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TRAINING GROUNDS - EARLY AFTERNOON
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Narrator: As per the normal lately, Teis is back at the training grounds. She's electing to practice on stone this time, rather than the wooden training dummies, given how her abilities are improving. Several scorch marks litter the stone block before her, the stone allowed a brief respite as Teis powers up her spell yet again with more incantations. The flame at the tip of her finger, as usual, starts out minimally focused, orange and red. Soon, it transitions into blue, becomes longer and narrower, and then becomes a jet-white stilleto blade of fire. Teis holds out her finger to the stone warily, moving it forward closely. The flames contacting the stone stay focused despite the obstacle before them, with only a few offshoots of fire flickering off to the sides and de-colouring down the stages of flame from white, blue, to orange. Teis continues to move her finger closer to the stone, the fire spewing out the sides becoming more intense as she does so. Then, her clawtip is as close as Teis is comfortable taking it to the stone, almost touching it physically, molten slag starting to leak from the stone along with rapidly worsening black smoke. It is at this point that Teis begins to slowly move her finger upwards, cutting a small and deeply blackened vertical indent throughout the stone as she moves it. Satisfied, Teis pulls back from the stone, dismissing the jet of flame with a few waves of her finger. The power is there now, though the cast speed is not. That's the next part to work on. Hardly useful in battle if it takes a minute to set up.
Gareth has been taking a bit of a break from helping the guards train and has instead been just observing folks in general, to get a feel for how they've been shaping up as of late. A hint of black smoke off towards one of the training spots for mages catches his eye, and he glances over, noticing Teis doing her thing with fire. He watches her for a few seconds, then remembers he needed to talk with her about some magic-related things, and it's with a slight grunt that he pushes himself up away from the table he'd been leaning against and begins to make his way over to the feline.
Teis begins to pace once more around her floating book, plucking a mana crystal out from the pocket of her robe to begin recharging. Mana drain is also another potential issue, though admittedly, a tertiary concern. Should any potential fight even last that long, then she's probably screwed anyway. Still, another thing on the to-do list. She mutters to herself some. She stops pacing and muttering when she processes that Gareth is approaching her, not just generally walking around her. She tilts her head at him. ". . .Gareth, right?" Teis remembers and greets.
Gareth nods at Teis. "Aye, got it in one, Teis. I see yer still hard at work practicin' yer spellwork." He smiles in approval as he stops a respectable (and safe, considering she's practicing magic) distance away, "I hope I'm not interruptin' ye or anythin', but I was hopin' to ask ye somethin'."
Teis nods in response to the comment about practice. "Eh. . ." Teis turns to glance at the scorched block of stone, briefly contemplating her handiwork before turning back to Gareth. ". . .Just recharging and re-thinking. Yeah, I've got time. What's up?"
Gareth nods again. "Alright, good to know. Well, uh... it's a magic question. Not sure if ye heard o' things from earlier, or saw what happened when Annika and I were talkin' the other day here in the trainin' grounds, but... I think I've got some magic stuck to me, and I have no idea what it's all about."
Teis: "Can't say that I was paying attention, sorry." Teis replies. "Mostly been caught up in my own mumblings. What, ah, do you mean by 'stuck'?"
Gareth shrugs. "Can't really say, honestly... I've never had magic growin' up, and I'm not the sort to spend time studyin' that sort o' thing if I don't have the ability." He sighs and runs a hand through the fur on his head, his ears pinning back a bit before springing upright again once his hand moves over them, "But after some kind o' incident a few months back, I guess I've got magic, now?"
Teis: "Nonsense. Everyone has. . ." Teis ahems, cutting herself off, realising that her sense of magical self isn't the point. She refocuses. "So you've. . .Got magic now? When you didn't before?" Teis asks for clarification. "Can you. . .Describe it? What type of incident also?"
