Tea for Two [Korvaelis]

[Aurin]

The Rose Teahouse
37 Searing 121

"...and, of course, I know Master Lomri, though I wouldn't dare call him friend. He swims in circles above my own." Aurin laughed and the air around him seemed to brighten. It was a subtle trick of Masquerade, though, and not something someone ought to truly notice unless they had some reason to peer at him through a magical lense. First impressions were important, though, and so a little glamour went a long way. He was also watching this woman closely and through his own magical lense, the Semblance feeding him contextual cues that helped him play his cards right.

"Of course," she replied as the server bussed their plates and left them to enjoy their tea. "He does have a special place in society given his circumstances. 'Tis just that he brought Darus of Haqs to Lord Yserloo's fête and people are asking questions."

"I have heard of Master Darus as well," Aurin replied easily, "though were I to guess, I would say they are but passing acquaintances. Master Lomri enjoys connecting people, but he doesn't seem to have deep connections to anyone."

"That tracks," she agreed, taking a sip of her tea.

"But I must say that he has done excellent work consulting for me," Aurin was quick to add. "Should my interests ever grow lucrative enough, I would happily hire him full-time." He laughed. "Though I don't know that full-time employment would please him, as much as he does enjoy a party."

She laughed too, quick to agree.

"Well, Master Kavafis," she said, "I do admire your ambition and discretion. I think we might be able to do business in the near future."

"I'm pleased to hear it," he said. Then he glanced about the room, noting a blue-skinned man as the only true oddity, before leaning in to ask her a low, leading question. Her eyes widened with surprise, then delight, and she leaned in, their conversation going entirely conspiratorial as he primed the pump for helpful intelligence. He wasn't opposed to doling some out, most of it entirely true. When trading in secrets, one wanted to be seen as trustworthy, after all.

[Korvaelis]

Korvaelis Dahshida

Korvaelis was full of grief this very morning. Nothing, in particular, caused it, but it could be owed to the animals of his business. Starting with his canine companions, who howled before the sun had fully risen, Korvaelis awoke to the sight of something new about some of his females. Just a few were in heat and he found out by catching two dogs of different breeds and work lines in mounting positions. The druskai did not leave them out to accomplish such a thing. The estrus cycle approached sooner than he anticipated and since it was too much for the males to handle, one broke out of his cage and somehow wiggle his way into one of the spaces that kept a female. No matter how it happened, he was still at fault since he did not properly calculate their heat cycle. Korvaelis was usually on top of it, but he somehow miscalculated. He hoped he caught them in time, but only time can tell if that’s the case.

As if that was not enough trouble for the morning, the hunting cats too had escaped. Luckily, the two females he owned were already impregnated yet that had made this situation all the worse. He had no choice but to assume that the male escaped first. Wildernessa and Prowler, the female hunting cats, being the good wives that they are, probably followed their mischievous husband since the two weren’t known to commit such heinous crimes. He did not want to get his stepson involved, but the young lord was pretty sure that the hunting cats were ripping and running through the forest. If that were the case, Aki would have a better chance of finding them by taking him to the sky.

Korvaelis was right too. Aki found the group and scolded them as he ushered the cats back to their cages. In the meantime, Korvaelis decided to check on their most important guest; an icewind eagle who got into a terrible flying accident with his rider. Usually, the animal has been in the care of the aviary, however, their infirmary just did not have the capacity for another injured bird. So Korvaelis decided to take him in and...the bird was nothing but trouble since he arrived. He’s tried to fly away so many times with his injured wing, Korvaelis had to give him something to relax until he’s fully healed.

After all the drama, Korvaelis decided he just wants a few hours to himself. Aki volunteered to watch over the kennels and if there was anything wrong with the bird, he’d find Korvaelis who wasn’t too far off. Since arriving in Kalzasi, the druskai found a quiet place where talking and movement were kept at a minimum. Pleasant aromas filled the air too and he couldn’t forget the welcoming staff either.

