I must apologize for my friend, dear Lebough. He is not as... refined as us. I assure you I am nowhere near as crass, as barbaric, as that cur. Though I must thank him for at least giving me a chance to speak at last... I don't know what to say.

How about how much of a kiss ass you are! You threw me under the wagon, you tool!

I had to, Frisk. Your actions have shown you to be little better than that harlot we chase, and speaking of harlots how could you let him hook up with this... this... I thought Rebek was a hard one to nail. Not sure what to put my tongue on this one... Why are you two laughing? Frisk?

Nuh! This is all you right now, so get to it.

Right... Thankfully, it seems this lass is not as wanton as Rebek, choosing only cuddling and kissing over baseless acts of lust and debauchery... Until a month after, that is. Even then, not straight coitus but digital assistance. Considering the lad does it to himself, I see no sin in such.

In fact, they just got done with a session. My how her face glowed in the dusk, candle light flickering on her eyes, on her chest, gleaming with sweat and other things. He pulled himself up beside her, finally released from her legs, and she kissed him as she rolled on top, moaning against his lips, tamping his cheek.

"Getting better, lover mine." She said, panting. "I take it your belated fiancee didn't have you long."

He shook his head, his smile fading to a simple line, looking out the window.

"We dated for the longest time, but it wasn't until the final week that we did... anything, really. Not even what we are doing."

"What? Seriously? That's sad." She rolled her eyes, and nipped his chin, giggling. "Sorry. Didn't mean to spoil the mood. Was just curious."

"It's fine... It's true. I'm very inexperienced at pleasing another, even if she was... decent at not showing it."

"I'm sure she enjoyed it just fine. You're not bad; just need practice. With this, though, I think it's an unfair advantage. It's just the right size to drive a girl like me wild."

"Heh. Her, t- ah! Don't squeeze."

"Why? It seems to enjoy i- oh my. Already up again... There's something I want to try."

She slid down his side once more- and I think I'm going to close this scene now. Yup. Still not sinful, but it should be. It'll take a day or so for that lipstick to wear off. Perhaps we should visit the baths anyways; I know she asked us not to, asked us to let it simply wear off on its own, but is this... fetish of hers truly worth risking an infection or otherwise? What? What do you mean it won't cause- it's still worth it, lad!

Besides, look at what she is doing to you? Look at how you're working this morning. You're simply... drifting between fields, your legs little more than jelly- and you're thinking of letting her do it again? No. Just... No. This... This is sin. I shouldn't have allowed hand-to-hand, but I could justify that. It wasn't inside her, but this? I refuse. I refuse, boy! Until she asks for your hand in marriage, you are to not have any more contact of that nature!

"You aren't the boss of me," he grumbled, lumbering to the alchemy table, stationed behind a deep velvet curtain in the apothecary. The shop, itself, flowed with darker colors, its wood and stone bright and warm while its silks were dark and wanting. Light shined between the entrance's cloth, those deep red complemented well by those yellow rays, wind blowing them gently against their door, opened wide, Open burned into its yew, Closed on the side seen to the public when shut. "You heard me. Just because you were busy explaining my shop for some reason doesn't change what I said."

Lad, it's not wise to talk to yourself.

"Who else am I going to be talking to, hmm? Only one who ever does IS Emry, and she's busy tending the bar."

Look at what her very thought has done to you! Stop- STOP THINKING OF HER IN SUCH... such... So, you're talking to yourself to pass the time?

"Looks like it."

Do you think yourself mad?

He scoffed, shaking his head, carefully pouring the newest concoction into nine new crystal flasks. He grimaced as he watched them change from brown to dark red, but put them up on the shelf all the same.

"I can't wait to get some decent catalysts. That should have been a lighter shade."

You didn't answer my question.

"The fact my thoughts can question me at all sort of answers itself."

"As long as you don't answer back... Correctly, anyways."

He spun and chuckled alongside Jack, standing in front of the cloth, trailing between his legs, sliding off his arms as he entered, holding out his hand.

