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BOUQUET MANOR - LATE MORNING
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Tarbin has had a few days to mull over the events... The failures in judgement. Alienating Teis and unintentionally antagonizing the magical being in Erika's garden in the same day, possibly hurting Xochi's perception of him as well. Trying to help has gone very wrong for the lizard, but he can't help but worry. Not for Erika as much as he would like, something that he's thought about every once ina while and mentally kicked himself for. Instead of worrying for her, he is worried for the creature that looks like her. Now that Xochi knows that 'Erika' is definitely not Erika, what will she say to others? What will the others do? They might see a body-copying monster, while Tarbin knows that the creature is coursing with Nature's magic, he is sure it could be an avatar of Nature, if it could be turned in the right direction. His aimless wandering while thinking has turned him in a direction, one that might be right, as he recognizes a familiar arrangement of plants by their magic, turning his milky eyes towards Teis's home. He pauses, thinking for a few moments, before the lizard turns and tries to find the gatehouse.
Narrator: The gate guard, Jax the wolf, idly watches Tarbin approach. Once Tarbin is close enough, he calls out. "Hello Tarbin. What brings you back here?" Jax questions, instead of immediately letting Tarbin in. Reasonable, of course, given Tarbin no longer lives at the Estate and cut ties with Teis.
Tarbin turns toward the voice, his tails twitching slightly at the question as his head lowers slightly in a display of shame. "Ah, hello Jax..." He approaches the gatehouse to make talking easier, stopping a few feet away. "I hope the day is good for you. I er... Need to speak with miss Teis. To apologise. If that is good."
Teis: "Ah. I see." Jax replies, humming a little to himself. "Certainly, I can take you to her, though she is currently in her lab. She may not want to be disturbed." Jax steps out of the gatehouse and opening the gate for Tarbin. "But, no harm in asking. I do hope that you can reconcile whatever happened between the two of you."
Tarbin nods to the wolf, offering him a cautious smile. "I do, too. There is much we can offer eachother." He obediently follows just behind and beside Jax, using the guard's footsteps as his guide. "I know it's only been a few days, but how have things been here?"
Teis: "Quiet, thankfully." Jax replies. "Though I'm not at liberty to discuss the affairs of the Boquets, the pair are more or less back to their usual selves." Jax hints at the Sister's reconciliation as best he can with what little he's allowed to say.
Tarbin nods, getting the gist of his meaning. "That's good, I'm happy to hear that." He looks aside, observing the flow in the foliage next to them as they make their way.
Teis: Soon, the two are at Teis' lab up against the corner of the estate. Jax politely chimes his presence, to which Teis inside responds to a minute or so later, opening the door. "Yes?" Teis cracks the door open, peeking her head around and looking around. First, she spots Jax, then. . .she spots Tarbin, "Oh. I see. Thank you Jax. You may go." Teis dismisses Jax, whom promptly bows and returns to the gate.
Tarbin bows slightly in Jax's general direction as he leaves, turning toward Teis' voice after. His head hangs in his shame... Although it's almost the same angle as if he were simly looking at her. "Good... Good morning miss Teis. I have come to apologise for my behavior. And... I do still need your help, though... Not for myself."
Teis: "It's fine, Tarbin." Teis replies, nearly cutting Tarbin off, sighing a little. "You were just doing what you thought was right. I can't fault you for that. And I said I'd still be here if you wanted it."
Tarbin blinks, letting out a quiet sigh of his own. "Y-yes... You did. I thank you. I made a lot of very poor decisions on that one day. Enough that I have learned I need to turn my head to some things if I wish to do good here, in Respite." A light smile appears, "We both want to do good, yes?"
Teis steps out of her lab, closing the door behind her. Probably best Tarbin doesn't 'see' what's going on in there right now. She instinctively nods in response. Tarbin's still blind, Teis. "Of course, Tarbin."
Tarbin couldn't 'see' anything, outside of the magic just under their feet. His range is still as it was after Teis' first effort. "I hear you have been well. That things have been 'quiet' in the last few days."
Teis: "Oh. Yeah. Um. I uh, I spoke to Della about things. Sorted things out." Teis mutters in response. "I um. I won't be able to put you as top priority again, Tarbin. I made. . .I made a promise." Teis explains, somewhat sheepishly.
