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[bearshermark]

eleven

missives | encounters

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[bearshermark]

[He steps in, vaguely surprised by how easy his reception is, and sets his eyes about the room before making his way to retrieve the glove in question]

Only the dullest of texts; this is certainly more important. In terms of dragons, I only hope no one is terribly injured in the attempt.

[At least among their allies. He cares a little less about injuries among those that actually think it's a good idea]

[lancifolium]

Where I come from it takes years of training to learn how to properly tend to and keep dragons. The circumstances are a bit concerning.

[ After spending a good deal of time trying to find a way to deconstruct the concoction Wen Qing has asked for her help on, her mind hadn't yet shifted out of research mode. The potentially awkward, rather cozy circumstances they had put themselves in were momentarily lost on her. ]

Do you want tea?

[bearshermark]

[He gives her a considering look as he pockets his glove]

If you aren't busy. It seemed like perhaps you might be.

[lancifolium]

[ Lily paused, glancing towards the desk where she has set up her little makeshift Potions space before looking back at him with a slow smile. ]

Be a bit silly of me to use my excuse to get you alone if I were.

[ It wasn't until she said the word 'alone' that it clicked where it was they were now left to their own devices. ]

Right! Tea.

[ Lifting her wand to summon up a pot Lily stopped herself from laughing nervously. ]

[bearshermark]

[His stomach leapt. She'd wanted to get him alone? He smiled]

Ah, well in that case, I'd be happy to stay.

[lancifolium]

[ Lily decided as long as no one called attention to the fact that they were alone here, they might both survive the experience without turning too many shades of pink. She hoped.

Her room was a bit out of sorts, and it took a few motions of her wand to get it back in order. With a pot of tea conjured and a muffling charm cast she pocketed her wand and smiled at Eleven. ]

I'll do my best to make sure you don't regret your decision, naturally.

[bearshermark]

[Her magic as always is a quiet marvel of simple convenience]

I'm sure you couldn't.

[But he also found he wasn't quite sure what to do with himself, and settled for simply standing there]

...You said you'd been working on a potion?

[lancifolium]

[ When the realization that they were both standing around awkwardly hit her Lily was quick to wave Eleven over to a pair of chairs on either side of a little table, settling down into one before pouring herself a cup of tea. ]

Well, sort of. I'm working on trying to reverse engineer a potion. A friend asked for my help determining what it's made from. Bit of a fun puzzle really.

[ Wen Qing had been very careful with the information she imparted to Lily, and as such Lily did the same for Eleven. Whatever was going on she had the sense the fewer people who knew, the better, and while normally she would have told Eleven everything - this wasn't her story to tell. ]

It's certainly a refreshing change from contending with the old men at court who are trying to converse with my chest.

[bearshermark]

[Eleven sat with some relief, nodding. Though he doesn't boast any knowledge of potions, it's nice that Lily has found herself with a project she seems to be enjoying on some level.

The mention of old men at court goes over a fair bit less well. ..And now it's an effort not to glance at the area in question himself. Goddess. His fingers curl and he frowns, focusing on the kernels of indignation he couldn't do much about]

I'm sorry. I know you don't want to say, but I could come talk to you sometimes without too much suspicion. We are allies, after all.

[lancifolium]

[ Her smile widened at the suggestion and she nodded while pouring him a cup of tea as well. ]

Well we've been seen gambling together, and Moran said I'm supposed to act like I'm above it all - so I don't think we'd be putting ourselves under too much risk. Though people might say I'm a bad influence on such a down-to-earth farmer like yourself.

[ Sliding his tea over to him she raised her eyebrows playfully at the suggestion. Maybe she was a bad influence already. ]

[bearshermark]

[The color is faint, but there. He accepts his tea with a grateful nod]

They might be right, but.. they don't know I'm the one teaching you to gamble, so I think that's fair.

[lancifolium]

It's always the sweet-looking ones making a problem.