Gareth nods. "That's the gist o' it, aye. I can't really describe it... it seems to pop up at random, or... I guess if I feel like I'm in danger or somethin'. First time it happened, an explosive arrow almost killed me. The second time, Annika threw an illusory knife at me when I wasn't expectin' it. Both times, I sort o'... teleported, I guess, off to the side some distance." He shrugs, "As fer the incident, there was some kind o'... magic explosion, I guess, at the town's generator when I was walkin' by the buildin' with me huntin' partner a while back. Looked like magic bolts or somethin', but one o' them hit me pretty square in the chest. I felt fine afterwards, and nothin' happened immediately, so I figured nothin' o' the incident."
Teis: "Reactionary magic? Hm. Not unheard of for people to never realise they've got it." Teis hums. "And the generator, hm?" Teis thinks, remembering that their original move out to Respite was delayed by the generator melting down or something. "Just to clarify, you don't like, think you're a danger to yourself or others, right?" Teis questions.
Gareth shakes his head at the question. "Nah, the magic I've been showin' seems to be just somethin' fer defense, best as I can tell. If it was anythin' dangerous, I'd probably have found out way before now, I'm sure."
Teis: "Eh. . .You'd be surprised. But I digress. Not like I'm really one to talk." Teis ahems. "So, uh. What is it you want from me specifically?" Teis questions.
Gareth shrugs, looking pretty uncertain. "Uh... not really sure, honestly. I just figured, yer a mage and all, so... maybe ye could help shed some light on whatever it is I got hold of?" He sighs and shakes his head, "I might be pretty good at the whole merchant thing, as well as fightin' and leadin' troops, but I've got no knowledge about magic at all."
Teis chuckles to herself. "What, because I'm a mage I know about all magic?" She teases Gareth, "Well, you're in luck. Turns out this is exactly the kind of thing I enjoy. And hey, if I can't, then I know a couple of others who can help." Teis reaches into her robes, pulling out a rather hefty glasses case, white with purple trim. Fancy!
Gareth raises an eyebrow, only to chuckle as Teis clearly begins to tease about his assumption. "Well, lucky me, then. I had a feelin' I was on the money about ye bein' the one to go to fer magic talk." He glances at the seemingly oversized glasses case, "What's that fer, by the way?"
Teis flips the case open, revealing a pair of quaint little glasses, rounded lenses with a silver wire frame. The case is far too large for the lenses inside. Studded around the frame of each less are five gemstones - An Amethyst, Emerald, Amber, Sapphire and Diamond respectively. "Mana lenses." Teis replies, slipping them on and popping the case away. "Well, my lesser ones, anyway. Hoping that a cursory glance at you might reveal something."
Gareth tilts his head. "Huh... interestin'. So... do ye need me to do anythin', or do I just have to stand here?"
Teis: "Well. . .Depends. Let me. . ." Teis scans Gareth up and down, ". . .Get a baseline. . .First. . ." Teis' speech slows. ". . .Whoa." She comments.
Gareth tilts his head in the other direction, his ears wiggling a little at her strange comment. "Hm? Somethin' concernin'?"
Teis: "Just. . .On the higher end of what I'd consider normal. And. . .Mostly in the Amethyst and Diamond bands. Not exactly what I'd call an even distribution." Teis hums. "I mean, it's not. . .Unusual. If I saw this on a random person. . .But given what you've said. Hm. You said this stuff is reactionary, right?"
Gareth nods. "Best as I can tell, aye. O' course... two instances aren't much to work off o', I know."
Teis: "And no other way you know of I can readily test it?" Teis clarifies. "Hm. Guess I'll have to come up with something if we're gonna properly identify this thing."
Gareth shrugs. "I mean... other than doin' something I think might be deadly? Can't say I know any other way to test it."
Teis thinks for a moment, pacing a couple of steps. "Entertain me, Gareth." Teis requests.
Gareth blinks, then hums. Something's telling him he's not going to like the upcoming suggestion. "Uh... sure. What do ye want?"
