Time is unforgiving to the quiet and somber evening. After her talk with Tooth, she ends up spending much of rest of the evening sitting in the garden amongst the trees. For the most part, the servants and heads of the household ignore Lilac as they go about their affairs around her. If Lilac wasn't feeling foreign earlier, she most assuredly would be by now as all that is spoken is in Imperial … with its eerie hissing tone. Every now and then one of the servants motions towards Lilac then hisses something to one of the other servants. The usual response is a slight shrug and they move on. Occasionally the servant sniffs loudly and turns its head away from her. At least one thing makes the night more bearable: the gardens are absolutely beautiful under the light of the procession and the light from the stone lamps that fill the gardens.

Sitting on a rock overlooking the koi pond, Lilac watches as the shimmer of the Procession sparkles across the still waters. She thinks about all the strange places she has seen – albeit briefly – over the last year, and how she ended up across the world from her homeland. How she even got here still eludes her. She suspects drunkenness, or a failed robbery. After all, she's usually broke and not worth robbing. There are other, darker reasons to disable a woman in the night, but she tries not to consider those too much. There's nothing she could do about it, anyway. Sighing, she picks up a piece of bread she manages to scrounge from one of the servants and, after eating some of it, tosses a bit in to the pond.

One of the koi darts to the surface of the water and snaps up the bread. After a moment, several more come near the surface and stare at Lilac. In the distance, one of the sliding paper doors of the house moves. Slipping out into the darkness is … well, it's probably Umeko, given the faint hints of gold that can be seen. She's removed the fine robes she wore at dinner through, seemingly dressed in a much simpler white kimono. The Kiriga looks around quickly after she closes the door, then slinks off into the night.

At least I have an audience, Lilac jokes to herself. While she never looks up to spot Umeko, her nose does twitch when she catches the dragoness' scent. Frowning, she looks up, but is too late to spot the woman. After standing, the human woman sniffs a few more times before following her nose in her pursuit of Umeko. After all, the noble might be looking for her.

If Umeko is looking for her, she's sure looking in odd places. The Kiriga glides almost silently through the estate, heading into a more wooded and dark section that probably acts as a buffer area between this estate and the next. Once in the center of the wooded area, it opens back up into a small clearing. The dragon stops here, then walks over to something near the edge of the clearing. A few sparks light up around the Kiriga's hands as she works with some flint, then a soft glow cuts through the night. All around the clearing are cur and broken bits of bamboo. Humming quietly to herself, the Kiriga walks around and starts standing back up the less broken ones. Now in the light, Lilac can see the young dragon is carrying two swords, one long, one short, tucked into her obi.

Realizing the noble wasn't looking for her, and feeling rather awkward about following her now, Lilac crouches behind some bushes and does her best to hide. Maybe, she thinks, she can slink away. Or, maybe she'll watch for a little while, and then slink away. It could all make for interesting story material, after all.

The Kiriga draws the two swords from her obi as she kneels down. She lays the swords down on the grass in front of herself with a motion that hints at reverence. With a bow of her head, she starts taking in long, slow breaths, eyes closed. And then … the dragon remains still and quiet for some time.

Hiding, perhaps more than music, is something Lilac is actually good at. You just don't survive traveling around the world, or growing up in Sylvania, without being able to hide from those who are bigger, meaner, more violent, and looking for debt collection, without being a good hider. So, Lilac hides. The irony that her best skill is the one that has the least chance of fame does not elude her. She watches, though, curious about the odd dragon's odder ritual.

Just when it seems like the dragon is just going to sit there, she launches to life. As she comes up in a graceful half-leap, she picks up the long-edged sword. The dragon arcs through the air and whips the sword outward. There's a sound of splintering bamboo and one of the reeds she returns upright separates from the sword blow. She twists around as she reaches the edge of the clearing and plants one foot and one hand onto a tree trunk, then propels herself off it. As she glides by another reed, she one again strikes out, separating the reed into two pieces. Again, she plants on another tree and launches, and this time in the direction where Lilac is hiding!

Ducking is another skill that comes in handy as a mediocre bard. Lilac drops to the ground and mantles her wings over herself, making her look like some sort of leather rock. She isn't sure where she learned the instinct to do that, but it sure comes in handy.

