The sun's staying up late enough these days that dinnertime beats dusk by long enough that Serendipity's still out front weeding and selecting vegetables when Kalisto gets home. Apparently, Maddy's been making use of his presence. He doesn't seem to mind much, since he's singing cheerfully as he works. His hostess would certainly not approve of the lyrics, but she's nowhere to be seen.

Kalisto heads up the walkway to the house like a kid walking home from school, with his satchel over one shoulder and an empty lunch box -- or in this case a basket -- in his hand. His cloak is draped over one arm, and it has collected quite a bit of the forest floor, as has his hair, with pine needles and bits of moss tangled in the tousled curls. "Ren?" he asks as he spies his garden work being done for him. With a laugh, he adds, "What are you doing here?"

Serendipity looks up, song breaking off mid-innuendo, and breaks into a broad grin, immediately heading out of the patch to meet Kal on the walkway. "Waitin' for you," he replies brightly, and studies the other youth thoughtfully. "...So did you guys talk?" he inquires casually.

Kalisto arches a brow, trying to put on a poker face. To his credit, he does manage to look pretty diffident, but there's a certain glow about him that wasn't there before. A spring in the step. "Yeah, we ran into each other on the mountain."

"Aaaaaaand?" Ren prompts, though something in his eyes and grin strongly imply the glow has not gone unnoticed.

Kalisto plays it cool. A quirk of his brow, a wry tug at his lips. Nothing overt. "We got some stuff worked out," he replies. "So how did Maddy talk you into being her garden bitch?"

Serendipity sets his basket down -- a glance shows he's apparently helped the time pass by arranging the picked vegetables into (mostly fairly obscene) little figures in the bottom of it -- and crosses his arms sternly. "Hey. I want an answer here, young man," he insists, less intimidating than it might be if he weren't a couple inches shorter than Kal, "So he talked t' you, good. What'd you guys =decide=?"

Kalisto regards the vegetable display and gives a little sigh. Pointing to one of the piles, he replies, "I think we're going to do that next time." He moves around the garden gate, careful not to accidentally step on any of Ren's vegetable sculpture.

Serendipity whoops and somehow manages, remarkably swiftly, to wrap his arms around the mage, beneath the arms, and swing him around once, joyfully, giving him a sound smooch on the lips as he lets him down. "I told you he wanted you!" he exclaims, "Congratu-darkin'-lations!" He could scarcely look happier about it if it were his own lovelife in question. Of course, he manages to kick the basket over in his enthusiasm.

Kalisto erfs as he's swung, and he has only enough time to let his satchel slide onto the floor before he's swung about -- he may have Ren by an inch or two on height, but Ren gets him on surprise and strength. That he squeaks as he's smooched probably doesn't help his dignity, either. "What's the big deal?" he laughs as he's let go, and he daintily brushes bits of twig and pine needle off his cloak. So he says, but the way he's beaming like an idiot implies he has some idea what the big deal might be.

Serendipity beams back, and arches a brow. "I want details, y'know," he warns Kal half-teasingly, and squats to reclaim the veggies. It's all for the best that they won't be arriving to Maddy as bits of art, really. "...an' I =am= gonna hafta kill him, y'know. The world just ain't right." He shakes his head in despair, which would come off a lot better if he weren't still grinning.

Kalisto's cheeks color. Scooping up his satchel, he says, "I'm not going to talk about all that personal stuff. It's personal." He shoulders the pack, then helps with the veggies. "Besides, I don't know what's going on. It's all happening so fast."

"Well, see, that's why you gotta talk about it," Ren replies utterly reasonably, and stands, basket in hand. "Anyway, haven't I been right so far?" He arches a brow again, and wraps his free arm about Kal's shoulders, giving him a squeeze.

Kalisto laughs, leaning in to bonk his head against Ren's lightly in a gesture of affection as he leans into the arm slung around him. "Okay, so he didn't think I was repulsive," he admits.

Serendipity strolls toward the door with Kal, in no particular hurry to get inside where there'll be another listener. "Like I said, he's old, but he's not straight, blind, an' insane. 'course he doesn't find you repulsive, gorgeous," he replies cheerfully.

Kalisto's cheeks color a little more, and he mumbles, "Okay, you were right." He takes a deep breath, then carefully replaces his mask of adolescent indifference before he opens the door and calls, "I'm hooooome." Oscar barks and greets the pair, his tail wagging.

Serendipity continues to look an amount of pleased that tends to make most of the older Havenites decidely uneasy as the pair enter, and he unwinds his arm from Kal's shoulders to bring the basket of vegetables over to where Maddy's putting finishing touches on dinner, delivering them with a flourish, then letting Oscar sniff and thoroughly tongue-bathe his hand.