Tarbin shakes his head, smiling at Teis. "After everything, any time you can give me is more than enough. Of course, I will continue helping you with understanding Nature, if you want. It is understandable if my curse is your lowest priority, though..." He pauses, thinking about things a bit more. "Hm. A problem may come if it takes too long." He turns away, tails twitching. He didn't expect her to even speak to him, but now that the door is a little open, knowing that the curse might not be lifted before whatever fate is aimed at 'Erika' happens itches at him.
Teis: "Well. Maybe not lowest. But Della comes first, which means figuring out how to mass produce. . ." Teis pauses, humming a little. ". . .This thing that I probably shouldn't talk about in case you steal the idea before we can sell it ourselves. Not that I think that you would. But I shouldn't talk about secret projects with anyone. Apparently, anyway." Teis ahems. "What, ah, do you mean by problem?" Teis questions.
Tarbin would chuckle at her reasoning if he weren't somewhat distracted. "That makes sense, I will of course respect your privacy as I did before. As for the problem... I do not know if you ever met the herbalist Erika? She claims to have no magic, but the plants she tends are so healthy it is hard to believe. She is... In trouble. Trouble I could help, but I... Well, my connection with Nature." He sighs, shaking his head and not wanting to ask this immediately after everything said.
Teis: "I haven't met her, no." Teis replies, shaking her head. She begins to hum to herself, in thought for a moment. "Is. . .This what you meant? By not wanting my help for you?" Teis butchers Tarbin's original words.
Tarbin shakes his head, looking toward Teis. "I was too stuck in my own head... Your insect research hit me wrong, but your intent..." He shakes his head again. "It is not my place to tell you what you should do. Not when I need you. My words were rash." He is still not on good terms wiith those experiments, but other things are more important right now.
Teis: "I mean, I get it. Being stuck in your head. Like I was, with Della." Teis replies. "Speaking of, ah. . .You'll uh, you'll probably want to talk to Della though if you were wanting to move back in."
Tarbin chuckles quietly, shaking his head. "I refuse to impose like that after all. I will find another place to sleep."
Teis saddens, having known Tarbin's plight prior to the minnow at least. "You sure?" Teis questions, her concerned sorrow evident in her tone, though knowing she can't really do much besides asking.
Tarbin shrugs, then nods. "I think... I need to find a place close to the flow to sleep for a while. Perhaps that will also help." He smiles at Teis, bowing his head to her. "Your worry is nice, though. Thank you again."
Teis: "Well. So long as you don't mind making the trip here, I suppose, given that I'll likely continue needing the tools in my lab to make further progress. But, ah. Keep me informed, yes?"
Tarbin nods. "Of course. I will make sure you know where to find me, if needed." He nods again, smiling at Teis. "I look forward to working with you again, miss Teis. Thank you."
Teis: "You're welcome, Tarbin. I'm. . .Ah. Thank you, as well. I know. . .It couldn't have been easy." Teis sheepishly offers.
Tarbin sighs, shrugging. "Is anything ever easy? Different views... Different priority. If nobody works together, around things, what would be done? I must learn that better."
Teis smiles at that. True, their priorities are different. But for a common future, the two wish to work for. "Wise words. I'll uh. I'll let Jax know to just let you in next time. And I promise that, as soon as I'm done with work things, I'll be straight onto the curse again."
Tarbin bows his head to Teis again, tails calming from their mild twitch. "I promise to help you in return, however you need me." He begins to turn in preparation to head out. Facing... The main doors of the manor. "Then I shall speak to you again, miss Teis."
Teis instinctively bows back. "Goodbye, Tarbin. It was nice seeing you again. Are. . .You alright leaving on your own?"
Tarbin takes a moment to check the flow around him, noticing the wall. He chuckles quietly to himself, shrugging. "I'll um... I'll find my way." He corrects his angle, managing to turn in the general direction of the gate. "I'll see you soon, miss Teis. Enjoy your day!"
Teis: "You too, Tarbin!" Teis enthusiastically replies, waving even. Once Tarbin has gone, Teis takes in a slightly deeper breath, sighing it out to herself. She's stuck in her thoughts for a moment, before deciding that it's time to get back to work.
