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Post by Linyü on Nov 22, 2020 20:47:24 GMT -6
Mio's expression softened a bit at Tara's expression of frustration. He couldn't honestly relate himself; he had been born blessed with the sort of intelligence that trivialized things like this, but he understood the desire to see oneself improve, at least. "It takes time," he said. "And smaller increments. Something between a child's fable and... dense academic text." In a lighter, more jovial tone, he said, "Besides which, the academic stuff can be a bit dry. There's more fun to be had, if you'd believe it, in a history book that doesn't take itself quite so seriously. The nearest branch of the library isn't far from here, I don't believe. Would you like to go?"
Seveth shifted his weight. "Huh," he said. "We've got one. Ro--- er, Shadow." Belatedly he remembered the false names that San and his ilk preferred. "Shows up when he pleases, eats the food we put out for him, and nowhere to be found as soon as you've come up with a good scheme that could use a cat."
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Post by Kadin on Nov 22, 2020 20:47:32 GMT -6
Tara seemed to relax a bit when Mio didn't start scolding her or making fun of her for not understanding this stuff. It was all to evident why she needed help in the first place. Kadin could read the books she had, but he wasn't a teacher and only read it as a favor to her. So she was stuck struggling with dense language she felt like she should be able to understand after all this time, but just couldn't! With a soft sigh, she lowered her head and nodded a bit. "That makes sense. I guess I overreached a bit. If you don't mind terribly, I'd love to go, especially if you could show me around." She looked back, a hopeful expression on her face.
"Hah, sounds familiar." Kadin said with a rueful grin, no doubt remember times when Rochelle had done something similar to him. Around then, the kettle finally started to hiss, so he got up and moved it off the heat. Now to decide what kind of tea to even drink. "I've got these... filter things, I guess." He looked down at them dubiously, shrugged, and dumped a couple spoonfuls of tea into one, plopped it into a teapot, and poured water over it. Whatever. It couldn't be more complicated than coffee.
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Post by Linyü on Nov 22, 2020 20:47:40 GMT -6
Mio was pleased, not to say relieved, that she accepted his advice so easily. He wasn't necessarily the most socially savvy, and many Draconics were proud sorts, unhappy to yield even to sound advice. At least, Mio thought it was sound, anyway. He smiled. "I'd be glad to come with you," he said. Not to mention she was paying him for his time, so it wasn't as though he could have said no; but even without monetary incentive, he would have been perfectly willing.
For once Seveth was quiet, watching Kadin prepare the tea. He wanted to ask about this other Enileaf, this Rochelle, but a tangible question evaded him. Instead his thoughts turned to Roku; he knew that the 'lazy stray' thing was a cover story, and he knew, a little, that there was deeper history there. San and Rei both seemed to imply that the owed the cat a debt. But try as he might, he couldn't imagine what sort of service Roku had rendered to them that would inspire that sense of obligation.
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Post by Kadin on Nov 22, 2020 20:47:47 GMT -6
She looked relived once more to have an escort to the library. Having never been herself before, she had absolutely no idea where to even start. "Great, thank you! I'll let the humans know where we're going, I guess." She glanced in the direction where their voiced were coming from and then back to her companion, hesitating a moment before heading in that direction.
Once the water was poured and the tea was placed, Kadin brought the pot over to the table along with two cups. He hoped that this guy actually knew literally anything about tea because he'd never really found much flavor with it beyond 'warm water that's sometimes bitter'. "This is supposed to be a black tea infused with... citrus." He commented, staring at the pot as if it held secrets. "Dunno how strong you like it, so help yourself, I guess."
Around then, Tara poked her snout into the kitchen. "Kadin?"
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Post by Linyü on Nov 22, 2020 20:49:56 GMT -6
Mio followed Tara as she drifted out of the study room, and into the doorway of what presumably was the kitchen. It was only then that he remembered his human companion who, to his credit, had actually done an admirable job of staying out of their way until now. Given his personality, this was more of a surprise than it might have been.
Hovering in the background, Mio felt a little at a loss. Should he make excuses to his companion also? But it felt a little juvenile, and after all, Linyü wasn't his guardian so much as a case that he had taken an interest in.
Seveth leaned back in his chair to observe them both, arching a brow. He had taken a cup, though he hadn't quite gotten to pouring himself any tea, and now he toyed idly with it between his hands. "Did something happen?" he said.
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Post by Kadin on Nov 22, 2020 20:54:07 GMT -6
Kadin turned to look and see what the draconic wanted, waiting for her to speak. She looked back at him and startled when the other human said something.