In Rose Teahouse, Korvaelis sat at a corner table of the room. He slowly sipped on his green tea and took small bites out of a persimmon with his eyes closed. Korvaelis could hear people shuffling by him and the waiter who would check on him from time to time, but he did his best to ignore it. All he wants is a quiet evening.

37 of Searing, 121

[Aurin]

When his companion decided the time had come to depart, he rose to see her off, but sat again once she was gone. This place was relaxing—fine without being too pretentious. Perhaps he could bring Arry and they could have a chat or something. Hazel eyes raked the patrons over the porcelain rim of his teacup. The strafing run didn't give him much to work with, but the blue man caught his eye, his aether muted in a way that meant stress and distress to Aurin's mind. He supposed this might also be a peaceful place to cleanse oneself of anxieties. When the man's eyes opened and caught him looking, he offered an apologetic smile that almost made the air around him twinkle. His Masquerade could make him stand out as well as blend in, and his Semblance made it more difficult to sneak up on him.

Not that he was up to anything nefarious; mischievous, perhaps.

"I apologize, my lord," he said, respectful without being unctuous. "I didn't mean my eyes to intrude, but if venting your burdens to a stranger might help, I have two big ears to put at your disposal."

He smiled again, this time with self-deprecating humor.

While he had already enjoyed three tiers of delectable small bites with his former companion, high tea never left him feeling stuffed. Perhaps it was the small bites themselves, eaten slowly between sips of tea and snatches of conversation. It always left him feeling comfortable and content, even if trouble waited outside the tea house doors. He hoped trouble didn't wait outside the tea house doors, though.

"Or do but bid me mind my business and I won't look your way again." Being a good listener was key to dealing in information, but while he was always looking for useful information, he did enjoy hearing people's stories. Sometimes he even helped free of charge.

[Korvaelis]

Korvaelis Dahshida

Tranquility.

This teahouse is very much a reminder of the peace he so desired this very day. As he sipped his tea, he remembered the very first time he stumbled upon the shop. It was a few days before the wedding and both his brother alongside his fiancé was making so many demands of him to the point the man was just feeling so overwhelmed. On the day he was supposed to go shopping for proper attire, Korvaelis planned on running away. Zachaer wasn’t exactly the best, but it was definitely where he planned on heading to since it was the only other city he knew of at the time. He packed his belongings, bought a horse, and on his way out of the city, he remembered a sweet old woman beckoning to him as he was passing. Feeling obliged, he followed her into the shop and told her his problems. She somehow convinced him to stay and this shop has been his favorite spot since then.

He hasn’t seen the old woman since that day. Korvaelis is convinced she was a god that was giving him some sort of purpose. For some reason, he just had to see that wedding through and that old woman was sent to make sure of it. Why? He asked himself as he recalled the event. Still, he could find no answer.

Opening his eyes slowly, he placed his cup back down on the table as he pondered the thought. As he did, Korvaelis could feel someone watching his every move. At first, he believed it was his brother who knew his exact location at all times. Korvaelis’ body began to tense up and he immediately shot a glance at whoever it was that was staring at him.

He was surprised.

It was not his brother, only a fair-skinned man with hair like fire and deep green eyes. Or was it hazel? Korvaelis couldn’t exactly tell, the man’s stare was making him a bit uncomfortable. After holding his gaze for a few seconds, Korvaelis looked away and began playing with his curly hair which fell down his chest. Is he gone? He tried his best not to look again, however, the lord would have no other choice. The man’s voice was clear, cheerful, and nothing like what he expected at all. The human, he assumed, spoke without hesitation and a part of him admired that. This redhead had so much confidence.

“How can you assume that my life is burdening?” Korvaelis decided he would match this man’s tone of voice, boldness and all. He turned his head to face the man once more but failed to look him in his eyes. “You seem to be making wild assumptions and I don't know you, sir. Or are you a lord too?” His voice began to crack. He wasn’t able to match this man for too long.

