Angelique comes back in at that point, carrying a tray with a tea set on it. "All done?" she asks brightly.

He doesn’t smile at the woman returning, but he also doesn’t go for his knife. 

He shifts his shoulder a bit to make Nova more comfortable. 

Drex nods and shuffles himself around so that he's leaning against one of the chairs.

Esca doesn't budge, just nuzzles into Nova's hand, and pokes at Zev with his nose.

Aaren comes back in, balancing a tray of scones in one hand and pulling a chair with the other. "'Chelle?"

'Chelle immediately moves over to relieve him of the tray.

"That wasn't what I wanted you to take," Aaren chuckles.

Zev raises an eyebrow at the dog, but does gently pat it a few times. “You are a large dog,” he informs it. 

Proud woof!

Angelique is pouring tea from the pot. "So, reason number two I am not just dragging this lummox away," she pauses to press a kiss to Drex's head, "is that Aaren said that Nova is a fire elemental who's received no training?"

Nova shrinks a little against Zev's side - more reflex when someone brought up his curse than anything else.

Zev nuzzles Nova, then let’s go of his hand, quickly replacing it with the other, and then wraps an arm firmly around him. 

“They didn’t want him trained,” Zev says. “He wasn’t allowed weapons.”

There's a frozen moment where the woman looks furious and then she clears her face. "I assume the people who raised you were... Not of a magical persuasion? Only a fool would try to get an elemental to not use their abilities."

Aaren puts plates with buttered scones spread with jam on the side of the coffee table closest to them.

“They were-” Zev begins, furious, but stops himself. He doesn’t want Nova to flinch away from him. He takes a deep breath, taking comfort himself from Nova. 

“There were no other magic users that I knew of.”

"...that's concerning," Aaren comments.

"Indeed," Ange agrees. "And requires looking into, but later. For now, it is more important that we provide you with training, Nova. I am a fire elemental myself, and while Aaren and 'Chelle have techniques that will help, it is...wiser to learn from someone of the same element if that is amenable?"

Her gaze switches between Zev and Nova as she speaks, clearly intending for this to be a decision both of them make.

Nova looks at Zev as well, uncertain.

He lifts his head from Nova’s to look at him better. “Learning to use it would make it less frightening for you,” Zev says gently. 

He nods hesitantly. "I-if you think that's best, ma'am?"

She smiles warmly. "I definitely don't think it would harm anyone. Zev, you are more than welcome to sit in on any sessions as well. I certainly think that is wiser than not."

He smiles. Smart woman. 

“What was your name?” 

"Angelique Ouroboros," she introduces herself. "Heavens where did my manners go. Call me Ange, or even Aunt Ange if you like. Whatever you're most comfortable with."

“Pleasure.”

He’s surprised to find he almost means it. 

"Now. I would prefer to start sooner, rather than later-"