Some minutes later, D'hein stepped back into his office, dripping wet. The bauble in his pocket had ceased to flicker, and he was worried that the water had damaged or even ruined it. This worry read across his face as a static expression, as he walked through the office to the empty milk bar once more.
Glancing up as D'hein returned sooner than Illira had expected, she watched as he crossed the room back over to the milk bar, "It hasn't magically refilled itself. You can stop checking anytime."
The man pulls a towel from one of the cupboards and begins to dry his ears with obsessive detail, inside and out. Just his ears for now. "I'll have to enchant it so it does in the future, in case of such travesties as this one. I am honestly only just becoming aware of how long i was gone. Had I known, I'd have arranged for the bar to be tended to."
Illira raised a thick brow, her steely eyes squinting curiously at the soaked Mito'te. I would greatly apreciate it if you would refrain from restocking the milk bar while I have to continue sharing in your company." She stared for a few moments more, before letting it out heavy breath, "I'll try to refrain from asking why you're suddenly so wet. I'll just assume that your conversation with Sah'ot went just as expected. Now... You wanted to talk with me? For your sake I hope its a better one than you just came from."
"Talks take two people, and Sah'ot only scrounges up enough reason and heart to count as one on the best of days, which this was not." D'hein said, continuing to clean his very wet ears and giving no attention to his very wet everything else, as he walked back over towards Illira. "If it's you, it'll be better, as even on your very worst of days you at least a person. And as you are an ex-Brass Blade, and an Elezen of Ul'dah besides, you've just received one of the highest compliments I'm like ever to give to one of your kind."
"I suppose I should feel honored. But its you. So I don't," Illira responds dryly. "Now. You wanted something from me? Don't keep me in suspense now."
Stepping up besides the desk, D'hein let the towel lay limp over his head and felt around inside his pockets. "Don't give in to stress and dismay. As pressing and, indeed, urgent and all-important as this matter is, it isn't one to be greatly bothered over." He pulled another one of the makeshift amulets from a pocket. It was wet, but still flickering, this one a bit larger and more irregular than the one that he had offered to Sah'ot.
He took a corner of the towel and dried the item off. "My period of absence was longer than anticipate, so I unfortunately missed the holiday. Leave it to Sah'ot to sap all the fun and energy out of tradition, but what's to be expected from an insomniac? I should have known." He placed the item on the desk in front of Illira. "Happy Starlight Festival, or whatever it's called."
Simply squinting down at the amulet in D'hein's palm, Ilira's response is delayed and cautious, "And... Why are you giving this to me, exactly? You've obviously singled out Sah'ot and myself for some reason as you didn't ask to speak with Ildur concerning these... gifts."
Leaving the thing in front of her, D'hein replied tiredly, "Ildur's gift is more... practical. Considering his origins, I doubt he would find such a gaudy souvenir to be a thing of any value."
Illira frowns down at the thing set down in front of her, "So you believe that Sah'ot and I value such things? Obviously, you have misjudged Sah'ot at least, considering your state of dryness."
Exhaling a chuckle, one of his ears skewed towards the door as if listening for the woman. "It's a mistake I intend to make again. As much as I enjoy her antagonism, I also like to give her the occasional opportunity to take up a less villainous mantle. And while it may not look it, I do believe I'm wearing her down. She smiled, after all!" He meandered about the desk, speaking with energy that his body language did not maintain, "To entertain is to be appreciated, after all."
"I doubt that, especially if your the butt of the joke as you so often are," Illira speculates. "Now, was that really all you wanted? I think you need to get your priorities straightened out. This was not near as urgent as you implied. In fact, I'm pretty sure that it falls right down at the bottom of the list of important matters to attend to. Especially considering the longivity of your... disappearance. I hope that you'll take no offense that I haven't, nor have any plans to repicorate this... gift giving."
"Hm," D'hein exhaled a long, thoughtful syllable, letting his head fall askew. The digits of his right hand moved without sense or rhythm at his side. "I should think... Yes, I should think you would appreciate tradition more than anyone here. Society without such festivals and gestures is hollow and unromantic, scarcely worth saving and with little chance of enduring for more than a few minutes before cracking like a poorly tempered metal, too rigid and dry. No, Illira," he turned, favoring her with a smile, "With all your stoicism and arid demeanor, I think you appreciate this more than you let on, but I'll permit the illusion and let your fragile heart melt in secret, its veil undisturbed."
Illira looks up at D'hein letting out a brief laugh, "So you'd thought I would swoon at your gesture then? So sorry to disappoint."
D'hein Tia took a small, lazy bow, "To entertain is to be appreciated. Also, it might sate your pragmatism to know that my generosity does not end at Garlean souvenirs. A man of my means would be shamed not to provide something of greater worth."
