Main Site |
* Catreenia sits on the wide stone lip of a small fountain, across the street from the Red Sword. She dangles her fingers idly in the water and kicks her heels against her bags, looking around at the passers-by. * Caz approaches Cat with a smile on his face and bows deeply, sweeping his plumed hat off of his head as he does so, "And how have you been Catreenia?" * Catreenia smiles and stands, gesturing a graceful curtsey with her hand. "Quite well, thank you. Mama stuffed me silly. And you?" * Caz chuckles, "While I suspect my dining has not been as delicious as yours I have had an enjoyable time. Even if I have been having to spend it bouncing back and forth between here and Marsember." <Catreenia> ::lifting her eyebrows:: Bouncing back and forth? ::gestures down the street in the direction of the Eyes and Ears of Arabel, a well-known fast courier service:: Did E&E give you a job? * Caz chuckles, "No, though I probably could have made a fair bit if I had thought of it." <Catreenia> ::grins:: They generally only deliver in town. ::shakes her finger:: Mages are *expensive*, don't you know? * Caz chuckles, "You don't say." <Catreenia> I *do* say. ::sniffing and lifting her nose:: How else could you afford my salary? * Caz laughs outright, "Quite true." * Caz smiles, "So how did your parents take the surprise?" <Catreenia> ::grins:: Generally rather well, although you're still considered a bit of a scoundrel, it seems. They were quite pleased to see me. * Caz smiles and shakes his head, "Well if I have to leave an impression at least it's a memorable one." * Caz reaches down and takes Cat's pack, "Any last minute business you want to take care of while we're here?" <Catreenia> ::shakes her head:: No, quite finished, thank you. And you? ::unable to restrain a faint smile:: All your affairs in order? <Catreenia> Yes, Mama was quite amused. But then, she knows me. * Caz grins at Cat, "I don't know. Normally only my closest friends and lovers ask me that question." <Catreenia> ::putting a hand to the base of her throat and answering in a shocked tone:: Why, Master Caz, did you think I referred to improper matters? <Caz> Well I'm glad they trust one of us enough to let you continue working in my shop. With the elven commissions we're pulling in since your gift I'm going to need a skilled pair of hands around. * Caz takes Cat's hand with his free one and kisses her finger tips, "Never." * Caz grins as he releases Cat's hand. * Catreenia flashes a smile, only to have it fade away into seriousness. "You-- didn't you hear the news? You said you were in Marsember..." * Caz looks at Cat, "You mean about the murder?" <Catreenia> ::nods:: They say-- do you think that drow lady actually did it? I mean... well, a drow... but... she was a *guest* there. * Caz offers Cat his arm, "Why don't we get back to Marsember, discuss this rather unpleasant matter, and then let me cheer you up with a night of dancing or some other entertainment of your choosing." <Catreenia> Oh-- ::smiles:: Well, loath as I am to turn down dancing... I... ::looking a little uncomfortable:: Well, there are some things I didn't exactly... finish, before the break... * Caz looks curiously at Cat, "I'm afraid I don't know you well enough to know if that was an invitation to inquire into the matter or a hint that you don't want to talk about it." <Catreenia> ::blushing, drawing circles in the dirt with her toe with an air of deep concentration:: I have twenty pages to write by tomorrow morning at 10. * Caz chuckles, "I'd offer to at least buy you dinner, but I suspect you're going to be concerned about your weight for the next few weeks. I'll just have to try to cheer you up with the promise of something enjoyable when your work is done." <Catreenia> ::smiles:: That would do. Although... ::looking up from her dusty circles:: A girl has to eat sometime. Perhaps somewhere... quick? Ish? * Caz chuckles again, "I won't do what has been done to me several times while I was studying furiously, and I'll certainly take you someplace for something quick, but I also want to do something truly enjoyable with you, without having to worry about what will come tomorrow." <Catreenia> Ah, well... ::smiling:: I'm afraid I have a reputation for worrying far too little about what will come tomorrow. Or for that matter, next week. Hence, my current predicament. * Caz chuckles, "I have a similar reputation, so I understand completely." <Catreenia> ::grins and picks up her remaining bag, as well as an impressive collection of large shopping bags:: In which case-- shall we be going? * Caz chuckles, "Certainly." * Caz leads the way out of the city. * Catreenia follows after him, looking around with