[Underneath the bread and the cloth they're wrapped in are two small bottles filled with a mysterious liquid, stopped up with corks. They clink together as the basket gets shifted around, but for now, there's no risk of either of them breaking.
To his offer, Jill shakes her head. Gods, she's eaten far too many of her own loaves that just the idea of eating any more bread anytime soon makes her stomach twist.]
I think I've had my fill of bread to last me the next three summers. Not even the very best soup could convince me otherwise.
[Now that the griffon's accepted her attention, she cups his head in her hands, slim thumbs gently stroking lines against his feathers as she speaks to Assan in the sweetest softest voice.]
I do hope you've been keeping out of trouble, Assan. [A tilt of her head has her pointing in Davrin's direction.] And keeping him out of trouble too.
Fair enough. [He won't press further. Just tuck into one of the loaves, which lets him see the bottles at the bottom.] Dabbling in potions, too?
[Genuinely curious. They're not marked, and he can't immediately identify them.]
[Assan just presses his face more into her hands, eyes closed happily. He chatters a bit, like he's answering her.]
He's the only one who Harding could see for a while. Between the two of us, he hasn't had time to get into trouble, thankfully. [Himself though?] And neither have I.
[Indeed they are potions, purposely left unlabeled, just in case of some unwelcome eyes happening upon them. Even if it's now something of an open secret because of Cid's post, that doesn't mean Jill is taking any unnecessary risk in ferrying the stuff.
Her voice is still gentle as she continues petting Assan, like a mother soothing a baby to sleep. Surely, the bird will be spoiled by the end of this session from all this attention.]
It's past the time of when it was needed, but I had a few extra bottles of Cid and Zelda's concoction laying around and I thought perhaps you could put them to better use than I can. One never knows if we might need them again.
[A few extra bottles is an understatement. The man shoved so many at her, more than she originally agreed to take, and with her not really being the most social of butterflies lately, Jill didn't really use any of them. So off they go to a good home, just like the bread.]
Speaking of Harding, I brought one for her too.
[Just because she hasn't met Davrin's friend doesn't mean Harding wasn't on Jill's mind. Something something, a friend of my friend, etc.]
[It clicks, even as Jill starts explaining. He nods, slowly, setting the basket down carefully while he breaks off pieces of the bread loaf.]
The post on the network. I remember. [He also remembered what he'd offered in return. As much as he appreciates it, there's a part of him that feels like he should be giving something in return.] I appreciate it, Jill. But - can I do anything for you? [He holds up a hand.] Just makes me feel better about taking these off your hands.
[It could be anything, really. Especially when she adds the bit about Harding.]
Thank you. It's bothered her more to be cut off from people than me. She's a people-person.
[Jill's already shaking her head, finally letting go of Assan's face. Even as Davrin presses, she didn't do all this for something in return. Sometimes the spirit of kindness moves her and to be honest, she owes him for that outing that she sorely needed a few weeks back. It was just a simple walk, but he never forced her to talk more than she was prepared to do and for that, Jill is grateful. It got her out of the house and out of her head, even for just an hour.
Aside from that, she really can't think of anything he could give in return because last she remembered, Davrin was a hunter, not a magician. He can't give Jill what she truly wants and she wouldn't dare ask the impossible of him.]
You're already helping me get rid of any extras I can't use rather than letting them go to waste. I can't imagine there's anything else you could do.
[Jill nods, not necessarily being a people-person herself, but understanding the dilemma all the same.]
All right, but the offer stands. If you need help with a bounty or anything in the future... you know where to find me.
[Maybe it's the Dalish upbringing. Everyone relies on each other. Or the group support of the Wardens. Either way, doing things for each other is ingrained in him. He won't force the issue further, just putting the offer out there is good enough.]
[Assan whines (somehow) when his face is released, but quickly realizes his friend is here, and darts off to chase Torgal around instead. This is one of the best days ever.]
She's doing all right. Trying to find her footing again. [He shakes his head with a sigh.] She's used to having a whole network to fall back on... and she's got to rebuild it now.
