Aelar shakes his head.  "It matters to us, sister."

"It's almost like, if conversation were a ball you'd not so much drop it as refuse to catch it. We're asking- you're not telling. That's no fair, Kallista. Come on, play conversational catch with us!" Lazlo teases. 

"I would prefer I didnt have to go there," Kallista says. "So please drop it."

“If you insist…” Lazlo frowns. He’d feel better about it if she wasn’t prone to turning into a flying lobster on occasion. “We can talk about whatever you want…”

"I don't think we must all go. Moreover, I don't think we can all go. I'm certainly overloaded already. Fitting a trip to such a distant place into my schedule seems impossible. Besides, you never need more than one person to tell a story." Though he ponders once more the seeming randomness of Kallista's preferences, he doesn't voice those thoughts. Last time, it lead them back to a burning Guiston. If there's anyone whose random preferences he'd trust, it'd be Kallista's. 

Raia's eyes flick over to Kallista, then to Lazlo.
"I'm saying that you should ask if the triplets' fare could be counted as part of the favor. After all, they're going to need all the money they can once they ARE in Valis." she states.
"Not that you'd be making the journey now. All of you are still in training, after all, and Guiston isn't completely secure or stable yet. The city council needs its defenses in order and its forces organized before any caravan can make the three week trip. It's not exactly a short stint."
Her eyes return to Kallista, and she looks like she WANTS to say something, but doesn't. Instead, she sets her jaw, and then clicks her tongue.
"I have... business with Grimbuld I should attend to, I suppose... not that I WANT to, but I'm unfortunately going to need his help procuring some of the reagents I'll need."

Aelar looks at Raia.  "When do you leave?" There's no missing the catch in the elf's voice at the question.

"Do you want help?" Kallista asks.

Did Kallista really want to go to a skell prison? Or was she asking to help Raia out with Mr. Grimbuld. Not wanting to annoy her, he refrains from asking- hoping she meant the latter. 

OOC: Is it too late to go see Lady Ashwa? Lazlo would know that- or ask Leon (is Leon here? lol). 

"Hyre, what're you gonna name your birdo? Can I pet her? Does she like biscuits? She's a pretty girl!" 

"Name her?" Those two words, combined with the surprised tone, almost translate to: Why should I name her? I don't know how to name a bird. I can't think of such complicated matters. "I couldn't decide yet." That is obviously a lie. Not because he did decide, but because that would imply he's considering between a few options, while he's trying not to think of it at all. "You could try to pet her if she'd let you, but she might also think it's an attack and choose to counterattack you, so I'd be careful. Feeding her is really hard sometimes, as she tries to peck the syringe instead of eating what's in it. I have to wait until she tires and allows me to feed her. I don't know about biscuits, I didn't try to feed her anything like that. I don't think she even can eat such hard things at this stage. Not according to what Grimbuld told me."

“Maybe she’s too young to be named? I bet as she gets bigger her personality will become stronger and you’ll have an easier time.” Lazlo enjoyed talking to Hyre, even though he didn’t always understand what the human was talking about. “She’s probably too young to pet though- I’ll wait until she’s older and then maybe help feed her for a bit so she knows I’m a friend. Whatever you think best, Hyre.” Lazlo says, sipping his ale. 

Aelar looks at the baby hawk with interest.  Then he pulls a piece of the meat off the bone, the rawest piece he can find and, looking to Hyre for permission he...

ooc: if Hyre gives permission

nods his thanks and then holds the meat by the very tip waiting for the bird to snap it.  At the first hint of movement he lets go of the meat and snatches his hand back.

ooc: if Hyre shakes no

smiles his understanding and puts the meat down near Hyre and withdraws his hand.

ooc: in either event

"She's wonderful, Hyre.  I'm so happy for you.  How're your studies going?  Are you still focusing on magic?"

”oooh- chew it up first, Aelar. Like a mamma bird.” 

Ooc: or Alicia Silverstone

"I... uh... I don't think that's how it works," Kallista says, both confused and concerned.

“I think the mama bird chews up the food with her teeth and then yukes the steaming grub into the yawning chasm of the baby’s throat. Like every fifteen minutes- it’s a labor of love.” Lazlo chimes in.

"But birds don't have teeth," Kallista points out.

 Aelar blanches at the thought of chewing and spitting up the meat.  "Do you do that, Hyre?  Chew the chick's food for it first?"  He can't keep the yuckiness out of his voice.

Hana overhears the youngin's talking and chimes in.
"He uses the mincer in the back, works a lot better than teeth... especially when I see what Hyre puts through it... and thankfully cleans dutifully afterwards. I try not to look or I'd be 'yuking' enough to feed a whole flock."

Raia looks back to Aelar.
"Some of the spells will take some time to prepare. A matter of weeks, possibly, depending on how quickly Grimbuld is able to procure what I need." she states. Her eyes flick over to Kallista, her expression neutral. Maybe... a little TOO neutral?
"I know how to handle the old codger. I won't start a fight, I promise." she states.

((It's a little too late to see Ashwa that night. It wouldn't be unheard of, but Lazlo would be aware that it'd be bad manners to try and get a hold of her at that time. He could, however, try and seek out Leon if he really wanted, who is training to be a full time Watchman, so he'd still be up and about at the barracks.))

ooc: I'll wait then until tomorrow to try and see Lady Ashwa

"I feel like I shouldn't burden Leon with this- In the middle of his training. He's got enough to contend with, and I wouldn't want Lady Ashwa to give us special consideration because we are close to her paramour. I'll go tomorrow. Maybe as Hyre pointed out she wouldn't need all of us to go to Valis. Let me know if you'd like to come with me for the visit. Sometimes I need help guarding my tongue." Lazlo says, reaching for the pitcher. "This time of night is typically reserved for a whiskey. I'll have one but I can't chew up food for the birdo after- thats just bad parenting. Hana! A whiskey, please!" 

"You heard Hana. She's still too young to eat such a thing." Hyre replies to Aelar, simply stating the fact. "As for my studies, not so much. It's a course about spellcrafting, and so far we're focusing more on the crafting than magic. We'll get to that too, eventually."