Teis: "Just. . .Stand still. And don't bite your tongue." Teis requests, facing Gareth square on and giving a wave of her hand across him. "Et Tu Lethar!" She chants.
Gareth raises an eyebrow at Teis' suggestion. "Don't... bite me tongue? Er... okay?" He stands still while Teis works what sounds like a spell. Several quiet seconds pass, with nothing apparently happening, and certainly no smoky teleportation effects manifest. However, right as Gareth is about to ask what's supposed to happen, he casts a glance down towards his legs, which begin to feel weird, and pretty wrong. Moments later, he tries to take a closer look at his feet, only to wobble and fall over backwards as his legs seem to give out.
Teis watches Gareth's magical signature closely, though can't help but stifle a giggle when he inevitably falls over. "Sorry, sorry. First time I've used it on a person." She continues to giggle quietly, controlling herself in due time.
Gareth gets a look of utter confusion on his face as his legs start to act on their own volition, ignoring any mental commands to stand back up. Indeed, as he tries to rein his legs in, they start to drag him around a little, almost like someone crawling with their arms. "What in the names o' the gods did ye do, here? There better be a cure!"
Teis: "Relax, just. . .A test. I wanted to see how the magic would react. And it doesn't seem like it is, so. . .Now we know you're not hex-proof. Normally I'd expect protective magic to do so. You. . .Want it to stop? Or give it a bit and see what happens?" Teis questions, raising her hand with her middle finger and thumb pressed together preparing to click.
Gareth shrugs as he gives up on trying to keep his legs still, instead just allowing himself to get pulled wherever his legs want to wander. "The last two times I teleported, it was pretty much instant. I really doubt anythin' will change even if we give it hours."
Teis: "Mm. Good point." Teis replies, clicking, the hex ending immediately upon her doing so. "Sorry, it was the best thing I could think of that wasn't just driving a screwdriver through your eye. We're gonna need a better testing method, it seems. Or somehow train you to take control."
Gareth grunts as his legs stop their movement and flop onto the ground again. He spends a few moments just getting the feeling back into them before he slowly pushes himself back up and dusts his legs off. "Well... yer the expert on magic stuff, so... any thoughts?"
Teis: "Look, I'm not really. . .There's not particularly anything I can do now on the spot I think. I dabble in a more. . .Scientific approach to magic. Not particularly in combat magic. I'll have to go home and think about it, schedule you to come visit my lab for a few hours. If that doesn't work then I'll have to ask Lady Catherine or The Loremaster for some advice." Teis replies.
Gareth hums, nodding at that. He doesn't seem disappointed or anything, though perhaps a bit unsurprised. "Bit o' a mystery still, then. Well, maybe we can figure somethin' out after all this business with the Saurs is done. Pretty sure folks are goin' to be preparin' to head out soon enough."
Teis: "Yeah I've. . .Been keeping up with that. Nesseth's given me some information to relay to Dorri. Hopefully she's able to. . .Locate where it is you all need to go. Still just. . .Sad that I can't really be of any further use in that department." Teis sighs. "Maybe I can. . .Help you figure this out before you leave? If it'll save lives. . ." Teis lowly mumbles.
Gareth shrugs a bit. "At the very least, it might save me own life, if it's somethin' purely defensive. That might make it easier fer me to save others. O' course, if we can't figure this out before then, that's fine. I'll work with what I've got and do me best with it."
Teis frowns some, her eyes twitching into a squint and back a few times, her eyes glazing over as she stops focusing on anything, clearly in thought about something as she seems to drift away from the world.
Gareth notices Teis seeming to drift off into thought, and he bends over a bit to wave a hand in her line of sight. "Teis?"
Teis snaps back to reality upon Gareth attempting to get her attention. "Unacceptable. Tomorrow, first thing in the morning." Teis demands suddenly. Just as quickly, she takes off her mana lenses and puts them back in their case, stuffing both the case and her now depleted mana crystal back into her robes. Finally, she moves to grab the floating book out of the air, closing it and starting to walk off with a purpose.
