Care and Hospitality [Temin/Samuel]

The Derringer estate wasn't quite so grandiose as some of the others in the ward. Once upon a time, it was the most gaudy thing in existence, but the appearance of it mellowed as its owner did the same.
Instead, it became more stately, tasteless displays faded and exchanged for a more dignified form such as the one it takes today.
The path on either side is lined with statice, hydrangeas, and anthurium, along with a five-petalled flower cast in grey, leading up to a manor hued in blue and brown. Some staff on break are sharing drinks at a table outside, conversing in warm tones as they relax amongst themselves. The grounds are well-kept in general, though there are a few signs of where statues and other massive fixtures have been removed, yet to quite recover.

Not a gate or fence bars any who would approach. Simply a long walk among the flowers, before the relaxing staff out front.

Following the strangely specific directions that CWIS had provided her with to find where Baron Samuel Derringer's residence was. It had been... Quite the adventure to get here, let alone did she not know the layout of Junction well at all yet. The top ward wasn't a place she had yet ventured to. Though holy wow! This place was so pretty! The whole top ward seemed like a distant dream from the rest of Junction, everything was so spacious and just... Well kept and nice to look at. Not to mention all the awesome and diverse different creatures and people that inhabited this place too... Eeee, all the new cultures were so exciting!

Once the young girl found the place she was looking for, her expectations on what she'd find were truly not misplaced. The gardens were beautiful and the whole place looked so big and grand. Honestly from her point of view, any imperfections were completely lost or simply taken in as apart of the overall places character. With a sparkle in her eye and a hop in her step, Temin would approach those at the table, admiring the beauty of the flowers around her during the long paths walk. "Hello! Please. My name is Temin, Temin of the Chumon family. I'm here to reacquaint with a Baron Samual Derringer. He told me I could stop by sometime, if he is present at home, that is. Thank you."

"Hmm?" One of the people at the table, a woman in chef's whites with icy blue hair in a bun, turns her attention to Temin as the young Nejiiaka speaks up. An amused smile spreads across her features as she spots the girl. "Well, what have we here...looks like Sammy's done it again." Stretching out, she picks herself up from her seat. "Alright then Temin, come on. I'll let you in." Winking at the young girl, she walks over and...just knocks at the door, which seems to spring open by itself.
With a bow that seems more from a sense of theatrics than anything particularly respectful, she gestures for Temin to come in. "So then, little lady, what's your story?"

Temin would half nod half bow as the blue hair'd woman greeted her, the girls eyes flashing with light for a moment in appreciation of the quick and easy hospitality. "Thank you. That is much appreciated. Please." As she followed up to the door, a light giddy feeling over came her. She'd been very excited to see what the sorts of homes up here in the top ward looked like, from the inside that is. She could only imagine, she'd never once laid eyes on the insides of any home other than a common shack or farmhouse. "Well me and my Mama ended up here on this big city all of a sudden a little while back. Please. We were sure confused at first! Though it's okay going. Much to see, love to explore. Found Sammy once when exploring. He showed me to the local lavatory! Thank you."

The hall cuts right through the house, with rooms on either side and an exit out to what hints at being another garden at the back. A set of stairs can be found cutting left from the door leading up to the upper floor, and across from it, another door lies slightly ajar. Depending on your hearing, you might hear the crackling of a fireplace from the door.
"Is that so...?" She laughs warmly. "My...you are a simple soul, aren't you? Usually people have faced a little hardship by the time they catch his eye." She sighs wistfully, before patting Temin on the head. "Come along. Looks like Sammy's having another drink."

She walks over to the door left ajar, leading the young girl into a room styled in a similar aesthetic to the hall. Two large bookcases sit against the walls, and on the wooden floor sits a pair of plush couches and a similarly decadent armchair are arranged around a fireplace, with a table of dark wood occupying the central space in between atop a rug. A smaller table sits by the armchair, bearing a bottle of dark rum and several glasses, one of which finds itself just being set down again by the armchair's occupant as the pair walk in.
Samuel chuckles as he sees the pair at the door. 「Why, hello again, Temin. I see you've met Larissa.」 He gestures out to the couches around him. 「By all means, take a seat. It truly is a pleasure to see you again. I would love to know why you've come to visit.」

The now named Larissa moves over and sits on the couch bridging between the other and Samuel's armchair, looking over to Temin. "Hope you don't mind if I hang around a little. Someone has to make sure Sammy doesn't get a minor drunk again."
Samuel just gives a good-natured sigh. 「I gave the boy a sample of drink. That is all. It is a custom of many places to allow a youth a single glass.」
"Just be careful, Sammy."

"Mhm." The girl would reply, currently way too occupied by gawking at everything her eyes could land on. The place looked even bigger on the inside! It was laid out really weirdly too, she'd never seen anything quite like it. Actually, no if she thought about it. Having one long area down the middle with ways out on either sides and then rooms on the two sides... It was kinda like her old barn. But way fancier! "I tend to try and not let the hard times get me down. Please. Being positive even in bad times, makes bad times feel better. Thank you." Temin would manage to reply, the pat on her head breaking her trance of staring at things, whilst causing her to try her best to keep concentration on the conversation instead of just looking around as she followed into the room where Sammy was.

