Barbara laughed. "Come in, Scyth. Let me offer you the hospitality of a drink."
"Pleased," he said, following her into the living room. She waved him into a chair and turned towards the kitchen.
When she came back with two highballs, Scyth was relaxed in the loveseat. Barbara noted it with inward amusement and handed him the drink without comment. Scyth sipped the drink first and then took a deep and appreciative drink.
"You do have something to offer," he said, not showing his disappointment that Barbara had seated herself in the chair instead of on the loveseat beside him.
"That," she said, "makes two items, doesn't it, Scyth?"
Scyth knew that he had lost the initiative; Barbara was way ahead of him. He tried another tack:
"I came to see how you are making out," he said.
"I'm not doing badly."
"Is the public aware of the impending event?"
"Aware, but not believing. Dusty Britton lost his shirt over this."