Halfway through Risa's stumbling attempts to apologize, Mali was laughing. He turned to regard her from where he had managed to reach the front door, and was in the process of trying to clear a better path for her when she had dropped that rather incredulous question.
"I know, it's... very... very cozy," he said, giving her a meaningful sort of look like he knew cozy was being exceptionally generous, "and it keeps out the rain, which... when I thought I would only be here a few months, seemed to be adequate."
He pulled out a thick key, and pressed that into the padlock that kept the door shut and potentially prying hands out of what might have once been stored there. Presently it was only Mali's belongings, but he had certainly liked the idea of added security and privacy. The last thing he needed was for some errant thief to make off with his books thinking they might be worth something. Which, to the right buyer, they absolutely were.
Also irreplaceable, which made the padlock all the more appealing.
"I have some netting, I can rig up something so you can have a space for your belongings, at least until I can negotiate a larger--" Mali stopped mid-sentence, his jaw going slack as he looked inside the shed.
Here was yet another discovery-- Mali had been unaware that he was capable of blushing as hard as he did right then, his coloring not sparing him in the slightest as every last inch of his face turned a deeper, redder shade.
And all because somehow, at some magical point, someone (his hostess) had managed to break into the shed. They (his hostess, that tiny little grandmother) had also managed to drag in several new layers of bedding, all a bright crimson red, and they (Xinyi the matchmaker may all the hellspawn of the outer realms come and steal her left damned shoe for this) had even taken the time to drape sheer cloth from the cieling to hang over the bed like a curtain.
Small buckets of water stood at the foot of the bed, which Mali had not remembered being that big and floating on the surface of the water were more vibrant red flowers, and Lord help him there were candles floating there too. Lit candles. Lit, lightly perfumed candles.
This was it. This was just it. This was how one, Mali Roue Grin, the great Shea Ru, absolutely died. Especially when he chose that moment to remember that he still had Risa behind him, and no explanation in the world would help him here.
Didn't mean he couldn't try to save some dignity, though.
"I-- I believe, that is-- it seems that I-- we-- I mean, my hostess has-- has been here. And um. With gifts?-- some... somehow. N-not that-- oh, hell."
Oh yes, perfect. Dignity utterly saved. Mali rested one hand over his face, silently willing the heat of his blush to simply melt his head off, right then and there.