Grandfather Knows Best

Log Info

• Title: Grandfather Knows Best

• Emitter: Ravenstongue

• Characters: Ravenstongue, Telamon

• Place: A14 - Society for Progressive Arcanists

• Summary: Ravenstongue is enjoying a stroll in the courtyard of the Arcanists' Society with Grandfather and Pothy in tow when she meets Telamon in their first meeting after the rite to summon the Feathered One. They talk for a while and it turns to discussion of feelings. Grandfather slyly picks up on the conversation and gets Pothy to fly with him to give the two half-elves space to talk. After an embarrassing moment of realization for Ravenstongue, the pair agree to take things slow, much to Grandfather's approval. Also, Pothy gives investment advice to Telamon.

-=--=--=--=--=--=<* A14: Society for Progressive Arcanists *>=--=--=--=--=--=-

The central courtyard of the Arcane Society is a large and sprawling affair within the heart of the city. Soaring marble pillars reach upward to the sky, four sets of three, evenly spaced apart as the massive columns form a rough circle, each trio of pillars warding a particular direction. Carved into the smooth stone floor within the center of the atrium is a massive circle within the ceiling itself, which opens always to the stars, in honor of Eluna, the Goddess of Light Magic. Taara, the Goddess of the Dark, is given no such honors.

The central courtyard radiates outwards into paths, leading through the exotic gardens of the Society. One extends to the Library, another to the College of Magic. Another path leads off to a small, rather plain looking building between the two colleges, most likely the dormitory for the students, and yet another for the famous Cafeteria. Numerous magi can be seen walking back and forth most hours of the day and night here, with familiars or other odder creatures roaming about, most of them in the latest styles, as dictated by Madame Gelfure, the a more social head than the Society has had in most of its history. Myriad scents and aromas can also be sensed, some delightful, others repugnant, others quite colorful as apprentices and magi alike go about their experiments. Arguments are not unheard of, and even the most "dignified" of magi might be seen from time to time, in a pique of anger, waving an agitated hand to teleport the disagreeable person to the top of the nearest tower.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=- Dramatis Personae =--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-    
Ravenstongue 5'0"     99 Lb      Half-Elf          Female    Short half-elf girl with violet eyes and black hair.                       
Telamon      5'6"     140 Lb     Half-Elf          Male      A platinum-blond half-sil man with dancing dark eyes              
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

Another cold and chilling day in Alexandria. But at least in the sanctuary of the Society for Progressive Arcanists, the courtyard is kept safe from the dangers of the cold (likely from the complaints of novice mages suffering from frostbitten fingers after studying too long outside) by a subtle warmth that makes it more bearable to be out and about.

Ravenstongue is taking advantage of the warmth as walks around with not one, but two ravens on her shoulders. Pothy, the ever-familiar... familiar, feasts from her outstretched hand as he sits on his familiar roosting spot. The black raven with violet eyes, however, seems to be merrily speaking to the half-elf sorceress.

"... Are you certain that you're not too cold, little one?" the dark raven asks, concern present in his violet eyes. "I wouldn't want for you to lose a finger to the frost."

Ravenstongue snickers. "Grandfather, this is the last place I'll lose any limb to the frost," she says. "Even if I did, they'd be able to grow me a new one."

Of course, that doesn't stop people from dressing for the weather. And being fashionable! Telamon ambles out of the cafeteria, holding a large, steaming earthenware mug. Wrapped in a fur-lined cape, he really does look less like a sorcerer and more like some minor dilettante noble. Catching sight of Raven, he smiles, walking across to meet her. "Fair tidings, Raven," he says with a grin. "Are you collecting familiars? Or are we acquainted?" He gives the black feathered raven a once-over with those dark, dancing eyes.

Ravenstongue is nowhere near as fashionable as Telamon, although she certainly is wearing clothing comfortable for the occasion with a wool cloak and blue dress. She looks up at Telamon and flushes a little. "Oh! Hi Telamon. No, you've met him before," she says, looking at the black raven on her shoulder. "This is the Feathered One... Although he asked me to call him Grandfather."

"Hello," Grandfather says, in that deep voice that Telamon briefly heard at the summoning rite some time ago. He shakes his feathers out, presumably to look more presentable. "I'm afraid this isn't my physical form. I'm using the eyes, ears, and voice of a messenger. It is good to meet you again--Telamon, was it?"

Telamon inclines his head to Grandfather politely. "I imagine trying to fit a fae lord into a raven's body might be a bit... overcomplicated." He smiles brightly. "And yes, it's Telamon. It's good to see things are working out, all things considered." Taking a pull from his mug, he continues, "I'm afraid I've no snacks today, Pothy... though I'm sure Raven spoils you relentlesly anyways. So, how are things?"