Gareth seems taken aback by Teis' sudden shift in attitude, only to stare after her in curiosity as she strides away from the training area. "Uh... sure. I guess I'll me ye here, then?"
Teis: "Right. No, sorry." Teis sighs, realising her error in her fervent haste, stopping just enough to turn and relay, "Come to the estate. South side of town, against the wall. Can't miss it. I'll have everything I need there." She then continues to walk.
Gareth nods slowly. "Uh... right. Guess I'll see ye then."
Teis continues to walk, first to Aurelius' library. It's time to check out some new books and pull an all-nighter.
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BOUQUET ESTATE - MID-AFTERNOON
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Elizabeth walks to the yard of the manor, sighing in mild relief as she glances over the town. The skunk mage is sort of guiltily relieved that none of the recent hubbub around town is her cause or her worry. Well, not really. She still has some magic to track down as a voice in the back of her head reminds her, her claws sparking nothing as always these days when she clicks them in annoyance.
Jax, the gate guard, lets Elizabeth in as per usual. Teis herself is positioned already in the estate's tea room, awaiting Elizabeth as per their continued planned appointments. She glances out the veiled windows outside, noting Elizabeth's arrival. She turns her attention to her fancy mage attire, rubbing it down to remove any creases and generally making sure that she's as prim as possible. And then she waits. And waits?
Teis looks up to one of the clocks in the room, a few minutes having passed since she'd glanced outside initially. She taps her foot on the ground, growing impatient, as well as curious as to what exactly is keeping Elizabeth from making the few steps required from entering. After a couple of more minutes, she stands up, intent on finding Elizabeth outside.
Elizabeth stands in the garden, taking deep breaths. As always, magic is on her mind. Does she really want it back? She instantly shakes her head - of course she wants, who wouldn't? But that gnawing voice keeps reminding her that since she lost her magic, it's been the calmest, quietest and non-conflicted time of her life since... ever, probably. She leans on a tree, losing herself in the same old argument, pointless as it is since she has no idea where her magic actually vanished. "No trace of it... must have whiffed away to outside of Respite..."
Narrator: It doesn't take long for Teis to find Elizabeth out in Rondelethia's pride and joy, the Estate's garden. She slowly approaches, careful to not let her robes drag and catch on the flowers and roses. "Lady Catherine?" Teis softly calls.
Elizabeth jolts up from her reverie, mentally cursing her attention lapsing - even if it IS very peaceful - and turns around to call back: "I... I am over here, Teis." She steps into view from behind the tree she was leaning on, her dress being slightly more of the practical sort than usual: "My apologies. I got distracted."
Teis takes another tentative few steps forward, noting Elizabeth's uncharacteristic change in dress. "It's fine. No trouble at all. Please-" Teis glances around at the flowers, "-Take your time."
Elizabeth sighs a bit, staring at the flowers for a second, then finally shakes her head. "It's nothing important. Just... again wondering what happened to my magic." She gives Teis a weak smile: "Nothing of use. Let's get to helping you instead."
Teis: Teis' expression softens at Elizabeth's words, "I won't press if you don't wish me to, Lady Catherine. But. . ." Teis' tone and expression becomes one of pity, concern and empathy rolled into one, ". . .Nothing important?" She questions. She seems unconvinced, as well as willing to listen.
Elizabeth nods, considering to keep up her lie but not really having the heart to do it again. "Well... in the sense that I am fairly sure I can not get it back... wherever it went, it seems to be out of my reach now."
Teis nods, "Perhaps. . .I could help?" Teis offers, ". . .Assuming your magic hasn't just, y'know. . .Scattered into the aether at this point." Dust to dust and all that. "Or. . .Maybe there's. . .Another way to. . .Jump-start you of sorts. . ." Teis mumbles, unsure of her words but wanting to help.