Ducking was probably a good idea, because the dragon's hand and foot again land against a tree, then claws dig into it, spraying bits of bark all over a 'leathery rock'. Off Umeko goes again back towards the center. After a graceful head over tail roll, she comes up carrying the shorter sword in her left hand now. The brow-ridge on Umeko's delicate golden face furrows down as she then runs towards the couple of remaining reeds of bamboo. In a flurry of blades, the bamboo disintegrates around the Kiriga. Without a word, she draws back the long blade and slides it back first down her left arm, then into the scabbard in her obi. The shorter one follows thereafter. She then draws in a breath … and lets out out with a slow and sad shake of her head. She mutters something, but it's in Imperial.

Lilac wishes languages were something she also mysteriously picked up over the course of her travels. Alas, they are not, and she has been stuck in far too many 'lands of gibberish.' Deciding escaping now would be difficult, what with all her cover hacked up, Lilac decides on a dramatic entrance. She rises to her feet, unfurls her wings, and claps! "Bravo!"

Umeko's head jerks up and whips around towards the sudden intrusion on her solitude. She drops back into a low crouch as her hand tightens around the grip of one of the swords. And then … she blinks and all tension washes from her body. Drawing herself back up to her full height, she asks, this time in standard, "Lilac?"

"In the flesh! All of it, I hope. That was very elegant, and I feared for my limbs," the woman replies. She holds up her hands to show she's unarmed, or perhaps that she has her arms, and steps forward. "I saw you leave the manor, and I thought you might be looking for me. So, I followed along." She smiles, if a bit nervously.

Umeko stares at the woman with golden eyes. As she slides her arms back into her kimono sleeves, she says, "I see." Her eyes break away from the human and look back towards the direction of the manor. "No one else followed you?"

"I doubt it. I'm pretty good at hiding. It comes in handy, when you travel as much as I do," Lilac replies. She glances behind herself, anyway, and nods. "Nope, no one. I can't smell anyone else except you. Not nearby. Do you come here often?" She sniffs a bit more.

"At times," the dragon answers the question, not looking entirely convinced that the human can tell if others are around merely by smelling. "I come here when I need to … how do the foreigners say it? Unwind? Relax? Out here I don't have to pretend to be a dignified daughter of a lord who has no soul or mind of her own."

"Unwind and relax are good. I like let down my hair, or take it easy, as well," the human woman says. She looks around for a moment, then walks over and has a seat on one of the stumps. "You really don't like your lot, do you?" She frowns, gesturing at herself. "I can sympathize. I left home to travel, to ply my skills as a bard. It can be a lot of fun! And, well, a lot of dangerous."

"I don't like being expected to never speak my mind and suffer through whatever indignity is laid upon me," The dragon answers, "Would you wish to be nothing more than an ornament upon some noble's arm?" Umeko then lets out another breath and adds, "But, that is not your problem. You are a foreigner. Dangerous or no, you get to make choices about your life."

"Oh, being an ornament is what a bard is, often enough. But, I know that's not what you mean." Lilac folds her wings about her shoulders, so that they resemble a leather cloak. "As for making my own decision, welllll," she shrugs, "my parents wanted me to stay in the village. "Learn to sew," Lysand-, er, Lilac, "go to Justininople and learn a trade," Lilac. Justininople was their half-way point on my desire to travel. After meeting the gypsies, though, I knew I just had to go – and I did. And, here I am."

"Without money, a place to live, and without understanding the language," Umeko says as a way of finishing the bard's sentence. "Your parents asked ou to go to another city … I'm not even allowed to leave the estate without a proper escort. Well, unless I sneak out," she adds as she kneels down on the soft grass. "What was your village like?"

Shrugging again, Lilac grins. "Hey, not knowing where you'll be sleeping tomorrow, and being broke, is all party of the fun and adventure," she says with a bit of wavering bravado. She lets the bravado slide when she speaks about her village, her mouth creasing in a slight frown. "It's a small village in Sylvania, south-west of Justininople. There are a lot of lumber mills; we supply the city, and such. It's a dangerous place, too, what with the occasional zombies, vampires, and other undead. Not to mention the Gallisian invasion army and the bandits. I was really surprised the rest of the world doesn't have zombies."

"I always heard they were just stories to scare the children," Umeko notes as she looks skyward. "If you like danger, though, then why did you leave that place? Why did you travel outside those lands?"

"Oh, well, you've seen one zombie, you've seen them all," Lilac explains, trying again to sound confident about the whole affair. "Really, I wanted to see the world. Sylvania is just a small forest, but there's so much more to see. There's a sea of sand, the ocean, the mountains of Bosch, all the cities. Why should I limit myself?"

