Ivone looked up at Tius, glancing between him and the door. He stepped, back so she stayed back. When a gnome woman opened the door, Ivone was surprised. Her estimation of Tius Morrington increased dramatically. He truly was progressive for his social level. A fact that could be a boon or a detriment. Considering his father, Ivone suspected this was not an approved past time or acquaintance. Ivone also suspected Tius used financial growth for the City as his reasons. What an interesting man.
Ivone smiled at Alyzz and shook the woman's hand.
"A pleasure."
Ivone was observant and spoke little at first. Grant committee? Ah. Was this an attempt to seek financial backing? Certainly, Ivone could provide that.
A music device run on gnomish magic? So long as it didn't explode...
"Could it be used to amplify sound?"
The music device paled in comparison to the results of the next project. Ivone's eyes widened and she moved forward, reaching out a hand,then paused.
"May I?"
Ivone had never in her life expected to see living Changer's Tears. Oh, what a clever, clever man. There was only one other thing in her life that she might cherish more than this moment and given the Doctor's said she would not be able to bear another child, well... this was ... immeasurable.
For one brief moment, Ivone looked at Tius and held his gaze. Her eyes shone with unexpressed emotion, face lit with a smile. Another thread in her tightly woven and clever disguise snapped.
"I think they are amazing." Ivone broke the gaze to look at Alyzz. "Truly."
"What did you mean by power consumption and water supply? The City?"
The Sunny Side of the Street
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Vicentius
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- Name: Vicentius Morrington
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Re: The Sunny Side of the Street
"Amplify sound, enhance sound, project sound, alter sound," Alyzz said, "it can do a lot of things. Under the right conditions, I've seen sound move through the air in a wave of colour. Of course you may touch them, but not the back sections, those are very delicate at the moment."
Tius watched Ivone's body language change and looked from her to the flowers, noting the colours and shape of the blossoms subtly change as her mood shifted. At first there was a shine and an almost glorious unfurling, that wilted slightly for the briefest of instances before blossoming again, fuller, and more enticingly than before. The scent changed too, and he smiled to see it, eyes twinkling when she turned back to him. He caught Alyzz's look and paid it no mind, knowing that this moment was too important, and instead gestured towards the plants. They too, were important.
"They are amazing," he said, "for what they represent. But, yes, the City has quite understandable fears about magic, and I wholeheartedly agree with them, but it does present unique opportunities all the same. They are a rare commodity, some used in the university for studies but mostly kept by collectors who want a plant that reflects them and only them. These were not obtained through...what passes for proper channels, so this stays off the books."
He watched the colours seep slightly through the plants, noting the slight shimmering in the air around them.
"The house fits the bill for the sound experiments and the same conditions make it ideal for camouflaging these, which incidentally also brings more funding Alyzz's way. One hand washes the other. But that can require...creative use of resources from time to time. It's a tough sell but the gains could outweigh the costs. Time will tell."
He caught Alyzz staring again, and continued to ignore it, keeping his gaze focused on Ivone.
"I tell you this in the strictest confidence," he said, "and against my better judgement, but I do want you to know that I am grateful."
Tius watched Ivone's body language change and looked from her to the flowers, noting the colours and shape of the blossoms subtly change as her mood shifted. At first there was a shine and an almost glorious unfurling, that wilted slightly for the briefest of instances before blossoming again, fuller, and more enticingly than before. The scent changed too, and he smiled to see it, eyes twinkling when she turned back to him. He caught Alyzz's look and paid it no mind, knowing that this moment was too important, and instead gestured towards the plants. They too, were important.
"They are amazing," he said, "for what they represent. But, yes, the City has quite understandable fears about magic, and I wholeheartedly agree with them, but it does present unique opportunities all the same. They are a rare commodity, some used in the university for studies but mostly kept by collectors who want a plant that reflects them and only them. These were not obtained through...what passes for proper channels, so this stays off the books."
He watched the colours seep slightly through the plants, noting the slight shimmering in the air around them.
