Tea and Tomes

The wind and rain may have abated for now, but cloudless sky and brilliant sunlight are not any less appropriate weather for research activities than rain, sleet, snow, or drought; some are simply more opposed to non-research activities.

While Verna would never claim such a things exists as too much research, there is the possibility of too much to digest in a given period of time, or too much of a particular topic which might numb the brain, or worse. She currently sits in one of the individual (and, she discovers, more comfortable) seats rather than a table, with only a single small book before her. Light reading, perhaps, in both mass of form and content.

Auranar ducks her head around one of the bookcases, and spots Verna. The sight of the other woman brings a smile to her lips and the elvish woman heads immediately for the table which Verna is sitting at. Today there are no books in her hands, though she has her notes which she is truly never without. They're hidden in the pack she carries. Auranar stands a bit away from the table that Verna has chosen and emits a light cough to draw attention to herself without making a lot of noise. "Afternoon Verna."

Verna starts slightly at the cough. She may have been deep in thought, deep in material, or possibly resting while appearing (or attempting) to read. Her surprise does not immediately abate at the sight of Auranar, though a moment of the smiling syl seems to allow it to pass. "Oh! Good day to you, Auranar. Please, if you wish..." She gestures to a nearby seat, blinking once after as she parses, "It is afternoon?"

"It is at that." Remarks the sildanyar, smiling softly at what she suspects is a case of someone losing track of time due to their studies. Regardless of whether Verna had actually been awake or not. "Would you... care to join me for tea? I think you could use a bit of a break from your studies."

Verna shifts in her seat, sitting more upright. "Yes, I would enjoy that. I could benefit from some tea, and respite. Thank you." She seems mildly perturbed or uncomfortable, perhaps due to the lost track of time or possible dozing.

This is somewhat mitigated as she stands, smooths her robes, and turns to the rack immediately near the chair to replace the reading material. The small-bound 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' appears well-handled yet still in excellent condition.

Auranar notes the book with some curiosity, and then leads Verna out of the library. "If you do not mind my asking, what was the subject of your study today? Have you learned anything valuable?" The elvish woman's polite curiosity gave them something to talk about as they made their way out of the library and into the chill beyond.

The step into the chill has Verna reflexively reach for her cloak hood to don it, yet gloved hands pause as she reconsiders and leaves it down. "I do not mind the inquiry," she responds as they walk. "People are the subject, in the most general sense. It was noted to me, on more than one occasion, that my interaction skills could do with improvement, in the context of the living. The majority of those I with whom I interact are not, or are in various stages of shock and/or grief. As to whether I received any revelations... I am uncertain."

The elvish woman stays close to Verna's side, offering a comfortable space between them, but still close enough for discourse without having to yell or something. "Unfortunately I would not say that a book is the best place to learn about people. If you want to know how to interact with them... you have to watch them." Auranar looks around the street, but its a cold day and there are few people about. "Some things, you can only learn truly about, by doing them, and I think that understanding people is one of those things."

"So I came to realize," Verna agrees; admits, even. "While it is not something readily learned from traditional research, it is something of a vicious cycle. One cannot improve interaction without interaction and, in so doing, learn from one's errors. I would prefer to avoid as many errors as feasible. If the intent were to befriend another, causing repeated offenses would make the more difficult, perhaps impossible." After a step, she adds, "As an example."

"I'm certain that if you are honest in your attempts that there are people willing to overlook or even inform you when you make a social blunder." Auranar states gently, offering a small smile. "While failure might be embarrassing, or at least undesirable, it is inevitable. Even the most socially adept people make mistakes."

Verna returns the smile, if minimally. It may not be so frequent an expression for her, or her face may favor minimalism. The expression is also brief as her lips purse in consideration. "You seem quite adept. You make such mistakes?" Her expression deepens. "I now realize that I know very little about you, and I am curious. Our past interactions were ... not under the most casual nor comfortable of circumstances."

