The servitors start bringing over plates for Gideon and Ellyn as they take their seats. Dinner tonight seems to be soft bready wraps filled with meat and vegetables in a savory, slightly spicy sauce.

"Wonderful to meet you at last," the Fifth man says. "You ran off rather quickly after that first meeting. I'm Magnus Quinn, this is my wife, Abigail Pent. And these two rascals-" "Magnusssss don't call us rascals!" "-are Isaac and Jeannemary, of the Fourth."

"I'm Gideon Nav - the Reverend Daughter here is Ellyn Nonagesimus. It's nice to meet you." (At least, that's what people say in her comics.)

(There's so much food variety here. She thinks she likes it?)

"How have you been finding the accommodations here? This place really is something... just a few too many holes in the roof for my liking."

"It's a bit of a novelty having a discernible sky - though the charm might wear off in a few weeks."

"Or at least until it rains!" he laughs.

"I've never been rained on before."

"I'd say it's worth trying once. But maybe not more than that."

"Maybe I'll like it."

"I suppose anything's possible!"

Nod.

"I do like water - Teacher said the ocean's dangerous, but they'll fill up a pool for anyone who wants to use it."

"A pool? We ought to tell the Third, don't you think dear?" He glances his wife's way, but Abigail is peering intently at Gideon. Or rather, the longsword she's carrying.

She raises an eyebrow at Abigail. "Is something up?"

"Ah," she startles a bit. "Oh, I'm terribly sorry. It's just that your sword is quite intensely haunted. Did you know?"

" - No, I didn't."

"I'm sure it's not any kind of immediate problem, but I'd be happy to do an exorcism, if you'd like. Spirit-calling is my specialty, when it comes to necromancy."

Slow nod. "We'll think about it."

Smile. "Of course."

Magnus segues into a conversation with Abigail about a previous exorcism she did, of a haunted coffeepot. There was this one academic who was extremely particular about the etiquette of making a new pot after you finished the old one, you see...

She listens with interest! (And questions about the mechanics of hauntings and exorcisms.)

Gideon will swiftly get the impression that hauntings can get at least as complex as bone mechanics.

(Bone necromancy is still the best necromancy.)

(Of course it's the best; Gideon also likes learning about the second best.)

She does do her best to follow along with the explanations - doesn't hurt and might even help to learn it. 

Abigail looks positively thrilled to have such an attentive audience. The teens observe this behavior slightly suspiciously, as if they're trying to work out how someone who looks so cool can still be interested in this kind of unqualified nerd shit*.

*Technical term.

If they're doubting her coolness credentials, they could spar with her...

The cav, Jeannemary, gives a wide-eyed 'eep' at the notion of getting to fight Gideon.

"What's this? Fights? That's a great idea! We should have a tournament! How often does a chance like this come up, all the Houses and nothing else on the schedule!" The Crown Princess of the Third House crests over the scene like a tsunami.