When it came to redundancies, they tended to go right over Lilith's head. Aforementioned redundancies included members of restaurant staff who did not yet need to be there but to bring Linnea a glass of water. Without really looking up, she had raised her hand to stay the waiter from asking her questions she was not yet ready to answer, her features pushed into that stiff but polite smile that could have chilled her own glass of water without the complimentary ice. She would readily admit that she was likely not the most approachable of customers, and Neil had told her more than once to let him do the talking, but he was not here to counter the layer of frost he once insisted she left upon the table. At any rate, it really had not been all that long since she had asked for her own water and her company had only just arrived; what on earth made them think anyone would be ready to order? Really, now.
Smile tugging up at the corners, Lilith took the compliment in that for what it was. It could never be said that she had ever turned down a good word said about her word unless she knew for a fact the other person was lying or really didn't know what they were talking about. Linnea just so happened to have taste, however. Excellent taste, obviously. "I'm still torn between two bases, though unless I find a suitable substitute for concrete--" She was quite incapable of saying it in any sort of approving manner. "--then for the second base I'll have to hire a master earth elemental." A beat. "Or perhaps two. I have yet to decide if I may be reaching... Nevertheless, I must show you the designs beforehand." Did it matter if she was reaching a little too far? Lilith didn't think so. Especially not if there was a chance she could actually pull it off - with a help from a couple of earth elementals. "Between the house flooding and who got to do their back to school shopping when, I think everything has been relatively normal on the Landers front." What 'normality' could actually be classed as was anyone's guess. "Finland sounds wonderful, though, and heritage is something to be proud of. Last year I tried to convince Neil it was time to spend at least part of summer vacation in Ireland, but I was accused of only being interested in the pubs and, again, I think at least Cole would be horrified by most of it. Maybe when they are older." Likely old enough to drink by European law, which their father would probably not approve of. Lilith probably wasn't supposed to either, but then she didn't even begin to develop the same kind of headache that other mothers did when her children tried to drive her up the wall. "Now I can't decide whether I am looking forward to the overall peace and quiet of tomorrow or dreading the morning arguments over who has borrowed whose shirt." Although she was sure Cole had just raided another friend's closet, so that fighting should be minimal. Fingers crossed.