"I do make mistakes from time to time." Auranar admits easily, though such are few and far between for her. "Particularly when dealing with other sildanyar. I think they find me quite strange." She looks down at this and then smiles. "I know little about you either Verna, thus the invitation to tea. You can learn more about me, and I can learn more about you."

"Ah, yes, of course," Verna nods with the explanation of purpose behind the invitation. It is perfectly sensible, in retrospect. "I do not consider you strange," she offers her own opinion. Said opinion may be uninformed, and she opens her mouth again to possibly admit as much... yet closes it without doing so. Perhaps she did learn something from her reading. Instead, she looks ahead on their path. "Do you have a preferred establishment or blend of tea?"

"That's kind of you." Auranar offers quietly, looking ahead and eyes scanning for the location of the tea shop. She makes for it and motions to it when Verna asks about their destination. "Yes, I have a favorite tea shop, and it's right there. They have a fantastic selection of teas from all over the world and a very welcoming feeling to the shop."

She quickened her step a little until they were entering the tea shop, grateful for the immediate comforting warmth and the scent of fresh tea which permeated the little place. It had a wide selection of seat types. From comfortable lounges near the fireplace to actual tables strewn around. None of the seats seemed to match, but that's what made it feel homey. Auranar glanced toward Verna. "Would you prefer to sit nearby the fireplace?"

Verna quickens her own quite short strides to keep pace, then takes a moment in the arrival to look over the unfamiliar (to her) establishment. The inconsistency in furniture is somewhat unusual to what she is familiar, perhaps even unorthodox, but not grating. After brief consideration, she nods, "The fire would more quickly ward off the chill and be more comfortable." This is followed with an inviting or leading gesture towards, for Auranar to lead the way and/or take her choice of seats available there.

Auranar seems if anything as at home in this environment as she was and is in the library. She makes her way to the fireplace while waiving in a familiar manner to the barista who sends a waiter over to the seats that Auaranar chooses for them. The elvish woman picks a comfortable looking couch, and leans against the arm of it, completely at home in the tea shop. With the waiter on standby, she quickly makes her own order before looking at Verna for confirmation of her own desired drink before allowing the man to move on.

"So." Auranar tilts her head at Verna. "What would you like to know? I am as I have often heard the phrase; an open book."

Whether curious, trusting, conscientious, or momentarily overwhelmed, Verna makes a concise order of a second of Auranar's own. She then settles herself on the couch, or attempts to. It is far more ...forgiving than wooden chairs or basalt slabs, and she settles further into it than anticipated.

The directed, if very broad, inquiry from the syl pulls her thoughts from the momentary concern that one might be able to drown within a piece of furniture. She considers that open book, and how one would go about reading it. "Would it be easiest, to use your analogy, to read from the end and towards the beginning? What brought you to Alexandria?"

Auranar smiles comfortably, but there's something sad in her dark eyes as she considers the question. "That's rather the beginning of my story actually. My parents brought me here when I was very young. To be honest... I have no idea what brought them here. I probably never will. I know that they were deep into the magical arts, but I don't know much beyond that." Her hands clasp together in her lap and the sadness on her features deepens and then becomes anger.

"The demon Eclavdran killed them when I was little more than a baby. Burned the whole house down around them. I don't even remember how I survived the flames. When I woke up I was at the Soldier's Defense." She looks up and smiles thinly. "I was lucky enough to be taken in by the orphanage here in Alexandria. That was... a long time ago of course, and I returned to the elvish nation for a time here and there, but Alexandria has always been my home." Verna aimed for the end and found the beginning? She is uncertain whether this is a fortuitious break or a faux pas, at first, though she does note the shift in Auranar's features. She may not know people well, yet sadness is one aspect of them with which she is familiar.

Then that name is mentioned, and she promptly frowns; it is certainly not a fortuitous anything. "I ... you have my deepest condolences." A phrase uttered innumerable times, though never falsely, even to the many not personally known. Now, however, it is notably less impersonal. "I am pleased that you were spared, and am not surprised by the city's generosity."

