Chryrie had been tending the bar during the usual Sunday shift she had taken over since Kitty had fallen ill. Veighn was there, and made sure to test her by having her mix up a mulled spiced wine for him. He even selected the spices and let her know he wished it mulled in a *kettle*. Chryrie found his attempts to put her out amusing, but less than effective. After all, she was a doctor. She'd dealt with far worse. At most he was a mild distraction from her conversations with the likes of Kina's daughter Katy and the other patrons. Although eventually someone would have to let the devil-kin know about her history of blowing up kitchens when asked to cook anything.

The ever perky bouncing blonde Taneth bounced into the Inn not long before her shift was to end, carrying a large basket of fruit. She announced that she had all sorts of fruit. Chryrie had selected some strawberries, Katy some blueberries for her mother. Of course Veighn's dark presence got many a curious look from the blonde. Perhaps curiosity is a thing best left to felines.

"And what flavor are ye?" Veighn inquired of Taneth as he regarded her plainly, his features impassive.

In between explaining to Katy what blossom sticks were she glanced to Veighn. "Many a time I have said I am peachy. But I do so love the taste of berries."

"Ripe, fresh, or slightly age-softened?" He asked, appearing quite serious.

"Ripe and fresh! Very scrumptious fruit indeed!" Taneth pointed to her basket then. "They are all very goood. Do you want some?"

"How much for a sample?" His looked Taneth over, blatantly shrewd and calculating with no sign of lust in his fiery crimson eyes.

"I would give you fruit for free. I bring it for the bar. Which one do you want? Citrrrus, berrrries, apples, bananas?" She rolled her R's before going on a tangent. "I think I may have something sour too."

Meanwhile Chryrie was simply watching Veighn as she chewed on her strawberries. She didn't trust the devil-kin in the least.

"Something, 'peachy'." Veighn casually returned with a Cheshire grin forming. Those eyes were harboring something dark behind the swirling crimson scarlet surface before they gave Chryrie a knowing look.

Taneth bounced from foot to foot as she pulled out a peach. "A sweet peach would be absolutely peachy."

Veighn beckoned the blonde closer while sipping his wine. Chryrie, pretending to misunderstand and think it was meant for her, finished serving one of the patrons and then edged closer to the black mage. Taneth meanwhile paused in her balancing act to blink at him before wandering his way and hold out the peach to him. "You can have the very first one."

He beckoned her further as he leaned against the backbar counter. "Closer."

Taneth inched closer. "Do you dance?"

"Rarely." He started to coax her to lean over the bar, more off her feet than on. She was almost there.

Chryrie also leaned against the backbar near the black mage. After all, he was intruding on her territory while she was on duty. "If I get much closer, I'll be having sex with you."

Chryrie's words made Taneth pause, but then she leaned up on tiptoes again. "Rarely? But that is dreadful!"

"Not ye Chryrie." Veighn made sure to point out, while the wards on the trim of his robes started to flare the closer the fae got to his form. Something the fae found quite amusing as she continued to watch the two.

Taneth leaned just a smidge and then tilted her head as she watched him. "Chryrie dances."

As he started to lean towards Taneth, his off hand rising. "I am more focused on what is peachy, than a waltz with the Unseelie Sidhe."

The bouncy blonde grinned at him as she was on her tippiest of toes, holding out the fruit. "You could dance with me. Try it. You will like it."

Veighn then wrapped taloned fingers around the small woman's wrist, lowering his chin. "Hold still darling... for this will be excruciating." The last part said under his breath.

The devil-kin's lips parted to expose rows of pearly whites with elongated eye-teeth and the full length of three narrow tongues. He moved to press his lips not to the peach, but to the back of Taneth's hand. That was quite enough for Chryrie, and her voice called out a warning to the devil-kin. "Veighn... Don't hurt her."

Taneth gasped in surprise at the teeth and tongues and began to wiggle to free herself. "Umm... you cannot bite me. I am not the peach!"

Veighn paused right as he was about to sink those teeth into flesh, sinew, and bone. His teeth had skimmed the flesh, barely marking it with little red scratches. His brow furrowed. "I am sampling the peach... in peace."

"Then sample the fruit, and not the girl." Chryrie's kaleidescope eyes swirled darkly.

Taneth gasped again as Veign left a mark. Something warm and full of spark loomed underneath that flesh."Umm... I do not think more would be good."

"I donnae care to sample the fruit. She said that 'she' was peachy. I had every intention on sampling her." He shot back at the fae while still holding Taneth's wrist firm.

"I don't give a flying fig what your intention is. It had better do a 180." Chryrie's voice started to change as it overlapped upon itself.

"Peaches taste much better and are far more sweet." Taneth pointed out while tugging lightly before looking at Veighn. "You would make a good dance partner."

Suddenly Veighn dropped Taneth's wrist with a jerk of irritation. He waved her away as he leaned back, shooting a look to the blonde that could have peeled paint. He drew his goblet to his lips suddenly "Ye did nae say that in the offering."

Taneth made a face at him as she drew back her hand. It was oddly more red than it should have been. "I did too!"

Chryrie motioned for Taneth to move away quickly. "Go check on your fruit m'dear."

Veighn missed the face Taneth made at him. He turned his gaze to Chryrie then. "My fondness for ye sibling grants ye the favor of reproach, my dear, for that sounded very near to a threat."

Taneth rubbed her offended hand, nodding to Chryrie as she moved back towards her fruit basket while mumbling. "Biting does not end well."

"I don't care who you're fondness is for, Veighn. I am quite capable of standing on my own. And I do not care for my friends being turned into a midday snack." Chryrie snapped harshly at the devil-kin. She was annoyed at his attempts to harm her friend, and he had just added onto it with his assumption that she needed Alysia to protect her. She had no reason to fear this devil-kin.

He made a gesture that suggested minimizing the ordeal. "Calm yeself, Chryrie. I am starting to see the veins in ye forehead."

Taneth was also looking to Chryrie at that moment. "I am okay, Chryrie. There is no blood or burning! And he did not burn up!" Apparently those were concerns of hers.

"Odd... since I don't have any." She sneered at Veighn. Which was true. She lacked the arteries and veins most humanoids had. But then her expression turned instantly to a motherly smile for Taneth. "Ok sweetie. Do you need anything before I do my shift reports?"

There was some discussion of cherry blossom sticks and whether or not Kitty would like them. Then Chryrie waved and announced her departure, since her shift was over with. Of course, Veighn couldn't let her go without attempting one more jab.

"Is it? Oh what is that line again..." He seemed to be trying to remember something then.

Chryrie glanced to the devil-kin as she waved to the others. "Watching me go is such sweet sorrow?" She snorted and headed into the office.

"Ahh! Parting... tis such sweet sorrow." The epiphany hitting him just a second before she spoke over him. She cackled and let the door closed behind her as Veighn looked rather unamused.

"Chryrie is beautiful and nice." Taneth said to Veighn as if there hadn't been any sort of issue.

"Insufferable tart..." His clipped tone muted to most but the keenest of ears.