Shrug. "Pretty sure Maitimo's been pining for him. Probably the entire time? I think Leareth would've noticed if he were Quendi, but he's not and also he was really messed up and all. Which, apparently," he rolls his eyes a bit, "would've made it 'unethical' or something for Maitimo to try to start something with him."  

Jisa lowers her voice, even though her room is helpfully equipped with shields courtesy of Vanyel. "Didn't you think Maitimo was already with someone?" 

"Yes, and also he's clearly interested in Leareth too." 

"I thought Quendi didn't really do, er, being with two different people at once?" 

"They think it's really bad! But also they think two men or two women being together is really bad. And anyway I think it's being married to two people at once that they think Eru is against. Which wouldn't come up here." 

"...Huh. I'm kind of confused about that? You'd think if they were actually made that way then it wouldn't be possible for them to be interested in people of the same sex. And that'd it, I don't know, be more obviously a thing in how their minds are. Melody says the difference where they can make oaths is visible in how their minds are laid out." 

Shrug. "I don't know either. Anyway. You've actually met Leareth for a bit now. Do you think he'd be interested back if he had any idea how Maitimo feels?" 

"Hmm. Can't tell for sure, his mind is weird, but - honestly I think he loves Maitimo already? It just hasn't occurred to him that it being romantic love is even on the table. I'm not sure how he'd react if he figured that out but I agree it'd be really good for him." 

"...Is it even ethical to scheme behind your patients' backs about who they should be with?" 

Jisa makes a face. "Stef, you are the last person in the world who's allowed to have commentary on what's ethical. Anyway he's only sort of my patient, he got better pretty fast compared to the Quendi and the plan is I'll only see him if some new problem comes up." 

Stef sticks out his tongue at her. 

"...How can we get him to find out? Er, if you're sure it wouldn't end up being bad for him to know." 

"I think it might've been bad a few years ago but not now. He got his magic back and everything. Honestly I think pining 'until Leareth gets his magic back' is a perfectly respectable milestone, it could've taken way longer. Anyway. Reckon Maitimo's other boyfriend knows that he fancies Leareth?" 

"He's got eyes," Stef scoffs. "He's got to know." 

"Hmm. And I bet he doesn't have a Thoughtsensing shield. Leareth has to have been in the same room as him before but maybe he was being polite and not trying to read all his thoughts on purpose, or just thought it was boring. But if we can get them to be in the same room at some point and then, I don't know, somehow get him to think it really obviously - maybe if you sang a really over the top romantic ballad, or got the conversation onto asking Leareth whether he's been married in his past lives, or, hmm, I'm sure we can think of something..." 

Leareth walks back to his room with Vanyel late that afternoon, tired again but pleasantly so. "Maybe I should arrange to work on artifacts tomorrow. I am not sure what the current priorities there are." 

"Well, the Dwarves want to buy some permanent Gates from us. I bet they'd buy more things if we gave them options – you know all sorts of artifact magic I don't. We could ask Maitimo, I guess." :Maitimo, you free at all tonight to talk about what kinds of magic artifacts we could offer to sell the Dwarves or make for your people? Leareth wants to get some practice in on that next: 

Sure! I can stop by in about half an hour.

:Perfect, we'll get dinner and then meet you in Leareth's room?: 

Sounds good!

Half an hour later Vanyel is in Leareth's library with him, going down one of his own lists of upcoming artifact work. 

He has some letters from Vinyamar with some ideas about things Dwarves might buy, and things Vinyamar could use.

Stef catches up a few minutes later, a half-eaten pastry in his hand. He looks around for a free chair and then shrugs and sits sideways across Vanyel's lap. 

"Hey, careful," Vanyel says halfheartedly, grabbing his notes out of the way. 

"What's on the agenda tonight?" Stef says cheerfully, ignoring his protests. 

"We're figuring out magic things we can sell so Leareth can practice making them. And also have some spending money."