"Very well," Ravenstongue says, smiling, her cheeks still flushed. "It's been nice to get closer to Grandfather and spend time with him. He and I are a lot alike in ways I didn't expect at all."

As if to sell this point, the Grandfather raven nuzzles against Ravenstongue's hair in an affectionate manner--perhaps the raven version of a headpat. Ravenstongue giggles a little before she looks back to Telamon. "I, umm, I really appreciate how you helped me back then. Especially how you were willing to protect me."

"Very noble indeed!" Grandfather interjects. "A young man of your caliber protecting my little one--were we in Quelynos, I would reward you."

Telamon spreads his hands. "No one knows what the future will bring, my lord. I have my own filial obligations, but they have taken me many places already. Who knows? You might hear my footstep in Quelynos someday."

He gives Raven a smile. "Didn't we agree that half-elves sometimes have to stick together? Friends are hard to find sometimes; I don't have so many that I'd abandon one." He looks rueful. "But I'll be honest, I would really like to devote more time to practice and study before I get caught up in something like that again."

The raven chuckles as Telamon addresses him as 'my lord'. "Please, young man. I am not like the others who concern themselves with titles and politics. Call me Grandfather. Being addressed as any variant of 'lord' makes my hair stand on end."

Ravenstongue looks thoughtful for a moment. "You did seem to get... lost in the magic during the rite. Is that what you mean? I was worried about you, but I was also pretty convinced I was seconds away from becoming bird food--sorry Grandfather."

Grandfather makes an indignant noise. "Really! That father of yours put such a sorry idea of me in your head. Not once, not ever, have I eaten a person."

Telamon chuckles. "As you will it, Grandfather. I am not so bold as to argue with a power from the First World. I'd like to not have to clear frogs from my bed every night."

He arches an eyebrow at Raven, sipping his coffee. "Truly? I... admit I was kind of hazy for a bit, though things focused up when Grandfather arrived. I figured it was just adrenaline and tunnel vision -- any warrior who's seen the wolf will tell you about doing things in a fight they just don't remember doing."

Ravenstongue nods. "Right, and... Well, like you said about half-elves sticking together, I was especially worried about you. I'd have been heartbroken if something happened."

Grandfather looks between Telamon and Ravenstongue for a moment. He then peers at Pothy. He clears his throat and says, "Pothy, fast and new friend of mine, I believe I've spotted some birdseed over yonder. A snack, if you w--"

Pothy pokes his head up from Ravenstongue's hand, his blue eyes dilating as he looks at Grandfather. "Snack? Snack!? SNACK!?" he says, in a frenzy. He takes off immediately from Ravenstongue's shoulder.

"Oh, well, that worked better than I thought. We will be back in a few moments! Enjoy yourselves!" Grandfather says as he takes to the skies following Pothy. This leaves Ravenstongue and Telamon... alone.

Ravenstongue coughs awkwardly into her fist. "Really! I don't know what he's thinking sometimes..."

Telamon looks as Pothy and Grandfather suddenly... abandon shoulders. He cocks his head, bemused -- he's unsurprised Grandfather can manipulate Pothy, it just seems kind of odd. Then he looks at Raven again, and gestures to a bench. "Why don't we sit down?"

Once they're both seated, Telamon continues, "I've... never subscribed to the notion of 'fair weather friendships'. I mean, there's that terrible hobgoblin joke about how friends help you move, but real friends help you move bodies, but there IS a modicum of truth in it."

Ravenstongue nods as she sits down with Telamon, although she flushes a little from their closeness. Her gaze focuses on... some grass! Yeah, that feels safe. "That joke makes sense to me, I suppose," she says, although she sighs soon after. "To be truthful with you, Telamon... You and some of the others I've met since coming to Alexandria are the first friends I've ever had besides Pothy. So... it's weird, sometimes. Having friends. And after all of this has happened, well, it's... nice. But also confusing?"

She shakes her head. "I don't know. You, in particular, I feel a real bond."

Telamon starts to say something, but then stops. Then he starts again, then stops, and just drains the mug in one pull before setting it aside. "Ah... I'm trying to figure how to put this best. I... honestly expected you already had some... bond to someone. I am bold, swaggering, perhaps a little cocky, but I'm not the sort to treat such things casually either. Does that make any sense? I... was avoiding letting any such feelings build because I was unsure if they'd be reciprocated."

"So you mean... You feel the same way?" Relief crosses Ravenstongue's face. "I'm glad! I just, everything feels..." She pauses for a moment and puts a hand to her chest, where her heart is. "I don't know. It kind of... feels like I'm dying? But in a good way? Do you get that, too?"