"Do you plan to return home someday?" Umeko asks as her maned, scaly, tail makes serpentine trails in the grass. "I would love to see the cities of the world. I've heard stories from people who visited the estates for business with my father, but."

"Someday, when I've made a name for myself and become a truly famous bard," Lilac confirms. She hops off her makeshift seat and begins pacing around the clearing, slowly. "You can't just leave to see the cities, even with an escort, right? Would that beau of yours let you travel? And," she leans in conspiratorially, despite there being several feet between the women, " … was he painted? And, I think, sanded? Doesn't that hurt?"

"It would not be proper for the daughter of a lord to be seen amongst the common folk," Umeko says in a slow, deadpan, hiss, as if repeating something from memory she's heard far too many times. "So, no, I can't," she finally answers. Her head tilts and rotates as she watches Lilac pace. And at the comment at the man being painted, the dragon almost laughs? The hissing didn't sound like something out of anger, at least. "He was. I have similar done to me monthly to keep the metallic shine to my scales. But … not to that extent. That much would be painful yes," she answers, and then frowns. "He plans worse for me."

"It wouldn't? Well it's a good thing I'm extraordinary folk, so you're quite safe with me." The human woman grins mischievously, her long animal-like ears wiggling. When the dragoness goes on, she folds her hands behind her back and frowns in thought. Once Umeko has finished, she nods slowly. "I don't get it," she admits. "He's some kind of artist? I don't get it at all. Lords and ladies from Sylvania don't have people like that, as I've ever seen. It looks really uncomfortable, even if it is pretty." She glances at Umeko, now, and asks, "So, what does he want to do with you, if I may ask, my lady?"

"To make me into a living work of art, to showcase his talents," Umeko says and actually winces a bit at the thought. "In these lands, everything is status and appearance. He apparently holds high status with the Imperial courts, and that has sway with my Father. Father is willing to sacrifice his daughter to improve the family status. As for all he intends to do, I truly do not know. He would not give a clear answer to my questions. I suppose I may find out somewhat soon, if he does decide to design my wedding robes. If I am sufficient in my duties, he may perhaps someday allow me to have children." The dragon's teeth literally grind together as she hisses the last bit out.

"It sounds like virtual slavery," the human says, after a long moment of silence. She pauses, then suddenly scratches at her ear intently. "Stupid fle- er … " She grins widely, forcing her hand away, as if it was all nothing. Her ear continues to twitch, however. "But, yes: slavery. Now," she leans forward again, whispering, " … it's not my place to say so, my lady, but he sounds like a real horror. That whole 'living work of art' matter kind of makes me want to shiver, you know? I feel bad for you."

"I feel bad for myself as well," the dragon says. "I give him a year … before I kill him," she then adds flatly. Her brow furrows and the dragon then gets back to her feet. "Come with me," she says as she starts walking back towards the house. When she passes by the lit lamp, she licks her slender fingers, then extinguishes the flame with them.

"Oh, well, that would be bad, I guess? It seems to me this, um, your culture favors men, like many others. Patriarchy, and all that. Wouldn't they, well, kill you? And wouldn't it, oh, disgrace your family?" Following along, Lilac deftly dodges bushes and bamboo reeds in the dark.

"The answer to all your questions is yes," Umeko answers, "But I have little option, unless I can manage to arrange a way off this island quickly and quietly." The dragon leads the odd human through the estate and up to a large building. She slides open the door and ushers the human inside. She then follows behind and closes it. In the center of the room is a large tub of steaming water. "You are going to bathe," the dragon hisses.

"What?" Lilac exclaims, nonplused. She blinks at the bath, then gives the dragoness an odd look. "You're not going to … watch … are you? Because I'm not that kind of bard, no offense meant, my lady."

"You are woman, are you not?" Umeko says as her head tilts and brow furrows, looking a bit confused at the sudden concern if she watched. "If you are to stay here, you need to be clean. Otherwise Father will complain."

"Oh, well, you know. Bard's life and all. Odd requests and … Nevermind!" Lilac eyes the dragoness a moment longer, then shrugs. "I guess it's okay. I guess you never … ? Well, probably not. And, well, … " She rambles like that for several minutes as she begins to undress. First, she works at her obi until she has to ask, "Um, my lady? I'm not really sure how to … I don't want to tear it … ?"

"I do not understand what you mean about a bards life and odd requests. When I bathe, the servants are often here to attend me. It is not uncommon for the women in the house to assist each other with certain tasks. It is not easy to completely wash your own mane, for example. Though, I suppose humans do not have manes," Umeko asks, then shakes her head slightly. The dragon walks over and around Lilac. There are a few tugs at the large bow in the back and the obi releases its grip on Lilac's waist. "I will face the door if that makes you more comfortable," she then says and steps away, then does indeed go to face the door.

