As she worked, she listened to Louisa and the mild alarm that had worked its way into her mind subsided, though the worry for her friend remained. Her nose wrinkled at the reminder that she'd meant to check in on him before heading this way. Sometimes the prospect of getting so wrapped up in ones work sent other thoughts completely from her mind. Irene made a mental note to take a break in the next few minutes to head over to his residence.

As she settled in, she threw a few other comments in Louisa's direction, falling into the habit that they normally did when working on-site together. Each chatting occasionally to their subjects - "Budge along there," Irene said, prodding the canvas with the opposite end of the paintbrush before she set on mixing more potions - but eventually they fell into a comfortable silence with only the sea breeze as their soundtrack of the afternoon.

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