I do. I'll have to get the rest of the Paladins convinced that I'm just there to find you, but I'm sure that's possible.
[Sooner or later, Jill just might have to hold him to that offer. She doesn't know Davrin that well, but she feels confident enough to think he's a good enough guy who'll honor it when she needs him.
But for now, her arms are free to cross in front of her chest, though this time, she isn't closing herself off from the world like the last go round. Today, it's just a casual pose as she takes a few aimless steps in the direction Assan and Torgal ran off in.]
Is she a Paladin too? Not that it matters outside of the brands to most people, I think, but I believe figuring out where to start finding connections makes things a bit easier than starting from scratch.
[From his tone of voice, it's obvious how he feels about the entire affair. It's stupid. None of them asked to get pulled into this. No one asked any of these other-worlders what they wanted.]
[He packs up the rest of the bread, and slings the basket over an arm to follow her steps.]
Nah, the Corsairs picked up Harding. Neve though - she just got here, she's Paladin. [A beat.] You should meet her too. Your magic is pretty similar.
[Honestly, she feels the same. Some of her friends are Paladins and really, Jill is the worst kind of Corsair there is. She's too kind, too reserved, to truly belong to the rowdy bunch, but then again, she's been part of the outlaw life back home for years now.]
Ah, I see. Well, I'll keep an eye out for Harding. Maybe offload some bread to her too.
[She tilts her head in question at the new name being mentioned, but remains like that at the magic comparison.]
She's a Dominant?
[Jill is doubtful—there's only but so many of them—but then again, she remembers Rem and Tifa mentioning their versions of the Eikons. Perhaps there's something like Dominants elsewhere.]
that's ok it's too late at night for caffeine for me
[Perhaps, but also maybe there's a reason why they are put in the armadas that they are. But just like how the rifts bring in certain people and not others, no one knows those reasons.]
Well, I could use another taste tester as I continue to improve my kitchen skills. Maybe she would like to volunteer?
[Which means lots of lumpy bread, lopsided cakes, and questionable stews.]
Ah, I see. Do mages have elemental specialties where you're from or do some of them dabble in a bit of everything?
[No one knows, it's true. But Davrin's too pragmatic to put faith in anything but what he can see, touch, etc. Which made it a lot easier to say "let's kill the gods".]
I think she would, if I know her. You might even help her here and there.
[Nothing can be worse than the ham and jam slam.]
Depends on the mage. Neve's specialty is ice, but I've known mages who use a bit of everything. And... then there's mages like Emmerich, who raise spirits from the dead.
[And that's where they differ. She's all for killing a god or two if they need to be put in their place, but she's a firm believer in prayer to the intangible deities of fate and the universe. Not too devout, but quick to send up a quick plea Metia to keep those she loves safe is not unheard of.
Jill continues walking down the closest thing to a path in the woods ahead of her, nodding in agreement about potentially helping Harding and in politeness as she listens to Darvin explain the mages he knows... except one part has her freezing in place, staring at him as if he suddenly sprouted two additional heads.]
Pardon me?
[Did she hear him correctly? Spirits? From the dead?]
[... Right. Necromancy. He probably should have mentioned Bellara's enchanted arrows or something instead. Davrin stops too, rubbing at his face.]
Raising spirits. It's necromancy. [He literally has to stop himself from saying 'He's Nevarran' as an explanation, because that wouldn't actually help anything here.] Where he's from, it's normal. There's a whole... college and school around it.
[Jill know she shouldn't judge. Surely, being a Dominant would bring on some curious questions and stares to her, but fiddling with the dead is a whole other thing and nothing about it makes sense.]
Shouldn't he—they?—leave people be? Do they even have permission to do that?
[Permission from who? Not like you can ask the dead if you can raise them before, you know, raising them.]
[Really normal. They don't have a whole Necropolis for nothing.]
It'd probably be better if him or Neve explained it. [But Emmerich isn't here, so-] The way Emmerich explains it, the spirits he calls up are willing. Or, if he needs to just talk to them - he can do that too.
It's... not something I'm all that familiar with. I listen, but, when he talks about magical theory, he loses me.
