"Hold it in your chest," he instructed, but Torin seemed to do just fine with his tentative inhalation. He didn't cough, which was for the best. Some argued that the violence of a cough helped the drug find its way into the nooks and crannies of the body, but this was the kid's first time and the coughing was unpleasant besides.
He laughed softly at the idea of him working at the forge while under the influence of a narcotic. If he said the same when they were entirely sober, he would warn him not to, but people said casually inane things when relaxed and so he thought nothing of it. Nor did he think much of the lad's affection. Many people did come to the Velvet Cabaret for their more primal urges, but courtesans were equally skilled at the sensual as the sexual. Not being one of them, Aurin at least understood the comparison and the contrast. That Torin sought touch and talk said a bit about him. He craved knowledge and affection; those were easily given
Aurin turned just slightly, more receptive to closeness, and observed Torin make tiny, inadvertent moves to grow closer. When Torin's head was well enough past Aurin's elbow, the joint flexed and his hand came down to rest on the apprentice's shoulder.
"The wizards of the Circle of Spells say that things that grow down there absorb some magic, but these mushrooms aren't much changed for it. The sorts of things that do absorb more magic and display magical traits... well, those are more expensive and more complex, often more dangerous, as well. People have learned quite a few herbs and compounds for altering the senses, yes. The Cabaret has a fair selection at the bar. The finer things are kept locked up. Some are so expensive Madame Lunaria doesn't even trust me with the keys..."
He chuckled a fresh exhalation of smoke, the sound akin to rocks tumbling against each other at the bottom of a stream.
"There are leaves you can chew that will have you bouncing off the walls all night. There are tisanes that will lull you into waking dreams. The world is wide and full of variety..." It almost sounded like he knew a fair amount of what lay beyond Kalzasi's ken. Perhaps he did.
He laughed softly at the idea of him working at the forge while under the influence of a narcotic. If he said the same when they were entirely sober, he would warn him not to, but people said casually inane things when relaxed and so he thought nothing of it. Nor did he think much of the lad's affection. Many people did come to the Velvet Cabaret for their more primal urges, but courtesans were equally skilled at the sensual as the sexual. Not being one of them, Aurin at least understood the comparison and the contrast. That Torin sought touch and talk said a bit about him. He craved knowledge and affection; those were easily given
Aurin turned just slightly, more receptive to closeness, and observed Torin make tiny, inadvertent moves to grow closer. When Torin's head was well enough past Aurin's elbow, the joint flexed and his hand came down to rest on the apprentice's shoulder.
"The wizards of the Circle of Spells say that things that grow down there absorb some magic, but these mushrooms aren't much changed for it. The sorts of things that do absorb more magic and display magical traits... well, those are more expensive and more complex, often more dangerous, as well. People have learned quite a few herbs and compounds for altering the senses, yes. The Cabaret has a fair selection at the bar. The finer things are kept locked up. Some are so expensive Madame Lunaria doesn't even trust me with the keys..."
He chuckled a fresh exhalation of smoke, the sound akin to rocks tumbling against each other at the bottom of a stream.
"There are leaves you can chew that will have you bouncing off the walls all night. There are tisanes that will lull you into waking dreams. The world is wide and full of variety..." It almost sounded like he knew a fair amount of what lay beyond Kalzasi's ken. Perhaps he did.
Love the beginnings of their relationship building.