{ Continued from [x]. }
thedarkbornelf:
Once settled into her seat, Kadri rolled up her sleeves and took off her gloves before tracing the outline of a stylized tongue of fire on the slab with her hand outlined in a faint silver glow. This activated the enchantment in the stone, causing it to begin warming the water in the kettle as she put in two spoonfuls of the tea in the water to steep.
“It’s a mint tea,” Kadri gave a relaxed sigh as she breathed in the tea leaves, “With lots of dried berries and a citrus peels thrown in for color. It’s like drinking a cup full of summer. It’s even better when it’s cold.”
Letting a few minutes lapse, Kadri quickly tapped the slab, causing it to slowly cool as she poured Jarlaxle and herself a cup from the kettle. The tea was a deep red color, with the leaves swirling and settling at the bottom of the cup. Before taking her first sip, the half-drow motioned to the dishes of sugar and honey to her guest.
“If you’d like some honey or sugar, just take as much as you’d like,” she smiled as she took a sip from her mug.
“I do have to ask, Sir Jarlaxle,” Brown orbs gazed at him as she placed her cup in her lap, “The cloak you have is beautiful, so I’m more than curious as to how you came across it. And I realize I mentioned my own magic on the way here, so… you’re welcome to ask if your curious.”
Although he’s quite curious about Kadri’s work, and would’ve liked to watch her intently as she works her magic, Jarlaxle instead assumes a pleasantly casual demeanor, chasing any tension from his slender frame and feigning a casual regard of his companion’s magic. While his ruby gaze seems to follow the steam rising from the kettle and then his cup, his true focus is never far from the enchanted stone nor the stone’s enchantress.
Nonetheless, the tea’s soothing scent is an inviting distraction, and with all of his senses telling him that there’s no danger at bay, the mercenary allows himself to be drawn away into what would’ve been an uncommon luxury in his earlier life. Smiling at his hostess and tipping an appreciative nod at her, he reaches for both the sugar and honey, helping himself to both. “Alas, it seems you have discovered my weakness already, lady Kadri. I do have quite the fondness for sweets!” He takes an indulgent inhale of the delicious aroma and exhales a content sigh. After allowing a moment to regard his own reflection in the deep red liquid and wondering how well it matches his eyes, the drow blows lightly before taking a sip. White eyelashes flutter with delight as his body warms and relaxes. It is indeed like drinking a cup full of summer, made all the more splendorous for one who has spent so long in the seasonless Underdark! Somewhere in his complex of intricate thoughts is the affirmation of the correctness of his decision to explore the surface world, as truly it is where some of his greatest delights can be found.
Smiling easily, and nodding with her words, Jarlaxle replies, “Ah, my lady has impeccable taste in fashion as well, I see! Alas, I fear that I don’t recall the details of how I obtained my cloak. As a merchant, countless wares pass before my eyes and through my hands. As I have a fondness for opulent things, that cloak caught my eye immediately, and I decided that I must have it. Thankfully, I was able to purchase it, and have had it with me since, but it’s been so long and I’ve conducted business with so many that I’ve forgotten whom I’d gotten it from! To make matters worse, the tastes of my fellow traders are quite the opposite of mine, so it was for the best to put out of our minds the party responsible for bringing this ‘atrocity’, for such was it regarded by my peers, among us. They would’ve preferred that I abandoned what they considered an utter eyesore, and as I most certainly would not hear of such ridiculousness, our compromise was that I never speak of the transaction again. What utter nonsense indeed!” As he shakes his head at the absurdity, the reality of what had actually transpired only briefly flits through his mind. What he said was only partially true, but there was as much truth in it as his norm.
His eyes sparkling with interest, Jarlaxle’s voice is full of genuine enthusiasm as he states, “I am indeed curious about your magic! It looks wondrous, and quite pragmatic as well! Alas, I possess little talent for the magical arts myself, so I wouldn’t know quite where to begin. Fate is most cruel indeed, for despite my great love for it, magic does not favor me in return with granting me aptitude over it. However, if you’ll tell me about what it is that you do, I’d be in your debt, and most eager to learn!” He puts on his most winsome smile as invitation sparkles within the ruby depths of his welcoming gaze.