"Thanks," Lilac says in reply to both the help and the turning away. She shrugs out of her kimono and gentle places it on the floor, folding it relatively neatly, then strips of her small clothes. Moments later, Umeko hears the sploosh of water as Lilac climbs in the tub. "Ohhh," she sighs, "that's nice. I haven't had a hot bath in … Well, a while. Oooo." She sinks in until just her head is showing.

"Have you had a husband?" Umeko asks the woman. The dragon never does look back as Lilac slides into the hot bath water.

"Never. I didn't want to be tied down by a marriage, and I can't ever really settle on a man, anyway. I used to be courted by this guy in my hometown, but he didn't really get it. He just wanted to build a house, chop wood, and create a home for his idealized family. Which, I suppose, was fine for him. We just didn't see eye-to-eye. I can't stand being tied down, anyway. I have to go." Looking around, Lilac spots some of the exotic cleaning materials used by the Jingai. She picks them up one at a time, raising a brow. "Oh, is this for?" She waves an exotic and complex looking comb.

After glancing backwards to see what she picked up, Umeko answers, "Removing mats from the mane without catching on any ridge spines the person may have." She pushes down her own mane as best she can to show off the half-inch spines that go down her neck and spine. So, they don't just go along the dragon's muzzle. "The smaller ones next to it are to clean the edges under the edges of scales. "Was your family upset you did not wed him?" she asks.

"Oh, a little, I suppose." Lilac lifts the brush she showed Umeko to her own hair, comparing it to the dragon's and her spines. Apparently deciding she doesn't need it, she puts the brush aside and picks up a much more simple one. "I never really did find out, since I just said, "bye" to them all one day and headed for the road. It was really sudden, I just sat up one day and knew I had to go now or never. So, I did. I told him "good bye" and left. If I had stayed longer, I think all the sad faces would have kept me back. Sometimes you just have to go, you know?" She moves the brush to her hair, then pauses. "Is that shampoo?" She sounds excited by shampoo. Given her dull black hair, she probably hasn't seen shampoo in a while.

"Smell it. If it smells of flowers, it is shampoo. If it smells of fish … it's for scales. I don't think you want scale soap, given you do not have any scales," Umeko says. The dragon's tail whips back and forth slowly, but never touches the ground as it moves. "Do you know what the current port schedules are here?" she asks, "I presume you came by ship, yes?"

"I know the port schedules for some ships. The, well, budget cruises, if you will." Lilac doesn't both picking up the bottles – she just sniffs near each of them in turn. "By ship, yes," she replies, distractedly. The third bottle down, she seems to enjoy just sniffing at the bottle for a prolonged period, grinning widely.

"Are any leaving in the next few days?" the dragon asks next and goes back to facing the door. "And do you know if they will transport with no questions asked, by chance?"

The human woman opens the bottle, then puts a dollop on her hands before scrubbing it in to her hair. "The Silver Serpent is leaving tomorrow, and I think it's a trade ship. They said they'd allow me to bunk in the hold, but I'm not sure if they'd raise eyebrows if I was odd about it. I think they're honest Nagai merchants. Then there's the Sea Monster, which is a little shady. I don't know why they're here, and they seemed a little too eager, but they don't seem to care who I am as long as I pay. Oh, and there's the Wave Wench, which is actually non-Nagai based. I'm really not sure where it's from, or where it's going, only that there are a lot of mixed crew and the captain is a lech. He'd probably take any woman on board."

"Mm," Umeko says and grows silent for a bit. "I'm not sure I can arrange enough to be able to leave by tomorrow," she admits and hangs her head. "Please do not tell anyone else this, but I was going to offer you enough money for your passage, and mine, if you were willing to arrange it. I can't stay here. If I stay, I will completely dishonor my family. If I leave … it will at least be less."

"Wait, what?" The surprise in Lilac's voice is as blatant as her hair is black. "You, oh … that's why … I see." She scrubs at her hair, and at her ears, while thinking a moment. "I thought you … Oh well, I see why. Um," she looks over at the dragoness, and then waves her over. "Come here. Let me look at your eyes."

"My eyes?" Umeko asks as she turns around and approaches the tub. Kneeling down, she brings herself eye-level to the human. Gold reptilian-slitted eyes peer at the human curiously.

