westfallcorndog | Annarchy and Ageswaps (For Viatorus)

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Annarchy and Ageswaps (For Viatorus)

"Are there any mages around?" a young girl shouts. Her voice already sounds hoarse; presumably she's been at this for a while now as she walks along the sidewalks of the Nexus. She's found herself at the edge of the crowded Downtown district where highrises and quirky restaurants are soon to give way to The Underbelly. At a loss for where she is or where she ought to be going, she simply goes. If she walks in a straight line long enough she's sure to find someone who'll help her. Right?

"I need a mage's help! Anybody?" she tries again. She looks to be about twelve with dusty blonde hair, tanned skin, large front teeth, and a look of utter confusion on her face. She wears a red plaid shirt rolled up to the elbows and a pair of canvas shorts stained and smudged long ago by dirt and grass. Her arms are wrapped around her tightly and she looks in all directions like a person expecting to be ambushed.

"I– I can tip?" she tries, though not too loudly. Who knows what'll happen if she announces that she has money in the city?

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Lyall slinks back to his previous seat at another table, happy to be back in his preferred role. No sooner has he settled then he's pulling out his phone to answer a call. Viatorus, meanwhile, smiles gently at Harrowheart, glad to see his friend perk up, even a little. It doesn't seem right to see him distant or disheartened.

At Anna's question he laughs before he can help himself. He shakes his head and catches a waiter's attention. "Three hot chocolates and three slices of black forest gateau please." The multi-limbed creature makes a noise (apparently in the affirmative) and wobbles off again. It's only then that he returns to the question asked of him. "I'm a scholar, not a warmage. We met here, actually." His words are accompanied by a light, nostalgic hum and then he tips his head to Anna. "He's always a terribly good friend to me."

"A scholar?" she asks, the surprise at his answer heavy in her tone. She looks between this older man and her brother with a touch of amusement, which (along with more mentions of cake) brings a small and hopeful smile to Harrowheart's face. Perhaps things are finally calming down?

"Good!" she says, laughing lightly. "You need more friends with a little knowledge. Maybe some of it'll rub off on you!"

Harrow playfully nudges her shoulder and laughs quietly. "Hey! Rude!" He's still smiling, though. "Normally it's the other way around, you know? I'm the older one who gets to rub off on him."

Anna's eyebrows rise at that news and realization. Her lips part slightly and she looks to Viatorus in a new light. She begins to smile, starts to ask a question with a little light in her eyes, but her brother, who hadn't noticed, slams his palms on the table and steals her thunder.

"Old V!" he shouts too loudly and too eagerly. "Are you just Regular V who's old, or do you know the future? You gotta tell us stuff!"

Anna lets out a hushed gasp. It wasn't the question she was going to ask, but it's an intriguing one nonetheless. She folds her hands manneredly on her lap and watches Viatorus expectantly. "Do things get better, Mister Durant?" she asks quietly, which leaves her brother nodding, his hair bobbing with the motions of his head.

"Tell us everything!" he asks with a sparkle of hope in his dark brown eyes.

Edited 2016-08-24 01:40 (UTC)

Playful jabs and laughter brings a wide smile to Viatorus' face. It strikes a chord with him, a brother and sister getting along, which shouldn't be surprising. Their energy is surprisingly difficult to keep up with, which... he supposes is due to his age. Probably.

When they do finally pause it's in anticipation of an answer that... he's not sure will be welcome. He hesitates, gaping and then humming as he chooses his answer.

"Yes, Viatorus, tell us everything," repeats a familiar, far sterner voice. How Isidor managed to sneak up on him is a mystery, but the mage feels his face go bright red as he turns around to spot his sister. Seeing him now, her head jerks back and her features spread out in surprise.

Viatorus, wincing at the initial reaction, shuffles around to face her without twisting. "Um. Hello Isidor."

A shadow looms. Isidor. Harrowheart recognizes that voice immediately and his first reaction is to hide. His shoulders rise and he pops up his collar like a turtle protected by its shell. He slides down into his chair as his face goes pallid. Anna, of course, notices this. He's afraid? Of?...

Anna scoots closer to her brother. Her instinct is to put a hand on his leg and mimic his poor attempts at hiding by sliding down her chair with him.

"Who is this?" she whispers to him.

He doesn't answer. Instead his cheeks flush darkly. He tries to stammer something out but his mouth is full of his own dry tongue. And then in an instant he's making a massive noise as he tries to clamor out of his seat.

