Lif Silverlode: Oh, you're...Helisent, right? I think we met shortly after I first came here.
Helisent Wynter: Mhm! Yeah, that sounds about right. How've you been?
Lif Silverlode: I've been well, thank you for asking. Work has been slow, but I've kept myself busy with the Sandsea's library.
Lif Silverlode gestures to the books in her arms.
Lif Silverlode: How have you been?
Helisent Wynter: Terrorizing his twin brother so he will teach me how to be a monk, she says, motioning at Ingvald.
Ingvald Bloodhound: It's going well. For her, at least.
Lif Silverlode turns to the stranger.
Lif Silverlode: My apologies. I haven't introduced myself. I'm Lif.
Ingvald Bloodhound: Reading anything interesting?
Lif Silverlode: I just found a few books on Sil'dih that I haven't read before.
Helisent Wynter's head tilts curiously at that.
Ingvald Bloodhound nods in greeting.
Ingvald Bloodhound: Ingvald.
Lif Silverlode nods.
Lif Silverlode: A pleasure to meet you. What brings you to the Sandsea? Are you another Riskbreaker?
Ingvald Bloodhound: Something like that. I patrol Gyr Abania most of the time.
Lif Silverlode nods to Ingvald Bloodhound.
Helisent Wynter gives him the most innocent grin.
Ingvald Bloodhound shrugs at Helisent Wynter.
Lif Silverlode looks at Helisent Wynter with relief.
Lif Silverlode: I was actually just wondering that. I don't think I've met your sister yet, but I'll keep an eye out for her.
Lif Silverlode: So how do the two of you know each other?
Ingvald Bloodhound: We're both Gyr Abanian. We met at some point during the reconstruction, and she hasn't left me alone since.
Helisent Wynter: He looked like he needed some brightness in his life, really, she shrugs. I also met Orella, his partner, while I was traveling through the Fringes.
Lif Silverlode: Well, after everything Ala Mhigo's been through, I think most of your people could do with some cheer. At least you now have a chance at finding some.
Ingvald Bloodhound doesn't quite know what to say to that statement, except for the opinion that he thinks “cheer” may still be a ways off.
Ingvald Bloodhound: Hm.
Helisent Wynter kicks his shin.
Helisent Wynter: Stop brooding, for fuck's sake. Just be happy.
Ingvald Bloodhound: Ow!
Helisent Wynter kicks his shin again for good measure.
Helisent Wynter: Or do I need to do something drastic.
Ingvald Bloodhound: You brat!
Lif Silverlode bites her lip, suddenly realizing how flippant her statement had been.
Lif Silverlode: I am so sorry. That was insensitive of me. I did not mean to make light of what Ala Mhigo's been through. I am truly sorry.
Helisent Wynter sticks her tongue out at Ingvald Bloodhound.
Ingvald Bloodhound: No, I should apologize. As this one can doubtless tell you, I'm an ornery old man with little to no conversational abilities.
Helisent Wynter: I mean, yeah, it's been horrible, but ... You also kinda have to learn to try and be happy, or you just stick in the same patterns of sadness and bad moods. That's why I'm working at getting him and the other block of wood to at least smile sometimes.
Ingvald Bloodhound: You are deeply unpleasant.
Helisent Wynter: And that's why you kicked me off to go bother your brother!
Ingvald Bloodhound: Well, it worked.
Helisent Wynter stage-whispers to Lif Silverlode.
Helisent Wynter: He likes me, don't let him fool you.
Lif Silverlode can't help but smile at the antics of the two Gyr Abanians.
Lif Silverlode: I'll have to take your word for it.
Lif Silverlode's smile falters for a moment as she feels a stab of nostalgia and longing, but she quickly numbs herself to it.
Lif Silverlode: You sound like siblings.
Ingvald Bloodhound sobers at that.
Helisent Wynter: I implied that he and Orella adopted me, actually.
Helisent Wynter gently guides the conversation away from siblings.
Helisent Wynter: They both had heart attacks.
Ingvald Bloodhound just sighs.
Lif Silverlode: It sounds like you didn't have much say in this, Ingvald.
Ingvald Bloodhound shrugs at Lif Silverlode.
Ingvald Bloodhound: She knows I can throw her into an ancient Ala Mhigan pit if she ever truly irks me.
Helisent Wynter: ...You know I can fly, right.
Ingvald Bloodhound: Oh, I'm all too aware.
Ingvald Bloodhound: ...And now, so is Wilhelm.
Ingvald Bloodhound can't help but let out a single chuckle.
Helisent Wynter sighs; a breeze that ruffles her clothes, despite being indoors.
Helisent Wynter: True. I can only play that joke once on unsuspecting people.
Lif Silverlode: I don't mean to pry, but who is Wilhelm?
Ingvald Bloodhound: My aforementioned brother.
Ingvald Bloodhound has never willingly divulged information about him before.
Lif Silverlode: Ah, I see.
Lif Silverlode nods, but does not pursue the topic, having sensed the tenderness around the subject.
Ingvald Bloodhound: What about you? How long have you been a Riskbreaker?
Helisent Wynter looks over interestedly.
Lif Silverlode: Only a few months now. I joined up shortly after I first met you, Helisent.
Helisent Wynter blinks at that, not having really realized that at all.
Lif Silverlode: I'm still trying to learn faces, and there has not been much work to do, but I try to make myself useful where I can.
