"It's an awful pun to start off with, I know," Sheba said between genteel sips. There hadn't been fine bone china teacups at the Nopon-run family outdoor cafe but due to significant amounts of minor reality-warping magic that just tended to happen around Blades, they all now had such tableware, as well as a tiered stand for their cakes, "Did you realise that there's a secondary pun in Gormotti as well? 'Jenerossi' is the name of the region of Gormott where the tea was grown. It has good soil, so the genuine article is rather delicious."

"Of course I knew that," Adenine immediately remarked, looking bored. Even at what was supposed to be a serious social gathering, she had her nose buried in a book as usual.

"And this is your favourite tea, huh?" asked Dahlia.

"Indeed! Do pass me one of those ice flowers," she reached out to take one of the delicately crafted ice cubes in the shape of flowers that Dahlia had made for the occasion, then plopped it into her tea, watching it melt away and cool the tea without the need for milk that would alter the flavour.

"You would have to agree that 'generosity' is one of the most important concepts that our sisterhood is based upon, yes? One does not hoard one's assets, unless, of course, one is saving for a much larger project."

"So, what's the million for that you've got stashed away in the warehouse?" asked Electra between bites of cake. Sheba glared at her.

"Honestly, we do not discuss such things in public!" she sniffed, "And you will not get my secret out of me. It is to be a surprise, to benefit everyone in my sisterhood, I assure you."

"Whatever, you still spend money like water, I bet you've got twice that much somewhere," she yawned and took another cake from the stand.

Sheba sighed. Electra was still a complete boor. Oh well, she thought, the girl was making progress, slowly, with each tea party. Already she had managed to sit still for a whole hour without frying anything with an errant lightning bolt.