"I- I- I go-uuaugh-g-gotta go, BYE!" He doesn't get far before Anna reaches out and grabs him by the back of his shirt.

"Don't leave me!" Anna shouts. "You coward, Harrow!"

The unexpected sight of her much aged brother distracts Isidor entirely from whatever else is around her, and whoever else. That spell is broken the moment Harrowheart makes a sudden move, however. Her gaze instantly snaps to him, subconsciously taking up a more steady stance. Children? Harrow? As in...? And an old Viatorus. Give her a minute to process this.

"What's going on here?" She asks seriously, rounding on Viatorus again.

"Doctor Hill." It's a simple explanation and one that has Isidor narrowing her eyes and tipping up her chin. He can guess what she's going to say, and decides to jump to the defensive. "He works differently to us, Isidor. It's... not really fair to hold him to our standards. We don't-"

She shuts her eyes and holds up a hand that silences him instantly. "I know. You've told me a thousand times before. That doesn't make it any less dangerous, or make me like it any more." Viatorus sags at that, but Isidor is already moving on. Her eyes flick to the two children, stopping to eye them both, but especially the boy. "New friends or old?"

Anna wastes no time in speaking. "Doctor Hill is good!" She insists in the same fervent way in which she insults her brother. "He listened to me. He's been nicer to me than most people."

She watches as Harrow sits down and proceeds to stare a hole into the table. Since it seems like her brother hasn't got anything to say she'll continue bearing the burden alone.

"He's putting us through something called therapy, me and my brother. It's to help him see things my way." She extends her hand to this very serious woman, smiles, and introduces herself. "I'm a new friend, Anna Weatherhill. My brother is an old friend. You know Harrowheart? He tells people his name is Harrowheart, anyway, because the name Mom gave him isn't good enough anymore."

His eyebrows knit together, his fingers clench, but he stays silent.

Edited (Tidied up last paragraph) 2016-08-24 21:45 (UTC)

Her eyes light up, wide and then narrow in intrigued amusement when Harrowheart is pointed out. Then the introductions are worked through with no shred of condescension. It's an echo of her own childhood that she remains entirely formal while she takes Anna's hand and gives it a firm shake. "My name is Isidor Durant. It's nice to meet you, miss Weatherhill." When she takes her hand back, she folds both of hers behind her back, restraining the smile pulling at the corner of her mouth. "I know Harrowheart. But I suppose he would be mister Weatherhill."

"Isidor." The low voice is gentle but commanding, and even though the reproachful look Viatorus gives his sister is familiar, it's more serious. More tired. She returns his expression with her own one, confusion and a half-turn of her head. Instead of explaining, or asking what she's puzzled over, he gestures to the table. "Would you like to join us, then? We're having hot chocolate and cake."

The second before she actually accepts his offer is more a statement of her displeasure than any hesitation. She sits next to her brother and folds her arms. "Are you babysitting them?"

Anna sees that look in Isidor's eye. She can work with this, yes. Yes she can. After Isidor takes her seat she folds her hands atop the table and sits up very straight.

Harrow winces when Isidor calls him 'Mister Weatherhill.' His cheeks are still hot, and when he speaks his voice is a raw-throated whisper. "Please call me Harrowheart," he asks as humbly as he can.

"We aren't being babysat," Anna says quickly after. Let's all move past what Mr. Weatherhill has to say. "Normally we're thirty. My brother says Mr.Durant is normally younger. That makes you the proper age, right?" Her accent isn't as pronounced as her brother's, whose own seems to be lightened by the change in his age.

"Are you a scholar too? A mage, like your brother? You look like how I imagine a Dalaran enchantress would look. Like a high elf, without the ears. Maybe it's the eyebrows."

"She doesn't know what an elf looks like," Harrow barely whispers.

This seems to surprise Anna, who looks to Isidor to see her reaction. How could a person not know what an elf looks like?

"I can make an educated guess," Isidor is quick to respond, perhaps a touch hotly. "I am a mage, but I'm not a scholar." Her eyes swivel to Viatorus and then off him just as quickly, folding her hands on lap. "I'm Viatorus' patron." A smile tugs at her lips. "A bit like his babysitter."

"I'm not that difficult," Viatorus protests. The sudden challenging expression and deep breath as Isidor prepares to launch into a spiel gets him to hastily recant. "Well, not overly so."