Then she follows it up with, in the most innocent way, "Is this what having a really good friend is like? Or..."

Telamon opens his mouth, and then... he reaches over and takes Raven's hand. "Raven," he says patiently, "are you familiar with what are termed 'affairs of the heart'? Romance, that sort of thing?" Holding her hand in his, he takes a deep breath. "It is... complex, as fraught with complication as a binding circle and far, far trickier to navigate -- though the benefits are worth it." His expression grows slightly wry. "Did no one tell you about this sort of thing when you got older?"

If there was a conveniently timed pin to be dropped right now, it'd be heard in the silence that Ravenstongue suddenly had, her face growing very red as Telamon took her hand. Finally, a little sound eeks out of her: "W-W-W-What?"

It takes her another moment to get her thoughts in order. She looks away from Telamon for a moment, looking down at her lap as though to spare herself some shame. "Is that why Grandfather's been teasing me? I didn't get it at all! Oh gosh, I must look... Really, really silly!" She sighs as she looks back up at Telamon. "If anyone ever taught me anything, it was my mother--and all I can remember from her on the subject was to not let strange men give me drinks! Curse the amnesia..."

Telamon laughs softly. "That old rogue. No wonder he slipped off. I imagine he's got plenty of insight into such matters, as long as he's been around." He looks at Raven with a smile. "Well, I'm a little strange, but I assure you I'm not the sort your mother might've warned about. So the question is, where do we go from here? I am, and shall be, your friend. The question is if you find there's... more that you seek."

Ravenstongue is still just as red as before. She looks off to the side again as Telamon talks to her, seeming to still be wrestling with her thoughts. Finally, she says, "Aryia even said she thought you and I were a couple... That also went over my head. Urgh!"

She looks back to Telamon, her violet eyes filled with embarrassment--but also with warmth."Well, now that you know I'm a complete idiot in this kind of thing... Comes with being a shut-in for most of your life, I guess... If you'd tolerate me and my immaturity in that regard, I..."

A small smile spreads on her face. "I'd like to try being more than friends, if that's what these feelings mean." Her hand squeezes his gently.

"If you can forgive me for believing a fair maiden like you had already been snapped up," Telamon replies with a grin. "I think that would suit us both." Deliberately, he raises Raven's hand to his lips, kissing the knuckles gallantly. "The world is vast, and we both have time; and if nothing else, it's clear Grandfather approves of me -- hopefully Pothy does as well." He strokes Raven's hand, looking into her eyes, before scooting over a little closer, letting her lean against him if she likes.

"Who did you even think I was with?" Ravenstongue asks, giggling a little as she does, in fact, lean on him, her face even more crimson from the kiss on her hand. "I didn't know I came off that way at all! I'm... Well, despite my specialization in charming magic, I am definitely not socially apt in that regard!"

At the mention of Pothy, Ravenstongue looks around for a moment and spots him yards away tearing at a bag of nuts. Grandfather looks up from supervising Pothy to see Ravenstongue cuddled up to Telamon and all of his feathers puff up as he looks incredibly pleased with himself. "Oh gods, he's not going to let me live this down, is he," Ravenstongue quietly murmurs.

Telamon grins. "I didn't know? I just honestly thought you were spoken for... maybe I should've asked? Or been a little more blunt about it?" He has the good grace to look embarrassed, though he seems less prone to blushing. "Gods, my father would be giving me so much grief for being so ham-handed." He shakes his head.

He follows Raven's gaze, and just laughs. "I knew it. I bet Grandfather had an eye on me since I showed up to help with the ritual. Ah well... it beats being chased by birds." He settles an arm around Raven's shoulders, giving her a squeeze.

A look of realization crosses Ravenstongue's face. "Oh gosh! Not any time soon, unless you want to, but this means I really have to meet your parents now, huh," she says. There's excitement in her voice, which is understandable considering her own parents. "If they're anything like you, I bet they're nice."

She narrows her eyes at Grandfather for a moment. If a raven could have a shit-eating grin... Ravenstongue shakes her head. "He said that a guy like you who was so protective of me was surely a good 'nesting partner'. Grandfather uses a lot of bird metaphors when he's feeling clever."

Telamon laughs softly. "I'm sure he does. It makes sense, with his association with birds." He smiles at Raven. "We don't have to meet them immediately or anything. We can take this as slow as you feel comfortable with. But they are... a lot less tense than your father was. I think mother and father sat down and talked about the differences between them -- and found a middle road to chase. Seems to have worked out well so far."

"Don't worry about my father or his wife," Ravenstongue says, smirking a little. "Not only do I never intend on seeing them again, Grandfather heard from me about everything they said and did to me and he apparently took care of the matter. He was really mad."