Maddy gives Ren a skeptical look, but she thanks him duly for his garden work. Kal gives the old dog a hearty thumping pat on the ribs, and Oscar responds by making a low whuffing sound and drooling copiously on Ren's hand. "We'll be upstairs," Kal says toward the kitchen as he heads for the staircase. Maddy calls back, "Dinner will about half an hour."

Serendipity disappears into the bathroom just long enough to de-dog-drool his hand, then follows Kal swiftly upstairs and into his room, closing the door behind him and leaning against it.

Kalisto has in that time gathered up a yowling Shadow, placated him with much cuddling, and is sitting on his bed, kitten on his lap, taunting the feisty beast with a length of ribbon.

Serendipity is quite promptly crosslegged on the bed, periodically catching Shadow's tail while the kitten's attention is on the ribbon, and confusing the poor thing utterly. One can almost see the little feline's thoughtbubble, .oO( What keeps =doing= that? ) Ren watchs Kal just a bit expectantly. "So. You didn't sleep with him already, didja?"

Shadow whips around to wreak vengeance for his tail, only to look confused, and then he pounces the ribbon as Kal bounces it lightly on his head. Poor little thing. So abused. Laughing, Kal says, "Geez! No. I mean not like, you know. We didn't do -it-."

Serendipity grins. "Good. Don't be in a huge hurry, yeah? I mean, not that I'm king of waitin' for deep committed relationships or anything, 's not that, it's just you oughta enjoy the anticipation while y'can." He pauses, studying Kal a moment, and catching the kitten's tail once more, absently. "You did tell him you've never been with anyone, right?"

Shadow whips around and, this time, lets slip a little growl of frustration. Kal laughs at the poor kitten and scoops him up for a nuzzling, neatly evading Ren's gaze. "Kinda. Maybe not exactly in those words."

Serendipity half-smiles, and shakes his head. "You gotta tell him, gorgeous. Not only 'cause you oughta be honest with him, but 'cause it'll make a difference. Trust me. There's a big difference between bein' someone's first an' bein' someone's five hundredth. An' it'll be better if he knows." He pauses, then adds with a shrug, "Assumin' he's any good, anyway."

Kalisto's eyes widen and he looks scandalized at Ren. Some badass he turned out to be. "I've -been- with people," he says defensively. "Just not, you know. All the way. But so what? Who says I'm going to go all the way with Justin anyway?"

Serendipity arches a brow incredulously. "No offense, babe, but you're, what, seventeen winters? An' I =know= you're not a eunuch or anything. 'f you guys keep a thing goin', I don't figure it'll take more'n a month or so at the outside." He shrugs slightly. "Anyway, why wouldn't you? You like him, he likes you, you're hot for each other, there you go."

Kalisto says with a half-surprised laugh, "Because it'll hurt like hell." Like, duh. He gives Shadow a smooch on the head, and the kitten takes a half-hearted swat at Kal's cheek, purring the while. "Besides, he was..." Cue a rather sudden darkening of his cheeks. "It was weird."

Serendipity laughs. "It doesn't hurt that much, cutie. First time's the most, an' even that's not bad if you take it slow an' easy. 's onea the reasons you gotta make sure he knows, see? ...an' if it didn't feel damn good, people wouldn't do it so much." He scritches the kitten under the chin, taking in Kal's blush. "Weird how?"

Kalisto doesn't meet Ren's gaze. Shadow purrs more at the scritch, rewarding it with a nibble at Ren's fingertip. Kal shrugs and mumbles. "Weird, kinda. He didn't want me to, you know, do anything."

Serendipity considers this. "What d'you mean, 'zactly?" He hesitates, and gives Kal a level look, "...an' you don't hafta be all circumspect; the chances of comin' up with somethin' I haven't done in th' past seven years'r so is pretty darkin' low. ...an' hey, if y'do, I'll just be impressed." He grins reassuringly.

Kalisto rolls his eyes and says, "Yeah, that's a comfort to know. Should I be keeping an eye on my cat?" The kitten in question gives Ren's finger another bite, then struggles free of Kal's grasp to stalk the kin's hair. With a sigh, Kal rakes a hand through his curls and says, "He got me off. But he didn't want me to do anything to him."

"Nah, it's good," Ren replies, twitching his ponytail to make the end more fun to stalk. He teases the kitten with it for several seconds before he replies. "A'ight. First thing, I'm thinkin'... he's still your teacher, yeah? So maybe it makes him feel a li'l more comfortable t' not feel like maybe he's just usin' you, abusin' his position, y'know?" He looks up, then, and grins again, "an' second, you ever heard "'tis better to give than receive"? ...no, seriously though, sometimes you just wanna make someone else feel good, an' that's enough for then."