He's saved by the waiter who arrives with three of the most elegant hot chocolates ever seen, carefully spread cream and chocolate shavings on top, and three generous slices of gateaux.

Anna takes her hot chocolate gladly. She looks at it, considers how well designed it is, and then takes her first sip. And she smiles! "This is really good!" she says before her second sip. She turns her smile to her brother, but he's staring at his food like he doesn't know what to do with it. Her smile falters for a second, replaced by an unfortunate and uncomfortable wince.

"My brother used to be what you are, then, Ms. Durant," she says, then matter-of-factly takes another sip of her drink. "Until he decided he didn't want to be part of our family anymore."

Harrow's lips purse and his eyebrows lower. He slowly turns his head toward his sister. Through his teeth, still quiet, his voice wavering, he hisses, "Don't lie to my friends. I never said I didn't wanna be part of the family."

Anna raises her eyebrows and eyes her brother up and down. "Oh? Well, you left us, didn't you? You left me. Why would someone leave their family unless they didn't want to be part of it anymore?"

Harrow blinks hard and fast. The edges of his eyes are turning red and suddenly catching the light. He opens his mouth, tries to speak, but his voice cracks and he turns away.

Satisfied, Anna returns her attention to Viatorus and Isidor. His silence speaks for itself, doesn't it? She takes another sip of her drink.

Anna's approval gets a beam from Viatorus, one with a touch of pride in it. Until he follows her gaze to Harrowheart sitting so glumly. He's just about to say something, to try and cheer him up when Anna speaks up. As the siblings back and forth between each other, both Durants look surprised, even a little concerned.

Of the two, Isidor is the quickest to compose herself again, smoothing out her features before she speaks. "That must have been hard," she says softly, her eyes lingering on Harrowheart and then they turn to Anna. "What would make you leave your family?"

The sympathy is taken with a humble aversion of her eyes, but then that question... Anna does a quick doubletake like she legitimately doesn't understand. Harrow does, though. He looks up again, hesitant and yet hopeful. Is he being stood up for?

Anna looks down at her cup in thought. She turns it in a small circle and slowly knits her eyebrows.

"I think it would be easy for me to leave my family," she says lowly. "They don't love me very much."

Harrow tries, "They do..."

"They don't understand me," she continues. "They make me stay at home. They don't trust me. They call me names when they think I'm not listening. I think they'd all be happier if I were gone, but they won't let me go."

Harrow tries to make eye contact with either of the Durants and shakes his head. He doesn't see it that way, clearly, but Anna certainly does.

Edited 2016-08-26 02:46 (UTC)

Viatorus smiles under his beard and ducks his head. The soft breath that accompanies this small gesture catches Isidor's attention and she looks to him. Realising he's been caught out, the scholar takes a breath that hitches, and then he looks to Anna to answer.

"I have cousins who call me names," he tells her. "The rest of my family..." His eyes roam to linger over Isidor and then settle on the two children again. "They don't think well of me. They never have."

Isidor sits up. "Viatorus!"

This time he does meet her gaze and holds it. "What?" She falters. "They never have. I've always known I was a disappointment, really." Fidgeting fingers betray his nerves, but he keeps his expression steady apart from the flickering of his smile as he turns from his stunned sister to Anna again. "Family is a special bond. An irreplaceable one. My family doesn't really understand me, or trust me, but... they care about me. I wouldn't disappoint them so much if they didn't care. And I'm certain that I would miss them very much if I had to leave them."

Harrow winces sympathetically at what Viatorus has to say. Suddenly his cake has become very interesting. He pokes at it with his fork, but it doesn't feel right to take a bite at a time like this.

Anna, though, she watches closely. What Isidor does and the way she reacts is of special interest to her. She watches the way Isidor tries to deflect, then falls quiet. Then she listens to what Viatorus has to say. His words are well-spoken and wise. They soften Anna's tenseness, a stiffness of the shoulders that she hadn't realized she was holding.

"Viatorus is right." It's Harrow, whispering just for Anna but still loud enough to be heard across the table. "We do love you. We want good things for you. We want..."

Anna focuses hard on her drink now. Harrow continues to wince. He glances to Isidor and Viatorus, apologetic and anxious, and then it's back to his sister. He puts a hand on her shoulder and tries to swallow, but his mouth is so dry.

"Anna... We want you to get better. I want you to have what I have now. I want you to have this place, and my friends. That's why I brought you here. That's why I introduced you to them."

