I was only walking through your neighbourhood

[color=#17b529]"Has it really been that long?  Now I'm embarrassed, I clearly should have invited you out well before now."[/color]  He and Lana always had an open invitation, of course, but she knew well enough that Cullen wasn't likely to take her up on it without asking.  That might be imposing, which was ridiculous of course, but such was the way of things.

[color=#17b529]"And here we are."[/color]  The Cousland estate wasn't terribly far from the palace at all.  It was large for Denerim, with its own gardens and stable, though small compared to the royal palace or Castle Cousland.  It had always been a second home for her family, though these days it functioned more as a primary home for her given the line of work she'd fallen into.

[color=#17b529]"Andie, did you want to spend some more time out here or are you coming with us?" [/color] The mabari was welcome to either.  The horses wouldn't be spooked; they were used to mabari, and there would be plenty for Andie to explore in either place.

[color=#17b529]"You can set your things down wherever, and I'll grab us some drinks, alright?"[/color]  Yes, Elanna employed a couple of people to tend to the estate, keep the place clean, the gardens and stables tended, and cook, but she had always kept the staff minimal.  The nature of her work was secretive at times and she didn't want anyone she couldn't trust absolutely to have access to her home.  So she did a number of things herself that others might have a servant do for them - such as going to the kitchen to procure a tray with wine, glasses, and snacks.

Bypassing the formal dining room for the much cozier parlor, she set down the tray for them to serve themselves and set to pouring drinks.  [color=#17b529]"Now, why don't you tell me what's going on."[/color]