Everything else aside, Enzo did love having an audience. Lyric's sincerity was indeed charming, and he found himself grinning back at her as she marveled at the revelation of a younger Tiberius in the mud. At her comment and the long familiarity it implied, he couldn't help but turn his eyes back to Tiberius. "Indeed, he always has."
Tiberius was, of course, quick to downplay his heroism. True, it couldn't have been higher than his waist, but that made the tale so much less dramatic. Enzo took the time to take a few bites of his own soup. When Lyric leaned closer, as if to share a secret, and revealed her own rescue story, his eyebrows raised. With his mouth full at that moment, it was the most he could give in reply. Homeless? His eyes darted to Tiberius, quickly noticing his surprise as well. What was this, then? An Orlesian lady out on the streets? At Tiberius' asking, Akibrus elaborated on the tale.
To Enzo's credit, he remained quiet as the story was told. Sipping at his soup, he was actually quite enthralled. Such a story, no matter how endearing some might find it, could break an Altus family's reputation. He nodded along, reaching for his glass and taking a long sip. "Truly incredible." he said, setting his glass down and leaning back a bit. "Fugitive to First Enchanter..." he said, inclining his head toward Akibrus, "and Orlesian noble, to homeless urchin, then betrothed to the fastest rising house of the Imperium." he added, turning to Lyric and smiling as he shook his head, as if in disbelief.
It took a considerable amount of effort to keep from looking at Tiberius just then. He knew his friend was no fool. Surely he'd advised the two not to share such stories with just anyone. Enzo himself was safe, of course. He'd never do anything to besmirch Tiberius' name. But others... just about any house in the Imperium would pounce at the opportunity to cut the legs out from under House Umbra.
"And a daughter, too!" Enzo said after a moment. "I understand she's been brought to Minrathous. Is she is settling in well?" Enzo glanced between his three guests, honestly unsure at this point who would be the correct person to ask.
@Lyric Oatshield
@Tiberius Umbra
@Akibrus Blaine
Tiberius was, of course, quick to downplay his heroism. True, it couldn't have been higher than his waist, but that made the tale so much less dramatic. Enzo took the time to take a few bites of his own soup. When Lyric leaned closer, as if to share a secret, and revealed her own rescue story, his eyebrows raised. With his mouth full at that moment, it was the most he could give in reply. Homeless? His eyes darted to Tiberius, quickly noticing his surprise as well. What was this, then? An Orlesian lady out on the streets? At Tiberius' asking, Akibrus elaborated on the tale.
To Enzo's credit, he remained quiet as the story was told. Sipping at his soup, he was actually quite enthralled. Such a story, no matter how endearing some might find it, could break an Altus family's reputation. He nodded along, reaching for his glass and taking a long sip. "Truly incredible." he said, setting his glass down and leaning back a bit. "Fugitive to First Enchanter..." he said, inclining his head toward Akibrus, "and Orlesian noble, to homeless urchin, then betrothed to the fastest rising house of the Imperium." he added, turning to Lyric and smiling as he shook his head, as if in disbelief.
It took a considerable amount of effort to keep from looking at Tiberius just then. He knew his friend was no fool. Surely he'd advised the two not to share such stories with just anyone. Enzo himself was safe, of course. He'd never do anything to besmirch Tiberius' name. But others... just about any house in the Imperium would pounce at the opportunity to cut the legs out from under House Umbra.
"And a daughter, too!" Enzo said after a moment. "I understand she's been brought to Minrathous. Is she is settling in well?" Enzo glanced between his three guests, honestly unsure at this point who would be the correct person to ask.
@Lyric Oatshield
@Tiberius Umbra
@Akibrus Blaine
02-23-2025, 10:27 PM