Eyebrows raising, Illira dryly asks, "There's more? Please. I don't know if my fragile heart can take anymore."
"I might believe you if you were a more fragile maiden, but you're too intimidating to deceive me. Now, though!" D'hein opened his robe to reveal that he was wearing a frilled shirt with a vest over the top, decorated with silver buttons and chains as though he had intended all along to strip off his outtermost layer. If anything, the inner layer is more impressive than the sopping robe he tossed aside now.
Taking the towel from his neck and drying off his face, he said, "You'll have to endure suspense. My own pragmatic streak would delay further gifts until we've got some work done. Ul'dah doesn't just get cleaner on its own, after all."
"No, it won't. And now that you're frivlolity is over we can resume more useful things, like catching you up. Where did you wish to start? I've spent most of the morning writing petitions on behalf of local producers to cease trade with the beast tribes, using the angle that it doesn't support local jobs," Illira seemed quite eager to put discussion of gifts behind her.
"Let's begin with my own personal comission," D'hein said, very seriously though his smile lingered upon his face. "I noticed immediately upon my return that Antimony's investigation had not been completed."
Illira had been reaching for a labeled folder, when D'hein made his request. She let her hand's progress simply pause, Turning her head back to him, "Are you serious right now? As much as I hate that dirtbag Lamandu we have bigger fish to fry right now. Wait." She pulls back her hand. "Of course you want to know. Your personal business always trumps that of the greater good now, doesn't it?" She sneers ever so subtlely at that.
"And when my personal business is the greater good, what harm does it do?" He spoke, amused as if proposing a puzzle. "I should think that after your earlier complaints regarding cooperation with the Syndicate, you'd appreciate the chance to get on their bad side a little bit."
"Yes, but that does not mean that I am as blind as you when it comes to prioritization. I've been cleaning up the mess that you left as a result of leaving for several weeks. Antimony's investigation needs to continue, but we at present don't have someone handy to continue it on her behalf. Even if I was free to pick it up, I cannot. And you cannot," states Illira.
"You draw a hard line," D'hein said, smiling wider, and then spread his arms, "Well, it is your office for the day, and I a guest. We will work according to your schedule, therefore, but I insist on at least an overview of Antimony's investigation before the day is out."
"Hmm. We can go over the research later if you wish," Illira reaches over again to fetch the folder setting it in front of D'hein. Lets start off with riling the local businesses."
D'hein nodded, "As you will."
Glancing up as D'hein returned sooner than Illira had expected, she watched as he crossed the room back over to the milk bar, "It hasn't magically refilled itself. You can stop checking anytime."
The man pulls a towel from one of the cupboards and begins to dry his ears with obsessive detail, inside and out. Just his ears for now. "I'll have to enchant it so it does in the future, in case of such travesties as this one. I am honestly only just becoming aware of how long i was gone. Had I known, I'd have arranged for the bar to be tended to."
Illira raised a thick brow, her steely eyes squinting curiously at the soaked Mito'te. I would greatly apreciate it if you would refrain from restocking the milk bar while I have to continue sharing in your company." She stared for a few moments more, before letting it out heavy breath, "I'll try to refrain from asking why you're suddenly so wet. I'll just assume that your conversation with Sah'ot went just as expected. Now... You wanted to talk with me? For your sake I hope its a better one than you just came from."
"Talks take two people, and Sah'ot only scrounges up enough reason and heart to count as one on the best of days, which this was not." D'hein said, continuing to clean his very wet ears and giving no attention to his very wet everything else, as he walked back over towards Illira. "If it's you, it'll be better, as even on your very worst of days you at least a person. And as you are an ex-Brass Blade, and an Elezen of Ul'dah besides, you've just received one of the highest compliments I'm like ever to give to one of your kind."
"I suppose I should feel honored. But its you. So I don't," Illira responds dryly. "Now. You wanted something from me? Don't keep me in suspense now."
Stepping up besides the desk, D'hein let the towel lay limp over his head and felt around inside his pockets. "Don't give in to stress and dismay. As pressing and, indeed, urgent and all-important as this matter is, it isn't one to be greatly bothered over." He pulled another one of the makeshift amulets from a pocket. It was wet, but still flickering, this one a bit larger and more irregular than the one that he had offered to Sah'ot.
He took a corner of the towel and dried the item off. "My period of absence was longer than anticipate, so I unfortunately missed the holiday. Leave it to Sah'ot to sap all the fun and energy out of tradition, but what's to be expected from an insomniac? I should have known." He placed the item on the desk in front of Illira. "Happy Starlight Festival, or whatever it's called."