Soapy hair and all, Lilac twists around and leans forward to peer in to Umeko's eyes. "So, you don't want to get married to that man? Are you sure?" Her gaze roams across the reptile's face, as if they were looking for something.

"If I marry someday, it will be with someone I accept and who accepts me as I am. I will not be some soulless bauble," Umeko answers. Her expression is calm and a bit hard to read, but that may just be a trait of being a Kiriga.

"Okay," Lilac says neutrally. "And, you know if you leave, you may never be able to come home, right? The road may be long and hard. You may end up like me, with fleas and playing for your meals." Her eyes continue to search, and she even sniffs a bit.

"I would rather die on the road, then waste away as 'art'. At least then it would have been my choice," Umeko replies. She continues to watch the human with a mix of curiosity and confusion. "This isn't a home, Lilac. It's a prison. At least, for me it is."

"I see," Lilac says in that same neutral tone. "And what of your family? You say you may kill him, but will you really? Can you stand to dishonor your parents and bring them shame?"

"Yes, I could kill him," Umeko answers simply, "You saw me tonight, did you not?" She sighs and then adds, "As for dishonoring my family … everything I was raised to believe says no. Everything I feel in here." She pauses to tap her chest, the continues, "Says yes. If I run, I will just be a rebellious daughter. If I kill, I will be a murderer. The former is less shameful to the family. I have always been … difficult for my family. I haven't been the proper lady they have wanted."

"Mmm." Lilac leans back, seeming to have found what she was looking for. Nodding, she declares, "I will help you. I can see the conviction in your eyes, and the truth. I think I smell it, too." She grins, then adds, "And what sort of bard would I be, if I didn't participate in such a tragic story of doomed marriage, honor, and escape?" She grins even more, then leans over to pat Umeko's face with a wet hand. "I'll see what I can do. You'll have to trust me on the money, no two ways about that, and I won't say I would be surprised if you thought I might run off with it. Only the Silver Serpent is leaving tomorrow. The other two are leaving later. I'm not sure what they're up to, and he wouldn't give me an exact departure date."

"I also wish to speak with Tooth-sensei. He has traveled the world and knows much. He may have advice," Umeko says and sits back a bit. "Please discuss with them passage cost and the requirement of no questions asked. I will then obtain what is necessary. Until things have been finalized, you will stay here. I believe our servant, Xiao, has a spare bed in her quarters you can share."

"Okay. Um, will I still get paid? I don't need much, just food and shelter, and a few coins to spend. I'm a little broke," Lilac inquires, letting a little desperation slip in to her voice. "And, if we're all leaving together, you might want to find some clothes that don't scream 'I'm a noble daughter.' Maybe less polish to your scales, too. Nobles raise more eyebrows than street urchins – believe me, I know." She then dips her head under water, letting the soap wash out before resurfacing.

"Food and shelter is easily arranged. Payment will depend on what else you do that is visible and justifiable to Father," Umeko answers when Lilac re-emerges. "What can you do, other than music?"

"Well, I can … clean, I suppose. And cook a little bit. I peeled a lot of onions, once, on a voyage. Oh, and I have a keen nose, and I can actually fly." Lilac makes flying sound like the most wonderful, amazing thing, as if it were some gift that still surprises her.

"Well, Father would most likely be accepting of cleaning work. Perhaps cooking if he is feeling adventurous some night. I don't think he would find much value in your nose or flying, though. Forgive me, but I must speak the truth on that," Umeko answers honestly. "Plus, he owes you some coin for tonight's music, does he not?"

"I hope so, otherwise I really do need a place to stay," Lilac replies. She looks over the array of bottles, then asks, "Should I use this fish soap on my skin? I don't think you have any human-style soap here, um … " She sniffs at bottles, and goes right on talking. "I don't mind cleaning, if it comes to that. Just, please don't tell anyone. It's a little embarrassing."

"I do not know what using fish oil based soap on your skin would do," Umeko admits and runs a claw along her jawline in thought. "It might make you slippery enough that the sea monsters would find you easy to swallow," she finally adds. Hard to tell if the reptile is being serious or joking.

Lilac gives Umeko a shrewd look, peering at her with those odd purple eyes of hers. Then, she laughs. "You do have a sense of humor! I was wondering if that was forbidden on Jadai, pardon me for saying so, my lady." She reaches over and dollops some fish soap on her hand, then tries scrubbing it on her arm. "Oh, soeaking of manes, could you, well, wash my tail? It's hard to reach, and it's always being a hassle."

