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[inklongdry]

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"Arthur Inkwell here.
I've no earthly idea how this thing is supposed to work, but leave me a message if you're so inclined. I'll retrieve it at some point or another!"

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[velluminous]

[ Arthur. ]

Yes. But it also hurts you. She will want to hurt you, because it hurts you.

[inklongdry]

[ LOOK he understands the priorities of the conversation, but he also has a crush. Let him have that one moment. ]

Cruelty for cruelty's sake, is it?

[velluminous]

She relishes it. It brings her pleasure. Her entire existence is for this purpose; there are no other reasons oni exist.

[inklongdry]

I see. For whatever pittance it might be worth, I'm sorry that you have to deal with something so... volatile as your possession. No wonder sleep eludes you.

[velluminous]

[ ... gently, ] My mistress sleep has eluded me for much longer than this. I will be fine, Mister Inkwell.

[inklongdry]

Forgive me if I spare some worry for your well-being, regardless.

... And please, call me Arthur.

[velluminous]

[ she regards him for a moment, thinking ] Arthur. You were making tea.

[inklongdry]

So I was.

[ With a small smile, he gets back up to retrieve the tea from the cabinet. In short order, he has the kettle going and a pair of mugs out for them both.

He turns to lean back against the counter while they wait. ]

You know... I should very much like to hear about your studies one of these days.

[velluminous]

[ she's running her thumbnail along a fine crack in the glaze of her mug ]

I suppose we could talk. [ with a semi-private smile ] Though there has not been much study of late, even before here.

[inklongdry]

Even before here?

[ The kettle whistles. He removes it from the stove and brings it to the table, pouring a cup for each of them. ]

Did something happen?

[velluminous]

... I was expelled. Discredited.

[inklongdry]

What for?

[ For whatever it might be worth, he doesn't sound like he's ready to judge her. ]

[velluminous]

Plagiarism, causing immeasurable loss of knowledge, academic dishonesty, harbouring ill intent. It is all there in registry.

[inklongdry]

Is it? I don't tend to put much stock in that godsawful thing. Among my own crimes are "copious amounts of sass" and "not being a morning person".

[velluminous]

Hm. I can see this.

[inklongdry]

[ He fixes her with a flat look, his ears flattening to add to the effect. ]

You wound me, madam.

[ Said like a man who absolutely knows he's full of sass. ]

[velluminous]

[ they're so expressive... like her tail. sips her tea unflinchingly. ]

Mmhm.

[inklongdry]

[ He makes a face at her, wrinkling his nose. ]

Well, perhaps those are personal flaws of mine, but I wouldn't consider them crimes. So I must ask, are the accusations leveled against you by the Warden true?

[velluminous]

[ that truly is so cute, she thinks, but her face doesn't show it, because she's straightening up, crossing one knee over her thigh. ]

What do you think, Arthur?

[inklongdry]

[ He quirks a brow at her, one ear lifting with it. ]

I think I would like to hear your side of the story, first.

[velluminous]

[ her nose scrunches, but not in a cute way, and she recites, with the air of giving lines in a play, ] I have argument with headmistress over integrity of my work. Severe accusations, pending expulsion. Then Teaferth burns and everything is lost. Headmistress suffers, nearly does not make it through fire. I am expelled and discredited.

[inklongdry]

Practice that, did you?

"Teaferth burns". I note you didn't say you started the blaze, but neither did you deny it. What happened?

[velluminous]

[ fingers tight around her mug ] It burned. I don't know.

[inklongdry]

[ His eyes flick to her hands, then back up to her face. ]

Don't you?

[velluminous]

Arthur, I don't... [ want to talk about this. ] It is always this scraping... at raw wound.