Legend of Ransera

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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.