Now that catches Anna's attention. She looks up from her drink and into her brother's familiar and yet foreign eyes. "You want... You want me to be here with you?..."

Harrow smiles sadly at her. "I do. I want you to be a part of my life. I wanna be a part of your life again."

Anna's face trembles. She holds her mug in both hands. "I thought... I thought you wanted to show this place off and then leave me again! I thought you wanted to rub it all in! Your secret life that you lived without me! I... I!..."

Now she turns to look at Isidor and Viatorus, her face twisted up in shame and bordering on tears. Suddenly she wails, "I've been a bitch all day for no reason!"

Harrow immediately leans over and wraps his arms around her shoulders to calm her down. She doesn't hug him back but watches the other two at the table as she fights back her tears.

"I am Crazy Anna," she croaks sadly.

Harrow shakes his head fervently. "You're not," he insists.

"I am," she repeats. But something has changed in her voice this time. Less self-pity, less sadness. She's quiet, resigned, and yet determined. "I am Crazy Anna... And I need to get better. And now all your friends hate me..."

Harrow laughs, then quickly sits back and covers his mouth. Anna watches him with a look of betrayal until he explains, "I made Viatorus and Isidor hate me when they first met me. Now they're some of my best friends." Laughing again he nods toward Isidor and adds, "Actually, I think Isidor still hates me. But that's not the point. The point is that people can change, right? And other people can accept that?"

Both of them look to Isidor and Viatorus, Harrow with wide eyes that urge them to agree, Anna with wary curiosity.

Edited (Changed last paragraphs) 2016-08-27 22:05 (UTC)

Viatorus can't help but feel guilty about his own words, but he gives his sister time, keeping his eyes on his friends while Isidor wrestles her feelings down. They'll probably be having a talk later, when they're on their own. For now, though, they are silently agreed on putting poise and composure first.

All it takes is to shift one thought to release a torrent. The dreamwalker certainly didn't expect the escalating outpouring that follows his words. Isidor flinches slightly to hear a child curse. The two exchange a brief glance, confirming the other's discomfort. Not only at the exceedingly private matter before them, but at their inability to help at all. So when Harrowheart presents them with an opportunity to do just that, they seize it.

Isidor shifts in her seat, lifting a shoulder and turning her head, jokingly nonchalant. "You've become bearable."

"I was terrified of Harrowheart when we met," Viatorus agrees, nodding enthusiastically. "But now he's my best friend. People change. It's the way of things. And it can be so wonderful."

It's a very small consolation to Anna that the two of them agreed with her brother's point, but at the same time it was well-needed. She forces a gracious smile, but it's easier to focus on her cake after the fact.

Harrow puffs up proudly at Isidor's gracious compliments. "Bearable! Heheh, hey, I'll take that!" Oh, Isidor, you've gone and encouraged him. He enthusiastically takes his first bite of cake.

"AH, oh!" He puts his hand to his mouth like he's been burned, but then he starts to laugh. Anna stares worriedly at him as he dramatically throws his head back. Her eyes shift toward the Durants, then back to her strange and embarrassing sibling. Neither of these two should be in public... But as long as Harrow is the one embarrassing himself, at least the attention is off of her?

Harrow goes for another bite but before he takes it there's time for one more laugh. "I already forgot how good things taste when I can taste them all the way! I mean it's not as good as that dinner you guys gave me when I came for that visit, but..." But he's definitely taking another bite.

Anna wince-smiles in confusion. She whispers to the Durants, "I guess you're right about people changing. He... He was never like this back home. Even when he was alive. He never had friends like you. He never laughed with people. He's so loud?" And thank the Light for it, because while he dramatically enjoys his cake he's ignorant to this little conversation. "He tells jokes? And plays pranks? He... He was never like this. Is he always this way here?..."

Smiles and laughter relax Viatorus and he beams, sitting back to appreciate Harrowheart's enjoyment. "I'm very glad you got to have some. It really is lovely."

The loud, distracting display keeps Viatorus' attention divided, even as Anna speaks. The more she does, however, the more sober he becomes, looking over at his friend and trying not to look sympathetic. To think the boy that sits there eating cake worried about wars and demons through his youth.

Anna's confusion is mirrored by Isidor. She crooks an eyebrow and tips her head to one side. She barely notices the hint of suspicion that lines her querying, "Never?"

"Never," she whispers very matter-of-factly. She tries not to look at him and draw his attention while he focuses on his food, picking it apart and happily trying each component on its own.

