<3 Married At First Sight </3

"Not time was wasted at all," he tried to assure her. "I don't mind spending my time with you, in fact it's nice."

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"Neither will I. If anything comes from this experience you'll have a new friend."

"If you're sure..." Paige mumbled, and when happy they were a safe distance, she dropped Areli down to the floor, who immediately took to winding around ankles and generally getting in the way. "You didn't have to come look for me. I'd've eventually found my way home. B-But thank you anyway."

---

"That would be nice," Leonidas agreed quietly.

Ian chuckled at Areli reaching out to scratch her behind the ears. "You're welcome."

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Amber smiled softly. "There are plenty of rooms and you are welcome to select the one you like best. As I'm sure you wouldn't be comfortable sharing a room?"

Areli preened under the attention staying in step with him on his side as opposed to next to Paige.

Paige smiled at him, and scratched at her arm again.

---

"I could never think about imposing on your personal space like that." Leonidas abruptly shook his head. "Not at this point in the relationship." He made to gesture and almost forgot Hester was on his wrist, stopping the shake of his hand before he unsettled the small snake.

He gave Paige a smile his attention on both her and the cat now.

----
"That's more then fair. There's plenty of rooms close to mone," She explained not at all bothered by any of it.

"Next time I shift, I'll leave scent markers. O-Only if it's safe to!" Paige abruptly added, smoothing a patch of scales down.

---

"Thank you. If it's a fairly large room, with suitable space for a vivarium, I would be grateful."

"You're more then welcome to if you like. The only ones around here is us and Amber's home on the other side of the lake."

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She smiled. "Of course Hester needs his space as well."

"Oh." Paige relaxed noticeably. "Thank you very much. I'd like that. It would stop me getting lost."

---

"The maximum length would have to be about eight foot long, with four feet in height and width. I can provide the money for it, don't worry about that. I'm just concerned about the space." Leonidas lifted Hester to eye level, and the snake flickered his tongue out quietly. "This littl'un could be ten foot long in less than a year, and nearly double that in eighteen months."

Ian nodded firmly. "If it helps you then by all means don't you worry about it."

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She listened quietly her eyes shifting onto the snake. "He'll really grow that large so soon?"

"Then tonight, if that's okay too," Paige asked quietly and knelt down to fuss over Areli.

---

"I confess, I thought he was a smaller species of snake but... he was simply the babe." Leonidas tapped a fingertip gently to Hester's chin and the snake disappeared down his sleeve.

"That's fine. Whenever you like."

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Amber smiled watching the bond between Leonidas and Hester. "We'll figure out the perfect spot for him, don't worry."

"Thank you." Paige seemed to visibly relax, scratching Areli's ear once more before straightening.

---

Leonidas smiled back, almost shyly, and murmured, "Thank you," before he absently peered into the room closest to him that had the door open.

Ian nodded. "Do you need anything at all to make things more comfortable for you?"

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She nodded simply following along yet at the same time making sure to give him space.

"No, not particularly. But if you could keep Areli inside and keep people out of the forest, I'm less likely to hurt someone."

---

"Ah," Leonidas said quietly at the next room. "That painting you have is an original." He hesitated in the doorway as if wanting to go in but unsure.

He nodded. "I can. There shouldn't be anyone in the forest but sometimes people don't always listen."

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She peered over his shoulder to see which painting he was speaking over. "You can go in."

"She gets very territorial." Paige tapped a horn in explanation. "So people while she's making territory would be very bad."

Areli suddenly shot off into the trees and smugly came back with a rabbit in her jaws, the creature still squirming.

---

Leonidas hesitated a moment longer then stepped inside and looked up at the painting, raising his arm to his neck so Hester could lazily curl around his neck again.

"It's my land. Only one that comes on it regularly is Amber. Anyone else doesn't belong anyhow." Ian replied chuckling at Areli.

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"How did you know it was an original?" She asked wandering after him to stand at his side.

"Areli, no," Paige chastised. "You've eaten one already today, let the poor thing go." She leaned down to try and coax Areli to let the rabbit go.

---

"I knew her at one point, very shortly. Not closely, only in passing. This was one of her later pieces, when she was sure painting was what she wanted to do." Leonidas stood in front of the painting and looked up at it reverently, arms folded behind his back.

Watching the two of them he chuckled quietly. "You going to be able to get that away from her?"

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"You knew her? What was she like?" Amber whispered softly her gaze drifting from the painting to him then back again while he spoke.