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RESPITE MARKETPLACE - LATE MORNING
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Enver is entertaining a handful of children as the non-eatery part of the marketplace starts to empty out for lunchtime. Enver is getting used to this group of little ones, whose parents always seem to be missing something right before it's time to make lunch at the end of the week. The kids are amused by simple tricks easily enough, and he weaves simple routines with old fairy tales and stories of his own invention. Today, he's showing off his tricks with the crystal ball as he tells a story of a mysterious seer who travelled from town to town with odd happenings following in her wake.
Narrator: Speaking of little ones, Teis slips her way into the group of children, sitting on the ground amongst them. It would be easy for most on first glance to simply assume she fit in. She elects not to interrupt Enver, for obvious reasons.
Enver continues on with the story, pausing for a moment to balance the ball on his clawtips before rolling back into his palm and picking up where he left off. In that moment, he gives Teis a smile and a knowing wink. The mongoose may seem enrapt in his own performance, but he's also been trusted to watch over these tykes and so he keeps a close watch on who comes and goes, making sure none wander off except to their parents.
Teis smiles back at Enver, her tail swishing from one side to the other. She remains quiet, letting Enver entertain the children until he's finished. Though, eventually, Teis' stomach audibly rumbles, right in the middle of one of Enver's dramatic pauses.
Enver gives a little giggle at the gurgle, but brings all eyes back to him by working the noise into the story, making the growl of a dire beast in its cave. The other children soon start making their own roars and growls, drowning out any gastric noises Teis might be making. Enver takes this moment to stash away his ball and replace it with a small dagger, which he starts weaving between the fingers of his good hand. To a trained eye like Teis's, it's easy to see that the dagger is completely unsharpened and thus relatively safe.
Teis sheepishly hugs her arms close to her stomach, shyly looking away for the moment. The children joining in only makes her even more embarrassed, despite Enver directing their attention away from her. Her peripheral vision picks up the dagger, which in turn directs Teis' attention back to Enver as well, her arms relaxing a bit from her stomach as she seemingly forgets the incident had occurred at all, hung on Enver's words.
Enver draws out the story for a little longer until about half of the parents have returned, making a taller back row to his audience. At that point, the precocious children of the unnamed town triumph over the seer and the beast by turning the latter on the former and driving her away for good. As the words "the end" escape his lips, the dagger is thrown into the dirt at his feet, burying itself to the hilt. The lithe mongoose takes a bow as the children hoot and the parents applaud politely.
Teis cheers as well, simply to join in with the energy of the children. She looks around at the children, observing who leaves and who stays, then she looks back to Enver, patient expectancy in her eyes.
Enver watches as nearly all of the children are collected by the parents and the remaining few are escorted away by the oldest of them, leading them back to the market stalls where their parents are working. Finally alone with Teis, Enver gives her a personal bow. "I hope you enjoyed the story. It's not exactly tailored to mature ears like yours."
Teis props herself up onto her feet, dusting herself off. "Oh, please." Teis chuckles. "Just ask Sis how mature I am. And I don't know anything about tailoring either." Teis giggles.
Enver grins, doing his best to not laugh. He picks up his coin-laden hat and deftly transfers the coins to his pocket before putting the dusty thing on his head. "Well, I think you know a thing or two about wanting some lunch."
Teis: "Yeah. . .That was pretty obvious, wasn't it?" Teis sheepishly scratches behind one of her ears. "Normally I'd have eaten and returned to the lab by now. But, ah. Kind of ruins the point if I were to eat before meeting you for lunch, yes?"
Enver cocks his head, pondering the question. "I think it does, yes." He tucks his various bits of gear into his cubic bag, cinches the buckles closed and then hefts it up. "So, where did you have in mind to eat?"
Teis: "Well, I mean. I'll eat almost anything. I ah, I just assumed you had somewhere you had in mind, given how you offered yesterday. But, ah. I can pick somewhere, if you want! Anything you won't touch?" Teis questions.
Enver blushes a bit. "Oh, well I can pick a place. I just... I figured it would be polite to let you pick if you want. There's plenty of good places in the market though. Do you like noodles?"
Teis Phew. The heat is off! Teis smiles, "Yeah. Yeah I can do noodles. And, I mean, I'm still new here, so it's possible I've missed a gem of a place."
Enver smiles. "Yeah... there's this stall where they have these really nice noodle bowls. Tasty broth, choice of meat or fish or whatever... maybe a bit messy if you eat it too quick..."
Teis' smile develops into a Cheshire smirk. "Aha. Don't you worry about that. I'll find a way. Lead the way."