"Sometimes he couldn't work out in the fields with us. He couldn't get out of bed. He spent a lot of time in the house with Mom. So did I. Any time anyone else said I was being 'Crazy Anna'," here she rolls her eyes, "I had to stay inside so I didn't do anything they didn't like."

She watches him eat his cake, then looks down and considers her own. He makes it look so much better than it is. She picks up her fork but decides against taking a bite.

She whispers so quietly now that only the closest of the two Durants is likely to hear her. "He was such a hermit. Everyone else was so surprised when he joined the army. They thought he was so brave. I guess nobody else knew him well enough."

And then there's a hand with a mug of hot chocolate sliding toward Isidor. It's Harrow offering up his own untouched drink.

"Sorry we ordered before you showed up. You want it? It's still kinda hot?"

Edited 2016-08-29 19:55 (UTC)

As Anna's description portrays a more and more foreign character, Viatorus finds himself drawn back into their conversation. She definitely seems to be honest, but it's a startlingly different person she describes. The mage leans in a little closer. "Why? Why was he such a hermit? Why did people call you that? Why...?" He stops suddenly when Harrowheart speaks up again.

The offered hot chocolate snaps Isidor's attention away from Anna. She does a double take at first, as if uncertain he's being genuine, but then shakes her head. "No thank you. You have it. You'll enjoy it more."

Harrow takes his drink back incredibly slowly, as if by hesitating he might convince Isidor to change her mind. She's given it to him, though, and it's his officially. Who's ever looked so disheartened at getting hot chocolate as young Harrowheart. Ahh, but then he takes his first sip and his eyes light up and he fights the urge to smile broadly. It's got to be good by the way he goes in for a second taste immediately after.

Meanwhile, Anna is only relieved that her brother hasn't commented on anything she's said.

"So, Old V," Harrow says, wiping the drink off his upper lip with his hand (because he is a beast and a criminal) "You never did tell us if you know the future now. Can you tell any of us what happens? You gotta know, right? Otherwise what would your therapy be about?"

He laughs and shakes his head. "No." Sobering, he smiles apologetically at Harrowheart. "I'm glad, though. I don't think it would be wise for me to know too much about the future before it happens. That leads to bad things."

The question had perked Isidor's interest, and she'd looked worried up until the point he laughed. His answer seemed to let her relax though.

"What would you have liked to know?" Viatorus asked then, head tilted in the characteristic show of curiousness. "If I had known the future, what would you have asked about?"

Harrow grasps his cup with both hands and looks down at his incredibly fascinating drink. He rotates it not unlike the way Anna had done earlier and mumbles something under his breath. It's utterly inaudible, and yet Anna starts to laugh.

A light twinkles in her eyes and she turns a smug grin to the Durants. She elbows the nearest one and points at her brother. "He was gonna ask about romance," she gloats.

"I–I was not!" Harrow insists, entirely too pent-up and red-faced to be telling the truth. Anna's grin takes a turn for the shit-eating now. She loves it. She lives for it!

"You were!" she insists. "You've always been a stupid romantic! You wanted to know if anyone would still loooove yooooou."

Harrow's eyebrows draw down and suddenly he's frowning. "Anna, stop! Don't rub it in! I wasn't gonna ask that 'cause I know nobody will!"

Anna rolls her eyes and waves away his dramatic comment. "Oh, please. Someone probably will. Someone with low standards! I mean, you managed to get a boyfriend even as a zombie!"

Harrow chokes as he tries to scream. He scrambles up out of his seat and Anna does the same, but while he's flustered and desperate she's still tauntingly playful. Harrow gasps, "Don't mention that! Earth people don't like when guys have boyfriends!"

Anna edges to the side so that she's between the two Durants. She puts her hands on their shoulders and laughs while Harrow mirrors her steps and keeps an equal distance between them. As much as he approaches she continues around the table, and the two walk circles avoiding and chasing each other, Anna side-stepping and Harrow powerwalking.

"How about girlfriends then?" she asks with a laugh. "You've had dumb girlfriends, too! What about Tracy?"

Harrow gasps again, offended at first... But then a memory takes him by surprise and brings an unexpected smile to his face. He tries so hard to fight it, but Anna tilts her head down and watches him from under raised eyebrows. Her expectant grin makes his budding smile impossible to fight.

"Tracy Anne Stoutmantle of Moonbrook," he says.

And then the two of them, in unison, put their fists on their cocked hips. They tilt their heads to and fro and mockingly tease as one, "I have a full name you know!"