Elizabeth gives Teis a smile: "Don't worry about it too much. It's... hard, but I'm dealing. I'm not sure I want to do anything too rash." She pauses, frowning: "Well, again."
Teis: "I can't not worry about it, Lady Catherine." Teis skews her lip. "You're a fantastic mentor. You don't deserve this."
Elizabeth chuckles darkly as she starts walking towards the manor with leisurely steps: "Who is deserving, anyway? I haven't done a lot of honorable in my life, the least I can do is help someone else not make the same mistakes."
Teis stands aside to allow Elizabeth to pass her, then follows Elizabeth by her side. "Maybe. . .Maybe not. But you've been nice to me." Teis sighs, "I appreciate you. Not like you had anything to gain when I first asked you to mentor me. So. . "
Elizabeth pauses for half a step, turning to Teis: "...I appreciate that. Not many over all the years in Policaster... appreciated me. Aside from my husband, most just... feared. Stayed their distance." She sighs: "My own creation, that image of someone not to be trifled with."
Teis locks eyes with Elizabeth in that brief pause, hesitating herself and almost going in for a hug but the pause doesn't last long enough for Teis to fully process that action, continuing to move. "Do. . .You miss it? I mean, I kind of do. I thought I didn't want or need it, but. . ."
Elizabeth pauses in her steps again, this time stopping as she thinks. "It's... complicated. I certainly have to strive more to keep afloat now. I'm not that sure I miss temperatures dropping every time I step into the room, even if it had me be in peace a lot." She sighs, staring ahead: "Respite is a lot friendlier and warmer, and I'm pretty sure it's not just the climate that makes me feel that."
Teis stops alongside Elizabeth, listening quietly. She nods once Elizabeth has finished, "I know what you mean. About it being complicated. There are certainly aspects of Respite that I prefer and have come to appreciate as well. Certainly nice without all the snobbery also, but. . .In saying that, now I'm the snob. The thing I didn't want to become. . ." Teis sighs, "But something I've learned I don't want to give up."
Elizabeth gives Teis a smiling glance: "That's a good lesson to keep to your heart. Keep learning. I stuck to my ways for too long and nearly lost everything as a result." She closes her eyes: "I don't want you to go down the path I did."
Teis: "Maybe. . ." Teis starts, pausing and thinking briefly, ". . .It would help to know what that path is?" Teis probes.
Elizabeth blinks, then chuckles softly. "Oh. I haven't told you. I..." She looks back towards the gardens, sighing: "I do not have the energy to recap all the dark things I have done, right now, but..." She turns back to Teis: "You can hold me onto it. One of these days. I trust you, and I have great hopes for your abilities as well."
Teis: "That's. . .Fair." Teis nods, "When you're ready to share, I'm here to listen."
Elizabeth gives Teis a solemn nod, then lifts her hand towards the manor and their usual study place: "That aside, let us see your progress in the more present things." She smiles at her student, genuinely looking forward to another session of learning. Possibly for both of them, as usual.
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BOUQUET ESTATE - LATE AFTERNOON
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Enver is just out on the back lawn practicing his juggling, since he hasn't had much opportunity to do so publically lately. He's in the zone, flawlessly manoeuvring the various objects through the air, his new hand giving him expanded options.ยจ
Narrator: With the lesson with Elizabeth ended and the skunk having made her leave, Teis briefly allows herself to sink back into the couch with a sigh. She runs a hand through the fur on her head then down back through her illustrious mane. She relaxes for about thirty seconds before taking in a deeper breath, steeling herself to stand and make her way upstairs to her room. Not particularly feeling like changing out of her fancy magi attire just yet, she heads out onto her balcony to enjoy what little of the sun there is left for the day and the fresh breeze. She stands over the railing of the balcony, extending one hand to the vines curling around it, allowing and encouraging the vine to grow around her own arm as her eyes lock themselves onto Enver, silently watching him practice.
