...OF THE ESTEEMED LORD ESSEK THELYSS (UN: SHADOWHAND), FIRST OF THEIR NAME, HAILING FROM THE REALM OF CRITICAL ROLE, RESIDING, AT PRESENT, IN THE GRAND CRESENT. SINGLE.
He can understand that concern as well. But if he can change this much in a matter of months, he can imagine Ducky getting dragged into similar circumstances with her own better person after years.
"Indeed, there's something lonely about it all, is there not? Easy to get swept up in the comradery and trust those better than us offer," it doesn't feel deserved, maybe even something used against them at first, but then it changes and it's striking.
From that comment, Ducky intuits Essek didn't have a close partner in his work, the way she'd had Mimley. A mirror tilted to another angle, but perhaps similar means.
"I'm not the person she knows yet, and perhaps I never will be, here. This place might require me to keep my sharpest edges. To work using the twisted means she always hated."
"This place I believe needs a mix of right and wrong to overcome, subterfuge and standing upright. Perhaps you are assuming the worst of yourself because you are finding fault in comparison."
He gives her a long look as they start to walk through the gardens again, offering her a plucked hydrangea that is of a more muted purple. "Do not think you need to be brightly colored to be appreciated."
He thinks on it for a long moment, breathing in the floral scents that dance on the air around them. They are sun warm and soft, unlike anything back in Rosohna or the Biting North.
"Not particularly, but I do not believe anything is impossible. Perhaps we need to think from outside ourselves more.."
Maybe ask one of the other gods when they show for help. Pheme is clearly not the only one, she couldn't even stop the man child of a god that flooded them.
"Perhaps. And there's still plenty of unknowns and information to gather, here." And that is what she's good for, isn't it? "There's a thought I've had about how Thumos is a power source, and we need more of it to make any moves."
Casting the most subtle of glances around, he sees that his own servant is a modest distance away, out of ear shot but not eyesight, no one else seems close enough to listen in. He doesn't trust the servants, they most obviously work for Pheme.
With a lowered voice, "And yet everything here costs it, she keeps our reserves crippled by taxing us for basic living, even my magic costs thumos. We will need great quantities to overcome the basic need of it."
“Speaking of business, I plan to open one, with the support of a male sponsor to lend my work legitimacy. Nothing too fancy, but something that will be of use to both locals and our sort.”
A central location for her to gather the gossip from.
“The highest quality tallow candles, soaps and shoe polish I can produce. The fort I moved into had sufficient space for a proper still room, and I’ve begun working on recipes for things people might need.”
Except for, you know, wizards who have prestidigitation and light spells.
“I may even do boot care personally. It was one of my most relaxing chores when working for Sir Mimley.”
"Then count me in as a customer for your soaps and polishes, unfortunately candles are unnecessary for myself as I have the keen eyes of my people," he waves his hand as if it's something obvious.
He was now thinking over what he might have in the means of skill that would be marketable for thumos.
"I'll remember that, about your eyes." Look, her world lacks drow; she hadn't fully parsed all the ways he was different, beyond the magic thing in general.
"But I'll set aside some of my best soaps for you, certainly. I'm trying to find the perfect recipe for lavender scented bars."
"Excellent, you can already count me as a loyal customer, Ms. Ducky."
He does pause and think about if he should explain his eyes further and really, there are not many he feels as comfortable with as he does Ducky.
"My people once lived underground, because of this, our vision in the dark is very keen, but.. we are maladjusted to the sun," he jostles his parasol very carefully. Even in a trees shade he is still using the object to cast himself in a deeper shade.
"Neither, though the flowers are beautiful. I know humans like their sunlight and the protection it offers," it is not strange to feel safer when you can see because it is daylight. He did this more for her comfort than his own, afterall she is the one feeling vulnerable due to her circumstances and being open with him.
"Besides, I can make due with the shade of the parasol. It is a boon they are in fashion here, else I might stick out."