Anna crosses her arms over her chest and Harrow puts his hand on Viatorus' shoulder and together the two siblings start to laugh. Harrow stops her with a shake of his head and a wave.

"Wait, wait, haha, wait, no. What ever happened to her?"

"Tracy? Oh," Anna laughs. "She did fifty push-ups in one day and thought she was an adventurer and headed out for Duskwood and got eaten by gnolls."

Harrow considers this solemnly... For about ten seconds. Then he pulls a straight-mouthed face and begins to nod knowingly. "Classic Tracy."

"Anne Stoutmantle," Anna adds.

"Of Moonbrook."

The two of them share one last smile, nostalgic and warm... But the longer they consider each other's faces, the more their memories of the present return to them and the less they smile. Their expressions slide away to neutrality, their nostalgia becomes homesickness. The energy of their playful chase is gone. The game is over. Each of them returns to their seat stoically, both ignoring the other. Harrow grips his drink again. Anna takes a silent bite of her cake.

"I wasn't gonna ask about romance," Harrow mutters tiredly.

Anna half-heartedly insists, "He was."

Edited 2016-08-31 01:51 (UTC)

Anna's explanation gets raised eyebrows from both Durant siblings, with Viatorus quickly suppressing a sympathetic smile as Anna jabs her brother. Isidor looks on the verge of intervening, if she can figure out what to say to the two of them. They can only watch as the two children become excitable, bounding to their feet and circling around the table. A laugh slips from Viatorus and he twists in his seat to watch and listen. The smile on his face becomes large and fixed in place as the children share a joke. It's like a dream, watching people interact in their own little world... But all dreams come to an end. His smile sobers when they calm.

"You'll both have love in your futures," he assures them warmly. His smile returns in full force. "You're both too kind and friendly not to. I don't need to be a seer to know that."

The conversation's journey through revisiting Harrowheart's living and unliving life to his inevitable redeath has Isidor extremely quiet. Only a lifted eyebrow from Viatorus has her rejoining the conversation. She tilts her head at Anna. "Have you got a husband?"

Harrow immediately stares aghast at Isidor's question. He widens his eyes and his head trembles in the tiniest of shakes. Abort, abort!

"No." Anna bitterly snorts. "My family thinks it's better that I don't date, and they can't find someone to wed me to."

Harrow reaches over and puts an arm around his sister's shoulder. She tenses, but she doesn't fight it. Instead, she tries to explain her situation.

"They're afraid I wouldn't be a very good mother. Like I'd... Forget about my baby or something. When I'm Crazy Anna, I mean. They think I'm going to make bad decisions when I'm excited, or not be able to do important things when I'm sad. And besides, Heather and her husband, Jacob? They'll inherit the land and the house and everything. We don't have anything to make it worth it for someone to marry me."

She turns to Harrow, who's trying his best to smile comfortingly. Something in her wants to return to their joking, their playing, and she tries her hardest to keep upbeat rather than spiral into negativity. "I can't believe my dead brother gets more dates than me."

Harrow's mouth pinches up with the effort of hiding a smile. He shouldn't encourage her train of thought, but he can't help finding his sister's jokes perfectly terrible. But his smile calms her slightly and makes it easier for her to keep the conversation flowing.

Looking between the Durants she asks, "And the both of you? Are either of you married?"

While Anna is distracted, Harrow looks down at his hands in his lap, focused on something. It's probably no coincidence that Viatorus' phone receives a text a few seconds later.

Thanks for saying she's friendly and might find love. She doesn't here that much. She's not always mean like today I think she's over whelmed sorry. PS she doesn't know what a phone is don't worry.

Isidor expertly ignores Harrowheart's warning, noting him only in her peripheral vision and refusing to glance at him, though she knows what he's trying to signal. His reasons become clear with Anna's answer. Isidor's eyebrows tilt upwards in sympathy and her brow comes together in confusion. So many questions and so much etiquette to mind. She smiles softly with Anna's joking.

"No," she answers, remaining gentle and respectful. "Our parents will find a wife for Viatorus first, and then a husband for me." Her lips tilt, smile becoming cheeky. "They're probably worried he'll vanish into a portal and never return before they get grandchildren."

"I'll always return. You have my tea," Viatorus reminds her, a little distant as he gets distracted with pulling out his phone. This must be scary for you both. More for her. It's ok. I'm good at empathy. And what I said is true, for both of you.

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