Huh. He hadn’t figured Blaine for a thief. Like any self-important old Tevene family, House Umbra had collected a pile of artifacts both magical and otherwise over the centuries. Curiosities stolen from Seheron, trinkets crafted by young mages. Not worth stealing, for the most part. Still, best not let his seneschal hear of Aki’s proclivities or the poor man might keel over from the stress.
“Of course. As future lady of the House, she has free reign to do as she pleases. It’s driving my head gardener mad, of course.” Tiberius was simply content that she’d taken an interest in something that practiced her magic. She had an undeniable talent – but a knack for chaos that he didn’t fully understand.
Watching Aki cast rather suggested it was a Lyric thing – and not a quirk of southern mages as a whole.
“As you like. If you require any equipment, just let the seneschal know.” An interest in alchemy, perhaps? Well, it took all types. Tiberius had never had any talent for brewing up potions and poisons. That, and Grandfather had disdained the art for its similarities to preparing mundane food and drink, work for slaves or the unmagicked.
Grandfather was, of course, a tremendous asshole. And what Grandfather disliked had left a few holes in Tiberius' education.
Aki changed the subject with a smile, giving Tiberius half a moment’s pause. Secrets could mean anything, and Aki was not like Lyric. He’d worked his way up to the top of his Circle and had surely dealt with enemies and rivals on the way there. There was a world where it was dangerous to answer such a question.
“Mm. Do you not trust her?” Tiberius pushed away from the pillar, a feline smirk gracing his lips for a moment. “I think she expected me to be worse than I am. If you know her parents – and that they supposedly picked me – Well, it’s a trifle to come up all roses compared to that nightmare. Then there’s the dog, of course.” Tiberius was many things but cruelty to animals was not among them. He wasn’t sure that was the best way to judge a person’s character, but he wasn’t complaining.
“Honestly, I’d rather hear your secrets from you. When you’re ready, of course.” For now, it was triumph enough to have added two powerful mages to his household instead of one.
@Akibrus Blaine
“Of course. As future lady of the House, she has free reign to do as she pleases. It’s driving my head gardener mad, of course.” Tiberius was simply content that she’d taken an interest in something that practiced her magic. She had an undeniable talent – but a knack for chaos that he didn’t fully understand.
Watching Aki cast rather suggested it was a Lyric thing – and not a quirk of southern mages as a whole.
“As you like. If you require any equipment, just let the seneschal know.” An interest in alchemy, perhaps? Well, it took all types. Tiberius had never had any talent for brewing up potions and poisons. That, and Grandfather had disdained the art for its similarities to preparing mundane food and drink, work for slaves or the unmagicked.
Grandfather was, of course, a tremendous asshole. And what Grandfather disliked had left a few holes in Tiberius' education.
Aki changed the subject with a smile, giving Tiberius half a moment’s pause. Secrets could mean anything, and Aki was not like Lyric. He’d worked his way up to the top of his Circle and had surely dealt with enemies and rivals on the way there. There was a world where it was dangerous to answer such a question.
“Mm. Do you not trust her?” Tiberius pushed away from the pillar, a feline smirk gracing his lips for a moment. “I think she expected me to be worse than I am. If you know her parents – and that they supposedly picked me – Well, it’s a trifle to come up all roses compared to that nightmare. Then there’s the dog, of course.” Tiberius was many things but cruelty to animals was not among them. He wasn’t sure that was the best way to judge a person’s character, but he wasn’t complaining.
“Honestly, I’d rather hear your secrets from you. When you’re ready, of course.” For now, it was triumph enough to have added two powerful mages to his household instead of one.
@Akibrus Blaine
10-13-2024, 10:23 AM
