Not at all. [ He replies smoothly, and his hand waves mildly as if to dismiss the concern away. It is only courteous, after all, that the owner of a business gives one who enters their shop their attention.
[To know he's free is both a relief and a daunting moment; no backing out now. She takes a step closer.]
I got your gift. I wanted to thank you, it was very kind. But also, ah... [Her cheeks dust a little with pink, embarrassed.] Are you sure those were meant for me?
[ While he sees the shift in her expression, it causes his own to lift a brow, puzzled— for she says she’s grateful— and then concerned, because she doesn’t think it was for her…? ]
Is it not to your liking? [ He asks this carefully, slowly, as if to assure her that he would not take offense.
Which he wouldn’t. But… he did put a lot of sincere thought and time into its design. Alas. ]
[Oops, too far in the wrong direction. She's quick to backpedal.]
No, no! It isn't that at all. It was lovely... maybe too lovely, which is why I asked. I've never owned anything like that.
[She isn't sure what to do with them, in truth. Do some people just... wear jewelry like that on a normal day? Or is it for special occasions? She's had a hard time imagining wearing it ever, but if another fancy event came along, she'd at least give it a try.]
[ His brow pinches, momentarily casting a shadow over his thoughtful gaze. Somnus' robes rustle as he crosses his arms over his chest.
"Are you sure those were meant for me?"
"...maybe too lovely..."
"I've never owned anything like that."
He lifts his head, looking at her with more clarity. ] Kisara. [ There's no insistence behind his polished tone. What she does with it is her business; and if she doesn't have any use for it, that's a failing on his part, not hers, for not knowing her better to give her something more practical. Such is the nature of gifts. However, if she thinks that it is not meant for her... This deserves correction.
Somnus relaxes his arms to his sides. ]
Its design was made with you in mind. [ There's a brief, distant drift in his gaze-- that to the side of her face, where she wears her own earrings, and then lower to her neck, as if envisioning the set. In hindsight, perhaps the diamond's brilliance overpowered the subtleness of the arrangement's motif, but on her... Surely she knows by now that Somnus is a pragmatic man. He wouldn't have made it if he thought it was too much. Jewelry is only as lovely as the one who wears it.
His eyes meet hers, and with this, his conclusion is firm: ] It is meant for none other.
Well. She can hardly come up with any sort of objection after hearing that, can she. Her gaze drops to the floor, feeling embarrassed again, this time for questioning him. He's attentive to details, has been in previous times they've crossed paths, for better or worse. It would be unlike him to mix up a gift like that, and to question him further would be to question his opinion of her- something that is not her place to decide. She'd determined that at the wedding already, when they fought; if he thought less of her, that was his choice. If he thinks highly enough of her that gifting her fancy jewelry is fitting, that's his choice too.]
Okay... sorry. And- thank you, again. They really are beautiful.
[She still doesn't have much to offer in return, and her gift feels extra paltry now, but it isn't her fault that he raised the stakes so high to begin with, so all she can do is clear her throat and offer the tin out to him.]
I also wanted to bring these for you. I wasn't sure what was to your taste, so I hope you like them.
[Inside the tin is a collection of little chocolate truffles, in a mixture of chocolate types, all bite-sized and easy to eat neatly (for the refined sort who values their appearance and are unlikely to want sticky fingers). A few have delicate chocolate-drip designs that follow a motif he'll find familiar- swords, shields, singular wings.]
[ Without his armored form, his default appearance now is that of a specter. Once she holds out the tin and offers it to him, he steps forward, solidifying his hand to take the gift from him. With his other, he lifts the lid off, dismissing it into his armor to reveal the contents inside.
The truffles are artisan, detailed and elegant, which would be an impressive gift on their own. But it is the motifs that cause his attention to linger upon them. The swords, the shields... the solitary wings. All of these she would have seen upon the weapons the phantoms of his family had carried.
Somnus mumbles something nearly inaudible, a single word in an ancient tongue, his expression distant, briefly pained, and then-- soft, settled. It seems he's been both moved by this gesture and the thought she put into it. ]
[She hadn't expected that. His expression in response was complicated, but she hopes the good outweighs the bad, in this case. She'd taken a chance with this one, so maybe it paid off.]
It's nothing. I'm still learning how to do these designs, so they aren't perfect, but the flavour should still be good. I hope you don't have any trouble eating them.
[He's still spectral and all, but she'd seen him with wine, so... she's hoping for the best here.]
[ Whatever crossed his mind fades, and his expression returns to something thoughtful.
Somnus selects one of the truffles from the tin. He turns the chocolate between two of his fingers as if further appraising the craftsmanship, and then passes the morsel between his lips.
Rich as velvet and sweeter than honey, it only needs to be chewed thrice before it melts upon his tongue. Chocolate always has a warm, relaxed property to it, and back in his time, it was known as an exotic fruit, sometimes concocted into drinks. But this is smoother than dessert wine, and the taste lingers. Is this how truffles are supposed to be?
