Seeing that Gourry would be occupied for some time, Zel headed off to the kitchen. There was one middle-aged man within, stirring a huge pot of vicious-looking soup. Zel ignored the man and starting searching for a clean crockpot.
The sound of clattering pans alerted the cook of the intruder's presence. "Just what do you think you're doing?" he demanded with his best 'intimidating' voice.
The intruder slowly turned around, and the cook was suddenly very sorry he'd opened his mouth. "I--I--er--" the cook stuttered.
"I require the use of your kitchen for a brief time," Zel informed the startled man coolly.
"Su-sure. Whatever you say, sir. I'll just...stir the stew."
"You do that," Zel muttered. Lina hated being bored. She'd been bored out of her skull on and off since becoming ill. She'd also been basically confined to bed since becoming ill. Therefore, she decided, she ought to get out of bed. She really was feeling better, after all, her only real complaint being her continued inability to speak. She pulled on her leggings and padded out of her room.
She probably ought to let Zel know she was up and about. Besides, she was hungry, and Zel had been going to the kitchen. So...
Gourry wasn't surprised when he saw Lina pad into the dining hall. It was lunchtime, after all. "Hey, Lina!" he called.
O-kay, maybe this hadn't been such a good idea after all, Lina thought as she saw Gourry waving at her. Oh, well, nothing to be done now. May as well get something to eat.
Lina took a seat next to Gourry at the bar and waved weakly at him.
"Lina, why are you still in your nightshirt?"
Because she didn't feel like changing. However, she didn't think she could convey that message to Gourry, so she just shrugged.
Waitaminute, Gourry thought. Wasn't there something...oh, yeah! "Are you sick?"
Lina rolled her eyes, then nodded.
"Oh, yeah!" Gourry exclaimed suddenly, remembering. "You can't talk, huh?" He beamed at her, proud of his memory skills.
Lina nodded slowly, all the while wondering if Gourry had lizards nesting where his brain should've been.
"Do you think it'll stay that way for a while? 'Cause I really liked sleeping in, and it's a whole lot quieter now."
Enraged, Lina leapt up and grabbed a nearby chair, giving an apologetic look to the chair's former occupant before tossing the piece of furniture at Gourry.
CRASH!
Zel started. Lina's soup was ready, and he'd been gathering some utensils and such when he heard the crash.
"Liiiiinnnnaaaaa!"
And that would be the cause, Zel thought wearily. Zel half-walked, half-jogged out of the kitchen, and spotted Lina pummeling Gourry.
Lina was beyond furious. How /dare/ Gourry imply things were better when she couldn't speak! She was introducing Gourry's face to the bar when vertigo overcame her.
Oh, bloody hell, she was going to fall.
"I've got you."
Or maybe not. Damn, but Zel had great timing.
Zel looked down at the pale girl in his arms. "What are you doing up?"
Lina shrugged sheepishly, then gestured with one hand toward the wall.
"Oh, you were tired of staring at the walls."
Lina nodded.
"Well, your lunch is ready, so you--" Zel stopped speaking abruptly when Lina shook her head and pointed at the door.
"All right," Zel sighed, "You can have lunch outside. Provided we find a place with no more annoyances." Zel glanced significantly at the swirly-eyed Gourry who was in an ungraceful heap on the floor.
That sounded great to Lina. She moved as if to stand, but fell back into Zel's arms, unable to manage it.
"You really overexerted yourself, didn't you?" Zel murmured fondly. "I don't suppose it can be helped now."

______

--Elizabeth, Trickster Priestess ~_~