"Leaving so soon?" I ask a certain Chimeric individual who was just about to walk out the front door; I've been keeping an eye on her as she explores the building and just got the distinct feeling that she was about to go get drunk again.

"Is that alright with you?" Tess snaps back.

"You are your own woman, Tess; you can do whatever you want." I raise my hands in appeasement. "I just want to make sure that you're going to be okay. Do you have anyone to stay with you tonight? The guards and even Gen's family were planning to move in tonight, so I was going to cook for everyone and will probably stay here tonight to keep working on everything."

"I don't need a nanny." She grumbles and turns away.

"No, but everyone could use some good company sometimes." I say to her retreating form. "We'll be here if you change your mind. Stay safe out there."

...

"Do you think she'll be alright?" Amelia asks after I went to check up on her and Apricot, and tell them about Tess.

"I hope so." I say with a sigh and a shrug. "All I can do is keep trying to help and hope that she'll let me. Does the temple offer counseling services, or is there an organization that does? Maybe I should ask Cyril; Tess is dealing with a lot of survivor's guilt right now. So, if anyone would know who to talk to about that, he might."

"That's a good idea." She pulls me into a hug. "And, the priests are always there to talk; it's up to Tess if she wants to speak with them though."

"I know, I know." I squeeze her back. "I just really fucked up with her, and want to make it better. But, it will be what it will be. Mhm, it looks like Melanie and Felicia are here. Want to go say hi, or are you gonna stay here and watch this one swim in a sea of plush?"

"Hey, pixies don't have stuffed animals." Apricot's voice comes from somewhere in the pile. "So, I'd be doing my race a disservice if I didn't play with them."

"Uh-huh." I roll my eyes before reaching into the pile to pull a grinning pixie out so I can kiss her. "I'll add a bunch to the bedroom when we get home, whenever that is."

"You want to stay over to keep working?" Amelia asks after getting her own kiss from Apricot.

"Yes, well." I look at her and lick my lips as we walk out front to greet our managers and their guests. "There's still a lot that needs doing around here."

"Hehehehe." She breaks into giggles.

...

"Well, I suppose this is a step up from the workshop in your yard." Melanie says with dry humor when we catch her staring around the lobby. "I didn't see any of this on the model yesterday."

"And, I thought I said hire one or two alchemists, not the whole guild." I tease her stunned entourage.

"Heh." Delainey, the guild master chuckles. "She only poached Eliot and a few workers. Just, uh, consider this an inspection; have to make sure that everything is up to standards, of course." He says with a shit-eating grin.

"Of course." I grin right back at him before turning to my weaver. "Felicia, I haven't had a chance to build any of the looms yet, but you and your crew are welcome to look around or join the tour I'm about to give."

"Thank you." She nods. "But, we'll just go take a look around, if that's alright."

"That's fine." I smile back. "Oh, and I hired a laundress; she and her daughter will be working on your floor, if that's alright."

"That's perfect." She bobs her head again. "I was going to recommend that we hire one anyway, and there will be more than enough room on the floor."

"Alright then." I clap my hands together. "There's too many of us for the lift, so we'll have to take the stairs. And, that's a lift." I add before anyone can ask. Pointing to the elevator, its doors open just in time to see the car come into view.

"Everyone else, take the stairs." Delainey commands with a wide grin. "We'll meet you down there. Come on, Lemmy, I know you hate steps as much as I do." He tows his friend into the car; all of the alchemists either roll their eyes or shoot him a tiny glare.

"Well, you heard the man." I usher Melanie, her apprentice, Catherine, Eliot, and Amelia onto the lift after the old men.

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"Oh, what I wouldn't give for one of these at my place." Lemmy sighs when the elevator starts moving down. "I've spent more than one night down in the shop when I was just too tired to make the trek up to bed."

"Oh, I'd offer but I have too much work as it is." I say and give him a cursory healing scan. "I can fix that problem with your hip though. Why didn't you stop by during the fair?"

"Oh, it's been like that forever now." He waves it off. "I hardly even notice anymore."

"Shut up and say yes, Lemmy." Delainey berates his friend. "If only so I don't have to hear you complaining about it again. Oh, my!" Everyone's eyes go wide when the lift doors open.

"Just wait until everything is installed." I say, leading the way into the floor. "I plan to build everything I can with as much of an eye towards form as function. If I didn't, this whole place would just be a big box."

"Are you sure you're not hiring more alchemists?" Lemmy says in awe and even Delainey looks more than a little envious of Melanie and Elliot.