[All she knows is that she can conjure up ice with or without priming and that if she really lets loose, Shiva comes out to play. What Jill also knows is that calling up those who died sounds very strange and honestly, wrong to her, but she keeps that part to herself. Davrin doesn't sound like he tinkers in necromancy, but also probably wouldn't take well to Jill deriding his friend.]
I'm as far from magical as it gets. If I can't touch it, study it... it's not for me.
[He hates the Fade so much. It's so weird. It doesn't make any sense. Frankly, summoning up the dead is... weird, to him. It's not as off-putting as it is to Taash. Not when you can banter with Emmerich over how much better at learning things Assan is than Manfred.]
Dalish don't, no. Our dead are buried, and a tree planted over their body. A lot of humans do cremate theirs, though. [A beat.] Just not in Nevarra.
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To his offer, Jill shakes her head. Gods, she's eaten far too many of her own loaves that just the idea of eating any more bread anytime soon makes her stomach twist.]
I think I've had my fill of bread to last me the next three summers. Not even the very best soup could convince me otherwise.
[Now that the griffon's accepted her attention, she cups his head in her hands, slim thumbs gently stroking lines against his feathers as she speaks to Assan in the sweetest softest voice.]
I do hope you've been keeping out of trouble, Assan. [A tilt of her head has her pointing in Davrin's direction.] And keeping him out of trouble too.
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[Genuinely curious. They're not marked, and he can't immediately identify them.]
[Assan just presses his face more into her hands, eyes closed happily. He chatters a bit, like he's answering her.]
He's the only one who Harding could see for a while. Between the two of us, he hasn't had time to get into trouble, thankfully. [Himself though?] And neither have I.
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[Indeed they are potions, purposely left unlabeled, just in case of some unwelcome eyes happening upon them. Even if it's now something of an open secret because of Cid's post, that doesn't mean Jill is taking any unnecessary risk in ferrying the stuff.
Her voice is still gentle as she continues petting Assan, like a mother soothing a baby to sleep. Surely, the bird will be spoiled by the end of this session from all this attention.]
It's past the time of when it was needed, but I had a few extra bottles of Cid and Zelda's concoction laying around and I thought perhaps you could put them to better use than I can. One never knows if we might need them again.
[A few extra bottles is an understatement. The man shoved so many at her, more than she originally agreed to take, and with her not really being the most social of butterflies lately, Jill didn't really use any of them. So off they go to a good home, just like the bread.]
Speaking of Harding, I brought one for her too.
[Just because she hasn't met Davrin's friend doesn't mean Harding wasn't on Jill's mind. Something something, a friend of my friend, etc.]
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The post on the network. I remember. [He also remembered what he'd offered in return. As much as he appreciates it, there's a part of him that feels like he should be giving something in return.] I appreciate it, Jill. But - can I do anything for you? [He holds up a hand.] Just makes me feel better about taking these off your hands.
[It could be anything, really. Especially when she adds the bit about Harding.]
Thank you. It's bothered her more to be cut off from people than me. She's a people-person.
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Aside from that, she really can't think of anything he could give in return because last she remembered, Davrin was a hunter, not a magician. He can't give Jill what she truly wants and she wouldn't dare ask the impossible of him.]
You're already helping me get rid of any extras I can't use rather than letting them go to waste. I can't imagine there's anything else you could do.
[Jill nods, not necessarily being a people-person herself, but understanding the dilemma all the same.]
How is she handling being here in general?
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[Maybe it's the Dalish upbringing. Everyone relies on each other. Or the group support of the Wardens. Either way, doing things for each other is ingrained in him. He won't force the issue further, just putting the offer out there is good enough.]
[Assan whines (somehow) when his face is released, but quickly realizes his friend is here, and darts off to chase Torgal around instead. This is one of the best days ever.]
She's doing all right. Trying to find her footing again. [He shakes his head with a sigh.] She's used to having a whole network to fall back on... and she's got to rebuild it now.