With a bright grin to match her eyes, the bright eyed girl couldn't help taking a quick look around her new surroundings before replying, first turning to the now named Larissa. "It is a pleasure to meet you! Thank you. My names Temin, as he just said. Please." With an eager bound to her step, the Nejiiaka would bounce down onto one of the couches, seemingly sinking into the couch a little as she did so. "Strange. Please. My butt is sinking! Thank you." She'd exclaim with a light hearted giggle.

She just chuckles to herself. "Aren't you just the most adorable thing...we need more kids like you."

Larissa smiles and rolls her eyes. This kid.
"Good to meet you too, Temin. I'm Larissa...as he just said." Shaking her head with her smile a little wider as Temin bounds off to one of the couches, Larissa settles in on the other, sitting right by the end closest to Temin and laying right into the back of it. "Doesn't always look impressive, but Sammy sure doesn't mess about when it comes to making sure his guests are comfortable. I swear to god, I'd take this thing over any of my old beds any day..."
「Now now...swearing in front of a child after chiding me so? What is a man supposed to think?」
Larissa smirks and issues a challenging look to her skeletal employer. "Maybe 'that girl deserves a raise'?"
Samuel chuckles as he picks up an empty glass, grabbing a cloth set by it with his free hand and running it around the inside of the glass. 「And reward such behaviour? I think not.」 Running the cloth around the rim, he sets it down once more, before taking the rum and pouring a measure of it into the glass, setting it before Larissa. As soon has he has done so, he takes up the cloth and another glass, cleaning and polishing away at it too. 「Though perhaps I can offer a little lenience on such a minor infraction, since you are attending us on your break.」
"Why thank you. You're too kind." They both laugh a little at the practised byplay, Larissa taking her glass and having a sip before setting it down again.

As Temin speaks, Samuel's attention returns to her, appearing for all the world a paternal figure at that moment in spite of his skeletal frame, his appearance missing the morbidity such a form should normally have. 「It fills one such as me with joy to hear that. My home is yours for the duration of your stay, Temin. Would you care for a drink, perhaps?」
Larissa stares down Samuel once more as she hears that, her tone only half-joking. "Something suitable for her age, of course. I know I can't stop you slipping her something, but if I catch you giving her something alcoholic, I am not going to be happy."
Samuel nods. 「Of course, of course...I understand.」 He turns his attention back to Temin, setting the now thoroughly polished glass down. 「So...what would you like? I cannot guarantee I have such things as you might be used to from your home, but I'm sure we can sort something out for you if you just describe what sort of beverage you seek.」

Temin would hum cheerfully to herself as Larissa shared her greeting back to her. The bright eye'd girl wouldn't have much to say whilst the two talked, simply not wanting to be rude and interrupt their conversation so instead taking the time to continue to gawk at all the random knick knacks around her. It was just so different from home, deep down she wanted to just get up and touch everything... Though. That would probably not be the best of ideas.

"A drink? Please. I would be lying if I said I wasn't thirsty. Thank you." The girl would chuckle lightly, readjusting her sitting position so she wasn't quite as sunk into the couch as she previously was. The girl would bring her sleeve covered hand up to her chin in thought when she was asked what kind of drink she would like. Though she was glad that Larissa was trying to stop Sammy from giving her anything strong like alcohol. Mama wouldn't be happy if she came back home drunk... "Do you happen to have just some kind of juice? Thank you. Like from fruits. That or... Milk. Please." Temin's eye's would seem to light up more than usual at the mention of the word. Though she wasn't sure if the word would exist here, or even if it did, if it would be anything like it was back home. Though she was optimistic.

「Oh...?」 He chuckles. 「The essence of fruit and the enricher of bones - far be it from me to deny a girl either when they desire it. Larissa? Would you mind taking a moment to see to that?」
"Asking me to do my job? How dare you...!" Larissa rises to her feet, grinning wide. "Alas, I suppose I must...be a good girl while I'm gone, will you?" With a nod to Temin, she strolls out of the room to fulfil the request, leaving just the Nejiiaka and the Risen in the room.

「A delightful woman, is she not? So timid, she was before.」 Samuel lifts his glass as he looks at the door the icy-haired went through to take a sip, to seem to frown when no liquid comes trickling down. Turning his gaze then to his glass, he shakes his head disapprovingly at it before setting it down and pouring himself another measure of rum. 「Once upon a time, she would have never spoke so boldly to me. I take great pleasure in having amended that.」
Taking a sip of his newly poured glass, the skeleton nods with approval and sets the glass down once more, sitting back in his armchair and interlocking his gloved fingers. 「I take even greater pleasure in her cooking. She took beautifully to the craft once she only had the opening to.」