Metal wheels rattled over cobbles and finally ground to a halt in front of the small caf? near the Center Bridge. Johnny was laughing at Kat?s last caustic remark about one of her co-workers as he opened the carriage door. His blonde hair was tamed back into a neat tail by a silver clip and his suit was charcoal gray in a stylish cut that looked remarkably like one from Locke?s latest line. He?d taken off the tie after the show, though, and now his dark green shirt was unbuttoned at the collar. Reaching up into the carriage, he lifted out Caitir and swung her to the ground, while Val hopped out after. With Caitir holding his left hand, he reached back into the carriage to offer Sianna his right. ?Val, ya offer Katie-kat a han? down, yeah??

Pulling up her skirt in a handful to clear both feet and wagon wheel, Sianna took the proffered hand and stepped down gingerly. Champagne and honey swirled about her in silk, the cut of the dress an elegant compliment to her coloring. Grinning to Caitir, she couldn't help but wink at her husband. "My my, aren't you the lucky lad. Out with th' prima ballerina and wi' a lady on each arm..."

"Aw, ain' tha' sweet." A quiet murmur as Val was quick to offer a hand out for her as well. "Such gentlemen-like, yeah?" Rather than tease Val, she took the offered hand and stepped out of the carriage. The black dress was simple but still offered something dazzling and something referring to her time on stage. At Sianna's remark, she rolled her eyes, "Well.. they're special kids, yeah?"

?Sure they are.? Johnny?s agreement came with a laugh as he swung his hands forward and back ? which brought Sianna?s and Caitir?s hands and arms along with. Caitir giggled ? and Val turned red from his freckles to the roots of his curling red hair. Johnny went on easily as he nodded for Val to get the door for the group. He?d been working on the boy?s manners, and Val was learning quickly. ?An? they?re getting? ice cream ou? of th? deal t?nigh? ? so they?re lucky too.? The apprentice stepped forward to hold the door open for Katarina and the others.

"Thanks." Katarina held back the urge to ruffle the boy's hair as she walked past. Once inside, she moved for one of the few open tables left. It seemed to be quiet the spot for patrons after enjoying the show. The table was only meant for four people, but after stealing another chair, she was going to make it seat five.

Caitir had reached around for Sianna's hand to tug it. She had a question. Though the circlet impeded them from walking easily, with an unspoken cue, Johnny and Si lifted, the girl's feet floating above the floor with a giggle. Crossing the threshold and sat back to ground, Caitir grinned and then resumed her tugging on Sianna's hand. Excited whispers conveyed her requests for strawberry sauce and extra whipped cream on her ice cream.

While the girls were whispering about ice cream, and Katarina was stealing a chair from the next table over, Johnny led Val to the counter with an arm circled companionably around the boy?s shoulder. While Val would probably never be as tall as Johnny, he had shot up several inches over the last few months. Johnny called back over his shoulder to Katie with a laugh in his voice. ?When yer done arrangin? th? worl? ta sui? yerself, ya migh? le? us know wha? ya wan? ta ea?.? Johnny knew that Sianna would join them at the counter in a moment with Caitir?s order and her own.

Katarina placed a hand dramatically over her heart, "If ya dun 'member my love fer chocolate ice cream, then I dunno if we kin be family no more." Winking, she finally arranged the chairs to her liking before sitting down and saving the seat before another group of people could take it.

Depositing Caitir in the seat next to Katarina, Sianna repeated back the order for verification. "Two scoops strawberry with strawberry sauce, extra whipped cream and nuts, aye?" The little girl looked over the moon both at having such an indulgence and getting to set next to the pretty ballerina that everyone was smiling to and acknowledging. "Yes'm, please." Sianna pinched the girl's cheek with affection. "Comin' right up, it is..." Leaving the two alone, she wove her way through crowded tables to the glass encased tubs of ice cream that Johnny and Val perused.