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A LITTLE WHILE LATER AT THE NOOODLE STAND
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Enver sits next to Teis at narrow counter against the side of the stall as the two chow down on their bowls of noodle soup. Enver opted for some of the local fowl with his, which was a good and flavorful choice. Occasionally he looks over at her and smiles, blushing just a touch before returing to his meal.
Teis had opted for both fowl and fish. She's a fast eater, utterly destroying her bowl of noodles as best she can with ravenous passion, purring all the while. Romantic. How she even manages to breathe is a mystery. Soon, she slams the bowl down on the counter with both hands, stretching her head into the air with a satisfied and adorable mewl. "Delicious!" Teis exclaims. "MORE PLEASE CHEF!" She asks enthusiastically of the merchant.
Enver finishes up his own bowl soon after, but is satisfied with just a single portion. He giggles a bit at Teis's reaction, turning to face her as he wipes his mouth with a napkin. "That good? Glad you like it." He sips on his cup of hot tea, looking away a moment after Teis looks his way.
Teis' tail arcs up happily, swishing back and forth. She's a bit messy, though she doesn't seem to care. "Yes! Very! They'd never serve food like this where I'm from!" Teis exclaims, though her enthusiasm begins to dip, purring and tail slowing, "Food is food. No need to be fancy and pretentious about it." Teis growls at her empty bowl.
Enver laughs. "Yeah. Lots of neat foods from Orela here that I'd never had before... where are you from anyway? And what do you do since I kind of told you all about me..."
Narrator: A blessing and a curse. With no food, there is time to talk. "Sis and I are from Sarn. We ah, I guess do R'n'D type stuff. Or, I guess I do. She handles the money stuff. She moved out here to extend the business, I followed, I guess. It's nice out here. Much nicer, so I don't regret it."
Enver nods. "Ah... both from Sarn. Imagine that. Then again I guess about a third of folks here are." He's about to say something else when Teis's second helping is delivered in front of her.
Teis inhales a gasp of happiness, her eyes lighting up as the second bowl arrives. Her purring and tail picks back up immediately, diving right into her second bowl, though pausing here and there to continue conversation at least. "Yeah. I kinda like it here. Rustic, quiet. More down to earth people who aren't suffering from a severe case of head-in-muffins."
Enver blinks. "Head-in-muffins? Can't say I've heard that expression." He laughs a bit. "But yeah, folks here are nice and most everyone is willing to help folks..." His eyes are drawn to Teis's twitchy tail, watching it lash back and forth in joy. His own wiry-furred tail swishing a bit less enthusiastically but still happily.
Teis: "Oh, yeah. I say muffins in place of bad words. Della would rather I avoid them entirely, but admitted that this is a good compromise. Something about being lady-like and whatnot." Teis replies. "And, yeah. I've noticed that. It's nice, and refreshing. Like you, with the kids. It's nice. You're nice."
Enver blushes again and stammers a bit. "I... I just... the parents pay me to do it, and I like telling them stories..."
Teis: "Yeah, well. You're good at it. Della would say that you should get paid for what you're good at. And that it doesn't make you a bad person for wanting that. And you enjoy it, so, even better, right?" Teis questions.
Enver nods, smiling. "Yeah. I mean... I'd probably watch over them without pay, but it certainly doesn't hurt to get paid for it." He drains his teacup and looks over at Teis. "So uh... what do you do for fun? And who's Della?"
Teis: "Oh, uh. Della's my Sis. Ah, Rondelethia to be precise. A mouthful, I know, so. . .Della!" Teis explains? Exclaims? Explaims. "As for fun, well. I guess my research and study is my fun. Though I guess I also enjoy sleeping in the sun, eating, lazing up on the walls. . ." Teis hums. "I'm, ah. Della calls me a workaholic, but Iunno. I just really enjoy learning things, y'know? And I just want to keep learning."
Enver listens, enrapt by Teis's words. "Oh, yes, I get it... I mean, I always want to learn new moves and tricks and stuff..." He balances the porcelain spoon from his bowl on his finger, keeping it balanced with little conscious effort.
Teis nods. "Agreed. Why settle for being practiced, when you could be well practiced? I mean, not that I'm saying you're not already. Because you are." Teis stumbles over her words.
Enver blushes hotly and looks down. "Well uh.. I mean... thanks... but I'm sure you're really good at what you do too..." He sets the spoon down in the bowl and rests his hand on the counter, nervously drumming his claws on its wooden surface.
