Erin lead the contractors around the property, pointing and directing their actions. Her face was beaming as they described each new project and its completion date. She didn't care, she had the money and would pay to have it completed as quickly as possible. Leading them through the bottom floor she entered the kitchen, behind a large and beautiful dining room with wooden floors in a small mosaic pattern. Once in there she spun slowly.

"That stove has to go.. I need a new and state of the art one.. and the brick oven.. that needs to be refurbished, but take it out and I'll have your head... I would like for you to put in a double sink, the single just won't do, and a larger dishwasher, industrial perhaps... we plan on having lots of parties.. "

This pointing and ordering was just what she had been bread for. The command in her voice, and the list of demands. A woman like Erin made it clear that cost was no issue not by saying it, no... but by the way she spoke and the manner in which she insisted on her way. They passed through the kitchen and into the ball room, through the servants hall. After a few orders of renovations and extensions for the servants quarters.

Erin stopped in the ballroom. The chandelier golden and just slightly tarnished. Pointing up at it, she noted it was a candelabra, the floor had a more intricate mosaic pattern, darker and lighter woods interwoven. A piano with a broken leg stood at one end, sadly lilted like an injured elephant. the grand windows covered with dusty and tattered curtains. She turned on a heel, pointing to her decorator.

"I'd like to keep the candlelight... these curtains need replacing.. maroon and gold would be best. I want to keep the floor. No matter what. Fix the piano if it's worth something, if not toss it out and get a new one. " Another circle was turned and she pointed a the contractor. " want you to add a porch outside those windows. I want to see french doors, and a garden out there.. hire a gardener, I don't want to do it myself. Think Versailles."

With that they went clicking through the living room, more orders given, more notes taken. When Erin left, she had a smile on her face, the contractors and decorator left behind to do her bidding. Somehow, the commissioning of a house made her homesick and jubilant all at once. It was time to go back to the inn for a drink!

Head peaked into Cricket's room with a smile. "Hey chica!" And in she slipped. The noise below, with the contractors bustling about echoed throughout the top floor. Erin sat herself on the bed, an arm slung around her friend. "Having a good time yet?" It was mostly sarcastic, as the noise and he bustling was insufferable... at least to Erin.

Her eyes traced around the room to settle on the kitty. "RamRam! " The only nickname anyone would ever hear Erin utter was to this cat. Not a cat like Milly, her house-cat, but a small talking cat. Her conscience. A brow raised to Crick as she regards her with a laugh.

"My newly employed friend, please, tell me.. how have you been? I'm afraid you're mad at me, and I couldn't have that." Head rested on her friends shoulder, Erin sat, the good little girl, to listen. She could order servants, but when it came to this friend, she was more a puppy.

A week or so had passed and the first floor looked immaculate. The kitchen, ballroom and main room were all complete, wooden floors shining, walls papered and ceilings painted. That day Erin was on a ladder, on her tippytoes putting light bulbs in her lighting fixtures. She reached as high as she could, back stretching, hands strained. With a small grunt she rolled back onto her full foot to take a breath. Another glance up showed that she had, in fact finished. With a yelp of joy, she scurried down the ladder, and across the floor.

Each room was lit, her shoes clicking on the floors as she went from room to room. Once she made it to the stairs, Erin stopped in her tracks and gasped. While she was attending to lights, the stairs had been unveiled. They had been covered the entire last week with a large tarp. Workmen unveiling them only to work on them. The deep mahogany banisters were masterfully carved with flowers and vines. The steps got more and more narrow as they went up, coming to a normal size as they reached the second floor. The wood a plain deep mahogany paneling.

Erin fell to kneel on the first step. A hand ran over the wood there, she looked up and yelled "Cricket! Cricket!" Hoping the girl happened to be upstairs and not at work. This was something! This meant there house was on it's way! She stood again, turning to look at the entrance way and the door... It was ready.

Erin's brain was racing, filling in blanks... a sofa here.. an end table there... paintings and vases all being placed in her mind. "Cricket!" Oh, this was going to be fun.

Erin raised her brows and a small smile began to appear. ?The basement walls, hm?? Her face lit up suddenly. It was just crazy enough, just hidden enough, just *them* enough. ?Okay. But it stops there, yes?? She stood from the step and hurried over to the basement door. Rame was given a quick unapproving glance, she just hadn?t gotten used to the talking cat quite yet? Once she reached Cricket, she gave her a hug from behind.