?Chocolate ice cream, fudge sauce an? whip cream ? nothin? better fer th? star!? Johnny?s baritone laugh rumbled out through the caf?. When Sianna joined them at the counter, he reached over to put his free arm around her waist. ?Now, I?m thinkin? tha? I wan? th? butter pecan on one?a them waffle cones. Si-love, Val, wha?s yer trea?s t?nigh???

Val?s blush had faded while he studied the ice cream, and right now he was frowning intently between the strawberry ice cream and a neon blue concoction that claimed to be blue raspberry. Finally he pointed to the blue raspberry tub. ?That?n, with th? fudge sauce an? whipped cream an? nuts ? an? sprinkles.?

"Strawberry, yeah?" Katarina grinned at Caitir, "Tha' defintely's my second favorite. Though, I dunno if I like havin' any strawberry chunks 'n it, yeah?" She mused over this for roughly three seconds before winking, "An' tha's a real pretty dress ya go' 'n, yeah?"

Leaning against Johnny comfortably, Sianna linked a hand with the one he had at her waist. The two lads behind the server were quick with dishing up the previously ordered sweets. From each barrel massive orbs of the cold creamy dessert were piled into glass boats and decked to the nines. Katarina's and Val's orders were set along the counter for pick up as the taller of the two lads handed Johnny his cone. "Val, ye go on and carry those two ower tae th' table, aye? We dinna want them ta start melting." Hands free, the lad inclined his head for the rest of the order. "Th' strawberry wi' strawberry sauce, whipped cream and nuts, if ye please... and a dish of that... just plain." Sianna's finger tapped against the glass to indicate the praline pecan, the swirls in the ice cream nearly the same color as her dress. Perhaps if a dribble occurred it would not show.

"I like the berries. They taste of summertime." Caitir blushed at the compliment to her dress. "Miss Sianna made it for me. Made it from one of her own dresses, she did. It's my most favoritest."

Val was very careful when he placed Katarina?s chocolate ice cream in front of the ballerina. He settled onto his own seat on Katie?s other side ? proprietorially staking his place. ?Ya always think anything Miss Sianna makes for ya is yer most favoritest.? Val grinned cheekily across at Caitir and then dug into his blue raspberry ice cream. His mimicry of Johnny?s muddled accent had combined with the street tones he?d grown up with to produce a sound that was all Val?s own. He relented a bit to add. ?That dress is pretty shiny, though. Ain?t so nice as Miss Katarina?s, but it?s shiny.?

Katarina tried not to giggle at Val and tucked her tongue in her cheek, "Well, 'm thinkin' th' thin's Si makes fer me ar' my favorite to. An' my dress dun hav' real pretty colors..." Her voice trailed off as she noticed the coloring of Val's ice cream, "... wha's tha'?" She crinkled her nose before taking a bite of her chocolate ice cream.

She had no ice cream and now he was making fun of her dress. It was too much to bear silently. "Well, even it if -is- my most favoritest that ain't no different than Miss Katie bein -your- most favoritest." Caitir's lower lip stuck out in a mild pout, her arms crossed in front of her. Though she did grin a bit at Val's choked swallow and fluster.

After the choked swallow, Val straightened up and did his best to answer Katie?s question ? and ignore Caitir?s comment. He was blushing again while he explained. ??S blue raspberry. Lirssa got me ta likin? raspberry stuff.? Johnny arrived at the table on the tail end of the conversation, and held Sianna?s chair for her while licking from his butter pecan cone.

?Yeah, Li?l Bi?s all abou? th? raspberry stuff ? loves tha? cordial. Bu? why ain? we tellin? ya again how goo? th? ballet t?nigh? was, Katie-kat??

"Cause my head's gotta fit ou' th' door when we leave?" Something between a smirk and grin grazed her lips as she eyed the blue ice cream once more, "Dunno where Li'l Bit's findin' blue raspberries." A quiet murmur before eating another bite of her own ice cream. "Instead o' tellin' me how good I was, how 'bout ya tell me wha' ya though' 'bout havin' th' opera an' ballet troupe performin' togetha?"