Kalisto watches Shadow, fierce hunter, stalk the hair. He pounces! And promptly flops onto one side to make with the rabbit-kicking. So tuff. Kal hms thoughtfully. "Well, he did say something about how he wanted me to see that there was more a relationship than being used. It was kind of nice, but it's just not what I'm used to."

Serendipity grins at the kitten, then attacks a fuzzy little stomach with his hand, letting Shadow scratch and gnaw this new attacker all he wants. "So you're branching out," he replies easily. "Don't worry, gorgeous. He'd hafta be made of stone t' be able to resist offers from you for long. An' I'm pretty sure they'd only make =parts= of him stone," he half-teases, then looks at Kal and lifts his free hand brush a fingertip across Kal's lips. "People write poetry 'bout mouths like yours," he informs him warmly, "...porn, too. But mostly poetry."

Shadow is swift! And fierce! And, alas, very pointy. Kal clears his throat pointedly and gives Ren a Look. Like the owner of the minikilt has any room for being a prude. The comment Ren then makes causes his expression to soften, and he goes all puppy eyed. "Sweet talker," he accuses.

There's levels of nonprudishness. What one wears (or doesn't) beneath said minikilt may corrolate on some level. Ren doesn't seem terribly bothered by the pointy, though there are a few momentary winces and he does try to avoid the points as best he can, without paying too much attention. Kal's reaction gets a smile, the one that makes him suddenly look younger. "I mean it," he protests, sounding very faintly embarrassed.

Kalisto grins a little, and then holds out an arm to Ren. "You're sweet to say so," he replies. Shadow bites into the kin's finger, but then starts to groom the savaged digit immediately.

The bite gets a definite wince, but the grooming turns it into a brief and somewhat dorky moment of meltiness before Ren shifts position carefully to accept that arm while disturbing the kitten as little as possible. "I just keep bein' surprised you don't know this already," he remarks, "...an' I love the way you look when I tell you."

Kalisto gathers Ren close to him. It may not be an overly sexual gesture, but there is an intimacy to it that speaks of some trust. To spare Ren the heartbreak of disturbing a kitten, he scoops Shadow up to deposit him in the crook of Ren's arm, the better for scritching. "I'm not used to people being so genuine. I used to assume people who said that said it because I had money."

Serendipity leans in, and tips his head to touch lightly against Kal's a moment as he pets the relocated cat. "They mighta; some people're are real into cash. Doesn't necessarily make it not true, though. ...money's overrated, anyhow." He grins a little.

Kalisto muses, "Guess I'll have to see. Never been without it before now." Shadow purrs at the attention, curling up in the nook of Ren's arm to doze. "He likes you," Kal comments as he strokes the kitten's tiny ear.

"Like him, too," Ren replies, wiggling one finger gently under Shadow's furry chin. "...And you. Anyway, havin' money's kinda like... I dunno, havin' a calculator. It can make it quicker 'n' easier t' solve problems, but y'don't =need= it mostly. Almost always another way. An' it's not like it's that hard t' come by if you're determined to," he muses, somewhat absently.

Shadow tilts his head back for the scritching, looking supremely pleased. Kal grins crookedly as he regards the spoiled creature. "I like that at least I know people aren't after my money," he admits. "Even if that means they don't like me, it's kind of refreshing in a way."

Serendipity hehs, and nods. "'s always nice t' know where you stand. Anyway, I figure there's only two kindsa people who don't like ya -- people who just don't know you well enough yet, an' assholes who aren't worth your time anyhow." He grins and adds, "'course, anyone =I= don't like it's for a totally valid reason."

Kalisto nods wisely, "Oh, of course." He gives Ren's hair a ruffle, and he gives him another light head-bonk. "I was thinking," he says, "If my dad sends me my stuff and I can trade away most of it in Millinockett for some money..."

"Mm?" Ren asks with interest, cuddling up comfortably with both kitten and mage.

Kalisto seems pretty relaxed himself, at ease as he pets the kitten and keeps an arm around Ren. "We could get some cloth," he ventures. "I was thinking what this town needs is a fashion statement, but not just copying what they're wearing in Portland. I want to create something that suits Haven."

Serendipity opens his eyes to glance over to Kal, and looks thoughtful, then nods. "Def'nitely. I like it. Can you actually make that kinda stuff?" he inquires, sounding somewhat impressed by the possibility.

