Hrilleae, Djellrin, Jahrae, and llhaesa engaged in lively banter for the better part of two hours. Owing to automation and with dinner preparatory work done in advance, they simply had to set, relax, and chat as their dinner was brought to fruition.

The discussion started out tackling the reason for the gathering – the concert at Nenseru Woods.

Hrilleae outlined out how they were disseminating the information; Djellrin outlined the concert site, where the stage would be located, where the private area would be for the artist, for staff, where food stations and restrooms would be, how they were approaching all of this with a green mentality, taking care of the environment.

For her part, llhaesa was impressed with the plan, excepting the private area for her. “No need for that,” she offered, part opinion, part request. “Given the nature of this show, why we are all gathering, I’d like to be with the crowd. Perhaps an area roped off, but not visibly blocked off. Now how about other musicians? Would you like me to ask other artists if they wish to play?”

All there enthusiastically embraced this idea. Grabbing her mobile, llhaesa began to make calls, and within 15 minutes had left messages for all she wished to contact. With those she reached, all jumped at the chance to either perform independently, or as part of an all star band, some were willing to do anything, mix and match.

The Khentavras were quietly and individually astounded llhaesa could place such calls and get such results in a matter of minutes, with raised eyebrows being exchanged around the room. After llhaesa disengaged from the last call, she outlined who had committed to playing.

“Ooh’ and ‘ah’ were common words in response, while Jahrae could not contain her enthusiasm, letting out a scream as she bound out of her chair; without thinking, she moved right to llhaesa with arms extended wide. As Jahrae’s arms circled and closed around the musician, little did Jahrae know llhaesa was trying to keep her wits about, trying to keep from breaking out in a sweat, trying not to grab Jahrae’s hand and whisk her off to her flat, right square into her bed.

Working through the instinct, she reached out for a controlled hug, instead of the more intimate embrace which was still screaming for recognition not so deep within.

The hugging over, Jahrae moved back to her chair, but something had stirred inside of her as well, leading her to look square into llhaesa’s eyes as llhaesa reciprocated. The circuit was complete.

Djellrin uttered several words before this fact dawned upon llhaesa. She brought her mind back into focus, delaying a response as her mind digested Djellrin had just asked how long the show should last.

“Why don’t we play until everyone decided it is time to stop? In other words, no time frame, a free form concert,” llhaesa proposed. Nice recovery.

The universe stepped in to save llhaesa in that moment; the kitchen auto-cookware chimed its task as complete. Both Djellrin and Hrilleae were on their feet, offering an ‘excuse me’ in unison.

As they left the room, Hrilleae whispered to Djellrin sparks had flown moments before. “Sparks? They don’t like each other?” he asked, clueless.

“Quite the opposite happened, Djell… quite the opposite.” Hrilleae was visibly wearing a smile, triggered by the prospect of love chasing down her child, while simultaneously amused that Djellrin could totally miss what she had clearly seen.

And with that newfound knowledge, Hrilleae rearranged seating arrangements, moving llhaesa from opposite Jahrae, to her side.

While the Khentavras were not vegetarians, dinner was vegetarian in order to accommodate llhaesa, to make her feel at home. There were fresh vegetables indigenous to the region, with a central dish an exotic, slow growing, soft, purplish-hued vegetable, the centre of which was prized for texture and flavour. Baked in a secret sauce passed down from Djellrin’s side of the family, llhaesa ate two helpings of the dish.

After dinner, automation made quick work of clean up. Jahrae and llhaesa were now fully engaged in one on one conversation, and at this point, with essentials discussed, Hrilleae felt discretion and parental intuition led her to offer she was tired, and would retire for the evening, subtly nodding to Djell to join her. Now fully clued in, he readily agreed. Thank you’s and ‘it was a great pleasure to meet you’ flew back and forth from they to llhaesa, and with that, Jahrae and llhaesa were now on their own.