Teis grins a little, seeming to have discovered one of Enver's weaknesses. Now she knows what to do in the future if she's feeling embarrassed! Teasingly, Teis ignores the question in favour of, "Are. . .You feeling alright?" Teis questions.
Enver is trying to keep the mix of feelings he's experiencing under control. Why does she have to be so cute? And nice... and... into him? Maybe? He really doesn't know. He nods in answer to Teis's question and just moves his hand over to touch Teis's paw gently. "Yeah... just... this is kind of... new for me?"
Teis' purring stops for an abrupt moment upon being touched, her tail and posture flaring in surprise. Suddenly, she isn't quite sure what's happening either. The purring resumes, and Teis settles. Chuckling sheepishly, Teis attempts to blow the nervousness off. "W-what. Eating lunch?" She laughs.
Enver hesitates for a moment, pulling back his hand just a bit. "Oh, um... no, I have lunch most days. I didn't so much when I first came here, but now I have enough money to eat at least twice a day..." He shakes his head and looks down at the counter. "I meant more... I don't know... you're really cute and all... and nice to me."
Teis Now it's Teis' turn to blush, though concern nags at her, causing her to sadden somewhat, ears lowering. "Yeah. . .I. . .Not eating is. . .Hard." Teis skews her lip. "Are. . .People not usually nice?" Teis questions.
Enver shakes his head quickly. "No--I didn't mean it that way... just like..." He sighs and mumbles to himself. "Dammit Enver. You can make up a story for kids but you can't find words now?" He looks up at Teis again. "It's just that... a lot of folks like me, but it feels like you like-like me, you know? And I think I like-like you too."
Teis: "I. . .Think I understand. But it's been less than an hour, Enver. I mean, I'm not saying that I don't. . ." Teis looks away, her purring slowing.
Enver pulls back his hand fully and shakes his head. "No, I get it... I mean, I don't. I have no idea about any of this stuff... I'm sorry." He sighs a bit and looks at Teis. "I guess I just got a bit too excited."
Teis quickly turns back to Enver as he pulls away. "No, no. . .That's. . .Argh!" Teis, frustrated, exclaims. "Just, let's set up an actual date, or something. Get to know one another. Yes? I like what I've seen and heard, but like. Let's make sure we're not axe-murderers?" Teis attempts to lighten the mood, chuckling nervously once more.
Enver blinks at Teis and cocks his head from side to side. "Oh... oh! Uh, yeah, sure... that sounds nice! Um... I've never really been to any nice restaurants in town though. Like, I just know the market stalls." The wide grin plastered on his face betrays his half-stunned reaction though. After a few moments, he collects himself more and relaxes a bit. "I've never been on a date before, though, and I don't really have any nice clothes... just my performance gear and some basic stuff."
Teis finds herself adored by Enver's reaction, a smile creeping back across her face. "That's fine. I don't need nice clothes, and you just leave the dinner accommodations to me, yes?"
Enver just finds himself nodding in acquiscence to Teis's words. "Sure! I'll just... dress in something more normal at least. Don't want anyone to think I'm the entertainment wherever we end up."
Teis raises a hand to her face, stifling a giggle. "Look, that won't be an issue. Dress how you want, whatever makes you comfortable. I don't care. Ah. Do you have anything that you particularly don't like to eat?"
Enver laughs along with the cute cat. "I'll take your word for it, sure. I'll eat most anything, so if it's made to taste good, I'm sure it'll be fine." He reaches a hand out toward Teis's hand again.
Teis nods. "Alright. Just, ah. I'll meet you at your spot? Yes? Tonight, just after sundown." She allows Enver to take her hand, though makes no move to take Enver's hand herself.
Enver blinks. "Tonight? Uh... sure? I mean... yeah, OK." He laughs a bit. "Aren't dates usually planned a bit longer in advance?"
Teis shrugs. "Alright. How about a month from now?" Teis delivers, completely deadpan.
Enver breaks out in giggles. "How about both? And hopefully some in between?"
Teis smirks, breaking out in a light giggle herself. "Aw, you didn't fall for it. I was hoping you'd be upset and try to take it back, or something." She replies, standing up and fishing out the coin for the noodle merchant. "Tonight, your spot. We'll go from there." Teis affirms.