[ She tsked at him lightly before sipping her tea. ]

We could try that again you know. Since you're the one with any actual talent, no one would suspect a thing.

[bearshermark]

[Sweet-looking. He'll take it with a pleased, if somewhat self-conscious smile]

We could. ..But it isn't talent, really. Just knowing the rules, some practice- and luck, of course.

[lancifolium]

It might be a way to raise gold if the group needs it. We can't expect our patrons to keep footing the bill for everything. I have some set aside to help everyone, but I worry.

[ After hearing the cost of resurrection, the paltry sum she had squirreled away seemed tiny in comparison. ]

If we disguise ourselves we might even have a proper evening of it.

[bearshermark]

[It's a good idea; they could always use more funding, it seems. He has a decent amount of gold to his name now, but the longer he could keep it, the better.

'Proper evening' in disguise, however.. Eleven glances up, a question writ into raised brows]

So long as we don't lose too much, it sounds like a pleasant way to spend a few evenings..

[lancifolium]

If we start to lose we can take refuge in your gondola.

[ Which, even though she was the one suggesting it, made her go a bit pink in the face to consider. ]

[bearshermark]

Oh.

[Well that.. sounds like an even more pleasant way to spend an evening, if she's implying what he thinks she might be. Eleven grips his tea and works to keep his expression cool]

I'd like that, either way.

[lancifolium]

[ Catching the way his grip tightened on his tea she looked down quickly at her own cup, clearing her throat as her ears burned. ]

And at least if one of our group needs to be brought back to life, we'll be a little better prepared. I'd be frightened to read the terms of a loan presented by her ladyship.

[ She peeked up at him briefly, attempting to shift the course of conversation back out of the gondola. ]

[bearshermark]

[It's quite a successful distraction, as Eleven's expression shifts into a thoughtful frown]

If any of them want to be resurrected, I guess. The necromancers practice a sickening craft by the sounds of it. Given their blood magic, I wouldn't trust that it isn't some strain of undeath, and I'd rather my soul destroyed than risk it myself.

[lancifolium]

If it's anything like the Dark Arts back home, I'm inclined to agree with you. Given their blood magic I'd prefer nobody need the help, least of all you or I.

[ It was an awful thought, all things considered. The Dark Arts as she understood them were an utterly ghastly business and something Lily would prefer to avoid whatever the circumstances. ]

[bearshermark]

[He nods, knowing he'd be upset if any of them died- particularly those he cared about- but neither would he be willing to disrespect them to the point of leaving them to the mercies of the necromancers unless they'd willed it in life.

But that's a heavy choice for any of them to make, as easy as it had been for himself]

Healing services are also quite expensive however, if it's beyond the abilities we have. I can heal even critical injuries if I get to them in time, but disease and serious illness, curses- those sorts of things are yet beyond me.

[lancifolium]

That, you certainly have a talent for, and can't write it off with luck.

[ She grinned at him again. He seemed to prefer to be elusive when it came to compliments, something she was quietly working to undermine. It was cute when he blushed. ]

I can only do a bit of mending to minor ones, hence my excitement over finding dittany. If it's real it can patch almost anything up no matter how old.

[bearshermark]

[Eleven lapses into a slight smile, warmed. His healing seems to be the one valuable talent he has, and so he's sought to enhance it through further study. That Lily has some ability as well, and with plants, is nicely complementary. ..It might be that they're well-suited after all]

That's wonderful. You know of course that I'd be happy to help you find more.

[lancifolium]

You know I'd be happy for the help.

[ The grin on her face curled into something a little more impish, and she nudged his ankle with her foot while trying to casually sip her tea. ]

Hopefully it doesn't come to that, and it remains dull. Court is awful but it's far better than Unhalad.

[bearshermark]

[He blinks, partially distracted from what she's saying by the nudge beneath the table. There's something mischievous in her face about it that implies more than a childish game. Eleven tips his head and lets his legs stretch under the table.

Though it does take him a moment to recall what they're talking about]

I would like to be able to fight some of them sometimes, however.