[ It's amazing what a year of being a frequent victim of torture will do to a girl's complexion. Not to mention the new hair color.

Meg's a little surprised to see him, but in a way she prefers someone who doesn't know her entire background and history, someone who probably won't grill her about the injuries or worse pearl clutch at them. She'll be just fine in a few hours anyway.

She can sit up enough to reach, gripping the bottle tightly before settling back down with a huff. His comment earns a laugh out of her, and she takes a sip. ]

Tell me something I don't know, broody. Just waiting out these injuries so I can skip on up to the mansion and clean myself up nice and cute for the house.

[ She appreciates the bluntness, though. ]