Simply squinting down at the amulet in D'hein's palm, Ilira's response is delayed and cautious, "And... Why are you giving this to me, exactly? You've obviously singled out Sah'ot and myself for some reason as you didn't ask to speak with Ildur concerning these... gifts."
Leaving the thing in front of her, D'hein replied tiredly, "Ildur's gift is more... practical. Considering his origins, I doubt he would find such a gaudy souvenir to be a thing of any value."
Illira frowns down at the thing set down in front of her, "So you believe that Sah'ot and I value such things? Obviously, you have misjudged Sah'ot at least, considering your state of dryness."
Exhaling a chuckle, one of his ears skewed towards the door as if listening for the woman. "It's a mistake I intend to make again. As much as I enjoy her antagonism, I also like to give her the occasional opportunity to take up a less villainous mantle. And while it may not look it, I do believe I'm wearing her down. She smiled, after all!" He meandered about the desk, speaking with energy that his body language did not maintain, "To entertain is to be appreciated, after all."
"I doubt that, especially if your the butt of the joke as you so often are," Illira speculates. "Now, was that really all you wanted? I think you need to get your priorities straightened out. This was not near as urgent as you implied. In fact, I'm pretty sure that it falls right down at the bottom of the list of important matters to attend to. Especially considering the longivity of your... disappearance. I hope that you'll take no offense that I haven't, nor have any plans to repicorate this... gift giving."
"Hm," D'hein exhaled a long, thoughtful syllable, letting his head fall askew. The digits of his right hand moved without sense or rhythm at his side. "I should think... Yes, I should think you would appreciate tradition more than anyone here. Society without such festivals and gestures is hollow and unromantic, scarcely worth saving and with little chance of enduring for more than a few minutes before cracking like a poorly tempered metal, too rigid and dry. No, Illira," he turned, favoring her with a smile, "With all your stoicism and arid demeanor, I think you appreciate this more than you let on, but I'll permit the illusion and let your fragile heart melt in secret, its veil undisturbed."
Illira looks up at D'hein letting out a brief laugh, "So you'd thought I would swoon at your gesture then? So sorry to disappoint."
D'hein Tia took a small, lazy bow, "To entertain is to be appreciated. Also, it might sate your pragmatism to know that my generosity does not end at Garlean souvenirs. A man of my means would be shamed not to provide something of greater worth."
Eyebrows raising, Illira dryly asks, "There's more? Please. I don't know if my fragile heart can take anymore."
"I might believe you if you were a more fragile maiden, but you're too intimidating to deceive me. Now, though!" D'hein opened his robe to reveal that he was wearing a frilled shirt with a vest over the top, decorated with silver buttons and chains as though he had intended all along to strip off his outtermost layer. If anything, the inner layer is more impressive than the sopping robe he tossed aside now.
Taking the towel from his neck and drying off his face, he said, "You'll have to endure suspense. My own pragmatic streak would delay further gifts until we've got some work done. Ul'dah doesn't just get cleaner on its own, after all."
"No, it won't. And now that you're frivlolity is over we can resume more useful things, like catching you up. Where did you wish to start? I've spent most of the morning writing petitions on behalf of local producers to cease trade with the beast tribes, using the angle that it doesn't support local jobs," Illira seemed quite eager to put discussion of gifts behind her.
"Let's begin with my own personal comission," D'hein said, very seriously though his smile lingered upon his face. "I noticed immediately upon my return that Antimony's investigation had not been completed."
Illira had been reaching for a labeled folder, when D'hein made his request. She let her hand's progress simply pause, Turning her head back to him, "Are you serious right now? As much as I hate that dirtbag Lamandu we have bigger fish to fry right now. Wait." She pulls back her hand. "Of course you want to know. Your personal business always trumps that of the greater good now, doesn't it?" She sneers ever so subtlely at that.
"And when my personal business is the greater good, what harm does it do?" He spoke, amused as if proposing a puzzle. "I should think that after your earlier complaints regarding cooperation with the Syndicate, you'd appreciate the chance to get on their bad side a little bit."
"Yes, but that does not mean that I am as blind as you when it comes to prioritization. I've been cleaning up the mess that you left as a result of leaving for several weeks. Antimony's investigation needs to continue, but we at present don't have someone handy to continue it on her behalf. Even if I was free to pick it up, I cannot. And you cannot," states Illira.
"You draw a hard line," D'hein said, smiling wider, and then spread his arms, "Well, it is your office for the day, and I a guest. We will work according to your schedule, therefore, but I insist on at least an overview of Antimony's investigation before the day is out."
"Hmm. We can go over the research later if you wish," Illira reaches over again to fetch the folder setting it in front of D'hein. Lets start off with riling the local businesses."
D'hein nodded, "As you will."
![[Image: 7gJtlcb.png]](http://i.imgur.com/7gJtlcb.png)