Oh- [She blinks, then holds a hand up in polite objection.] Thank you, but please, keep them. Or share them with your friends, if you like! [If... he has other friends. She hopes he does.] I had a few at home, to taste-test before I brought them here. My stomach will be happier if I refrain from eating more.
[She'd really like to still fit in that nice dress, after all. Nevermind that necklace he'd gotten her.]
Then I shall cherish this gift. [ One for himself to taste it is enough for now. Such delicacies are meant only for special occasions. Until another such moment comes, he needn't indulge. He doesn't need to eat, anyways.
So. Somnus places the truffle back in the tin, and with a wave of his hand, it vanishes into the trademark sparkle of his blue, crystalline magic. ]
Somnus raises his hand again, and with a turn of his wrist, he calls another item into his palm. The magic of his family fades like falling, blue snow around his fingers, revealing a potion, which he promptly dismisses. ] It is useful. We carry our weapons within it.
[ Only one king had an actual sheath for their sword… But. Kisara, too, doesn’t actually carry her shield physically either. ] You have something similar, no?
I suppose that's true. [She lifts her arm, turning it to show a particular fixture to her armor that is used to manifest her shield and mace.] This isn't my power, though. It's borrowed magic, from Dohalim.
[Technically borrowed, but even after leaving his service Dohalim has never asked for it back, and she wouldn't be very inclined to give it back if he did ask. (She does not think he ever would, though.) She's not a thief, though, and she won't take credit for power that isn't hers.]
[ While unfamiliar with the name, that magic can be borrowed from another is. Thus: ] Ah. [ It’s a small, affirming sound in understanding. ] Ours works similarly, where it may be given to another.
[ Anyone he’s ever shared his power with is long dead, but with those he did, it was because he trusted them implicitly. (But even then, trusting another to not turn that gift against the giver didn’t always work with some monarchs.)
If she has been bestowed the magic of a Renan, then it shows she had effectively gained their trust. ] You are wise to wield their power against them. May they never know to sever the tether of power.
Thankfully not against the one who gave it, specifically. [Outside of that one time he lost his mind a bit, but she doesn't like to think about that day.] And the rest could try to take it from me, but they'd meet the business end of my mace before I let them get that close.
[The only one who could might be Dohalim, if he had a very, very good reason for it, but he's the only one who she can't imagine asking anyway.]
[ Somnus’ head tilts slightly to the side. Others… meaning other than the one who bestowed the magic to her, could also take it away?
It seems he’s misunderstood something. The error comes from an assumption on his part, that the rules of sharing magic in his world would be similar to her own, in that the executor would have the sole authority to strip them of magic later. That is clearly not the case. ]
I… see. [ Not like his world at all. He surmises, ] Once the magic is yours… it is yours indefinitely, and they must take it back by force.
Oh, I should explain. The power isn't physically mine, it's infused into an item. A part of my armor gives me the ability to summon weapons, and channel some astral energy into my attacks. It's a Renan technology called astral transference.
[She takes a step back, holding her hand up to call her shield out between them in a flare of blue energy, resting it lightly against the floor. The magic manifests from somewhere on her arm, though as she's not currently in her full armor, the specific object seems to be tucked away.]
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songerein
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And there's no one else here. ]
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I got your gift. I wanted to thank you, it was very kind. But also, ah... [Her cheeks dust a little with pink, embarrassed.] Are you sure those were meant for me?
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Is it not to your liking? [ He asks this carefully, slowly, as if to assure her that he would not take offense.
Which he wouldn’t. But… he did put a lot of sincere thought and time into its design. Alas. ]
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No, no! It isn't that at all. It was lovely... maybe too lovely, which is why I asked. I've never owned anything like that.
[She isn't sure what to do with them, in truth. Do some people just... wear jewelry like that on a normal day? Or is it for special occasions? She's had a hard time imagining wearing it ever, but if another fancy event came along, she'd at least give it a try.]
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"Are you sure those were meant for me?"
"...maybe too lovely..."
"I've never owned anything like that."
He lifts his head, looking at her with more clarity. ] Kisara. [ There's no insistence behind his polished tone. What she does with it is her business; and if she doesn't have any use for it, that's a failing on his part, not hers, for not knowing her better to give her something more practical. Such is the nature of gifts. However, if she thinks that it is not meant for her... This deserves correction.
Somnus relaxes his arms to his sides. ]
Its design was made with you in mind. [ There's a brief, distant drift in his gaze-- that to the side of her face, where she wears her own earrings, and then lower to her neck, as if envisioning the set. In hindsight, perhaps the diamond's brilliance overpowered the subtleness of the arrangement's motif, but on her... Surely she knows by now that Somnus is a pragmatic man. He wouldn't have made it if he thought it was too much. Jewelry is only as lovely as the one who wears it.
His eyes meet hers, and with this, his conclusion is firm: ] It is meant for none other.
