B-O-M-B
humanitas - kindness
B-O-M-B
Zhael had not been prepared to run into Lilith when she visited Rukifellth's mansion that day.
Well, technically, what she had not been prepared to run into was a crying Lilith.
"Oh. Zhael." Lilith actually seemed to cheer up at bit at Zhael's presence, but she was still sniffling. She wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. "What brings you here?"
"I was...um...wondering if..." Zhael hesitated on her original words as she took in the tears still pooling in Lilith's eyes. "I was wondering if...you wanted to go out somewhere."
Lilith blinked. "Like where?"
"Maybe that new restaurant that just opened up near the museum? It looks good. I've been wanting to check it out, but I didn't really want to go alone, you know? Are you up for it? You look upset."
"I'm fine. It's just Rukifellth being stupid again."
"Can I ask what happened?"
Lilith bit her lower lip. "It's...it's fine," she said. "Maybe I'm being stupid, too."
"Where is he, anyway?"
"Out with a friend. He didn't tell me until he was getting ready to leave this morning."
Zhael blinked. "A 'friend'?"
"A girl he's known since he was little. I think her name was Nerutia."
Zhael frowned. "She sounds highborn."
Lilith gave a hollow laugh. "Of course she's highborn. Who do you think Rukifellth is?"
Zhael immediately saw the problem. "Oh, no," she started. "You don't think that he...?"
"Yes. No." Lilith sighed. "I don't really know, to be honest." She ran a hand through her hair. "Sorry...I didn't mean to unload on you like that."
Zhael shook her head. "It's fine." She smiled. "But this means that you really should go out, then. You should forget about him for a little while."
"I know." Lilith suddenly gave Zhael a hug. "Thanks a lot, Zhael. You're a sweetheart."
Zhael giggled and returned the hug, patting Lilith on the cheek. "Less flattering, more eating. Get yourself cleaned up and we'll head out. The meal's on me."
"Oh, you don't need to do that, we just...I just got paid, you know, and I can pay for the both of us easily..."
"How about this, then: I'll pay for the meal, but when we go on our mega shopping spree afterwards, you're paying for whatever you buy."
"But what if I don't buy anything...?"
Zhael grinned. "Oh, you're going to buy something. I'll make you buy something. You need to buy something to chase away your boy blues. Now get changed. The more time we have to crash the stores, the better!"