; the pleasurable dalliance with the preyish feline earlier in the day had been the first dessert she had enjoyed, but that, at least, was not the kind that would prove fattening. Well, she thought with a slight smile, that wasn't quite true, but<span style="font-style: italic">that</span>was some time off. By returning her mind to the day's many pleasures, Xali also experienced a hint of her rather indelicate lust-driven frenzy.<br/><br/>She let out a soft sigh in response to Chelsea's gracious offer, clearly engaged in one of the little internal struggles that define the lives of all thinking creatures. But Chelsea most likely did not know what Xali thought of when the cute cow-girl offered to provide 'dessert', or how easily it could have ended up being the last mistake she ever made. Xali's stomach, empty for some time now, rumbled quietly, and Xali raised a hand to her mouth in mild embarrassment. If she refused the sugary confections Chelsea was offering, Xali would see to it that Chelsea served her later on that night. It would be easy... but no, this curvaceous little wench would be much more fattening than that lithe Nulan woman Xali had eaten not long ago.<br/><br/>"Well, I suppose it's useless now to protest that I have no appetite. Your persuasive skills are clearly too much for me to resist. I accept your gracious offer, and your recommendation as to which delicacy I should order."<br/><br/>Just as she was congratulating herself on her decision to indulge in what Chelsea chose to serve rather than 'serving herself', Xali noticed Brady making a rather unusual request, and the fur on her tail stood up on end involuntarily. Suddenly she realized that the cute lizard girl had gravitated towards Kahimori's charm from the moment they met. For his part, of course, the Kitsune was eager as always... not that Xali could blame her. She had a certain interest in getting to know Brady better herself... but seeing her make such a clever play for Kahimori's "company" gave her an instinctive pang of jealousy. Well, then. Two could play at this game.<br/><br/>Well, it certainly wouldn't do to protest; that would be a terrible display of insecurity. Xali realized she needed to laugh it off. Her eyes shifted to Alexei, and she stepped close to him, speaking in the spirit of friendly gossip... with perhaps a small hint of something else. "Hah! And to think, I warned Miss Brady about HIM!" she says with a smile as she nudges Alexei gently with her tail. "I think our new friend is not quite so innocent as she appears. Still, it is good to see that Kahimori will have some means to amuse himself while I am occupied with Arcane matters."<br/><br/>Her eyes sparkle slightly as she looks at him closely."Hmm, perhaps you could give me some assistance later on? I understand you're something of a practitioner yourself, and I can always use another set of hands to dip quills and hold candles. And in return, perhaps you would like to see some of the more interesting enchantments I have collected over the years?"<br/><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Have to leave now, I'm afraid; I'll add in Xali's response to Veryn etc. after I get back in an hour or two.</div></div></div>