"The house fits the bill for the sound experiments and the same conditions make it ideal for camouflaging these, which incidentally also brings more funding Alyzz's way. One hand washes the other. But that can require...creative use of resources from time to time. It's a tough sell but the gains could outweigh the costs. Time will tell."
He caught Alyzz staring again, and continued to ignore it, keeping his gaze focused on Ivone.
"I tell you this in the strictest confidence," he said, "and against my better judgement, but I do want you to know that I am grateful."
Re: The Sunny Side of the Street
Ivone stored the music information away for later conversation. She could see the use in the thing at the theater, or better yet, an outdoor production in the summer on the lawns of the Memorial Garden. Oh, yes.
Ivone blinked and looked back at the flowers. They had changed, reacting to her, Tius, and Alyzz in a great swath of color and scent. The ones nearest to her almost shivered on their stems at her emotion. Ivone could only imagine what they would do if near someone in more intimate moments. Ivone gave Tius another look. Was he actually admitting to smuggling contraband into the city? To her? Was he truly taking her into his confidences and that of this woman so soon after meeting her.
Was there some catch? Or...? This information was of more value than her time and company. It had to be. The damnable flowers reflected her doubt, so she moved away from them.
"What do you hope to use them for? It would seem the collector's market would be quite small in Marn." Ivone wondered if the properties would remain the same if the flowers were distilled down to their essence as she did with other plants and materials.
Ivone blinked and looked back at the flowers. They had changed, reacting to her, Tius, and Alyzz in a great swath of color and scent. The ones nearest to her almost shivered on their stems at her emotion. Ivone could only imagine what they would do if near someone in more intimate moments. Ivone gave Tius another look. Was he actually admitting to smuggling contraband into the city? To her? Was he truly taking her into his confidences and that of this woman so soon after meeting her.
Was there some catch? Or...? This information was of more value than her time and company. It had to be. The damnable flowers reflected her doubt, so she moved away from them.
"What do you hope to use them for? It would seem the collector's market would be quite small in Marn." Ivone wondered if the properties would remain the same if the flowers were distilled down to their essence as she did with other plants and materials.
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Vicentius
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- Name: Vicentius Morrington
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Re: The Sunny Side of the Street
She was cautious, doubtful, looking to be reassured, and he understood that completely. He looked to the blossoms, watching them move, and considering her unspoken questions. Honesty was a strange word, he felt, some people feared it, some people clung to it, others paid it no heed whatsoever, but sometimes it had power. She moved away from the flowers, so he moved towards them, the leaves coiling to reflect the new presence. Honesty was required, and honesty would frighten her, he knew, but what was necessary was never unwise.
"The market is small, yes," he said, "but Marn has some...unique conditions not met elsewhere, and the seeds of the plants are more sturdy than the plants themselves. That gives us some flexibility. But that is not why we grow them."
He turned to face her again, his expression thoughtful.
"It has an oddly symbiotic relationship with the surrounding environment," he said, "it feeds on the magic, but it also contains it, stabilizes it. There are hopes that with time and proper cultivation, it could make the Old Fortress a safer place to inhabit, or at the very least turn it into a garden rather than a ruin. Pipe dreams, yes, but worthy goals."
He knew that the flowers by now reflected solely him, now that Alyzz had stepped back to observe, but he did not turn to look at them. His resolve was steady, and he wanted Ivone to have his full attention.
"As curatives, the potential is limitless," he said, "but requires time and testing not available in this small test. Small steps can lead to greater things and many eyes are on this place. As a perfume it is said to do two things, depending on preparation; be the most alluring scent you've ever smelled, varying from person to person, or a smell unique to the wearer. It has never been tested here, so all I have are stories."
He straightened, keeping his expression passive but open, and held Ivone's gaze.
"The seeds are something even more special, though; pure potential, so they say."
He nodded to Alyzz, and the Gnome quietly departed, leaving them alone.
"I give you my trust," he said, "because I choose to. What you do with it is up to you."
"The market is small, yes," he said, "but Marn has some...unique conditions not met elsewhere, and the seeds of the plants are more sturdy than the plants themselves. That gives us some flexibility. But that is not why we grow them."