Korvaelis put his head down and began playing with the rim of his cup. He wanted to turn this man away, tell him good day, and do not bother him anyway. But what would his family think? Just like how this man did not know him, he didn’t know the man either. If he were someone important or of higher rank and he turned him away...well who’s to say what would happen.

“What sort of person would I be if I were to turn away company? I most likely will not say much, but you can stick around if you want.”

“Tell me your name. What do you do for a living?”

37 of Searing, 121

[Aurin]

"Oh, I'm no lord," he replied with good humor and a vulpine grin, amused but self-deprecating. "And I apologize if I didn't read your mood aright. I just thought that you looked like you needed... something."

He frowned slightly. It might have sounded like a come-on, but it wasn't meant that way. A pretty blue-skinned man would do well at the Velvet Cabaret, where exoticism was rewarded. In such a cosmopolitan city, it was difficult to find something or someone truly exotic. But he was dressed well and likely needed no employment there; not that Aurin was actively recruiting for Madame Lunaria at the moment. But as the man relented, Aurin turned sideways in his chair to better regard him, keeping his cup and saucer under his wing as he perched his elbow on the table.

"My name is Aurin Kavafis," he said. "'Tis a pleasure to make your acquaintance, sir. I juggle many sorts of employment. Just waiting for one to pay off. My business here was concluded, but it's a pleasant spot to linger and so I linger. But again, I can linger without prying if you prefer..."

He straightened slightly in his seat as if to turn away again. In a crowded city, people did often want a modicum of privacy even in public, wanted to be alone somewhere other than their own homes. He understood that and didn't want to intrude, but little, random kindnesses had paid off in the past, and when he had received them, they had been a boon. Aurin often told people he was a bad man and, by some standards, he might be. That didn't mean he was actively unkind.

The ginger smiled, eyebrow slightly raised in question. It was entirely up to the stranger.

[Korvaelis]

Korvaelis Dahshida

"You’re not wrong.” He murmured before leaning forward, neatly folding his hands together and placing them under his chin. Truthfully, a couple of extra hands would be nice from time to time. Someone who can supervise his animals whenever he wasn’t around aside from Aki who he felt was too young to help with the business anyway. Not because the young avialae is incapable of such tasks, Korvaelis just felt he should be enjoying his youth and focusing on his studies rather than tending to their animals full time. Unfortunately, he couldn’t afford extra hands at the moment--the business isn’t doing as great as it did when Akiba was alive. He brought in most of the clientele and many of those clients most likely don’t trust him the way they trust Akiba. So he had to make do in the meantime.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr.Kavafis.” The lord removed his hands from underneath his head to slightly bow it before making eye contact with the pale man. “So you’re the jack of all trades, I’m guessing.” He paused to think of what else to say. “That or you have no true skills?” The question was very blunt, however, it wasn’t meant to offend the man. The druskai was just slightly confused about what the man meant when he said that he juggled so many jobs. The phrase made him recall his time in Zaichaer, where racism thrived and many of his childhood friends would juggle jobs alongside their parents to pay for housing and food. They could never master a skill and even if they did master a trade, they could never put it to use since humans are superior in comparison. The humans would always receive good jobs first too.

“Also, you mentioned you read my mood earlier. Does that mean you do magics of some sort?” Korvaelis looked away from the man as he tried to flag a waiter down for more tea and finger foods. The man mentioned he had been lingering here for some time, but Korvaelis didn’t want to be rude.

“If I am being truthful...I dislike you reading my emotions and mood.” He stared blankly at the man for a second. “I very much prefer keeping how I feel to myself. However, if you truly want to know how I feel, you could try to pry it out of me, Mr.Kavafis.”

A woman finally came by and took another request of green tea and little cakes for his table. He smiled a bit at her before returning his attention to the guest at the table. “Since what’s done is done, I want you to tell me...what do you see in me?”

37 of Searing, 121

[Aurin]

Rather than be offended, Aurin laughed quietly.

