* Kevil stands silently in the door to the music room, leaning against the door frame with his arms folded over his chest, watching Loria work on her composition with a faintly foolish smile on his face.

* Loria absently sticks the end of her quill in her mouth, thinking.

<Kevil> ::softly:: You should not do that. It is bad for your teeth. ::he grins::

* Loria turns in her chair to look at him. "You sound like my mother."

<Kevil> ::laughs and walks across the room to her:: You are as bad as I am, not noticing anything going on around you when you are working.

<Loria> ::looking around him, trying to see if there's anything else going on:: Did I miss something? Dinner? Sleep? My lesson? ::looks up at him:: Oh, I know! I forgot to look adoringly at you for hours on end. ::she bats her eyelashes and looks at him with exaggerated lovesickness::

<Kevil> ::chuckles:: No, but you did miss me standing in the door watching you for... Oh, at least the past half hour or so.

<Loria> ::giggles:: Were you really?

<Kevil> Yes. ::he smiles and bends to kiss her hair before leaning against the desk:: What are you working on?

<Loria> ::shrugging:: Nothing much... overly ambitious and hopeful, I think. I need at least three more players at least as good as you are for this. And a choir. None of which I have. So I guess you could say I'm writing a piece of music that I'm never likely to hear.

<Kevil> ::laughs:: Three more players, we could probably find. I do not know where to find a good choir, though... Well, perhaps it could be done... ::he cocks his head slightly:: Would you like to take a break?

* Loria gives her composition one long glower, then puts her quill down. "Surely. Did you have something in mind, or just not want me to put down roots?"

<Kevil> A bit of both, perhaps? ::he grins:: The first flowers are blooming on the roof garden... I thought you might like to have a picnic.

<Loria> ::blinks:: Oh. All right. ::smiles::

* Kevil grins and straightens, then offers Loria his arm with an exaggerated bow. "My lady..."

* Loria gets out of her chair, stretching. Her back pops several times as she raises her arms over her head.

<Kevil> ::raises an eyebrow:: How long *have* you been in here?

<Loria> Um... ::she blinks several times, then goes over to the window, peering up at the sun. With perfect seriousness, she turns to Kevil:: What day is it?

<Kevil> ::laughs:: I would have come to fetch you if you had not come to bed.

<Loria> ::grins at him:: Then only about five hours, I think.

<Kevil> ::laughs and puts an arm around her:: Then it is time for you to take a break, anyhow. The music in your head is not going to go away.

<Loria> ::putting her things away:: Probably not, no.

<Kevil> ::grins and gently massages her shoulders as she's straightening her papers:: Trust me.

<Loria> ::laughs:: You'd know, I suppose... ::she smooths her dress out:: Ree made lunch?

<Kevil> Yes. It is all laid out and ready to go... I was coming to get you, but I could not resist just watching you for a while. ::he smiles and kisses her hair again::

<Loria> ::snickers:: You have too much free time.

<Kevil> ::chuckles and takes her hand, leading her toward the stairs:: Perhaps. Maybe I will retire and spend all my time just watching you adoringly. ::he grins at her::

<Loria> ::puts one hand to her hair:: Sounds like a boring retirement to me.

<Kevil> ::mock-indignantly:: You may spend *your* retirement as you wish... ::he grins as they climb the stairs:: Which reminds me, we have another invitation to perform... Background music for a formal supper.

<Loria> ::sticks her tongue out at him:: Thanks... ::then looking interested:: Good offer? ::she smiles as they step through the large window-door onto the porch:: Oh! It went and got warm. When did that happen?

<Kevil> ::smiles:: It has been very nice today. ::he leads her over to one side of the garden, where a large covered basket waits beside a blanket, its corners held down by plump pillows. There is a bank of brightly-colored flowers just beside the spot::

* Loria picks one of the flowers and tucks it behind her ear. "I'm just glad winter's over. I'm tired of being cold." She looks up at the sky, squinting at a flock of gulls wheeling overhead.

* Kevil sits down carefully. "That, I heartily agree with." He opens the basket and begins carefully removing things.

* Loria sits down, tucking her legs under her.

* Kevil sets out napkins and small plates, then pulls out several small containers of assorted finger-food, including cut fruit and vegetables, meat rolls, and tiny flaky pastries.

* Loria picks up a napkin and begins folding it elaborately, sitting it up like a small tent.

<Kevil> ::pulls out a bottle and uncorks it, sniffing:: Juice. Or a *very* fruity wine... ::he extracts a pair of glasses and offers one to Loria::

<Loria> Juice is good. ::she takes a glass::

<Kevil> ::pours for her, with a smile, then looks back in the basket:: I think the dessert should stay in here until we are ready for it, or the chocolate will melt.