Helisent Wynter: Hey, that's more than I can really say, honestly. I'm mostly here at Nive's invitation.
Lif Silverlode: Well, you clearly bring some much needed levity to all of your dour countrymen.
Ingvald Bloodhound: Have you been put to any tasks as of yet?
Ingvald Bloodhound ignores that last comment.
Lif Silverlode: No, I mostly impose upon the Grand Steward's hospitality and read her books, unfortunately.
Ingvald Bloodhound: Then we've that in common, at least.
Helisent Wynter: That sounds about right. I also heal people, on occasion.
Lif Silverlode: Well, at least you didn't accidentally lure a foul-tempered Seeker here. Honestly, I'm surprised I still have a job after that.
Helisent Wynter gives a slow head tilt of incomprehension and starts to mentally go through a list of any Seekers she may know. It's not a lot.
Ingvald Bloodhound makes an almost identical face.
Lif Silverlode: An old friend of mine followed me here and forced herself into the free company. She's a good person...but she can be... a lot. If you see a small, brown-haired Seeker with a scar on her cheek, tread carefully. She's prickly. Assuming she hasn't gotten herself killed antagonizing someone bigger than herself, that is.
Ingvald Bloodhound: Given the nature of this company's membership, I imagine that would be most everyone she meets, if she's a Seeker.
Lif Silverlode: She's small, even for a Seeker, so you're not wrong.
Helisent Wynter smothers a giggle, mostly at Nivelth Ajuyn's offense.
Helisent Wynter: I'll keep an eye out. Oh, speaking of short Miqot'e: If you want a research partner, Nive might be willing to help. I don't know if she knows anything about Sil'dih, but...
Lif Silverlode: I appreciate that. I am just reading for pleasure, but I always enjoy talking with people who know their history.
Ingvald Bloodhound: Supposedly there's an author in residence at the Sandsea. I've not met her yet.
Helisent Wynter: I'm not much of a scholar myself. I can read and write, and I know a fair amount of history, but that's mostly because I travel around a lot.
Lif Silverlode: An author... Might that be... Priscilla, I believe? The Ga-er... *ahem*
Ingvald Bloodhound: Hm?
Helisent Wynter knows that name from somewhere, she thinks. Then she turns slightly pink, and coughs, looking away.
Ingvald Bloodhound: What.
Helisent Wynter: Nothing.
Lif Silverlode: I... met a woman named Priscilla who said she was an author. She handed me a book to read, but it had a different name for the author. It was... something.
Lif Silverlode turns pink and shifts uncomfortably.
Helisent Wynter: That they are.
Ingvald Bloodhound looks back and forth between the two young women, and shrugs.
Lif Silverlode: *ahem* Anyway... Helisent, you said you are a healer? As I recall, you are skilled in conjury, correct?
Helisent Wynter nods at that, grateful for the subject change.
Helisent Wynter: Mmhm. Gridanian trained, at that, though I left the Fen.
Lif Silverlode smiles, pleased that she remembered.
Lif Silverlode: And what kind of work do you do, Ingvald? If I may ask.
Ingvald Bloodhound: Red magic. As to what I do with it, that's another question entirely.
Ingvald Bloodhound isn't even sure of it himself - aside from hunting down fugitives and surveilling for Garleans.
Lif Silverlode nods, inwardly pleased that her guess had been correct.
Lif Silverlode: A red mage? That's a talent you don't see much anymore. I'm not sure I've even met one outside of a book.
Lif Silverlode is very careful to keep her expression straight and her voice curious.
Ingvald Bloodhound: Which makes it difficult to learn from others, as one might for a more common discipline.
Helisent Wynter taps her chin, thinking.
Lif Silverlode: I bet it does. I'm glad that there are still some that art alive, and I hope that a day will come when I can meet more.
Ingvald Bloodhound: As do I.
Ingvald Bloodhound looks around briefly.
Ingvald Bloodhound: Speaking of which, I'd best get some training in. I hope you'll excuse me.
Ingvald Bloodhound: It's good to meet you, Lif.
Helisent Wynter: I've heard stories of the Crimson Duelists, while I traveled around Gyr Abania, actually. They sounded interesting.
Ingvald Bloodhound: I'll tell you what I know of them. Perhaps another time. If you're good.
Lif Silverlode: It was very nice to meet you, Ingvald. Feel free to seek me out any time you're here. I will be around for the foreseeable future.
Helisent Wynter, in true contrary fashion, goes to kick his shin again.
Helisent Wynter: I'm always good.
Ingvald Bloodhound manages to dodge this time.
Helisent Wynter almost overextends and faceplants, only to be saved by a breeze that seems to push her up from the ground. She makes a face at Ingvald Bloodhound.
Helisent Wynter: Spoilsport.
Lif Silverlode: The same goes for you, Helisent. I would love to talk with you again at some point.
Helisent Wynter turns back to Lif Silverlode and grins.
Helisent Wynter: Sure! I'd like to get to know you some more, if that's alright. I'm just currently sort of in training, and only came back to grab a few things.
Lif Silverlode: Ah, right. The monk training you mentioned. I hope your training goes well, and you don't give your 'parents' too many grey hairs.
Lif Silverlode smiles.
Helisent Wynter: Orella's hair was already grey.
Ingvald Bloodhound makes a straight face.
Helisent Wynter: ... Don't look at me like that. I'm the light of your life.
Ingvald Bloodhound thinks it's more silver, but says nothing.