Enver feels eyes on him from above, but doesn't look up at Teis yet. He continues his routine before bringing it to a conclusion, sending the last beanbag up in a gentle arc to land near Teis on the balcony. "Oh, afternoon there kitten." He finally smiles up at her and gives a little wink. "Lessons went well?"
Teis begins to lean forward on the balcony, resting her head on her other, non-vined arm as she yawns. Her eyes lazily follow the beanbag as it approaches, though her head doesn't turn to face it once it passes her field of vision. "Mmm. . ." Teis hums back to Enver, though it's probably not very audible given the distance. She yawns again. "Yeah. Well enough. Tired. You?" Teis' lethargy seeps into her tone.
Enver giggles. "Seems like you're only ever tired or hyperactive." He puts the rest of his gear into a cloth bag he brought out with him. He smiles up at her. "Though maybe it takes a lot out of you to pretty up for Lady Catherine like that."
Teis: "Ugh. . .You noticed?" Teis flumps her forehead briefly into the nook of her arm. She takes in sharp breath as she lifts her head to gaze upon Enver once more. "It's. . .Like. I don't know. Complicated? Partly because I respect her, partly because I don't want to lose her as a mentor. . .And admittedly, I do kind of miss dressing like this." Teis replies. "Sort of. . .Old habits, I guess. Even if they were forced ones."
Enver takes a seat on the lawn before lying back with his hands under his head so as to not have to crane his neck to keep Teis in view. "I don't mind. You look nice when you do it, and if it's important to you, then it's important."
Teis blushes a little, giving Enver a little smile. She doesn't have the energy to hide it. She's somewhat used to being told that, but usually it's from people she never cared about to begin with. "You think so? I always. . .Used to hate it." Teis replies. "I mean, if you like it. . .I can do it more. Sure Della'd like it too. ."
Enver smiles. "Only if you want to. All the time sounds like a lot of work... but I like it when you don't let yourself get all messy like that one time..." He gives a little yawn as the afternoon sunlight warms his fur. "Mmm... maybe you should come down here and join me?"
Teis: "It is a lot of work. But. . .Maybe on special occasions. And only if I'm allowed to dress you up too." Teis lets off a tired giggle. "I. . .Shouldn't really lay down on the grass in this. If you let me change, sure."
Enver laughs. "Oh right. Uh, either works... and I've never been dressed up before..." He sits up. "Do you want to stay fancy or not?"
Teis: "Honestly I want to go to sleep. Which'd involve changing anyway. . ." Teis yawns again, ". . .But I'm too tired to change." She pauses. "You'd look adorable. Get you a little suit, a bow tie. . .Even a leather glove for your hand. Make you one dapper little thing. Be adorable. Also Della'd probably approve, so. . .Win there."
Enver blushes a bit. "I'd like that." He kips up onto his feet, picks up his bag and moves toward the house. "I'll be right up... maybe help you undress if you like." He giggles.
Teis: "Honestly, I didn't expect you to be the type." Teis replies. She wants to say more, though elects to wait for now, giving a nod to Enver. "See you soon, then." She smiles back. In the meantime, she continues to appreciate and idly play with the vine wrapped around her arm.
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SOON ON THE BALCONY
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Enver steps out onto the balcony and walks up behind Teis, hugging her warmly from behind. "So... what now?"
Teis: "Mmm. . ." Teis purrs in response to the hug, beginning to purr generally as well. She takes in another deep breath, attempting to pull away from the edge of the balcony, though the vine loosely tugs at her side. She looks at it, tugging at it softly again. "Hey. . .Don't give me that look. . ." Teis talks to the vine, " . .You're the one who grew around me. You knew this'd have to happen eventually." With another soft tug, the vine begins to unravel away, releasing Teis, curling up around the banister of the balcony much like the rest. Teis turns to embrace Enver front on, hugging him briefly. She slips away from him, headed into her room. "You know. . .I first found myself attracted to you because you just. . .Represented the exact opposite of everything I've grown up with alongside Della. But. . .I don't know. The idea of dressing you up kind of feels nice now? Ugh. What's wrong with me." Teis hums. "I'm supposed to enter your world, not the other way around. . ."