<Loria> ::leaning back on a pillow:: Eat dessert first, life is uncertain.

* Kevil laughs, then reaches into the basket. He comes out with a tiny petit-four, which he offers Loria.

* Loria leans over and snitches the petit-four out of his hand, stuffing it into her mouth with a slightly guilty expression.

<Kevil> ::laughs, watching her, then retrieves another:: Maybe dessert first is a good idea after all... ::he grins mischievously at her:: What will you give me for this one?

<Loria> ::snickers:: Um... how about a kiss?

<Kevil> ::grins and holds the petit-four out of reach:: Pay up.

* Loria takes a quick swallow of her juice, then leans over and kisses Kevil rather enthusiastically.

* Kevil returns the kiss, wrapping his free arm around her. He chuckles. "I can see I will have to ask Mistress Ree to make these more often..." He slips the tiny cake between her lips, grinning.

<Loria> ::giggles:: I like them. ::picks up a piece of cheese, looking dutiful::

<Kevil> ::grinning:: So I see. There are more.

* Loria grins, then fills her plate with "lunch" type food.

* Kevil piles food on his plate, then stretches out on the blanket, watching Loria as he eats absently.

<Loria> Oh.. ::she looks suddenly serious:: I almost forgot. The Blessed Mother spoke with me this morning.

<Kevil> ::blinks:: Did She?

<Loria> ::nodding:: I wanted to know when we were supposed to be going on this... quest. And She said "When it is time to go, you will know." Which, honestly, didn't really sound all that good to me.

<Kevil> ::looks a little concerned:: It does sound... disturbing...

<Loria> ::shrugs:: It certainly makes it hard to plan... ::she takes a bite of cheese::

<Kevil> ::nods, sighing slightly:: Not much warning... I will try to remember to dig out my spellbooks in the next few days.

<Loria> ::looking somewhat pensive:: Ah well. ::with an effort, she dismisses it:: I can only be as ready as I am. ::almost absently reaches into the basket and steals another petit-four::

<Kevil> ::laughs:: Hey! Save some for me!

* Loria peers in the basket. Grinning, she takes one out and sits it on Kevil's plate, then takes four and puts them on her plate.

<Kevil> ::laughs:: Hardly fair... ::he steals two from Loria's plate::

<Loria> ::raises her eyebrows:: I didn't know fair applied in the case of chocolate.

<Kevil> ::considers:: You are right. It does not. ::he steals another from Loria's plate::

* Loria giggles, then steals two from Kevil's plate.

<Kevil> ::grins and steals them back, eating one before she can reclaim it::

<Loria> Hey! ::eats one of her own, looking amused::

<Kevil> ::eats one more, then lays back on the blanket, putting his hands behind his head and looking up into the sky with a wide smile:: What a lovely day.

<Loria> ::smiling, she eats the last three petit-fours in a row:: Quite nice...

<Kevil> ::glances at her and laughs, then sits up again:: You have chocolate on your face, n'shava. ::he leans forward and kisses the side of her mouth:: Mm. Chocolate-flavored Loria.

* Loria laughs, then checks the basket again to make sure there aren't any left.

<Kevil> ::grins at her and offers her his plate, which still holds one::

<Loria> Ah... thank you, my heart... ::she takes the petit-four, looks at him, and then breaks the small cake in half, offering him one half::

<Kevil> ::grins:: Ah, such a show of love and devotion, to share her chocolate... ::he grins at her, then eats the half from her fingers::

<Loria> ::laughs:: With you... I'm mostly inclined to share my chocolate.

<Kevil> So fortunate I am... ::he takes her hand carefully, then grins at her and licks the melted chocolate off her fingertips:: Very nice indeed.

<Loria> ::crosses her eyes:: Why thank you.

<Kevil> ::laughs softly and kisses her knuckles:: I love you.

<Loria> I love you, too. ::she leans over and kisses him again::

<Kevil> ::returns the kiss with enthusiasm, sliding his arms around her:: I am happy to hear that.

* Loria laughs. "Don't suppose I could get you to peek at my composition? Get your 'professional' opinion?"

<Kevil> ::nods:: The music is hammering at your skull, is it? ::he grins:: I would enjoy that. ::he stands and offers her a hand up::

<Loria> ::blushes slightly:: A little... I keep feeling like I won't be able to get anything done until I've at least gotten it out of my head.

<Kevil> ::smiles:: I understand, n'shava... Come, let us see if we can get the music out of your head and onto paper.

* Loria stands up, taking Kevil's hand.