"Nice to see you again, Bala," he said, looking around. "Nice set-up. Not as nice as the one back in- well, I guess you're working on a stricter budget, though. For what it is, it's... charming."

"I guess. I miss my table. This one feels like it'll crumble if I set too much on it. Makes making larger batches worrisome."

"Aye, and as for that... not as good a quality."

"I'll be getting better ingredients in the coming months, as well as better catalysts and distillates. For now, these are the best I can do."

"Ah... I take it no more of those 'marital aid' tonics, then?"

"Not yet. I'll get the first batch for that in... One moment... Four months?"

"Not too long, then... Mind if I-"

"Oh. Go ahead... So, where's Lilah?"

"At the tavern. She turned eighteen today. Told her she could have a drink."

"Really! Er, really? Mind if I go see her while you-"

He waved us off, and you didn't have to look so desperate, lad. It was but next door; no reason to barrel out of the apothecary then charge into the tavern. Look at how many eyes you attracted in your zeal! Ah, but there she was, sitting at the bar, her emerald dress clashing against the rough wood. Her cheeks were already rosy, the mug in her hand barely a quarter gone, giggling up a storm as we sat beside, gaining our courtesy kiss as we did from dear Emry.

"Taking a break?" She said, shaking her head at Lilah, hugging us. "Take it you two are friends."

"Only the bestest," Lilah exclaimed, bubbling with laughter... and hiccups. "It's been so long, Freddy! I missed you!"

"I missed you too," he said, chuckling as he set her up right, patting her shoulder.

"Take you two go way back, then..." Emry grumbled.

"Nah. We're just friends... Y-yeah! Her father was my master's main client, and now is mine."

"And soon I shall be!" Lilah boomed, falling against his side again... sloshing about half of her mug on the floor. "I shall have my own stall, and travel the world of MY accord. Not bound by my daddy's whim, so sirree! I shall be my own woman at last!"

"Sounds ambitious," Emry said, taking the girl's glass away. "I think you had enough of that."

"Aw! I was enjoying that!"

"Girl, you are one more sip from being out cold. Besides, I think you and Sir Bala have some catching up to do, hmm?"

"Not really! To be honest, he never asks. He probably just thinks long, boring wagon ride to sell to idiots... and he's right! My gods, are people boring!"

"I don't think you should be saying that too loud," Fred whispered, rubbing her shoulder.

"Why? I'm not going to sell here when I go on my own. Hell, not might even sell." She sighed, falling into his lap, looking up at him. "I just... I just want to travel, to experience the world and all it offers. I don't want to be stuck with the mundane! Heh! There's enough rumors and legends! I could become a treasure hunter!"

"Sounds... exotic."

"Uh huh... I feel sorry for you, Freddy."

"Why?"

"You're stuck, day in and day out, behind a counter, working at a desk. Life is out there, not in a dingy basement."

"Dingy?" Emry said, crossing her arms. "I'll have you know that building was built-"

"He knows what I mean. Stay out of it."

"You did NOT just tell me to stay out of my lover's affairs."

"W... Y... You two are... Wow. Isn't it a bit soon, Freddy?"

"Told him life was for the living. His fiancee would understand."

"I suppose, but really? Her? Isn't she, you know, a bit too-"

"A bit too what?"

"Before this gets any... bloodier," Fred blurted, standing, catching Lilah as she began to fall, holding her tight against him as he nodded to Emry, "I think her dad is about done in the store. I'll be back, love."

"Alright. It was lovely meeting you, deary."

"You too, booby lady," Lilah exclaimed, tittering, cackling as she was stowed in the back of the wagon. She looked down to Fred, making sure her legs were in, and bit her lip. "Hey! You look pretty good from this an-"

He shut the door on her, her cackling bubbling through the window as he entered the apothecary... Jack not in sight. He checked the fields behind, stone walls raised around that four-acre yard, the sun just clipping over that ten-foot bulwark, but, again, no sign. Odd... Usually he moves his wagon when he checks another store. Where on merth-

His face paled, finding a dagger embedded in the stone table in the back, a note under, speckled with blood... From Chastity.