Enver laughs. "All right..." He stands up and leaves a few copper as a tip for the noodleseller. He looks at Teis a bit awkwardly. "Um... would you like a hug?"
Teis: "Uh." Teis pauses, looking back at Enver, briefly unsure. "Sure. But, I'd better not find an axe in my back." She smiles, moving to Enver to hug him in her fluff.
Enver blushes a bit and hugs Teis back warmly. His wiry outer fur isn't fluffy so much as just kind of silky, almostly like lots of whiskers together. He holds the hug a bit longer than is correct for the moment. "I'm... this is... just... thanks."
Teis is awkwardly low for the hug, her head roughly coming up against Enver's upper stomach. "You're ah. Welcome!" Teis replies, holding the hug, getting the feeling that Enver needs it.
Enver lets Teis go after a bit, a big smile on his face. "I guess we'll have to work on the hugging thing... maybe get you a stool or something?"
Teis: "Date first. Hug methodology later." Teis reinforces as she backs up from Enver. "I need to get back to work. See you tonight." Teis waves.
Enver nods and waves as Teis goes. "Have a good day! See you then." He practically floats as he makes his way back across the marketplace to get in a bit more performing before it's time to get ready for the date.
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TEIS' LAB - EARLY AFTERNOON
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Narrator: An expected, yet still unannounced house call, as it were, from the Town's Engineer, Maybelline. All the Stoat would have to do is produce the card given to her by Rondelethia, and the gate guard, Jax, would let her into the estate, where, with an escort from one of House Boquet's servants, she would be free to inspect whatever it is she needs to inspect for her work. The house and the estate itself would prove to be mostly uneventful, the servants careful to guide Maybelline to Teis' lab last, in order to give the kitty warning in advance of Maybelline's visit and to make herself available. Spoiler: She hadn't. The servant has to ring the chime outside of Teis' lab once they're there with Maybelline. It takes a few moments until Teis answers the door, decked out in her PPE, lab coat and her much more expensive, fancy Mana Lenses, unlike the cheaper variant Teis was sporting during their meeting at The Minnow days prior.
Maybelline is similarly attired in her work outfit, a blue jumpsuit which is covered in pockets, various tools and items stuffed into them. She's wearing a belt with some surprisingly expensive looking tools as well, a custom crafted set from Sarn, though still not quite to the tier of Teis' mana lenses, they certainly were not cheap. In her hand is a clipboard, as she is writing a few notes based on the house inspection to this point. The lab is where her actual work is to be done. She smiles as the cat answers the door, "Ah, hello again, Teis. I do hope you're alright with me coming into the lab."
Teis: "Ah. Yeah. Just, first-" Teis leans back into her lab briefly, stretching for something just out of sight. "Nyeh. Neh!" She struggles, then eventually snags whatever it is she wanted, presenting it immediately to Maybelline. "First. Sign this." It's a clipboard, with a piece of paper attached. No pen, though. Whoops. "Just, ah. Legal jumbo. Basically says you agree not to talk about whatever it is you see in my lab. Not my idea, mind you. But I'm sure you understand? Yes?" Teis hopefully questions. The document is as Teis described. Don't talk or intellectually steal anything inside the lab.
Narrator: Assuming Maybelline signs it, the servant nearby simply takes the clipboard off Maybelline, with a polite smile and a thank you. She then leaves Maybelline in the care of Teis. Or perhaps Teis in the care of Maybelline?
Maybelline takes a pen from one of her many pockets and after reading the document over, signs her name before handing it over to the servant. "Of course, of course, provided the usual caveats of course." She wouldn't be one to keep her mouth shut if she saw something utterly inhumane. But she highly doubts that anyways, even if Rondelthia was a bit sketchy, it definitely doesen't have 'that' vibe to things around here. "Now then, from my understanding, the primary coupling to the generator lines is directed straight into the lab. I just need to run a few tests and do some upgrading to ensure you get the power your... sister, right? What she specified."
Narrator: And with that, Teis allows Maybelline inside the lab, outside the lab, whatever is required. "Yeah, yeah. Actually, you've come at a good time. I've got some projects I'm working on that could really use that extra kick. Well, I say some, but really only the one. I've been trying to improve on our family's, well, mine-" Teis corrects. "-Original mana crystal design. But I'm afraid I've hit a bit of an, ah, wall."