"In this, I may not be a typical human. I've always made my home in the shadows and secret places, Essek. I'm most comfortable when I'm hidden, a fault of my nature."
Or of nurture, but she doesn't quite feel ready to tell Essek about her Uncle Salazar and Family Desisto.
"Hardly a fault, and are you not well hidden now in plain sight?" He carefully tilts his head, because he has noticed how she dresses down and inconspicuously, how she makes herself forgettable next to others.
It is easy to be forgettable next to him, especially when it is so easy to see him in the daylight.
He gives her a smirk, "Perhaps, perhaps not." Oh, he does. She reminds him of some of the people he worked with before, though he doesn't say much of it at this moment. He's not about to lay out all his cards to her.
"You are far too intelligent not to have some ideas." But she won't push him for them. Hell, if he hunts down Crabb, he could get parts of the story that way--perhaps even the parts Ducky doesn't know yet.
A confident smile crosses his lips, no humble modesty at all when it comes to his intelligence, "I cannot deny that, nor that you must also have some ideas in regards to myself, but," he can feel the heavy gaze of his maid on his back.
"I think we have spent far too much time alone for my servant's liking."
"It's been a pleasure as always, Miss Ducky," be nods his head respectfully. He does very much enjoy her company and is glad he could be helpful in some way.
"Enjoy the rest of your day," and with that he steps away and keeps to the shade as he finds his way on his path home.
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"Indeed, there's something lonely about it all, is there not? Easy to get swept up in the comradery and trust those better than us offer," it doesn't feel deserved, maybe even something used against them at first, but then it changes and it's striking.
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"I'm not the person she knows yet, and perhaps I never will be, here. This place might require me to keep my sharpest edges. To work using the twisted means she always hated."
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He gives her a long look as they start to walk through the gardens again, offering her a plucked hydrangea that is of a more muted purple. "Do not think you need to be brightly colored to be appreciated."
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"Do you think overcoming a goddess is a goal that is possible to achieve?"
It's a slight subject change, but a valuable one. Her world doesn't have gods who take an active hand in matters.
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"Not particularly, but I do not believe anything is impossible. Perhaps we need to think from outside ourselves more.."
Maybe ask one of the other gods when they show for help. Pheme is clearly not the only one, she couldn't even stop the man child of a god that flooded them.
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With a lowered voice, "And yet everything here costs it, she keeps our reserves crippled by taxing us for basic living, even my magic costs thumos. We will need great quantities to overcome the basic need of it."
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She shakes her head slightly.
“Good for them. We need people like that aligned with us.”
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"Yes, if we can also generate business among ourselves more, we might be able to amass more instead of it going towards the locals and our kind lady."
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A central location for her to gather the gossip from.
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He would need to accumulate thumos to afford anything, but he would nonetheless be happy to to support their local accumulation.
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Except for, you know, wizards who have prestidigitation and light spells.
“I may even do boot care personally. It was one of my most relaxing chores when working for Sir Mimley.”
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He was now thinking over what he might have in the means of skill that would be marketable for thumos.
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"But I'll set aside some of my best soaps for you, certainly. I'm trying to find the perfect recipe for lavender scented bars."
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He does pause and think about if he should explain his eyes further and really, there are not many he feels as comfortable with as he does Ducky.
"My people once lived underground, because of this, our vision in the dark is very keen, but.. we are maladjusted to the sun," he jostles his parasol very carefully. Even in a trees shade he is still using the object to cast himself in a deeper shade.
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She appreciates that he takes the time to explain; it's a mark of kindness.
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"Besides, I can make due with the shade of the parasol. It is a boon they are in fashion here, else I might stick out."
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Or of nurture, but she doesn't quite feel ready to tell Essek about her Uncle Salazar and Family Desisto.
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It is easy to be forgettable next to him, especially when it is so easy to see him in the daylight.
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"I think we have spent far too much time alone for my servant's liking."
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She means that. He's been a balm to her frayed nerves.
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"Enjoy the rest of your day," and with that he steps away and keeps to the shade as he finds his way on his path home.