Elizabeth found the cups and the pot and poured herself a cup of coffee, then stood at the counter, drinking the first sip with the contained relief of someone who truly needed it rather than simply wanted it.
Mara had returned to her peeling, continuing her task without glancing at Elizabeth. This was the unspoken understanding of someone who recognized that a person entering the kitchen at this hour, still in last night's clothes, required a moment to be present without the pressure to engage in conversation.
Elizabeth valued this moment of silence. She sipped her coffee and surveyed the kitchen, which was arranged with the practical logic of a space used daily. Everything was positioned for functionality rather than aesthetics.
"Is Marceline up yet?" Elizabeth asked, having seen the woman often at Starlight household functions and Academy-adjacent events, which made her feel that asking was appropriate.
