The blue dragonborne looked slightly uncomfortable at the familiar grip that Velma gave her, but forced a smile past her lips and nodded.<strong>“Yes, well…”</strong>she said, her face looking a little more relieved as Velma let her hand go and stood.  She then stood as well and sketched a short bow,<strong>“I thank you again for your assistance.”</strong><br/><br/>The exit she made could be described as somewhat hurried, and it left Velma wondering exactly how pious the paladin really was.  She’d heard that those in her order often took vows of chastity, and certainly the dragonborne woman seemed uncomfortable when she’d mentioned prophylactics.  She hadn’t responded to the dinner question, seeming to prefer a quick exit, but she hadn’t said no either.<br/><br/>It was only as Velma took the plate of half eaten eggs back towards the bar that her father, Dwalin stopped her.<strong>“Careful with that one daughter.  Those paladins are good folk, but sometimes too good for their own self if you ask me.  I knew her mother when I first came here… hard shelled and hard hearted… I remember one time we were…”</strong><br/><br/>Her father began to trail off into a story, something about how they were still all bunking on boats, as the ruins were still to dangerous to shelter in during the night, and some mis understanding about a chamber pot and the meaning of the word poop deck.  Velma, ever the dutiful daughter, listened and laughed where she knew her father was fishing.  But thankfully Dwalin Thunderaxe’s tales always drew any nearby listeners, and Velma was able to make her escape as her father began talking about the dreaded fish demon he slew in his pajamas…. how the demon got into his pajamas….<br/><br/><br/>The sun was beginning to bake down the late morning in Laelith when Velma found herself in front of the shop of an older human woman named Maranna Warl.  A bit older, a bit curmudgenly but not in the fun way like her father, and a bit hard of hearing.  That last fact was something that her upstairs tenant, Ylene, took as a major advantage most nights.  Velma looked at the building, knowing that this time of morning was when Ylene was often asleep, as she tended to stay out most of the night.  But there was also a chance that her housemate / servant / lover Silenna “Sil” Kerinni Thereos was home.  Then again it wasn’t a large chance as the eladrin woman was also a member of the academy, and a bit of an alchemist like Velma.  Though Velma knew she was far superior in that regard to Sil.<br/><br/>The stairs leading up to the second floor apartment looked cool and inviting, still keeping the night’s cool air inside their stone walls.  But the door to Maranna Warl’s shop was open.  Inside she could hear the soft humming of the older woman, as well as the soft sibilant sound of her foot operated gnomish sewing machine.<br/><br/>Velma knew of course that she’d have to announce herself quite loudly if the old dressmaker was to be her first stop.<br/>