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[Sooner or later, Jill just might have to hold him to that offer. She doesn't know Davrin that well, but she feels confident enough to think he's a good enough guy who'll honor it when she needs him.
But for now, her arms are free to cross in front of her chest, though this time, she isn't closing herself off from the world like the last go round. Today, it's just a casual pose as she takes a few aimless steps in the direction Assan and Torgal ran off in.]
Is she a Paladin too? Not that it matters outside of the brands to most people, I think, but I believe figuring out where to start finding connections makes things a bit easier than starting from scratch.
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[From his tone of voice, it's obvious how he feels about the entire affair. It's stupid. None of them asked to get pulled into this. No one asked any of these other-worlders what they wanted.]
[He packs up the rest of the bread, and slings the basket over an arm to follow her steps.]
Nah, the Corsairs picked up Harding. Neve though - she just got here, she's Paladin. [A beat.] You should meet her too. Your magic is pretty similar.
/returns late without starbucks
Ah, I see. Well, I'll keep an eye out for Harding. Maybe offload some bread to her too.
[She tilts her head in question at the new name being mentioned, but remains like that at the magic comparison.]
She's a Dominant?
[Jill is doubtful—there's only but so many of them—but then again, she remembers Rem and Tifa mentioning their versions of the Eikons. Perhaps there's something like Dominants elsewhere.]
that's ok it's too late at night for caffeine for me
She'd love that. Not even joking.
[Harding would love anything to do with homemade food. Jam, bread, anything.]
Not... quite. She's a mage. And frost magic is her specialty.
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Well, I could use another taste tester as I continue to improve my kitchen skills. Maybe she would like to volunteer?
[Which means lots of lumpy bread, lopsided cakes, and questionable stews.]
Ah, I see. Do mages have elemental specialties where you're from or do some of them dabble in a bit of everything?
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I think she would, if I know her. You might even help her here and there.
[Nothing can be worse than the ham and jam slam.]
Depends on the mage. Neve's specialty is ice, but I've known mages who use a bit of everything. And... then there's mages like Emmerich, who raise spirits from the dead.
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Jill continues walking down the closest thing to a path in the woods ahead of her, nodding in agreement about potentially helping Harding and in politeness as she listens to Darvin explain the mages he knows... except one part has her freezing in place, staring at him as if he suddenly sprouted two additional heads.]
Pardon me?
[Did she hear him correctly? Spirits? From the dead?]
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Raising spirits. It's necromancy. [He literally has to stop himself from saying 'He's Nevarran' as an explanation, because that wouldn't actually help anything here.] Where he's from, it's normal. There's a whole... college and school around it.
He's a professor, even.
[Is this helping?]
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But why?
[Jill know she shouldn't judge. Surely, being a Dominant would bring on some curious questions and stares to her, but fiddling with the dead is a whole other thing and nothing about it makes sense.]
Shouldn't he—they?—leave people be? Do they even have permission to do that?
[Permission from who? Not like you can ask the dead if you can raise them before, you know, raising them.]
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[Really normal. They don't have a whole Necropolis for nothing.]
It'd probably be better if him or Neve explained it. [But Emmerich isn't here, so-] The way Emmerich explains it, the spirits he calls up are willing. Or, if he needs to just talk to them - he can do that too.
It's... not something I'm all that familiar with. I listen, but, when he talks about magical theory, he loses me.
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[All she knows is that she can conjure up ice with or without priming and that if she really lets loose, Shiva comes out to play. What Jill also knows is that calling up those who died sounds very strange and honestly, wrong to her, but she keeps that part to herself. Davrin doesn't sound like he tinkers in necromancy, but also probably wouldn't take well to Jill deriding his friend.]
I assume you don't cremate your dead then.
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[He hates the Fade so much. It's so weird. It doesn't make any sense. Frankly, summoning up the dead is... weird, to him. It's not as off-putting as it is to Taash. Not when you can banter with Emmerich over how much better at learning things Assan is than Manfred.]
Dalish don't, no. Our dead are buried, and a tree planted over their body. A lot of humans do cremate theirs, though. [A beat.] Just not in Nevarra.