Teis: "I probably shouldn't be talking about it, but muffins to that. I think you'll find it quite interesting, actually. Maybe your input would be useful! But, you know. When you're not here for work, that is. Ahem. Sorry, am I rambling?" Teis questions.
Narrator: Inside of the lab, all of Teis' current experiments are around various counters and desks, in some state or another. Her ant farms, small potted plants of various kinds including some of Tarbin's original flowers, the glowing orange mana crystals (All but one kept safely away in containers) with Tarbin's cursed energies, the bare shell of her prototype version 2 mana condenser, the damaged table. And of course, the disassembled remains of her sparkling water device, both Jennica's parts and her own intertwined in a mess. There's some other things scattered around, mostly to do with coursework. In any case, it's an organized chaos of sorts.
Maybelline chuckles, "Oh, no worries, This is all pretty standard, though with oddly... specific power requirements, but I figured you know exactly what you need." She looks around the lab as Teis guides her, trying not to gawk but... also there's a lot of really cool stuff in here. And also... ant farms? "But uh, my point is, yeah! I'd be happy to be a sounding board! I was never so good at this kind of uh... process? This whole figuring stuff out thing. ...I'm a bit jealous of your set-up here."
Teis: "Yeah, I still hardly believe it myself. I freaked out when Sis unveiled it to me." Teis chuckles. "But, ah. . ." Teis falls silent, sheepish about her wealth yet again.
Maybelline nods, "It's pretty amazing. I wouldn't even know where to start with something like this. I'm no mage, and can't tell you the first thing about magic, so that probably wouldn't help with any of this." She waves a hand towards the various tables and projects in their various states of completion.
Teis: "Yeah, but, ah. You're good with the more tech part of magitech, yes?" Teis re-focuses. "I tend to sort of, well, use my magical knowledge like a blunt instrument sometimes. But, ah. That can only get me so far. But, See, back in the city, Papa'd hire the best to round out that part. But I don't have Papa here, or his contacts. And as far as I'm aware, you're the resident expert on such matters?" Teis questions. "So that makes you the person I should seek out. Like, see. Della wants me to come up with a mass producible schematic for that thingy over there-" Teis points to the disassembled sparkling water device. "-But part of that means optimizing the parts. The magic parts I can optimize just fine, but what about things like the metal used and the tools needed to shape that metal? I could brute force it, I guess. But that takes both time and resources. Or I could just, ask someone. Like you. Yes?"
Maybelline blinks a little self-conciously, "Ah uh, I don't know about um... expert. I guess I sorta am, yeah. I know the tech." She glances at the device that Teis points at, considering. "I feel a little taken off guard, to be honest. I'm not someone who folks have ever really sought out for anything before. I... could probably help you out with that kind of thing, though, sure."
Teis: "Don't be modest. You're well certified to be the expert, if your qualifications are accurate." Teis replies, with a smile. "And in exchange, I can offer you my expertise if you need it? Yes? And maybe you can use the lab? Maybe? If you want?" Teis offers.
Maybelline straightens slightly, "Those qualifications are accurate... and fiercly fought for." She smiles back. "So, something of a knowledge exchange? I'm in the midst of developing the weather shielding for the town, which is something they've not had in years now. It's... just a little outside my expertise, and while I think I have a design ready, perhaps you can see what I'm missing in it? It would definitely be good to have a friend who knows about the more arcane angles. The lab access might be pretty cool too."
Teis smiles at the mention of knowledge exchange. "Purrrrecisely." She happily purrs out, with a grin. "It would certainly be nice helping the town out as well. Do we have an, ah, loose agreement, then? At least until such time that we require a more formal one."
Maybelline: "Oh, for sure! I can't speak much for 'formal' agreements, heh. I'm not much for formality, but I understand the necessity when you're trying to do business. But for now, it works for me."
Teis: "Tell me about it. I'd rather avoid a formal agreement entirely, but, well, Della'll strike eventually. She's all business, that one. And apparently I'm business." Teis chuckles. "So. The power, then?" Teis prompts.
Maybelline eeps slightly, then laughs, "Of course, of course! Let's get you all set and get your lab buzzing at a hundred and ten percent, eh?"
Teis: "I like the way you think. A hundred percent is so last decade." Teis giggles. She then starts getting into the technical details with Maybelline about her lab and her setup, taking as long as necessary until Maybelline is satisfied.