"A fair assessment," he allowed. "I suppose I'm somewhat skilled at running a business for someone. But I am hoping to run one of my own finally and answer only to myself. I also learned how to protect myself, and I suppose I work well with people, my barging in on your solitude notwithstanding."

If he was concerned that the blue man had jumped to the conclusion that he was using magic, he didn't show it. He might not have been the actor Arry wanted to be, but he knew how to play his roles in life.

"Forgive me, but it doesn't take magic to read a frown, slumped shoulders, and a sad gaze into one's teacup ​as if auguring for answers." His smile was gentle, and anyone who knew him might not have believed it possible. He was a man who smirked more than he smiled, and even his smiles were normally crooked and sharp.

His hazel gaze took in the blue lord with his fine clothes and what might just be the ennui of affluence and privilege.

"You seek a soothing environment among people, so you are lonely. You brush off friendly attempts to converse, so you aren't pleased with the feeling. You want the stimulation of tea, the decadence of small bites to make you feel better. You are overwhelmed, alone, and when someone inquires after you with no ulterior motive but decency and—don't tell anyone or you'll ruin my reputation—kindness, you demand their name as if you would give it to a constable for his rising beyond his station, and then rudely don't reciprocate with your own." The smiling damned villain kept smiling through his assessment. It was sharp, but lacking in malice.

"If you don't want people to know you are sad, my lord, don't be sad in public. You don't hide it well. If my eyes and my mouth have offended, I apologize and I will leave you to your efforts to feel better." He began to turn back toward his own tea on his own table, hoping that he hadn't spoken too forcefully, but even as he had learned to work with people of power, wealth, and influence, a part of him still rankled when they felt they were better than him or, worse, treated him that way. As if their position was more than some accident of birth.

[Korvaelis]

Korvaelis Dahshida

The tone of voice paired with the human’s mannerism could not provoke him. Instead, it instilled regret and even more sadness if that were possible. For the longest time, he believed he was hiding his emotions well enough. Yet here this man sat, telling Korvaelis exactly what he did not want to hear from anyone. Especially a stranger. He wondered if this is what his older brother noticed often and why he was usually quite upset with him. It was possible that he was showing his sadness all along and the others around him noticed long before he did. Instead of yelling or causing a scene, his eyes grew big and he sat still as if the man could not see him anymore if he refused to make even the slightest movement.

Aurin continued like the lord desired previously before and read him for filth.

At some point, Korvaelis opened his mouth. He wanted to say something, he wanted to apologize and explain himself all at once to this man. The more the man spoke, the more different feelings arose. The grin on Aurin’s face too...there was something about it.

Instead, Korvaelis shook his head and looked away from the man finally. He looked toward the woman bringing small cakes of all colors and a pot of green tea that filled the air with its pleasant aroma. Once it was all placed on his table, Korvaelis stood up. He grabbed the pot and used both hands to pour it into two different cups before sitting down and placing his hands around his own.

“Join me for tea.” He demanded the man. Korvaelis would not look the man in the eyes either, he kept his head down as he took small sips of his tea again.

The restaurant was busy yet it fell silent at a point. It was silent for a long time too before the blue man decided to say, “you must think less of me now. I am a fool. For being here.” He tried to stifle a laugh, an uncomfortable one that he would usually let escape if he were in a different situation.

“Here I am...a noble of Kalzasi and I have the nerve to pity myself, to sit in public with the desire to be left alone. What if I told you I was having issues? That what you are saying is true and my life isn’t as perfect as it would seem and that I am lonely. The loneliness is fine at times, but other times…”He acknowledges the man’s presence now with a crooked smile. “I am a cliche.”

The lord did not know what to say after his last sentence. He didn’t know how he truly felt or how to admit it if he did. Korvaelis’ sentences were broken and possibly, he was too for the hell of it. The young man would open and close his mouth a few times in hopes that something would come out. Nothing. Rather, he would revert to how he was before and pretend that nothing was said or that there was some sort of malfunction previously.