He turned to face her again, his expression thoughtful.
"It has an oddly symbiotic relationship with the surrounding environment," he said, "it feeds on the magic, but it also contains it, stabilizes it. There are hopes that with time and proper cultivation, it could make the Old Fortress a safer place to inhabit, or at the very least turn it into a garden rather than a ruin. Pipe dreams, yes, but worthy goals."
He knew that the flowers by now reflected solely him, now that Alyzz had stepped back to observe, but he did not turn to look at them. His resolve was steady, and he wanted Ivone to have his full attention.
"As curatives, the potential is limitless," he said, "but requires time and testing not available in this small test. Small steps can lead to greater things and many eyes are on this place. As a perfume it is said to do two things, depending on preparation; be the most alluring scent you've ever smelled, varying from person to person, or a smell unique to the wearer. It has never been tested here, so all I have are stories."
He straightened, keeping his expression passive but open, and held Ivone's gaze.
"The seeds are something even more special, though; pure potential, so they say."
He nodded to Alyzz, and the Gnome quietly departed, leaving them alone.
"I give you my trust," he said, "because I choose to. What you do with it is up to you."
Re: The Sunny Side of the Street
Ivone listened, possibilities were visualized. Tius turned the full focus of his attention to her. Curatives? Perfume?
“The seeds?” Ivone murmured, prompting Tius for more information as he continued.
Ivone was aware of the gnomish woman leaving the two of them alone in this greenhouse of magic. Ivone knew, that as a Puradyne and Marnian citizen she should be repulsed. But, the secret part of her that rebelled against everything she’d been groomed for just couldn’t find the exquisite beauty before her evil, or wrong.
And, then, Tius dropped the bomb he’d been carefully aiming spot on her. His words echoed in her brain and she regarded him, stilled. Her gaze dropped, to give her a moment to compose herself, but he knew that move already. Ivone inhaled and exhaled a deep breath and when she looked back up at Tius, she stepped toward him.
Closing the gap meant she would be within proximity of the flowers. Tius would know she did it for the same reason he had, though certainly he could read the flowers better than she. He had more experience with them. Ivone reached out, put her hands just above Tius’ elbows, and slid her hands down his forearms, to bring his hands between them. Taking both of his hands in hers, Ivone regarded their clasped hands. Her thumbs stroked over the tops of his hands before she gave them a gentle squeeze. The gloves she wore were exquisitely soft. The flowers shivered again, colors rippling through the small crop before a deep, heady scent filled the room. Keeping Tius’ gaze with hers, Ivone said simply,
“I will hold your trust carefully.”
Her gaze searched his. She knew the trust came with a price, no matter how much she might wish otherwise. Now, he needed to express what the price would be.
“The seeds?” Ivone murmured, prompting Tius for more information as he continued.
Ivone was aware of the gnomish woman leaving the two of them alone in this greenhouse of magic. Ivone knew, that as a Puradyne and Marnian citizen she should be repulsed. But, the secret part of her that rebelled against everything she’d been groomed for just couldn’t find the exquisite beauty before her evil, or wrong.
And, then, Tius dropped the bomb he’d been carefully aiming spot on her. His words echoed in her brain and she regarded him, stilled. Her gaze dropped, to give her a moment to compose herself, but he knew that move already. Ivone inhaled and exhaled a deep breath and when she looked back up at Tius, she stepped toward him.
Closing the gap meant she would be within proximity of the flowers. Tius would know she did it for the same reason he had, though certainly he could read the flowers better than she. He had more experience with them. Ivone reached out, put her hands just above Tius’ elbows, and slid her hands down his forearms, to bring his hands between them. Taking both of his hands in hers, Ivone regarded their clasped hands. Her thumbs stroked over the tops of his hands before she gave them a gentle squeeze. The gloves she wore were exquisitely soft. The flowers shivered again, colors rippling through the small crop before a deep, heady scent filled the room. Keeping Tius’ gaze with hers, Ivone said simply,
“I will hold your trust carefully.”
