Jazdia stood idly in front of the crackling hearth, sipping the last portion of the tea. Everyone else was talking, some else were tending to injury. It was Matilda who remained in silence, sitting alone without uttering a single word, keeping an eye at the prince who was currently exchanging banter with Cedar. 

Pouring another cup, Jazdia moved to the counter and sat on one of the stools. 

"Greetings, what can I... oh it's you." 

[color=ec008c]"Were you expecting somebody else?"[/color]

"In this premises? Probably more 'usuals' sent by a certain stubborn patriarch, but that seems like a stretch. I think he is currently more concerned with an escaped royal rather than a small business run by a single father. What about you? Done with the words of wisdom already?"

The elf shook her head. [color=ec008c]"Did you not see who just entered?" [/color]

"The old you wouldn't care. 

[color=ec008c]"The old me huh--"[/color] For the first time in a while, Jazdia raised her voice as if a surge of emotion overwhelmed her. But it quickly faded, and her composure returned. 

"[color=ec008c]People changes, Dwain. It would takes more than a bunch of verbiage to change minds. That 'something more' is what I don't have now."[/color]

"You still have. Maybe not as convenient as it used to." the elven man shifted to the edge of his long table, picking a pinch of thyme, dropping it into the cauldron, then back to her again.

"Sizeble enough to run an entire mafia. Don't count me on that though..." 

Jazdia lets out a half-hearted chortle. There was a long pause after that until Baker started again.

"Do you regret it?" 

That was a question of the decade. The question that she could never answer with words. She remembered when she decided to retire, she was tired and weary. Justice could never be perfect, that was one thing, but the endeavor to get there was usually full of people squabbling with each other to uphold their own version of justice. Then you have politics that demands leniency and deception on the enforcement of the law, all in the name of stability. Her heart could not stand it anymore. 

But here she was and she wondered what kind of answer this would be. It was said most elves had given up their canonical role as the enforcer of the celestial law since the time of inception, yet the impulse still remained within her, and it felt like an addiction. 

[color=ec008c]"I am not sure." [/color]

"The uncertainty that is only on words, and not in action."

Baker's smugness became more intense Jazdia quickly realized what happened. That her musings had allowed him to read her mind. Blushing, she turned away and reached for her purse, smacking five coins on the counter so hard it made a loud thud.

[color=ec008c]"Oh shut up already!" [/color]

Dwain took the coins without counting them. Still smiling, but this time combined with a mischievous head shake. 

"Won't feel bad if I were you. The way I see it, this time it was the trouble that finds you. And your 'addiction' simply kicked in. Can't say it was a bad thing.  To have one peaceful nation is a blessing. It makes everyone, including you sleep better at night." 

Suddenly Jazdia was lost for a word. He glared at Baker, glared so intensely this time he should be able to read what she was thinking. To say interventionism brought peace was a simplified outlook at best. Did he not remember what they did at Tretagor?  

"On the flip side, The decision to not give a damn is still up to you." Baker avoided eye contact with his former boss, sighing before continuing in a more apologetic tone. "Fred will ask for more favor, sure but you have the capability to tell him to shove it. Pardon my words. You will still suffer a loss from your investment though." 

Simultaneous steps could be heard when Solomon and Yvonne made their way down from the second floor. Baker shrugged one more time before telling Jazdia that he was out of words of wisdom to prattle. Of course with his sarcastic humor and all.