She sighs happily. "Honestly, I don't even know how to "go" from here. It's weird... you read so many books that have love and romance, and when it's actually there in front of your face..."

Before Ravenstongue can elaborate further, Grandfather and Pothy return. The ravens take a spot on the bench by Ravenstongue. "A fine evening indeed," Grandfather says, mirth dancing in his eyes almost as often as they do in Telamon's.

Pothy stares at the two half-elves cuddled together for a moment. "Snack," he says. Apparently he doesn't care much so long as snacks are provided.

Telamon gives Grandfather a severe look, but it doesn't stick. He just sighs. "Let it grow naturally, Grandfather. I don't want to rush, and neither does she. But to abuse the garden analogy, we're happy to plant and see what grows."

Telamon's eyes move to Pothy, and he chuckles, beckoning. "There will always be snacks, Pothy. I promise. You are dear to her, and she is dear to me."

"Young man, I am in no hurry either," Grandfather says with a chuckle. "I merely only wanted Cor'lana to connect with her feelings. I had to be taught about love thousands of years ago--and, well, I suppose you have that task now for her."

"More alike than I thought," Ravenstongue echoes her statement from earlier with a little laugh. She reaches into her dress pockets (the universal sign of a well-made dress) and fetches some dried berries. This gets Pothy's attention as he happily leaps into Telamon's lap--probably not what Telamon intended, but the bird seems to think that, because Raven and Telamon are close, this means he can, too. "He really likes berries," Raven says quietly to Telamon. "And peanuts. But anything is fine."

Telamon looks at Raven. "That reminds me, I meant to ask you. Do you want me to call you Ravenstongue, or Cor'lana? I know you've been the former for a long time, but there's something to be said about names." He seems unfazed by Pothy landing in his lap, and gently strokes the pale bird with his free hand. "I do know a fellow who's working on shipping assorted nuts into Alexandria. Maybe I should invest -- he looks to be making a decent profit from it." He grins at Pothy. "What do you think, Pothy? More nuts?"

"Snacks!" Pothy says firmly. It is clear that Pothy supports any investment regarding the import of more snacks into Alexandria. But maybe Telamon shouldn't take investment advice from a literal bird.

"I'm fine with Raven or Cor'lana. Or Lana, even--Mister Stjepan has been calling me Lana and I like it," Ravenstongue says happily. "A lot of my past is hazy, but since I learned about my name, I do remember my mom used to call me Lana."

"I named her, Grandfather says, his feathers puffed up in pride. "When her father handed her to me as a newborn babe, I asked if he had a name and, as you might expect of him now, he said he hadn't thought of one. I named her Cor'lana--"raven speaker". I suppose Cor'lana remembered the meaning of her name faintly after losing her memories regarding her mother and turned it into the name you know her by."

Telamon nods. "It makes sense. I'll... think on it. And of course, the lady will have final say." He chuckles. "It is... always healthier in the long run, and makes for a happier life." A rueful look crosses his face. "I've learned that lesson a few times in my travels with father. Sometimes it's a good idea to NOT be subtle in dealings." He scritches Pothy under the chin, lightly.

Pothy purrs happily as he's scratched under the chin. His tail wags up and down as he makes content raven noises. It appears that Telamon has truly been given Pothy's blessing at this exact moment.

"With an attitude like that, I think you two will be just fine," Grandfather says happily. He looks up to the sky and sighs. "I suppose I ought to return for the evening. I cannot keep this spellwork up forever--it is tiresome after an extended amount of time."

Ravenstongue nods. Apparently she's used to this arrangement. "I'll meet you outside of the city again tomorrow, Grandfather?" she asks.

Grandfather nods. "Tomorrow morning for you, little one. Enjoy your evening. Telamon, it was a pleasure to meet you again," he says, before taking off into the night sky.

Telamon nods. "Until again, Grandfather. And thank you." He deserves that much, at least. For his... well, nudging. As the dark raven flies off into the night, Telamon looks at Ravenstongue. "So..." he says, with a twinkle. "Could I interest you in dinner, or a nightcap? I think we both have a lot to talk about." He looks to Pothy. "Yes, you'll be included, Pothy."

"Dinner sounds nice," Ravenstongue agrees, smiling. Pothy apparently agrees, nodding vigorously and looking up at Telamon with shining blue eyes. The quickest way to Pothy's heart is to offer him food, and by the gods, Telamon is certainly doing it.

OOC

<OOC> Telamon says, "I am going to have words with her father AND with Grandfather. And anyone else who had a hand in her upbringing. 'DID YOU NOT TEACH HER ABOUT ROMANCE YOU DONUTS?!'"

<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Oh, that's the thing. Grandfather has been teasing her. She's just DENSE. XD"