37 of Searing, 121

[Aurin]

Sometimes it was difficult being right all the time. The server had brought the blue lord a pot of tea and some desserts and now he wanted company—not just any company, but Aurin's. He considered as the man kept talking, confirming Aurin's suspicions. And perhaps his magical trick added a bit of context to what he observed, but he was a keen observer of human nature. It helped him keep things running smoothly at the Velvet Cabaret and it helped keep him alive.

In the sudden silence of the restaurant, he became quite aware that he wasn't the only person paying attention to his environment. He finished his own tea, set out plenty of money to cover his repast, and then carefully stood up and repaired to the lord's table. The man wouldn't look him in the eye as he spilled his thoughts out onto the table. Aurin listened.

"I do not think you a fool," he insisted. "I think you are what you are: a lonely man. Nobility can get lonely as well as a common person. And we are all clichés from time to time. Everyone thinks their story is so unique, but they are all variations on a few themes, it seems."

When all that followed was the opening and closing of the man's mouth like a fish out of water, Aurin tried once more.

"You know my name. Might I have the pleasure of yours? I'm neither a soothsayer nor a lord's counselor, but if you would take some comfort in talking out your problems with a relative stranger, I haven't a thing to do this afternoon." He might as well spend his afternoon listening to someone who was lonely in an environment such as this than return to the hustle and bustle of his regular life.

[Korvaelis]

Korvaelis Dahshida

"It can.”He agreed as the man spoke about the similarities of nobles and commoners.

He remembered receiving that final letter from his brother. Kodi promised they would have a better life in Kalzasi, he promised Korvaelis that they would do so much better here than in Zaichaer. They weren’t poor in the city despite the obvious prejudice against people like them, there was money to their name. Yet that money was just thinning out as the years after their mother’s death began adding up. So when the letter had finally come and he was called to Kalzasi, he believed that his brother had come into a wealth of some sort. Especially after Kodi boasted about rubbing elbows with only the famed citizens of the city.

That wasn’t the case at all.

Korvaelis would find himself playing a very dangerous game. All for the love of his brother and he convinced himself that wooing the son of Harushiro would bring him wealth and happiness like the nobles his brother talked about in the past. The druskai convinced himself that he would fall in love with the noble that lovingly gazed upon him and he would be accepted. Cherished too as he fulfilled a role that was most likely needed by the great house he joined.

Looking back on it, Korvaelis wondered why he would think such frivolous thoughts. He made no efforts either to give or take love from the Dahshida family when entering it. Maybe this lonely feeling is his fault, maybe he brought it upon himself. Or maybe it was present long before he can ever recall it and he has come to realize it now.

“Ah, yes. I have been forgetting to introduce myself lately.” He cleared his throat and placed his arms together, bowing respectfully before stating his name and title. “I am Korvaelis Dahshida, dowager of the late Koiteki, Akiba Dahshida.” A short pause would come afterward as he thought of how to respond now that he'd introduced himself. “You seem to know so much about me already, why not continue this conversation?” This time, he spoke with a kind smile to make his last words sound less harsh and more playful.

“No matter what I say, it will sound insignificant. Let me just say that I am most likely the least important noble of all the great houses. Not only am I not tied to one by blood, but I have no real functioning role. I am now learning how to run my husband's business. So let’s call us equals. You’re no lord’s counselor and I’m no true lord.” Korvaelis raised the plate of cakes to Aurin as an offering before continuing. “I don’t truly think I’ll ever have a real role in this world. I am confident enough to say that all I have going for me is my beauty. I am also aware that even that can be challenged by others who are much more fair and talented as well. I’ve heard the daughters of the Shokaze are not only breathtakingly beautiful but skilled in some sort of arts beneficial to the city.”

Korvaelis looked away from his new friend, tapping his lips with his index finger as he thought about other rumors he’s heard about the great families. Soon enough, he would shrug it off. “I think it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that I am a lucky man considering the bar is often set high for a lot of nobles and who they choose to marry. That probably makes me insecure.”

37 of Searing, 121