* Loria is sitting on the sofa, Pepper curled up in her lap, absently batting at the corner of her novel as she tries to read.

* Kevil comes in, humming absently under his breath and carrying a relatively large box. He stops and looks around as he comes through the door. "You cleaned more?"

<Loria> ::trying to raise her book out of the cat's way:: Yes... I think the living room is mostly clean now. If ::mock glowers at her cat:: His Lordship would stop knocking things off the shelves.

<Kevil> ::laughs and scoops Pepper out of Loria's way to sit next to her, ignoring the cat's protests:: It is, I believe, the nature of cats. ::leans over to kiss her:: You have been very industrious... I said I would help.

<Loria> ::smiles up at him:: Well... I really think we should look into someplace a little less... snug? I tried to make room for your things in the bedroom, but... ::grumbles a little:: Maybe another room or so? I think I'd like a music room. My aunt had a pianoforte, and they take up a lot of space.

<Kevil> ::nods:: A courtyard, or at least a garden, if we can find a place in the city with such a thing. We will look around. ::gestures at the box he brought with him:: I brought some more clothes, I am afraid.

<Loria> ::laughing:: We'll need a whole extra two rooms just for your clothing!

<Kevil> ::mournful sigh:: Ah, but I must... You would not love me half so well were I dressed like a commoner.

<Loria> ::snorts::

<Kevil> ::grins:: We should go shopping soon, I think.

<Loria> ::raises an eyebrow:: Oh, like you need more clothing?

<Kevil> ::looks surprise:: But of course! You have already *seen* all the clothes I have! ::he grins and winks:: Also... I understand there is some tradition... something about jewelry?

<Loria> ::blinks:: Oh. ::blushes:: I forgot about that... ::looks up at him curiously:: What are your circle traditions? I mean, you saw Vallel and Gloss's wedding, so you know ours, mostly.

<Kevil> Rosebushes. Every member of a circle provides a rosebush. Traditionally, they are grown from clippings of one's parents' bushes, but more recently - the last hundred years or so - one merely buys them.

<Loria> ::offhandedly:: I thought... maybe we should have two ceremonies?

<Kevil> Two? ::looks slightly confused::

<Loria> Well... ::looking at him:: It's not going to be very easy to have your family come here... so maybe we should go there? If you think that's a good idea?

<Kevil> ::beams:: A splendid idea, n'shava! ::he kisses her cheek:: And one my parents will thank you for... I had thought only that we would present them with the news when next we visited - and that they would be well pleased with that.

<Loria> ::shyly:: I like your parents.

<Kevil> ::smiles and puts his arm around her:: They like you, too. I can tell.

<Loria> ::laughing:: Could you tell if they didn't like someone? They're awfully friendly...

<Kevil> ::chuckles:: I would hope, after forty years, I have learned to read my parents' meanings. They like you very well, raindrop.

<Loria> ::giving up on the book, she drops it onto the sofa. Pepper gives a mew of complaint, then stalks off to chase a vicious, killer scrap of parchment::

<Loria> ::smiling:: That's good. At least we'll have some family...

<Kevil> ::since Loria is no longer holding her book, Kevil pulls her a little closer:: Ah, we would have *some* family in any case, even if not your parents... Your brother and his wife... ::he pauses:: Do you think your elder brother will approve? ::he grins::

<Loria> ::giggling:: I think Kristo can be counted on to go up in flames, even if he is more smoke than flicker.

<Loria> But as soon as we're actually wed, you get to be considered all right. One the possible has become the actual, you know?

<Kevil> ::soberly:: Perhaps we should not wed, then.... I should hate to deprive him of his best entertainment... ::he chuckles::

<Loria> ::shrugging:: He has two other unwed sisters... and by the time Polla is wed, Kris may have daughters of his own.

<Kevil> ::chuckles:: All is well, then...

<Loria> ::casually:: Lisl was here last night. She brought me dinner.

<Kevil> Oh? ::smiles:: That was kind of her. Did you tell her?

<Loria> After a bit. ::laughing:: Oh, you should have *seen* her face.

<Kevil> ::raises an eyebrow:: What did you tell her?

<Loria> ::pulls a sad expression:: That I was moving... that you and I had talked about it... and this just didn't feel like home anymore. ::breaks into a grin:: It's probably good she waited a moment for an explanation...

<Kevil> ::laughs:: I should count myself lucky she left you alive!

<Loria> ::giving him an arch look:: Well, I think she meant to bite *your* head off.

<Kevil> ::blinks:: What did *I* do?

<Loria> ::giggling:: Well, obviously if I was moving out, it was all your fault...

<Kevil> ::rolls his eyes and mutters something under his breath about "always assuming the worst"::

<Loria> ::hugs him:: Well, it's not like I wasn't leading her on to that assumption... ::kisses his ear:: But then she nearly squashed the life out of me when I admitted the truth.

<Kevil> ::smiles and shifts on the couch, stretching out to put his head in her lap:: Good; I am glad she was pleased. Who else have you told?

<Loria> ::touching her amulet:: The Blessed Mother. And that's it. I wasn't sure if you wanted it generally known yet.

<Kevil> ::laughs in surprise:: Why should it be a secret? I would shout it from the rooftops, if it were not the certain way to have a chamber pot flung at my head... ::he smiles up at her::

<Loria> Well... better to not tell anyone and ask, then tell everyone and find out it was supposed to be a secret...

<Kevil> True. Tell anyone you like, n'shava. I had told Hanali's priestess when I was at the temple today... She offered us Hanali's blessing, by the way.

<Loria> ::smiling:: Well, that's sweet of her. Then I should definitely tell Vallel. He and Gloss will want to know, I'm sure.

<Kevil> ::nods:: Of a certainty.

