Private Finished [agodr] A Lesson in Patience

Mr. Parsons, Matthew, her regalia, had finally told Celeste his real name. He had also mentioned during their somewhat enlightening conversation that her next challenger was also her son, Shale, and that she might consider a challenge more suited to his skills than to a simple game or one of chance.

Knowing all of this beforehand, and remembering that Roldan had wanted to experience a challenge to see what they were like, Celeste had happily sent him a text message, telling him that if he was free that afternoon, evening, he was more than welcome to come over and watch her and Shale participate in one with their regalia in attendance, and if he wanted to or had time, stay afterwards for dinner or a quick snack.

@Kada

Having just taken a strawberry rhubarb pie out of the oven along with a baked clay loaf mixed with crushed jade pieces - Celeste was becoming quite adept at baking with rocks and minerals - something she had never thought she'd ever be doing - when she heard the front door. Glancing at the clock on the wall, she realised that it was probably Shale or Roldan, either one should be arriving soon.

Taking off her apron, Celeste then went to the front door, opened it and smiled when she saw who it was. There standing before her was Roldan and he was holding a small bouquet of colourful flowers - carnations and tulips to be exact - two of her favourite flowers. Looking at him, she couldn't help blushing a bit at the very thoughtful gesture.

Hearing another voice then, she glanced away from Roldan and realised that Shale was also there, and now was quite aware, by the confused look on his face, that she hadn't exactly told him about Roldan yet.

"Hi sweetheart, how was your day? Roldan is here to watch our challenge'," she explained glancing at Roldan and smiling, "I hope you don't mind. He was curious about the Game of Divine Rights so I asked him if he'd like to watch a match." she said calmly as she ushered both into the house.

@Kada @Goblin

Celeste watched in surprise as Roldan took her hand and kissed it softly, making her blush even more. It wasn't an intimate gesture per say, but it certainly was pleasant as well as very unexpected.

Watching briefly and with interest as Roldan made his way into the house, Celeste turned her attention to Shale and hugged him back when he hugged her.

"Just normal clothes, nothing special, the challenge won't be anything where you get dirty," she said as she put an arm around his shoulder as she steered him towards the stairs so he could go upstairs and get changed.

"Roldan and I are friends, who are seeing where things go, that's what's up," Celeste told Shale gently. Understanding that it was probably somewhat of a shock for Shale to see a man giving her flowers and kissing her hand suddenly.

"We will talk more about it later, okay?" she told Shale calmly, gesturing to him to go and get changed and come back down to do the challenge.

"I'll meet you back in the kitchen in five, and I'll explain to you want we are doing then," she said as she let him go get changed, making her way back into the kitchen, Celeste then spotted the flowers in one of the vases she kept handy, and just smiled warmly at Roldan, thanking him for the gesture, and for his patience with Shale.

@Goblin

"Thank you,"¨Celeste said at the compliment, "I love baking, and I just thought it might be a nice treat for after the challenge," she explained to both Roldan and Shale.

"Speaking of which," here she looked at Shale. "I thought we'd do something that tests your patience, ability to think things through calmly."

"I was thinking we could do..." and here she walked over to a cabinet and pulled out a stack of square reams of paper and set them on the kitchen table, "Origami figures. Swans or cranes, your choice," she said looking at him.