dark_light
Isabella has one of the central not-a-portal bits of the hub - the ones that are occupied by a shifting collection of the airport-standard restaurants and gift shops and newsstands - turned into a small apartment-cum-office for Seraphina. The office is unlabeled for the time being - just "Authorized Personnel Only" in ominous letters - but Isabella tells her what the fire and security alarms sound like and suggests that she be a responder to these if they go off. "Mutter your mnemonics under your breath while you do anything magic in public, and people will figure you're a witch," she says. "I'm still thinking about any less irregular jobs I could have you doing, but unless you come out with a more generic set of healing spells than it sounds like you currently have I don't think I can explain installing you as magical first aid." Seraphina gets a modest stipend on top of her room and voucher for the hub restaurants, and a brief tour of Chicago shopping (because there's dozens of cities to choose from but Chicago's the one she's seen before) so she knows how to avoid major cultural pitfalls trying to get a new pair of shoes.
Xiara, when her mana recovers, is directed to teleport to a tucked-away part of a temperate national preserve, told to lie low, given a list of endangered species she is not to eat or disturb, and left to her own devices with a mirror in case she wants to talk about something or needs help with a park ranger or something. Isabella could use an architect, but mostly on the colony, which is not to be known to any mages yet.
Xiara, when her mana recovers, is directed to teleport to a tucked-away part of a temperate national preserve, told to lie low, given a list of endangered species she is not to eat or disturb, and left to her own devices with a mirror in case she wants to talk about something or needs help with a park ranger or something. Isabella could use an architect, but mostly on the colony, which is not to be known to any mages yet.
prodigal_miser
"Obvious thing," agrees Adarin. "Haven't asked her yet, but - didn't want to cause problems for when I do."
Vern fluffs up a little, looking nervous.
Vern fluffs up a little, looking nervous.
prodigal_miser
"It is," he nods, "but I'm checking first, because I respect both you and Ranata and don't want to put any strain on your family."
sundayfish
Charlie's silent for a bit.
Then Kesathi speaks up. "You and her fit real well."
"She loves you to bits," Charlie says.
Then Kesathi speaks up. "You and her fit real well."
"She loves you to bits," Charlie says.
prodigal_miser
Adarin smiles fondly. "I love her, too. More than I find the words to say."
Vern adds, "It's not just love, too. She and Path are smart and have good goals that match our own and we can work together to help the world."
Vern adds, "It's not just love, too. She and Path are smart and have good goals that match our own and we can work together to help the world."
sundayfish
"Now where've I heard idealism an' practicality fighting over the same sentence that hard before?"
prodigal_miser
He laughs. "It's a mystery, certainly."
Vern trills and nuzzles Kesathi. "We are glad you approve!"
Vern trills and nuzzles Kesathi. "We are glad you approve!"
prodigal_miser
"We're not sure, but we worried about it all the same. You could have had very legitimate grievances that we hadn't thought of," replies Vernaia.
Hug! Vern helps, with a wing.
Hug! Vern helps, with a wing.
sundayfish
"Wouldn't be nearly so pleased about this idea," Charlie gestures at the box, "if it seemed you didn't."
prodigal_miser
"I wouldn't blame you in the slightest," he agrees. "Obviously something would be wrong with the relationship if that were the case. But it's not and so I can marry her."
He sounds really pleased with the idea. Also vaguely smug. He gets to marry Isabella and no one else does, ha, he wins at life.
He sounds really pleased with the idea. Also vaguely smug. He gets to marry Isabella and no one else does, ha, he wins at life.
prodigal_miser
"Yeah. I didn't have as obvious a way of talking to her, though. You had already invited me to come fishing, I don't know what I could do with her aside from just walking up and telling her."
prodigal_miser
"That'll work. Thank you. Hopefully she'll react the same," he says, smiling.
This has gone extremely well! Adarin is pleased!
This has gone extremely well! Adarin is pleased!
prodigal_miser
Adarin snorts. "No. Well - some of them might be embarrassing, but that's not exactly horrible."