an air of one packing away memories for later. * Caz reaches the hill outside the city and puts Cat's bag down. "Let me know when you're ready." <Catreenia> Ready whenever. ::she looks around at the ground doubtfully:: Will it take you long to draw the diagrams again? * Caz shakes his head, "I won't be using them. It's not safe to leave magic circles just lying around. Unfortunately, that means this trip will probably be a little rougher than the last one." <Catreenia> R--rougher? ::looks faintly green at the thought:: <Caz> I'm sorry. It might help if you close your eyes. <Catreenia> ::looks back at the city gates with a bit of longing:: Perhaps I could write in the coach... sort of... ::makes a face:: If I wanted to be *wearing* my paper, perhaps... ::sighs, and nods resignedly, settling her shoulders and closing her eyes:: * Caz gently pulls Cat a little closer to him, then casts the spell, his hands settling on her shoulders as he finishes the spell. <Caz> It's safe to open your eyes now. * Catreenia puts a hand to her mouth, shrugging his hands away as she opens her eyes and runs quickly from the shop's back room. Retching noises come from the rear window, near the privy. * Caz shakes his head leaves the room for a moment, returning with a damp towel and a glass of water. * Catreenia comes back in after several minutes, looking pale and rather sheepish. "I'm sorry. I probably shouldn't have let Mama press that last tart on me, before I left... * Caz smiles and shakes his head, offering Cat the towel and glass of water, "It's alright. It happens to lots of people. Probably one of the most amusing sights I ever saw was a particularly pompous paladin vomiting all over the front of his freshly polished armour after a rough teleport." * Catreenia snorts, and accepts the glass after pressing the damp towel to her face. * Caz smiles and brushes Cat's hair with his hand, "Feeling a little better?" * Catreenia finishes the glass slowly, and hands it back to him. "Very nearly human. A brisk walk, and I think I could stand to have some food in me again." * Caz nods, "We'll go for that walk in a moment, but first I have to ask you some questions." * Caz takes the glass and sets it down on the table. <Catreenia> ::blinks, looking puzzled:: Alright...? * Caz sighs, "What do you know about that Drow that was at the ambassador's party?" <Catreenia> The Drow...? ::looking more puzzled, speaking slowly as she thinks:: Well... she came with Lord Jaret Malkier... he runs what is, I'm told, an excellent sword school, uptown. * Caz nods, "Anything else?" <Catreenia> ::frowns in thought:: The elven lady I met, who wanted to talk to me later... Lady... Aldis? I heard her say she's her mother. But... ::doubtfully:: I didn't think that... um, happened. But if it's true, she wouldn't be all Drow then, would she? ::a little wistfully:: And she was very beautiful... exotic. * Caz nods, "Can you tell me anything about Lord Malkier or Lady Aldis?" <Catreenia> Um. ::thinks:: I believe Lady Aldis is a mage, friends with that wild mage priestess in that tower on the edge of town... and she said she had another daughter, too, but she couldn't come, or something.... <Caz> Anything else? <Catreenia> Lord Malkier comes from somewhere else, I don't know where. ::sounding like she's on firmer ground:: He's not married, though not for lack of prospects, he lives in a house of his own near Marsember, and he generally dresses at the height of fashion. He's quite well respected locally, and he's a very good dancer. Or so I hear. ::blushes a little:: And he's been at court, I think. * Caz smiles, "Gazed upon him from afar have you?" <Catreenia> ::smiles a little:: Well, I *also* know he's the subject of a good deal of gossip. He's handsome, he's witty, he's brave, and he's good with a sword. ::she gives a little shrug, as if to say, obviously, what more need be said?:: * Caz nods, "Thank you. It doesn't really tell me anything I didn't already know, but it at least confirms a lot of the information I had." <Catreenia> Confirms? ::frowns, looking concerned:: Are you... investigating this? The murder, I mean? * Caz frowns, "Unofficially, as a favor to a friend." * Caz offers Cat his arm, "Still up for that brisk walk and quick meal before hitting the books?" * Catreenia takes his arm, still looking puzzled and not a little curious. "Sure." * Caz smiles, "Why don't you leave your bags here? Otherwise you'll spend the evening putting your acquisitions away rather than studying." <Catreenia> Ooooh... ::wrinkles her nose:: For someone who doesn't know me well, you know me *too* well. * Caz chuckles, "Come on. They'll still be here when your paper is finished and I won't be able