"Maybe if we expand in the future." I answer for Melanie who became a little overwhelmed at seeing her new domain. "Now, take a seat so I can fix you up." I point him to a chair the just popped into existence. Lemmy looks about to refuse again when Delainey pushes him into the chair.

"This isn't necessary." The old man grumps. "I can get around just fine."

"Do you really want to live with pain, though?" I counter while already working on him. "And... done. You don't seem to have any other issues worth noting, but I recommend that you try to get out and move around more now that it's easier to do so."

"You... you did more than just work on my hip." The man accuses after standing up with far less effort than expected.

"Mhm." I shrug. "I did what I could for your joints and muscles without using my healing sap, which is already promised to one of my guards for today. Now, come on. Melanie looks like she's dying to check out her new lab."

"Oh, go on, girl." Delainey waves her ahead. "No need to wait for us old men." That's all it takes for her to speed ahead.

"Th-thank you." Lemmy takes my hand after the younger alchemist goes on ahead. "I haven't felt this good in years."

"You're welcome." I smile back at the older man. "But, you really should have stopped by during the fair. I already owe you for the leavener and would have been happy to take care of you then."

"See, old friend." Delainey pats him on the back. "It doesn't always pay to be a stubborn old man."

"Says the most stubborn person I know." Lemmy snorts.

...

"Oh, I can't wait to get everything moved over and start working." Melanie says when we rejoin her a moment later. "I hope you're ready to make me all that equipment I've been wanting, and then some."

"Just add it to the list." I reply with a smile. "But, speaking of getting moved, there's a little surprise for you upstairs. Unless, of course, you prefer your old apartment, that is."

"I told Sorrel to set aside a couple of nice apartments for you and Felicia." Amelia provides when the alchemist looks stunned. "And, he certainly did that."

"What makes me think that his idea of nice is somewhat more than the average persons?" Eliot says with a smirk. "And, I don't suppose you have any other apartments open? I like my current place, but who wouldn't want to live here?"

"Two floors of employee housing but, aside from a few large family spots, they all have a fairly basic design. Basic to me, at least." I add that bit when they all send me a doubtful look. "Shall we head up and have a look? Assuming the lab passes inspection before I've even added the safety equipment, that is."

"I suppose we can give it a provisional write off for now." Delainey's amused expression matches my own.

"Alright, everyone." I call out to the alchemists checking out every nook and cranny of the lab. "We're going to head upstairs for a bit, but you're all welcome to explore the building... just watch out for the pixie in the plush; she bites." Apricot's trilling laughter can be heard even down here after I say that.

...

"Felicia." I stopped us on the second floor to collect my new weaver. She and her crew are just walking around the floor, examining the artwork on the walls. "I have a surprise for you on the fourth floor, care to join us?"

"Yes, of course." She walks over to join us with a smile. "You girls keep looking around, I'll be back in a bit. Sorrel, I don't know what I was expecting, but this is so far beyond it that I have no idea what to say."

"Say that you'll work hard to build the business up." I reply and take us up by remotely manipulating the motors I installed earlier. "I'm just a guy with a few ideas, I have never done anything like this before, so I'll be relying on you and Melanie. Almost as much as I'll be relying on Amelia; she knows just how out of touch my sense of value is, but still puts up with me despite that."

"Heh." Felicia laughs when Amelia rolls her eyes at me. "I'll do my best, but our biggest problem will just be meeting demand for this new silk of yours. We had several people come up to us out of the blue today asking about it."

"So, you're saying I need to get to work building everything you two will need?" I reply with a laugh as the elevator opens up onto the fourth floor. "I'm on it; I just need to make sure that all my new tenants' apartments are ready, especially the ones for our managers." We're at the end of the hall now and the doors to either side of us open wide, revealing their luxurious interiors.

""..."" I just smile as their mouths drop open. "Sorrel, this..." Even Melanie, who has started to get used to me and the way I do things can't manage more than that.

"You'll have to decide between yourselves who gets the north view and who the south." I say while they stand there frozen. "But, other than that, the apartments are mirror images of each other."

"I know you're busy and all." Delainey is the first to speak. "But, I don't suppose there's any chance I can get you to take a look at my place one of these days?"

"Heheheh." I can't help but chuckle. "Sure, I'll add you to the list, right after Rozelle."

"Damned enchanters always getting the good stuff first." He faux grumbles.

"Speaking of, I really should start enchanting some lights before it gets dark." We still have a bit to go before dark, but I'm going to need a lot of lights. "Mhm, I should get cooking too while I have the light. You all are welcome to stay for dinner, by the way, there's a common area on the next floor down that should be big enough to fit everyone."

***