D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad

The flames swirled around them as the world faded away. Kat let out a long puff of air she didn't realise she'd been holding and pulled Lily closer to her chest. Lily purred happily at the contact, finding the fire to be much less captivating then her girlfriend. Kat, to the dismay of someone in particular, could not help but be captivated by the fire instead. It was a truly novel experience that never got old. Sure hugging Lily was just as good, if not better, but it was a much more common occurrence. Especially after the month they'd just had. Point of fact, Kat knew that Lily had spent more time in her arms then on the ground.

When the fire eventually retreated, Kat flopped down onto her bead easily, letting her arms drop from around Lily. That was too little contact for the Memphis who slid up and buried herself against Kat's neck. The pair just smiled and held that position for a while. Time lost quite a bit of meaning like that… until Callisto raised the call for lunch.

Kat was rather content to just lay there. Sure the snow was somewhat relaxing, but here, back on Earth in her room with Lily? That was the best place to really unwind. Sadly, Lily's stomach roared a battle cry and Kat moved into action. Lily was just thankful she couldn't be seen blushing at the moment.

When they made it downstairs, Callisto was already seated and Sylvie was sliding into a chair. They both paused and turned when they heard footsteps. Callisto's mouth twitched the slightest bit downwards, but Sylvie's entire body lit up in joy. "Big sis Kat! Lily! You're back! That means you'll be here for my birthday!"

Kat abused the HECK out of her powers to slow down time to take in that statement. *Oh shit. It's that late in the year? Wait that means I missed Lily's birthday. WHY DIDN'T SHE MENTION IT?!* "Indeed it does. I'm pretty sure I even have time off!" smiled Kat with as much cheer as she could muster. *Lily! Why didn't you warn me about your birthday!*

[Meh, I got a whole new body so arguably that's now my birthday. Plus I've never been one for parties. I spent the whole day with you so what more could I want?]

*I dunno… maybe an actual present?*

[Bah, I got immortality, the best girlfriend ever, and an adorable sister-in-law. And that's all just in the last few months. Anything anyone tried to get me for my birthday would've been a massive disappointment comparatively. Plus, I'm pretty sure you'd spend way too much money if I didn't just ask for something specific.]

*I resemble that remark.*

Kat slid into one of the other chairs as Callisto spoke, "Are you hungry Kat? I am afraid I did not prepare all that much food. Vivian is out at work and I did not expect you and Lily to return. While feeding Lily is a small ask while she remains in her Memphis form, feeding you is not so different to a normal human. When you can be bothered,"

"Ah, I don't require any food for lunch. Just thought I'd come down and spend some time with whoever was around, while Lily ate," said Kat as she silently thanked the fact that it was technically the truth. She didn't REQUIRE food for lunch. It would be nice, and Kat herself was actually a little hungry after everything. The last time she'd eaten was during Ron's little cookout but that didn't really matter. Kat knew Callisto would want leftovers for her own snacking, and Lily needed the food more. Yang had luckily still had a bit of raw meat in her storage ring, but Lily's last meal was late yesterday.

Of course, the sharp glare that Callisto levelled at Kat implied that her little ruse wasn't missed by all. Lily was, thankfully in Kat's mind, too focused on her own hunger that the much more subtle call for food coming from Kat's end of the link went unnoticed. Sylvie had already dug in, probably in an attempt to eat quickly and chat as soon as she finished, and hadn't been paying quite as much attention.

Still, Callisto didn't call Kat out on it, she simply stood up and grabbed a small bowl for Lily and made up something a bit fancy using only the meatier sections of the lunch. Callisto had done up a small, well relatively speaking small, pot of Coq Au Vin, a chicken stew dish that smelled rather nice to Kat's nose. Callisto grabbed a heaping of source, and an unbalanced amount of meat to spoon out for Lily.

Callisto offset this by taking extra vegetables into her own bowl, though considering what Kat had seen the maid eat on the regular that was no hardship at all. Simply a minor matter of practicality. Kat glanced at the pot trying and failing to do the mental calculation and realise that there probably was still enough for two meals, maybe three, in the pot even after Lily's portion had been handed over. Still, Kat didn't let that leak into her thoughts lest Lily catch on she was avoiding lunch in what was now clearly a misguided attempt at being helpful.

"I will admit to some surprise at your timely arrival. Your last message seemed to indicate that you might yet still be a few days away from returning," intoned Callisto after finishing a few good bites of her food.

Kat smiled, happy to have an easy answer for that one, "The end to the most recent Contract was a little… unclear. See, we needed to make sure that everyone was safe and we'd definitely escaped from that sect right?" Callisto nodded in understanding. Kat had informed everyone of the Contract she was under, "Well I beat him up… but Xiang and Xuena were injured, as I believe I mentioned. In the end though, they decided to hole up for a while and recover.

"It came down to the idea of… 'safe' from pursuers. There might also be an argument revolving around the idea that the ice qi filled area we were in was technically part of the ice sect. One of the two. Anyway, it was unclear exactly how long we'd be forced to stay and with Xiang out of commission we couldn't simply get verbal confirmation of Contract completion," explained Kat.

Callisto nodded between bites to assure Kat she was listening. Something that was probably necessary with people who didn't know Callisto all that well. She was remarkably good at keeping her face blank. The only reason she reacted at all was because some idiots assumed she wasn't paying attention. They are referenced as idiots though, specifically because Callisto is ALWAYS listening.

"I see. It is good to have you home early. Even if you still had a few days to return in time for Sylvie's birthday, I thank you for making it in time to help with the preparations if you so desire," said Callisto.

*I feel kind of bad. I mean, I didn't forget Sylvie's birthday… but I had no idea what day it was. Indeed I still don't know the date right now. So… not ideal but I mean… did you know Lily?*

[Nope. I'm afraid I'm in the same boat as you. Sylvie's birthday, never forgotten. The current date… eh, we were in another world for so long it didn't exactly stay relevant.]

"Does Sylvie have an idea about who she'd like over?" asked Kat.

Sylvie took a few moments to look completely innocent, all the while Callisto stared the younger girl down using just the corner of her eyes. "Sadly she does not. Despite informing her she should acquire some friends, or at least, friendly acquaintances at school so as to avoid any social issues like I did when I was younger, she has soundly ignored my advice. In fact, if Lily counts as a friend, she is the closest in age to Sylvie among the category"

Kat sighed, and made to say something but caught Sylvie pouting. Kat waited for the explanation and was hardly surprised. "I just think that too many people at school are idiots. I mean… I get it, most kids aren't all that smart, or maybe just do not have patience but… it is trying to deal with people who cannot converse with me on an intellectual level,"

"Sylvie you are continually attempting to emulate my speech patterns and already regularly talk like a college-level English major. Why you believe it will gain you allies or friends is beyond me," said Callisto with a hint of sadness.

Sylvie just huffed at that, "I do not need a bunch of boring friends that aren't smart enough to get along with. I want to find that ONE friend. You have Vivian, and Kat has Lily, or perhaps it's the one the way around? Never the less, I want something like that. I'll never find my one friend if I am pretending to be someone else,"

"You do realise that Lily and Kat are dating correct? Are you looking for a marriage candidate like them or a friend like Vivian and I?" asked Callisto, just to double check.

"You do realise that if you and Vivian were any emotionally closer to each other you'd be married right? Are you sure you are just friends?" retorted Sylvie.

"I do not sleep with her," said Callisto as answer.

"You do not sleep," shot back Sylvie.

*Wait so are they dating or not?*

[Frankly Kat… I don't think anyone knows the answer to that question. Least of all themselves.]