"I did not know humans had tails," Umeko admits, peering at Lilac oddly. "But then, they don't have wings, either. "As for humor, well, as I said, I am a poor lady. We are supposed to laugh at jokes, not make them. It is a good thing Father is not here." The soap does indeed smell like fish and has a rather oily feel to it. It's thankfully not too pungent, at least. When its rinsed off, it leaves the skin feeling slightly slick and shiny.

"Umm, well, I'm an extraordinary person, so you have to expect extraordinary things from me. Being a bard is all about trying to be impressive and memorable. I bet you'll remember me as the human with wings and a tail, even if you forget my music," Lilac explains. She eyes eye arm, the frowns. "Well I don't think I need to be shiny. It's a little immodest. Not that I mind immodesty, being shiny could be good as a bard, it's just, well … A bit much. It might give the wrong idea." She abandons the fish soap, then sits up. From beneath the water, her tail rises like a furry wet serpent. It's covered in black fur that's similar to that on her wings, ears, and even to her hair color. "Just don't tug it," she warns.

"What idea would it give?" the dragon asks, "You keep speaking of wrong ideas. What sort of ideas would it give in the outside world? How are they wrong?" She reaches for the mane shampoo and squirts a little along the human's wet tail. As the dragon then starts to work the shampoo into the appendage, Lilac learns just how sharp the dragon's claws actually are. There are several points where she gets a painful pinprick. The dragon is likely not used to dealing with skin.

"Ooch, ow, careful there – your nails are sharp!" Lilac pleads, wincing. He tail writhes around like a wounded animal, flicking soap here and there. Squinting in exaggerated pain, she explains, "I guess you really have been inside a long time. That's okay; I didn't know any of this either, when I first started traveling. Anyway, there are bards, and there are BARDS, and then there are 'bards.' The first two entertain people, usually with music, sometimes with stories, song, or dance. The are the famous ones, who get real positions and are well known, and there are the roaming bards, like myself. Then there are … 'bards.'" She frowns at the very idea of this mysterious third tier of barddom. "'Bards' may not have any real talent. They just pretend to be bards. Some are really thieves, others are prostitutes. A few are actual, high-class courtesans who play music and bed people for shekels, sometimes. A lot of shekels. But they're just 'bards' to me. It's their sex appeal or thievery that gets them famous, not their music."

"Curious. People offer sex for money in the outside world? A most unusual profession, it would not survive well here," the dragon comments idly and eases up a bit and the pinpricking subsides, "Status and influence means much more than mere physical enjoyment. But, thieves I suppose I could see. And, are all 'humans' so tender? I was not pressing that hard with my claws. A Kiriga would have barely felt my touch."

Lilac holds her tail protectively. "I never thought we were tender, but I guess we are compared to the Nagai and Jingai. Just be careful, please?" She releases her tail and reaches for a scrub brush. "And yes, they do pay. It's usually a very sad sort of job, the kind most women and some men take because they have no choice except starve. A few, though, they get paid a considerable amount, and I've heard there are cults of priests and priestesses who do it as a religious service."

"Your culture is an odd one," Umeko comments and shakes her head a bit. She then holds out her arm so Lilac can see and presses her claws against it and slides them to demonstrate. The scales flex a bit, but there's no obvious sign of pain or discomfort from the dragon. "You're more tender than we are, see?" she says. After the demonstration, she works a bit longer on Lilac's tail, then releases it so it can be rinsed.

"It's a good thing he's not marrying me. That sanded look would be a horror on me," Lilac remarks, laughing. "Oh, should I get you some clothes, then? It might be easier for me to find you something unassuming, if you don't mind fleas or stains."

"It's a horror on him. I do not see how he finds that beautiful," the dragon says. On the comment about clothing, Umeko looks uneasy. "I can obtain clothing from the servants quarters," she tells the human, "I will try to appear to just be a servant on an errand." From the house, the two then hear the bellowing voice of her father, "Umeko!" The dragon winces, then stands quickly. "I must go before he gets angry. Please, do not mention you saw me tonight in the clearing," she says and bows to the human. "I will send Xiao to show you to your bed for the night. Thank you, Lilac." And with that, the dragon hurries out of the bathing room to find her father.

"How do I get in to these things?" Lilac wonders aloud to an empty room. "Gods, I hope I know what I'm doing." She leans back in to the water under just her head is above it. "At least I get a nice bath, though. Ahh. Better enjoy it – tomorrow I may die!" She laughs nervously, wishing she felt as confident as she was trying to appear.