Carantathraiel

Wanderers

Ruli was amused when she said she was excited, and went back to finishing his meal at last. Waving his hand in dismissal when she offered him a slice of cake, he sipped a second glass of wine as she ate, watching the dessert all but fly into her mouth by some unexplained power. "How convenient." Ruli smirked once she said she could stay. "You sure? I mean, if we get around to any research, I would hate for you to be tired tomorrow."

He gestured. "We're already here. Plus, you bed may be larger than mine, anyway. Not that size is an issue." He froze, hoping she didn't take that comment the wrong way. Clearing his throat, he took another sip. "May as well stay here. No reason to keep going back and forth."

Wanderers

Ruli shook his head in response. "Im genuinely curious about these hallucinations." He voiced. "I want to learn more about them, and why they happen. Only way I can think to do that is to connect our minds via magic, which you said is when you had them before?" He waited for her confirmation. "So I'll suppose we'll just have to do that again. And, if we just happen to be in bed at the time, we can call it research." Ruli smirked cheekily.

Wanderers

Clearing his throat again, Ruli watched her react, smirking. "No." he answered simply. "I've never tried." He set his glass down and turned the glass by the stem slowly. "However, I wouldn't mind giving it a try. Now, you have to answer something in return." Ruli said, watching her again. "Why the curiosity? You were wary over my ability at first, understandably, and then you mention some strange side effect you get whenever I do use it on you." His eyes narrowed slightly, thinking. "Is this something you saw in one of your strange hallucinations?"

Wanderers

Wrinkled his nose at the gold comment, he chuckled and resumed his meal. "You do strike me as type who can't sit still. And that's even been discussed among your family, so I know I'm spot on."
Another sip, then a bite of his pork, and her question nearly murdered him. With a sharp inhale, Ruli coughed, his meat breading going down the wrong tube. Eyes watering, he grabbed his drink to wash it down, still coughing.

"Why," he began, then coughed again. His voice was a little strained. "Your mind really wanders during meetings, doesn't it?" He asked, pounding on his chest.
Nervous about another bite so soon, Ruli nursed his wine, spying on her. "Do you want the answer, then, or are you serious about forgetting it?"

Wanderers

Ruli's eyebrows raised slightly when she almost flung her fork, then he went back to eating. "Well, it does sound as though they thing magic will resurface, and magic can lead to a lot of disasters, but a lot of good things. The Seer didn't expressly say the thing would be bad, just that you need to be prepared for it. Maybe a bunch of your people will learn to fly, and you just need to make some sort of guidelines."

He grinned at her, letting her know he didn't mind the silence. "At least the silences aren't full of tension and unspoken anger anymore, so we're making progress."

Wanderers

"Truthfully, I don't think he has a criteria. He just silently puzzles it out." Ruli shrugged, pronging a few mushrooms and devouring them. He nodded in agreement at the mention of a picnic by a waterfall. Not that it would be too difficult, having two people that jumped out of the normal means of transportation.
"Are you going to tell her she'll be empress before or after she weds?" Ruli wondered. "Do you think it will impact her decision at all?"

And when she mentioned the Seer, Ruli froze, raising his head and pausing in his chewing. Listening, he continued to chew slowly, blinking. "What does that mean?" he wondered. "How ... how do you prepare for soemthing if you don't ... I mean, say you prepare for another Gemini fiasco, only instead its some plague?"

Wanderers

"Mostly, yeah." He answered, cutting into his pork. "Went to Cordon with Ysaryn, spoke to a few sailors, may have found you a waterfall, I"ll look into it this week." Ruli grinned at her. "And, as far as I can tell, he's passively judging me during the time we're apart. Apparently, I have passed, so far."

He sipped his wine, looking at her over the rim. "And yours?" He asked as he set the drink down, then paused. "When did we get so domestic?"

Wanderers

Ruli chuckled. "I'm sure it was a test. But how, I haven't figured out yet." He mentioned, continuing on. When she mentioend spiced wine, he grinned at her. "The drink that started it all. Or, at least gave you the spine to start it." He teased, shutting the door and moving into the kitchen to continue his work. On the table was another small cake, simple in design and smelling of vanilla and cinnamon.

"She might. Not sure. And I don't know. I do know its about her wanting to go see Ed, so maybe she'll just wander back with you tonight. Or tomorrow." He added, aware she didn't have to rush back.
Busying himself with dinner, which was a pork cutlet with gravy, mushrooms, and lemons, Ruli gestured to the glasses he'd set out. "I'll take a glass, please. The cake should go well with it after dinner. What kind of cake do they like?" Ruli asked suddenly, turning around to ask about the younger cousins.

Wanderers

Ruli looked mildly amused at her reaction upon seeing the Kartaian; as though she'd been caught with her hand in the cake bin. As Envy asked his question however, Ruli looked around to him. "You mean all this harassment was to ask if she'd bring Narda?"
Envy squared his shoulders. "It is surprisingly hard to find pleasant company. Kire has to travel to the next world over for a good cook."
"Oh, you're mad. Go on."
Envy flashed a grin, then shook his head. "No, I won't join you. Ruli's insisted I leave you both alone anyway. But I wouldn't mind having you over for a group event, one day. With Narda, as well as Ed to keep Ysaryn's claws out of us."
"By the way she's likely going to corner you tonight." Ruli warned, extending his arm to invite her forward. His eyes swept over her dress again, but he held back any reaction. "Come on, its already in the oven, I can't let it burn.:

Envy stepped aside, inhaling as Kire walked by, his face pointed in her direction. "Mind yourselves." Envy said with a bit more of an authoritative tone.
Ruli shook his head as they emerged onto the winding steps outside, headed for Kire's house. "He's been like that all week."

Wanderers

When she returned the next week, stepping through the gate, it wasn't Ysaryn who met her, but Ruli, who stood near Envy. Ruli's eyes immediately went upward in a slow roll, while Envy raised his head when he felt the wards trigger. "Welcome back." The elf said.
Hilariously, Ruli looked very much like the young man on a date, with his father here to supervise.

The conversation had not entirely gone the way Ruli hoped. He'd sat down the day Kire left a week ago to go over lesson plans now that Gavin had made so many leaps ahead, only to have Envy question him about the night of the beach, and Kire's return the night prior. Ruli had not allowed himself to share Kire's plans to abdicate, mostly to see if he could get Envy to stop frowning at the idea without that tidbit. And despite his repeated assurances that he and Kire weren't rushing into anything recklessly, and that they were in fact grown adults, the Kartaian had insisted on greeting Kire tonight.

Sorry. Ruli mouthed to Kire before shifting his weight to face Envy, who gave Ruli an expression that could have said 'i hear that'.
"So. Ruli tells me you and he have come to an agreement about dinner once a week?"
Ruli struggled to refrain from rolling his eyes again. "Even empresses need a break."
"I've dealt with you half your life, you're no 'break'." Envy said indifferently, but he smiled for Kire. "I want to know how often it will be just the two of you secluded away, or if you'll include the rest of us or your friends in the night, now and then."