to take you dancing if you fail your courses." <Catreenia> ::giggles:: True. Although I know I won't fail *this* course. If I was going to, he would have already. * Caz looks at Cat curiously. <Catreenia> ::grinning a little:: It's Precog. * Caz chuckles, "So you already know what your grade is going to be?" <Catreenia> ::shakes her head:: Nope. He *used* to give out grades on the first day of class. Mistress Tyl cured him of *that*, at least. But no one fails his course, because he doesn't let you stay if you're going to. * Caz tilts his head, "That's an unusual way to teach. But I suppose it keeps him from having to bother with students he knows will fail. Certainly seen enough apprentice mages like that." <Catreenia> It's a very unusual class. Reassuring, although it's a bit creepy when he looks at you calls you by name the first time without even *glancing* at the roll. But that *doesn't* let me out of writing my paper. So we-- oh! ::she stops, and looks at her bags:: Actually, there's one more thing I need to do before we go. <Caz> Oh? <Catreenia> ::smiles:: *Your* turn to close your eyes. * Caz smiles and closes his eyes. * Catreenia turns and digs in her pack, muttering under her breath. "Where is... no, not that one, aha!" * Catreenia turns back and drops a small, light box into Caz's hands. * Caz holds the box and keeps his eyes closed. <Catreenia> You can open your eyes now. *And* the box. * Caz chuckles and opens his eyes with a smile. He carefully opens the box revealing a gold pin, set with a simple, faintly glowing stone. The metal around the stone is worked in a stylized pattern of ocean waves. * Caz smiles at Cat. "Should I start teaching you some other lessons besides jewelry? You've shown quite the interest recently." <Catreenia> ::gasps a little at the sight of the stone:: Oh, it works! <Catreenia> Other lessons...? * Caz closes the box and sets it on a table, "That will call rather more attention to me than I care to at the moment, but it is a marvelous gift. And I was referring to mage lessons. I don't know if you have the talent, but you certainly seem to have the temperament." <Catreenia> Oh. ::looking a little embarrassed:: Sorry, I didn't think of that. I just remembered Da telling me about the stone, once-- I think he worked it for a client-- and I thought it would work, for you. <Catreenia> ::shakes her head:: But thank you, I think I have more than enough on my hands with this. ::taps her temple with a finger:: * Caz smiles and leans forward, kissing Cat's cheek, "It's a wonderful gift, but I'm going to have to choose the occasions I wear it carefully." <Catreenia> ::smiles ruefully:: Well, I was thinking it would help you know when *other* people were using magic. Or perhaps as a sort of advertisement. You know, "magical jewelry here" and all. But I suppose... heh. I suppose I *didn't* think as carefully as I thought I thought. * Caz chuckles, "For advertising it is good. But it's a little obvious for detecting when others are using magic. A reliable system for those without magic, but for myself, a ring or similar adornment, enchanted to grow warm in the presence of magic, is not only reliable but also subtle." <Catreenia> Mm. ::smiling a bit bemusedly:: Unless you're shaking hands at the time... but I see your point. <Caz> And I wouldn't have been able to wear it to the Ambassador's ball. While I had no magic on me, there was a fair bit of magic there, meant primarily to make certain no one brought in anything they shouldn't have. Magic jewelry tends to be frowned upon in those circumstances. <Catreenia> ::Shakes her head and grins:: Ah, but that's the beauty of it! It's *not* magic! It's a natural stone. It just happens to *react* to magic. * Caz nods, "They still tend to get touchy about that sort of thing, but you are correct." <Catreenia> Ah, well. Wear it in health, anyway. ::bobs a curtsey:: * Caz smiles, "Most certainly. Now, shall we take that walk that you might write your paper and perhaps get some sleep this evening?" He offers Cat his arm. <Catreenia> ::grins unrepentantly:: No sleep, I'm afraid. But I *will* finish my paper! ::takes his arm:: * Caz smiles, "Is that your precognition?" <Catreenia> ::grins:: No, that's my *professor's* precognition. And he's a damn sight better at it than I am! ::laughs at a sudden thought:: Although-- I wonder... it just occurred to me that he could be giving us self-fulfilling prophecies... ha! * Caz shakes his head, "That's why I don't do divinations, as useful as they can be." <Catreenia> Heh. And *I* stick with the past. That's difficult enough. * Caz chuckles, "Especially with a past like mine." * Caz leads Cat out onto the streets of Marsember. |
|
|