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Well. She can hardly come up with any sort of objection after hearing that, can she. Her gaze drops to the floor, feeling embarrassed again, this time for questioning him. He's attentive to details, has been in previous times they've crossed paths, for better or worse. It would be unlike him to mix up a gift like that, and to question him further would be to question his opinion of her- something that is not her place to decide. She'd determined that at the wedding already, when they fought; if he thought less of her, that was his choice. If he thinks highly enough of her that gifting her fancy jewelry is fitting, that's his choice too.]
Okay... sorry. And- thank you, again. They really are beautiful.
[She still doesn't have much to offer in return, and her gift feels extra paltry now, but it isn't her fault that he raised the stakes so high to begin with, so all she can do is clear her throat and offer the tin out to him.]
I also wanted to bring these for you. I wasn't sure what was to your taste, so I hope you like them.
[Inside the tin is a collection of little chocolate truffles, in a mixture of chocolate types, all bite-sized and easy to eat neatly (for the refined sort who values their appearance and are unlikely to want sticky fingers). A few have delicate chocolate-drip designs that follow a motif he'll find familiar- swords, shields, singular wings.]
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The truffles are artisan, detailed and elegant, which would be an impressive gift on their own. But it is the motifs that cause his attention to linger upon them. The swords, the shields... the solitary wings. All of these she would have seen upon the weapons the phantoms of his family had carried.
Somnus mumbles something nearly inaudible, a single word in an ancient tongue, his expression distant, briefly pained, and then-- soft, settled. It seems he's been both moved by this gesture and the thought she put into it. ]
...You have my gratitude.
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It's nothing. I'm still learning how to do these designs, so they aren't perfect, but the flavour should still be good. I hope you don't have any trouble eating them.
[He's still spectral and all, but she'd seen him with wine, so... she's hoping for the best here.]
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Somnus selects one of the truffles from the tin. He turns the chocolate between two of his fingers as if further appraising the craftsmanship, and then passes the morsel between his lips.
Rich as velvet and sweeter than honey, it only needs to be chewed thrice before it melts upon his tongue. Chocolate always has a warm, relaxed property to it, and back in his time, it was known as an exotic fruit, sometimes concocted into drinks. But this is smoother than dessert wine, and the taste lingers. Is this how truffles are supposed to be?
He swallows, blinking once. ]
The texture is… luxurious.
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I'm glad they turned out well! There's a few different kinds of filling, so you may be surprised by the others. That one was a dark ganache cream.
[Really, she's mostly happy he can eat them, but to know he finds them luxurious is an extra treat for her.]
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Then, he offers one to her. ] Compliments to the chocolatier.
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[She'd really like to still fit in that nice dress, after all. Nevermind that necklace he'd gotten her.]
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So. Somnus places the truffle back in the tin, and with a wave of his hand, it vanishes into the trademark sparkle of his blue, crystalline magic. ]
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[Though him putting it in that magic space he has makes her curious. Does food go bad there?]
You... can do that with anything?
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He nods. ] Mostly.
People are one exception.
[ Nor would he want to throw a whole person into magic void-hammer-space. That is what alterna is for. ]
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Probably a good thing.
[She can't see Somnus dragging people into it willy-nilly, but still, what terrifying power it would be.]
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Somnus raises his hand again, and with a turn of his wrist, he calls another item into his palm. The magic of his family fades like falling, blue snow around his fingers, revealing a potion, which he promptly dismisses. ] It is useful. We carry our weapons within it.
[ Only one king had an actual sheath for their sword… But. Kisara, too, doesn’t actually carry her shield physically either. ] You have something similar, no?
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[Technically borrowed, but even after leaving his service Dohalim has never asked for it back, and she wouldn't be very inclined to give it back if he did ask. (She does not think he ever would, though.) She's not a thief, though, and she won't take credit for power that isn't hers.]
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[Even if it's still in Renan control, who gets that magic, it's still helped to level the scales somewhat.]
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If she has been bestowed the magic of a Renan, then it shows she had effectively gained their trust. ] You are wise to wield their power against them. May they never know to sever the tether of power.
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[The only one who could might be Dohalim, if he had a very, very good reason for it, but he's the only one who she can't imagine asking anyway.]
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It seems he’s misunderstood something. The error comes from an assumption on his part, that the rules of sharing magic in his world would be similar to her own, in that the executor would have the sole authority to strip them of magic later. That is clearly not the case. ]
I… see. [ Not like his world at all. He surmises, ] Once the magic is yours… it is yours indefinitely, and they must take it back by force.
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[She takes a step back, holding her hand up to call her shield out between them in a flare of blue energy, resting it lightly against the floor. The magic manifests from somewhere on her arm, though as she's not currently in her full armor, the specific object seems to be tucked away.]
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It’s innovative. [ To say the least. ] Is it only tethered to your shield and mace? Or can you place other objects within its magic?
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