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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]

[ 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.

[inklongdry]

I'm sorry. Surely you had to have expected I would ask when you brought it up, but if the subject matter is too painful, then I will let it lie.

[velluminous]

My whole life burned that day. Poof. [ she takes a very deep intake, trying to force calm with it ] And I become demon when I talk about it.

[inklongdry]

Sprezzatura... [ He leans forward in his chair, reaches out to rest one of his hands over hers where they curl tight around her mug. ] I'm so sorry.

[velluminous]

[ she kinda jumps, just barely, but her expression tightens. no weaknesses. ]

I will pay them back for it.

[inklongdry]

[ Ah. He lifts his hand away, if only for her comfort. ]

You know who did it.

[velluminous]

[ flicks her gaze up at him from beneath her lashes. it's not sexy. it's dark. yeah—she knows. ]

[inklongdry]

... I understand.

We can move on to something else, if you want.

[velluminous]

[ ah, shite. her lips pull, and she glances to the side. her fingers are moving around the curve of the mug, just slightly, as though pulling on threads in the air that he cannot see.

before his eyes, her appearance melts into that of an older tiefling woman. her horns curve inward slightly, and her features are more petite than Sprezzatura's, but equally stern. she looks a lot like Sprezzatura, in fact.

she speaks, in a softer, higher voice: ] Do you understand, Mister Inkwell?