"Mmm, did you have another nightmare, dear?"

Syl turned from where she'd been standing by the window to shake her head slowly at the woman in her bed. "Eh, no...just my usual insomnia."

"Well, maybe I can do something about it..." she suggested playfully, letting the sheets slip away to reveal part of her body.

Syl smiled slightly and returned to the bed, sliding between the satin sheets and resting her head on Quistis' stomach as the other ran her fingers through Syl's curly hair. "Not really in the mood, as tempting as you are..." Syl said softly, gazing up at the ceiling.

"Do you want to talk?"

"I don't know..."

"You know I'll always listen..."

"I know..."

There was silence for a moment and Quistis continued to let her fingers wind through Syl's hair. "Where did Sage get off to?"

"Eh, she antagonized me for a few hours to tell her more about my mysterious mission, and when I refused, she wandered off, claiming she'd be back to bother me later.

"In that case, I suppose we should expect her anytime now..." Quistis chuckled softly. "Think she'll take us up on our offer from the other night?"

Syl smirked and rolled over onto her stomach to gaze at Quistis. "Are you sure you want her to?"

"I thought I might take up with Flik instead..." a sultry voice came from Syl's balcony. Syl sighed, rolling herself to a sitting position as Quistis giggled softly.

"Hullo Sage.." she said. "Where did you get that idea from?"

"Mmm...he's a cute one, isn't he?"

"Fabulous blue eyes," Quistis agreed and Syl turned and gave her a look. "What! It's true..."

"Don't go messing with him, Sage..." Syl said with a sigh.

"I haven't, I swear," she said solemly, crossing the room in several quick strides.

Instead of her usual floor length dress, she was wearing nothing but a dark green silk nightshirt, and was barefoot as well. She really is quite stunning... "Then..."

"But I did steal into his room after I overheard Astala telling Selphie that he was writing poetry about me."

"Poetry about you...?" Syl said doubtfully, and even Quistis raised an eyebrow.

"Yep..." Sage replied, leaning agaisnt the pole of Syl's wrought iron bed. "But to be honest, I think I might rather take up with Viktor than Flik..."

Syl laughed now, falling back agaisnt the pillows with a lazy expression on her face. "That's too bad...we thought maybe you were coming to accept our offer."

"Hmm..." Sage mused, sitting down on the end of the bed. "I could make a bargain."

"Intriguing..." Quistis said softly, looping an arm around Syl and pulling her closer. "But if we're so uninteresting that we'd have to pay a price to-"

"I didn't say I didn't want to sleep with the two of you..." she smirked. "Although really, it's still Sydney I want the most..."

"Don't we all," Quistis smirked and even Syl had to grin.

"I'm getting off topic..." Sage murmured. "Alright, truth is I really want to know what this mission of Syl's is..."

"That is not a useful bargaining chip..." Syl replied with a sniff. "I haven't even decided if I'm going to open that door again."

"Well how about this..." Sage offered, leaning closer to the two of them. "I'm amused by you both...you have some real bravado, and I like that. Wouldn't want to see y'all die or anything. So if you do decide to say...open that door again...count me in."

"She's got a lot of nifty powers," Quistis prodded Syl. "And the advantage of being undead."

Sage laughed loudly and laid a hand on Quistis' leg beneath the violet satin sheet. "You could have no better ally..." she smiled innocently.

"Alright, alright..." Syl relented. "If I decide to go ahead with this, I'll consider you an ally."

"Hmm..." Quistis said. "I was just beginning to appreciate the quiet life, too."

Sage smirked. "Now...about that offer..."