<Loria> ::thoughtfully:: And you should probably tell Mistress Zoya... ::slightly worried::

<Kevil> ::nods:: She will be pleased, I think.

<Loria> I hope so... ::biting her lip:: Sometimes it's different, when it becomes actual, instead of just theoretical. But I think she understands...

<Kevil> ::lifts a hand to stroke her cheek:: Do not fret, raindrop... Zoya, after all, has her own lover - and she had her chance with me. ::he smiles and winks::

<Loria> ::nodding:: I know... I'm not fretting. Much.

<Kevil> Good. ::he pauses, closing his eyes and sighing contentedly:: You have a very comfortable lap, n'shava... Well. What sort of ring - it *is* a ring, yes? I am remembering correctly? - what sort of ring should we get you?

<Loria> ::nodding, she bends over him, her hair falling in sheafs on either side of her face. "Well, that depends, really. Usually people get diamond rings, but mostly anything is acceptable. Diamonds are, however, supposed to stand for faithfulness and fidelity, not perhaps the symbolism you want me wearing around, d'va?

<Kevil> ::smiles:: Already you are planning infidelity?

<Loria> ::laughing, she kisses his nose:: Of course. I have a whole line of suitors... ::shaking her head slightly:: You know what I mean, my heart... it's not... exactly appropriate to the sort of background you come from, is it?

<Kevil> ::shrugs a little, then grins:: Is there a stone which means you are married and yet approachable? ::chuckles at the thought::

<Loria> :;considers the question:: Not entirely, but emeralds might work. Emeralds are supposed to be for love and happiness. ::she smiles::

<Kevil> I like that.

<Kevil> ::closes his eyes again:: When shall we have the ceremony? How long does it take to plan such a thing?

<Loria> ::shrugging:: That all depends on how elaborate you want to be. Gloss and Val were engaged for a little over a year, but I think they only did about four months of planning. On the other hand, we could probably run out this very afternoon and be wed by sundown, if you didn't want to wait...

<Kevil> Hmm. ::he ponders:: Had you any thoughts, or wishes? I grew up, you understand, in assumption of a traditional and elegant circle-joining...

<Loria> Kevil-lin, I never thought I would be wed... just having you in my life is all the joy I need.

<Kevil> ::opens his eyes and sits up enough to kiss her gently, before laying back down:: Ah, n'shava... ::he smiles:: Well, we have some time to consider. We should not be wed before we have secured our home, d'va? It seems as if it would be.... bad luck.

<Loria> ::smiling:: Well, if you want to do everything traditionally, then we should get a ring, and wait about half a year, at least. ::makes a face:: You're supposed to ask my father's permission, but I think we can dispense with that.

<Kevil> Hmm. ::considers:: Your brother, by way of proxy, perhaps? Vallel, I mean, not Kristo.

<Loria> ::nodding:: That would work... ::pauses:: Or you could ask the Blessed Mother.

<Kevil> ::grins:: Think she would approve?

<Loria> ::giggles:: Well... probably...

<Loria> After all, she *didn't* yell at you the other night. Much.

<Kevil> ::chuckles:: Far less than I anticipated. Perhaps there is an advantage to looking as if one has recently been beaten.

<Loria> ::patting his arm:: Well, it certainly made *me* want to take you home and coddle you a while, love.

<Kevil> ::looks up at her with a grin:: Indeed? Perhaps I should adopt a new look...

<Loria> ::messes up his hair:: You... are already irresistable anyway, and what's worse, you know it.

<Kevil> ::grins wider:: But you love me anyway? ::he pulls her down to kiss her::

<Loria> Of course... ::kisses him rather matter-of-factly:: So... let's see... I'll need a dress... and you'll need some new clothes too - a tragedy for you, I'm sure - and attendants... and someone to cook for the reception. And flowers. And perhaps some wedding music, newly written for the occasion?

<Kevil> ::looks at her somewhat plaintively:: So much?

<Loria> ::laughs:: You asked.

<Kevil> ::sighs:: So I did...

<Kevil> ::grins suddenly:: Six months may be too short a time.

<Loria> ::raises an eyebrow:: Did you have something better to do?

<Kevil> ::meekly:: Of course not, n'shava...

<Loria> ::sounding a bit unsure:: Well, we don't *have* to, you know...

<Kevil> ::looks up at her and smiles:: Loria, I am only teasing a little... All shall be as you wish it.

<Loria> ::leaning down, she zerberts his forehead:: Well, you have the advantage of having been married before. I'm still a little nervous.

<Kevil> Ack! ::he scrubs vigorously at his forehead:: Actually, we were never officially joined in circle.

<Loria> ::raises an eyebrow:: Really?

<Kevil> ::nods:: There were plans in place, and the word had been spread... Zoya wished only to complete her quest first... ::he closes his eyes briefly in pain:: ...and then Darin died, and it all... fell apart.

<Loria> ::smiling sort of sadly:: Darin was the glue that held you two stubborn people together? ::sounds as if she's guessing::

<Kevil> ::nods:: It might be... I think Zoya was closer to him than to me... and I, as well, perhaps.

<Kevil> ::smiles, with only a hint of sadness:: You would have liked him, I think. I know he would have loved you.

<Loria> ::nodding:: So far, I've liked all your friends...

<Kevil> ::chuckles:: I am glad to hear it... I, also, like my friends.

<Loria> ::snorts:: Well, one would hope *so*.

<Kevil> ::grins again, then looks up at her:: I love you..

<Loria> ::kissing him:: I *hope* so...

<Kevil> ::laughs:: Have I done something to give you cause to doubt? Been less than convincing? ::he kisses her again:: I can be very convincing, you know...

<Loria> ::a little breathlessly:: Feel free to convince me...

<Kevil> ::chuckles and pulls her closer::

[fade]