A sigh is exhaled. "I continue to regret, moreso now, that I brought him to you."

Auranar shakes her head, trying to dismiss the melancholy from her mind. "No. I'm glad for it Verna." She looks at the other woman earnestly. "I've been trying to find out my whole life what my parents were doing that they drew the ire of the demon. Now that knowledge is almost within my grasp. Even more... We might find some way to kill him. Put an end to the suffering that he's caused to so many. If I can help with that... I want to do so more than anything."

Verna can think of many possible answers to Auranar's question: they mistakenly reached into what he considered his, somehow were in his way, insulted his demonhood, just happened to gain his attention and he was bored... Any, all or none of them might be correct, but she mentions none to counter her zeal.

She leans towards her, both in interest and concern. "If there is something there to be found, you would be the one to find it." It is her family, and apparently her passion, afterall. "Whatever you have learned or may learn would be of great help, and I would aid you in any way I am able, should you wish it."

Following that encouragement, she adds a caveat, "You know the dangers as well as most, moreso, in fact. I will not lecture you on them, but will ask that you use caution. I much prefer your company as it is, here and now, to a vault in my Mistress' Hall."

Their tea arrives and Auranar takes hers gladly, setting it aside on a couch-side table to cool somewhat before trying to drink it. The warmth of the fireplace has invaded, and she - in spite of the topic of conversation - is quite relaxed now. "Certainly if we could find the reasoning, perhaps we might be able to uncover something about the fiend."

She nods to this idea, and then nods again to Verna's warning. "I do know well the dangers. Yet... I have no patience in myself for waiting on this. It feels like every day the answers draw away from me. I know this is a false belief, but... Research is all I can do for now; so I must do that to the best of my ability."

Verna thanks the server, albeit with minimal attention, and takes up her own tea. The warmth of cup is soothing, comfortable on the hands, even with her gloves. All to match the fireplace heating most everything else. "You are impatient because you are concerned, and reach further because it is near." Nearing epiphanies in research she can speak to in general, at least. She takes a sip of her tea.

"Should you require anything, please ask. There are many working towards the same end, following many paths to differing pieces. We will need much of the puzzle solved to stop all of this, to stop him."

"Your assistance would be helpful, but I don't want to infringe upon your time. I know you are doing valuable research of your own." Auranar has her full attention on Verna now. "How is it going by the way?"

Verna was likewise studying Auranar, though this lessens as the syl makes a valid point; while she wishes to assist, splitting too many ways diminishes the whole. As well, her intent was to encourage, not somehow imply that Auranar was incapable on her own.

"It goes ...well. In regards to the recent victims, I know more than before, and there are more possibilities to consider. I was able to contact the kin of one of the deceased and, with their assent, will commune with the deceased as the only known witness to events. Afterwards, I shall follow that path where it leads, or pick up again another related to the demon."

Auranar nods. "I wish you luck with that then. Hopefully you'll be able to uncover what is killing people." She drinks her tea finally and makes a hum of approval. "I would say that I hope that Eclavdran is not behind it, but in truth that would mean that some other evil is. Which I can not want for Alexandria."

Verna mirrors the nod, then looks about to speak further before reconsidering. Instead, she is quiet as she takes the time to drink more of the tea; perhaps even time to fully register and evaluate it. Only afterwards does she offer comment.

It is not of Eclavdran, other evils, nor even the impression that the two could be in combination. "This is excellent tea. Thank you for making me aware of it." The tea shop and offerings may well have existed since Auranar first arrived at the orphanage and Verna could have passed it innumerable times without having paid it much notice for one reason or another.

"I'm glad you like it. It's nice to share places you enjoy with your friends." Auranar drinks some of her own tea and settles in. "It's a lovely little shop..." If she goes into the history of the shop a bit, perhaps Verna won't mind so much. They're both book-minded individuals, and it's nice to share things you enjoy with those you care about. Whether that's tea, or knowledge. For now... it's both.

-End