The girls talked about a few lighter topics, not really focusing on anything too long. Content to while away the morning, until, Sylvie asked a particular question. "Hey Kat, I was thinking about your recent trip away. Does this mean you can take us flying?"
Kat went to respond with a no, but then thought about it a little more. *If it's possible for me to fly with anyone Sylvie might just be small enough for it to be fine. Even if it isn't perfect, I should be able to at least glide around.* "Ah, I mean, for you perhaps it might be possible, but we'd be leaving Lily out of it" said Kat hoping to avert any potential danger
"That's fine" said Lily "I'd be plenty happy to just watch. I haven't seen your wings get any use yet and I know I'd love to see it"
Kat's eyes widened. "Uh… well um, ok? But where would we have the space? It's probably not safe to do it around here and Vivian isn't around to take us"
At this Sylvie got a wicked grin as if she'd just remembered something important, because she had. "That's ok. Callisto said she'd take us. She was even more interested in seeing you flying around then we were when we brought it up before"
Kat felt the final blow to her plan of trying to escape in a physical way, like they'd struck her through the stomach like Kress had but tried not to show it. "Ah… that's great then. Not today though, it's almost lunchtime and we should just relax for the day"
Sylvie threw up her hands in celebration, before trying to squirm out of Kat's grasp. Once Kat let her go, Sylvie practically bounced up the stairs towards Callisto's room and she had no illusions of what was about to happen.
Kat took a sidelong glance at Lily who seemed very happy with herself before Kat sighed. *Fine. If that's how you want to play it. I guess I deserve this one.*
A short time later Callisto lightly stepped down the stairs with Sylvie in hand. How she managed to move so silently, even while carrying a nine year old, albeit a small one, was beyond Kat. Once Callisto was standing next to Kat and Lily she spoke up. "I know of just the place for our gathering. I spent sufficient preparation time and thus have found a perfect place to partake in our particular interest"
*How long did you spend planning the sentence though? Around the same?* "That said, I will of course still need to prepare the required sustenance for you all. Do you have any requests for food to be prepared for our journey tomorrow?" asked Callisto
*Wait…* "When did we ever say tomorrow?" asked Kat
"Tomorrow" Callisto reiterated and the date was settled. Sylvie's pouting face might have helped.
Lily mentioned her old dislike of oranges, and her slight dislike of lamb. "Though I think, that ah, it might just be my parents don't know how to cook it" said Lily "We only ever had it a few times, and we sort of all agreed it didn't work"
"Hmm" said Callisto thoughtfully "It might be a genetic disposition to avoid the substance for some reason. Would you like me to exercise my culinary skills to provide you something I know to be palatable to most or would it be best to stay away from it entirely to be certain you'll enjoy everything"
Lily thought about it for a moment. "Um… I mean, ah, if you don't mind let's just keep it safe"
Callisto nodded "I am sure with your continued involvement in Kat's life that I will at some point have the opportunity to introduce it to through leftovers. That should alleviate the guilt you feel for not potentially eating the meal in question"
Kat watched Lily gulp and die a little inside as Callisto continued to talk. She wasn't quite… equipped to deal with the full force of Callisto's presence it seemed, but Sylvie at least got on with her fine.
"What about you Kat? You have not mentioned any dietary requirements to either myself of Vivian, but I have taken note of the few things you have eaten so far and nothing seems to be an issue" said Vivian
Kat failed to stifle a laugh. "Well, I should be fine. I managed to eat food that was so spicy it was considered a lethal material. Spicy doesn't do it justice, it could melt through steel I'm pretty sure"
A light seemed to shine behind Callisto's eyes at this and the corner of her mouth quirked up just a little "Ooh? A challenge is it? It seems I will have to forfeit my chance to participate this time however, as I do not possess the required cooking implements to prepare something at that heat, nor the required culinary knowledge of what food could even survive at such a temperature. Anything else I could procure?"
"Well…" said Kat drawing it out as she thought of the poisonous dish she had considered not eating "I might be able to eat some poisonous stuff and enjoy it but I'm not sure"
Callisto's eyes brightened again before quickly dimming. "As much as I may desire to take you up on this secondary culinary quest, I think I will have to decline. Cooking an extremely overheated dish is acceptable and easily marked and avoided by the others regardless of when I approach the task.
"Trying to work with poisonous ingredients though is a different story. I would have to ensure that it is all very clearly marked, that it didn't contaminate the other food, and that nobody else thinks even for a second that it is safe for them to eat. That is on top of the consideration that you yourself do not yet know if it is acceptable for your own consumption"
Kat gulped "Ah… your right I suppose. While I do think I will be fine, because at the time I saw such a dish, it smelled great to me and I'm pretty sure it isn't supposed to, I understand your concern"
Callisto nodded. "Good, what time would you like to depart? I can ensure my personage to be available to leave at any time you so choose. The destination I have in mind is approximately an hour and a half away by motor vehicle"
Kat shrugged and looked towards Sylvie who had a similar response so, they all turned to Lily who balked under the three's gaze. "Um, ah, er… I um, I'd have to make sure my parents know…"
"Your parental figures can be notified by myself to ensure that they hold no… misunderstandings" said Callisto in a somewhat aggressive way.
Lily gulped "Um… then ah, whenever you like, we can sleep in the car?"
Callisto nodded but with a frown as if she expected, but disliked the answer she received "Understood, it shall be a 7 o'clock departure then"
Callisto handed Sylvie off back to Kat "I require some additional time to prepare things now, please continue keeping Sylvie company as I would detest if she was hurt as I throw parts around my room. Please ensure that you all have any equipment you wish to take tomorrow prepared before sleep takes you"
Without waiting for an answer Callisto left with great speed, somehow not running despite that, and vanishing up the stairs leaving Lily somewhat dumbstruck. Kat was more interested in how she was able to move that way but quickly returned her attention back to Sylvie. "I guess she sorted that out for us didn't she?"
Sylvie nodded with a big smile "I talked to her a lot about it while you were away. I spent most of my time helping with her work"
*We're all doomed.* "That sounds like it was good for you Sylvie" said Kat trying desperately not to think about what was bound to happen in a few years if Sylvie became more like Callisto.
"Anything big you want to prepare for tomorrow Lily? Or shall we get started watching a movie or something:" asked Kat
Lily finally shook herself out of her stupor, still not quite recovered from the whirlwind of a conversation speaking with Callisto generated. "Um… yes, movie, is ah… good yes"
Kat shook her head and patted Lily's own. *She'll recover in a moment I suppose.* Kat walked over to the TV and started rifling through the DVD's Vivian had collected. She seemed to have everything ranging from old Disknee movies to Jame's Blonde films and everything in between.
Kat saw a second box nearby and took a short glance in before shutting it quickly. Clearly it was Callisto's box, and the sheer number of horror titles caused Kat to quickly place it back and pretend she knew nothing. Kat wasn't sure she trusted Sylvie not to follow her new role models example and pick something from it.. *Can't scare Lily any more than Callisto already did, she needs time to recover. *