Her gaze searched his. She knew the trust came with a price, no matter how much she might wish otherwise. Now, he needed to express what the price would be.
Last edited by Ivone on Sun Mar 06, 2016 4:03 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Vicentius
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- Name: Vicentius Morrington
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Re: The Sunny Side of the Street
"The seeds are an enigma," he said, "difficult to measure. They can...unlock people. That's the best way I can think to describe it."
He raised his hand to his heart.
"In here," he said, "all the confusion, all the pain, washed away in a single, glorious moment of awesome clarity. I find it every bit as terrifying as it sounds."
He felt oddly...serene... as she moved her hands over his. He could see her uncertainty giving way to a surety of purpose that at once both fascinated and amazed him, even though he should have expected it. He knew the gesture was symbolic, as much as his staying where she could easily read him, but it was appreciated nonetheless. It was a rare thing when someone let a person see them, truly see them for who they were and not who they presented themselves as, especially in Marn. While neither of them had been entirely transparent thus far, there was still the sense that things were far clearer than they had been. He met her gaze with a soft smile as the flowers bloomed, recognizing the scent; it was passion, pure and simple.
"Thank you," he said, and he meant it.
His hands tightened slightly around hers, giving them a gentle squeeze, and there was that drive again, to do more. It would have been so easy too, he knew, to give in to the desire and press his lips to hers until they were both gasping for air. It would feel so right too, the voices told him, but he knew they were wrong. This was not the time, and while the flowers deepened in scent and colour to reflect the desire, he knew that acting on it now would poison it. He'd put himself in an awkward position; she expected him to put a price on this favour, which would be manipulative of him, but not putting a price on it created the expectation of unspoken debt, and that was equally manipulative. He smiled, an answer occurring to him.
"Don't judge me by my family," he said, "please."
He raised his hand to his heart.
"In here," he said, "all the confusion, all the pain, washed away in a single, glorious moment of awesome clarity. I find it every bit as terrifying as it sounds."
He felt oddly...serene... as she moved her hands over his. He could see her uncertainty giving way to a surety of purpose that at once both fascinated and amazed him, even though he should have expected it. He knew the gesture was symbolic, as much as his staying where she could easily read him, but it was appreciated nonetheless. It was a rare thing when someone let a person see them, truly see them for who they were and not who they presented themselves as, especially in Marn. While neither of them had been entirely transparent thus far, there was still the sense that things were far clearer than they had been. He met her gaze with a soft smile as the flowers bloomed, recognizing the scent; it was passion, pure and simple.
"Thank you," he said, and he meant it.
His hands tightened slightly around hers, giving them a gentle squeeze, and there was that drive again, to do more. It would have been so easy too, he knew, to give in to the desire and press his lips to hers until they were both gasping for air. It would feel so right too, the voices told him, but he knew they were wrong. This was not the time, and while the flowers deepened in scent and colour to reflect the desire, he knew that acting on it now would poison it. He'd put himself in an awkward position; she expected him to put a price on this favour, which would be manipulative of him, but not putting a price on it created the expectation of unspoken debt, and that was equally manipulative. He smiled, an answer occurring to him.
"Don't judge me by my family," he said, "please."
Re: The Sunny Side of the Street
Ivone blinked, wondering at what the seeds would unlock in her. The fear, that all her recent guilt and anger would spill out into the world for everyone to see, was too great for her to ever risk such a thing. When Ivone made her declaration, she meant it with as much certainty as she had when she’d told Aurelio she would go anywhere with him. And, she had. Now, it was time for her to start a new journey.
There was a moment, as Tius’ grasp on her hands tightened, where a spark flared to life in both their gazes and charged the space between them with a jolt that Ivone felt it through the core of her. Tius held her gaze, but took no other action. Oddly, his lack of action showed a courtesy and care that had not been afforded her since her husband had wooed her. A gorgeous scent filled the space around them and Ivone would be hard pressed to describe later, but would be one she would never forget.
Ivone waited for Tius to make his request of her. When he smiled a moment later, her heart actually skipped a beat. It was the words that followed, Tius would be able to see, she had not expected them.
