When China was amused or teasing, the threads of her soul glittered in sunlight. It was an oddly compelling effect, somewhat like a beautifully alluring but ultimately deadly insect. Solomon tilted his head at her, the corners of his mouth quirking his amusement. "Oh, that depends. I may have to hire a chaperone."

"If you two lovebirds are going to start having a marital spat, you can at least let us get the popcorn first," Vex told them. "Thanks to this hernia you've given me, my only chance of fun now is to live vicariously through someone else."

Their helper, the man with the earthen soul, jumped at suddenly being included in the conversation. Solomon heard the scrape, even if he hadn't been able to see the way his soul rustled like reeds. The man wasn't exactly bright, soul-wise, but he was more pleasant than a lot of the other Sanctuary employees; solid and unassuming, but steady. "Um ..." he stammered, clearly startled by the fact that an Elder was talking to him almost like an equal. "John, sir. John Doe."

There was a brief pause before Dex blurted, "Seriously?!"

"Um. Y- yes, sir?"