"Oh! No. Everything's fine. But we're going to the library now to look for new books. I just wanted to let you know." She directed that last bit to Kadin, offering him a slight smile.
Kadin shrugged back, not really having much else to say. "Alright, have fun." He didn't particularly feel the need to go with them to some library, especially not if she already had someone else with her.
Tara nodded back and turned back to Mio, seemingly pleased to be going out and doing something. She felt like she had a direction to go in with her education now! "Ok, let's go!" She said, leading the way back to the front so that they could make there way into the city. And to the library!
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Post by Linyü on Nov 29, 2020 14:34:44 GMT -6
Seveth relaxed easily enough; he hadn't thought anything was amiss, though one could never be completely sure. But the reason for their arrival was completely mundane. At the mention of the library, his eyes lit up. "Can I come too?" he said, half rising from his seat. Kadin didn't seem interested at all in going, so he must not have been one for books, but Seveth remembered his last visit to the Draconic library fondly, and was glad for an excuse to go again.
"That's..." Mio looked uncertainly between him and Tara. The look on his face suggested that he would have liked to say no, but couldn't quite find it in him, or couldn't quite find the excuse for it. His gaze, when it finally stopped, rested on Tara. "Would he be an intrusion?" Mio said weakly.
"Oh, I can stay out of your way if you like," Seveth added quickly.
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Post by Kadin on Nov 29, 2020 16:21:23 GMT -6
Perhaps the last thing she'd expected was for this other human to want to go, too. She wouldn't have minded terribly if it was Kadin who asked to go. He knew about what she was trying to do and was as supportive as he could possibly be. But this other human seemed rather... loud. And enthusiastic. And since she was paying for the time with her tutor, she didn't really want that sort of distraction around...
But she also had a difficult time saying no.
"Well... I'd, uh, I'd prefer if we could focus on what we're trying to do. If... he's not in the way at all, it should be all right, but... would he be in the way?" She asked back, shuffling uncomfortably.
Kadin watched this with a little amusement, actually, at two polite draconic falling over themselves, unable to simply tell someone that they weren't wanted. Once again, he didn't really mind one way or another what happened, so he kept his mouth shut for now.
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Post by Linyü on Nov 29, 2020 16:50:36 GMT -6
Mio closed his eyes, as if asking the gods for patience. 'Would he be in the way' indeed. Seveth almost wanted to laugh - no, he did laugh. What a question. Even he knew the answer to that one.
"Oh, nevermind then," he said, as if this were merely a whim that had vanished as soon as it had appeared. And maybe it was, but now he was doing it as a favor to them. "You two go and have fun by yourselves then." He accompanied his words with a wag of the eyebrows, and earned a withering look from Mio for his troubles. "I'll stay here and have my own fun."
"Yes, well..." Mio made as if to start for the door, though he didn't quite move on, waiting for Tara to join him in taking their leave of her home. Beneath the exasperation, Seveth could tell he was relieved.
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Post by Kadin on Nov 29, 2020 17:02:17 GMT -6
Oh, Mio really seemed like he didn't want him to come. Maybe she had said the wrong thing? Perhaps she should have been more firm with her opinion. But she didn't want to offend the human, either! Gosh, Tara shifted uncomfortable until the human seemed to decide to take pity on them and told them to go without him. She let out a sign of relief that might have been more subtle if she wasn't a giant green dragon and eagerly made her way to the door, too, ready to follow Mio out and to the library as quickly as possible. She did remember to call out, "Bye!" right before they left, mostly directed at Kadin.
Kadin, who said curiously, "I'm surprised you didn't go with them anyway." He certainly had seemed like he wanted to, even with how uncomfortable the draconic were with the idea. Whatever, not that it mattered.
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Post by Linyü on Nov 30, 2020 14:36:12 GMT -6
Seveth shrugged. "The best part of doing whatever I want is being inconsistent," he said. "Isn't it boring if you're always predictable?" For a moment he seemed a little inscrutable, smiling an unreadable smile. Then he took a sip of the tea, and wrinkled his nose slightly. "Bitter," he said. "Do you have any honey?"
As for Mio, he sighed again as soon as they reached the entrance. It wasn't that he disliked humans, or even the specific human that accompanied him, but... Well, Linyü had no concept of not being constantly underfoot, Mio supposed. And he wasn't so much unable to read the mood as he was willing to follow his own whims in spite of what he read.
But for whatever reason, Linyü had not come along after all, and Mio would take his blessings where he could. With things going the way they did, maybe he and Tara would actually have a productive time at the library.
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