Had he asked for funding or other support, she would have given them after consideration. But, this request was much more personal and as such, harder to quantify. She blinked.
Don’t judge me.
If only she could say the same to him. A knowing, broken smile softened her features further and Ivone released his hands.
“Of course not.”
There was a moment, as Tius’ grasp on her hands tightened, where a spark flared to life in both their gazes and charged the space between them with a jolt that Ivone felt it through the core of her. Tius held her gaze, but took no other action. Oddly, his lack of action showed a courtesy and care that had not been afforded her since her husband had wooed her. A gorgeous scent filled the space around them and Ivone would be hard pressed to describe later, but would be one she would never forget.
Ivone waited for Tius to make his request of her. When he smiled a moment later, her heart actually skipped a beat. It was the words that followed, Tius would be able to see, she had not expected them.
Had he asked for funding or other support, she would have given them after consideration. But, this request was much more personal and as such, harder to quantify. She blinked.
Don’t judge me.
If only she could say the same to him. A knowing, broken smile softened her features further and Ivone released his hands.
“Of course not.”
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Vicentius
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- Name: Vicentius Morrington
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Re: The Sunny Side of the Street
Stunning someone was a rare thing, like a Tian Xian official who wasn't smug about it, or a flower in the historic district thriving; a truly rare thing, and yet, with those few words he seemed to have managed it. It was an achievement that he was strangely proud of right in that moment, and her slow, shakey smile was the icing on the cake. It was an even rarer, and much more beautiful thing, and one which he intended to treasure. He held her gaze and steeled himself for what he had to say next.
"Thank you," he said, "and what I say now, I say as your friend. Whatever connection you have to Aurelio Merynir, rethink it."
Aurelio was a devious man, in many admirable ways, and having been bitten once by Monetario, he was cagier than a beaten cat. He was dangerous as all hell, and more worryingly, he was plotting something, but Tius wanted to believe that Ivone was smarter than to get in deep with him. He couldn't see an upside to that for her, or even a reasonable out if things got to hot to handle, but it was always hard to tell what Aurelio wanted, beyond the obvious. Hatred was a deadly thing to hold so close to the chest; it blinded one to far too much.
"I don't know what your connection to Aurelio is, and I don't expect you to tell me," he said, "just, please, be careful."
He glanced towards the door, aware that the day was slipping away.
"Shall we?"
"Thank you," he said, "and what I say now, I say as your friend. Whatever connection you have to Aurelio Merynir, rethink it."
Aurelio was a devious man, in many admirable ways, and having been bitten once by Monetario, he was cagier than a beaten cat. He was dangerous as all hell, and more worryingly, he was plotting something, but Tius wanted to believe that Ivone was smarter than to get in deep with him. He couldn't see an upside to that for her, or even a reasonable out if things got to hot to handle, but it was always hard to tell what Aurelio wanted, beyond the obvious. Hatred was a deadly thing to hold so close to the chest; it blinded one to far too much.
"I don't know what your connection to Aurelio is, and I don't expect you to tell me," he said, "just, please, be careful."
He glanced towards the door, aware that the day was slipping away.
"Shall we?"
Re: The Sunny Side of the Street
His closing remarks wiped the smile from her face. Aurelio was a complex subject for her. Her tone was perhaps a little prim when she responded.
"Our only connection now is his investment in the theater. Any other connections we had are ... complicated. Some of which have already been severed." His broaching the subject of Aurelio Merynir almost smacked of being the price for his trust, but Ivone wasn't ready to pay that price just yet. His following words attempted to soothe the fire that had started in her gut and Ivone attempted to be mollified by it.
"Indeed."
"Our only connection now is his investment in the theater. Any other connections we had are ... complicated. Some of which have already been severed." His broaching the subject of Aurelio Merynir almost smacked of being the price for his trust, but Ivone wasn't ready to pay that price just yet. His following words attempted to soothe the fire that had started in her gut and Ivone attempted to be mollified by it.
"Indeed."
Re: The Sunny Side of the Street
Continues here: Out with the Old