Enver follows Teis into her room and takes a seat on her bed. "Ah, well, nothing's wrong with you, at least as far as I can see. You're smart and cute and so full of energy and well... I just like most everything about you." His hands fold on his lap as he watches Teis putter around and start to get undressed.
Teis begins to undress, tucking the robe off her person. Thankfully, the robe itself isn't so much of a struggle, it's all the extra pomp surrounding it and her fur that is, which takes her some effort to remove. Underneath the robe, she's wearing a simple pair of bike shorts and nothing else. "Mm. Yeah. I know." Teis replies, turning back to Enver. She leans in to give him a kiss briefly before continuing to remove the clips and jewellery from her fur.
Enver kisses back and giggles. "You know I think you're pretty without all that stuff though, right?" He doesn't disrobe, but he at least slips off his wool sweater, leaving only a thin undershirt on his upper body.
Teis: "So which is it? You think I'm pretty with or without it? Do I wear it more often or not?" Teis frowns at the conflicting information, feeling a bit self-conscious. A new feeling for her.
Enver laughs. "Whatever you want to wear!" He shakes his head. "You're overthinking it."
Teis doesn't take kindly to the laugh, crossing her arms as she finishes up undressing,"Well you said I look nice when I dress up. If it looks nice and you like it then I'll do it more."
Enver gives a little sigh. "All right then. I'm not trying to confuse you..." He looks down. "I know I'm not the best with words, but I just like being around you, however you want to dress."
Teis sighs herself, letting it go in that breath. She approaches Enver again, with a smile, "Same." She replies. She climbs atop him, pushing him down to the bed and snuggling up against him. "Pa's gonna want to meet you eventually. . .Not that I think it's any of his business. . .But I'm still worried."
Enver giggles as Teis pushes him down. He snuggles back, rubbing his fingers through the fur on her back. "Well, you'll be there, so uh... it won't be so bad, right?"
Teis: "Pa can get. . .Intense. I'm afraid he's not going to like you. Or me for liking you. You're not. . .A known name. Not someone he'd want me marrying. And he'd want me to marry." Teis sighs. "He'll. . .Probably expect a lot from you. A lot of changes."
Enver nuzzles against Teis's cheek. "Sure... Rondelethia said the same things..." He shakes his head. "Even if we can't be together forever, I'm still happy to have the time we have right now..."
Teis: "Quite frankly, Enver, Muffins to Pa. I'm not gonna follow the dumb and quite frankly, fuedalistically archaic rules. But, uh. Doesn't mean I'm not worried. Rondelethia will back me up anyway. . .At least I hope. She should if I get her results. Which I am."
Enver smiles. "Yeah... it seems kind of dumb if you ask me... and Della likes me, I think?" He squeezes Teis close and kisses her cheek. "And well, I don't have any family here, so you two have become kind of like family I guess?"
Teis: "It's. . .Just the way things are back where we're from. And I do kind of owe Della and Pa. . .A lot, really. All my education for one thing. I just. I'm my own person as well, right? And so are you." Teis grows solemn, ". . .And so is Della." She sighs, nuzzling into Enver's neck.
Enver nuzzles back and squeezes close. "Yeah.. I mean, came here to be my own person, right? Ran away from forced labour and all that." He kisses Teis's cheek.
Teis: "Mm. Yeah. We'll. . .Figure it out when the time comes." Teis yawns.
Enver yawns too and cuddles in closer. "Yeah... together."
Narrator: With her immediate concerns off her mind and the warmth of both Enver and the bed beginning to seep in, Teis quickly ends up falling asleep in Enver's embrace.