?This will make us happy, right?? It was quietly said and almost desperate. She knew that both of them really needed this distraction, this promise of a better life and a better time. Her head burrowed into the girl?s shoulder, arms tightening around her waist. ?No pain in this house.? Yes, that was saved for the Inn and alleys and marketplaces? not here.

Carefully she pulled back, giving Cricket a swat on the arse before reaching for the basement door herself. ?Let?s go make a mess!?

Erin was sitting on her bed, cross-legged, reading. She hadn't heard the door, or if she did, she had ignored it. Bastian came in and out all the time, it wasn't odd. But then.. she heard her name. Or her endearment. Eyes snapped up, and her face twisted into a bright, bright smile. "Cricket?!"

She tossed the book to one side, and it flew across the room, skidding to a hault at the bathroom door. Erin launched herself from the bed, arms open, tackling Cricket best she could. "Where have you been?!" A kiss to her cheek, then. "I wasn't mad at you...." Another. "You've missed so much... so, so much..." And then she would lean back to look at her, smiling like the cat that ate the canary.

"I kinda turned your room into a sewing room. But don't worry, I can change it back. You are staying, right?"

Erin slide out of bed, leaving Sebastian sleeping there. A slip into the hallway and she clicked the door closed behind her.

"You're a nut." She smirked. "Your room it is, then."

And bunny slippered feet padded down the hall towards the sewing room/Cricket's room/ porn theater.

"I got married." She caught the popcorn and pulled it open to toss a handfull in her mouth. "It's a secret mostly, but, yeah... he's asleep in the other room." A faint smile. She stepped into the room.

"Pulp Lixwhatever looks good." Erin tossed the tape back to her.

"I adopted a sister, too. Lydia." Shrug. "Been a long few months. What's up with you?" An upnod as she hopped onto the bed, sitting crosslegged. "I've missed you... things are.. a mess. Needed someone to talk to. Someone that doesn't judge. And you, my dear, never do that."

"He's been... uhg, a mess." She shook her head. "But, Gideon isn't helping. Kissing me, bothering me, giving me gifts. Making him as jealous as can be... Sebastian, that's my man, claims that Gideon makes him hear voices in his head sometimes..."

She shook her head, resting back, looking at her friend.

"And I'm working for Alain. he asked me to... do something. I don't think I can. I'm scared that I will." She shook her head slowly. "I shoudln't tell you this.. I shouldn't tell anyone.. but you're like a ghost. A very friendly ghost." She smiled. "And I need someone to talk to."

"Do you think I'm too flirty?" A tilt of her head. Yes, tonight was ADD night.

She snuggles into Cricket, squeeling at the movie.

"Oh my!"

All other things were forgot as she looks through partially covered eyes. Fingers spread so she coudl see through the slits. Yes, Erin needed fun like this. Needed Cricket. The utter ridiculousness of her was perfect.

"Sebastian would die if he caught us." And she erupted into mad giggles. "Thank you. It is just what the old Erin and the new Erin are in dire need of."

Erin was blushing. A bright red, squirming and squeeling through the whole thing. Cricket made her a girl again. Sleepover aged, pillow throwing, silliness. She turned to look at her friend, the way she was eating... like she was hungrier than she perhaps let on. Erin bit her lip, thinking.

"What about you, Crick. What have you been up to? How have things been?" Erin was suddenly worried for her. The dissapearances seeming a little less endearing and slightly concerning. She laid a hand on the other's calf. A comforting squeeze.

"You know you can stay here, right? No matter what... It'd be nice to have you around. I'm sure Bastian won't mind." But, really, Cricket would come first. Her first real friend. The only reminder of her old life... save Gideon who wasn't a good reminder at all. She smiled, faintly, pushing that green hair behind an ear.

"I try." A soft smile, glassy eyes. She grabs some popcorn, tossing it in her mouth as she leans back, resting her head on Cricket's stomach.

"Part of me wants to be calm. Normal. But I know that I'm better this way. At least to you, Crick." A smirk.

"Glad I can bring a little bit of God. Of spunk. Into your unlife."

"You can always find yourself here." she was getting sleepy again, eyes starting to drift closed.

Erin drifted off as well. Sebastian would have to find her there, in the arms of her friend.

Watching porn.

Oh, the strangeness, the goodness that can creep in in a single night. She smiled, more comfortable now that she knew there was no bad blood here. More at ease that her friend was back and somewhat okay. Could listen to her. Yes, this would work. All awkardness and introductions could wait till morning. Tonight was just perfect.