It takes Adarin a while to recover, but eventually he starts to. He doesn't try to talk, he just focuses on breathing, occasionally giggling in between breaths.
"And," she whispers wickedly, "you would tithe a sensible portion of your income."
"You're a -" (giggle, giggle) "terrible, sensible person," he manages. "You should be the - the sense inquisitor."
He changes the pitch in his voice to badly represent a woman's, and adds, "Are you sensible? Are you?!"
"It matters only a moderate amount what you say!" cackles Isabella. "I will search for concrete material evidence beyond your motivated testimony before making my final judgment! And then it will be reviewed by people with more emotional distance from your case! Bwahahahahah!"
"If you fail, they'll - they'll write a sensible and clear outline on what you need to work on and how to improve! With well-labeled and colored highlighting!"
"And incentives and a twenty-four hour support service available in an appropriate number of languages."
When he can breathe again, he says, "You're absolutely amazing."
"I try, I try. You are the best company I've had in a long time."
That looks to be all he's going to say, but then Vern decides enough is enough. She pecks him.
"Ow?" he says, confused.
Okay, maybe he's a little dense sometimes.
Isabella raises an eyebrow, glancing around at all the entities in the room.
"Subtle, aren't you?" says Adarin, amused.
Defeated, Adarin fidgets a little, then says with supreme awkwardness, "Er - Isabella? Would you like to - redeem the hug voucher?"
Path gets out of the way. Isabella redeems her hug voucher.
Adarin is pleased! Hugs.
Isabella snuggles up, but is still technically within the parameters of hug.
For the sake of cuddles, Vern trills to Path. Wingsnuggles?
He goes off to find Isabella, kagu in tow.
Isabella's on the roof with alethiometer, thingamajigs, and notebook.
"Isabella?" he calls, instead.
She peers over the edge of the roof, grabs her cloudpine, and swoops down. "You heading home?" she asks.