Kalisto nods lightly as he says, "Sure. We did costuming in theater all the time. It's not that hard. Needle, thread, sewing machine if you have one. Fake it if you don't. I'm just going to assume this not-civilization had never heard of a sewing machine, so needle and thread."

"Might be able t' find one in Millenockett," Ren muses, quite obviously pondeirng the possibilities here. "Rae can sew too, if we need more hands on anythin'... I c'n fix holes in things, but I never tried more'n that. So what kinda thing're you thinkin' of?"

Kalisto shrugs and says, "I don't know. I was going to see what cloth we could get hold of, maybe scour the library for books of costumes and period clothing from all over the world. There's got to be something out there we can modify and make our own."

Serendipity nods, and grins again. "We should start lookin' before we go, see what kinda things we like. Oughta make it easier t' pick fabric, right? Wonder if Martin knows anyone down there t' get good prices..."

Kalisto points out, "If even half my stuff gets sent over from Portland, price won't be an issue." Shadow gets more scritching, and the kitten purrs up a storm. His life, so tough. "I have a few ideas in mind, but I want to see what we have to work with first. I think the best fashion comes from taking what you've got and seeing what you can make of it."

"That's what the best =everything= comes from," Ren declares. "...well, maybe not th' best desserts. But most stuff." He looks thoughtful again, staring off into space a moment. "If there's a lotta extra money, we should see what they've got down there we could have some fun with... well, an' you might wanna give somea it to the Poor Farm or somethin', I s'pose." He shrugs a little, then grins again, "...but, y'know, if we found a place with fireworks or somethin'..."

Kalisto mulls thoughtfully, then ventures, "Say... do you suppose any of the people at the Poor Farm know how to sew? If they do, we could just give them the fabric and the patterns, and -pay- them to do it. They get to earn some honest money, we'll pay them more than fairly, and it's work we don't have to do."

Serendipity snaps his fingers. "That's not a bad idea; Martin was sayin' how they're tryin' to teach everyone trades anyway, so maybe sewin' stuff's one of 'em. That'd work out for everyone. An' maybe there'd even be enough fabric for somea 'em to have some clothes no one else had first..."

Kalisto says amiably, "May as well. It's not like I'm going to be needing the money for anything myself. Not here, anyway."

Serendipity impulsively leans over enough to give Kal a kiss; it is, as kisses (certainly his kisses) go, not particularly sexual, but rather more a sincere gesture of affection and appreciation. "I'll talk t' Martin 'bout it, see what he has t' say. Now I'm all lookin' forward to your stuff showin' up. Maybe you oughta tell 'em just to ship it to Millenockett, save us some movin' things."

Kalisto returns the kiss in kind, seeming a lot more relaxed around Ren without the air of sexual tension. Shadow, for his part, is fine with things as long as he still has warmth to curl up against and someone providing pettings. "I imagine that's exactly where they'll ship it," Kal replies. I was hoping we could sort it out down there."

It wouldn't be fair to say that air's entirely gone, but it's decidely subdued at the moment -- almost subterranean. Ren nods again, "Yeah, easier t' get stuff to, an' easier t' get rid of it, too. We got the wagon, we can bring back the new stuff an' whatever you wanna keep; no point bringin' more'n a wagon worth." He gestures vaguely at the room to illustrate why, and goes back to petting the kitten. Noises downstairs suggest the imminence of food, though there isn't a call just yet.

Kalisto ruffles Shadow's ears, and he gets a muffled 'mrf' from the kitten for his troubles. Mommy-man is home -- he's a happy critter. "Yeah, though I might pick up a trunk down there so I can fit more clothes in here. My closet at home was bigger than this."

Serendipity hehs. "Bigger'n this closet, or bigger'n this room?" he inquires, interrupted by a call from below inviting them to come and eat. "We prolly oughtn't let that get cold waitin' for us..."

Kalisto points out, "Bigger than this room." He slides off the bed, carefully taking Shadow, who apparently gets to go downstairs as well. "Yeah, she'll be furious if we do. I swear that woman needs grandkids or something."

Serendipity snirks as he somewhat reluctantly disengages himself and gets to his feet. "Well, unless you branch out or you or Justin's got a secret, she ain't gettin' 'em from you," he teases, and runs a hand through his hair, getting the ponytail smooth and neat again. With that, he opens the door, and starts downstairs.

Kalisto rolls his eyes, albeit amiably, and he heads downstairs after Ren. There is indeed dinner set dotingly for the boys, and Oscar is already at his bowl wolfing down scraps. In a little nook beside the counter there is a small dish with mashed up meat and milk. Shadow squirms as he sees it and begins to mew hungrily. For everyone, it would seem, dinner is served.