heirtothedragonsfire | Making a delivery for brave_heart

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verity

Making a delivery for brave_heart_verity

It had taken an extraordinary amount of time to convince Viatorus to stay behind while she visited Verity. It was hard to tell if he sensed her ulterior motives, or sensed them but did not guess what they might be. Either way, allowing him to decorate his new office had eventually been enough of a lure for him to let her go alone. She'd fix whatever gaudy mess he came up with when she returned.

Now alone, she stepped up to the mage tower, heels clicking against the path and giving her a slight height advantage. Her blouse and trouser combo was a bit more relaxed today. Verity didn't seem to react well to anything that might resemble authority unless she was wearing the outfit herself. Isidor's mouth tugged as a mote of irritation flitted by at the thought. She waited for it to pass, prepared her smile, and knocked on the door.

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Verity hadn't been expecting any visitors today. "Just a minute." Working from home has its advantages, but it does mean she has a tendency to let her paperwork get everywhere; it takes more than a minute to put everything sensitive away before opening the door. She's in a black sweater and gray jeans, her hair unbraided and pulled back in a simple ponytail. She hasn't even put her makeup on yet. No sense wearing it around the house when it's just her and Naugus.

"Oh. Isidor. Hello." She doesn't sound unfriendly, but she is confused, and doubly so when her gaze shifts past the other woman to where Viatorus should be. Then her attention snaps back to Isi, worried until she sees the other woman isn't. She wouldn't be coming to deliver bad news with a smile, surely. "Ah, come in, please."

She's not too surprised by Verity's dishevelled appearance. Normal people do that; wear relaxed clothing when they can. Even she might be tempted to do that if she were able.

"Thank you." She steps inside when she's invited, getting further into the building before producing two packets from her bag. When she can, she'll offer them to Verity. "Viatorus wanted you to get these. There's one for Naugus, and one for you. It's more of the golden-bow dendrobium." Pause. "The tea he gave you."

If this is what counts as dishevelled to Isidor, the real world would knock her socks off. And then she'd be the dishevelled one.

Verity looks down at the packets for a moment before she takes them. "Thank you. Why didn't he bring these himself?" This is getting more and more suspicious. "Is he okay?"

"He's fine." She clasps her hands together, now that they're free again. "He's actually very excited. He's organising things in his new office in the Nexus, and getting used to his new guard. Or, one of them. I chose two that could cycle between each other."

She leaves a short pause and then continues, "And, honestly, I thought we could talk a little. Now that the Archon has spoken to you, it seems like you've been accepted as a family friend. I don't have to worry about how I'd console him if the Archon had prohibited him from seeing you." Her smile tugs a little wider, friendly. "Big weight off my mind."

"Oh." The relief is obvious, and she can even manage a smile. "That's good. Wish he'd told me, I saw some wallpaper I thought he'd like. A big mural sort with constellations."

Oh well. She's sure whatever he picks will be nice. "I'm glad it went well." She's glad she doesn't have to sneak around behind Isi's back. "Would you like me to make some tea or something?"

"That sounds pretty." Pretty, but dark. Dark sets a mood she'd rather keep Viatorus from. So she'll be quietly thankful for the lack of a chance for Verity to tell him.

"No, thank you. I don't want to leave him alone for too long. Actually, I was hoping I could get your help," she admits, palms turning up momentarily before clasping again. "I have his safety organised, his work place, the Archon's permission granted... There are a few more things for me to sort out for him, but at least one where it would be ridiculous of me not to ask you to help me."

Not dark, really; very blue. Blue and dreamy, like V.

"Hmm." She gestures toward the living room. "Why don't we sit down?" She's going to either way, setting the packets of tea on top of the little tower of work stuff on one end of the coffee table. "If it's about getting him to work more, your father already asked."

Isidor nods, thanking Verity politely as she follows the woman and sits down.

"I know." Truth. Her father had words with her after his meeting with Verity. "The Archon has his priorities and I have mine. It's nothing to do with that. I'm coming to you in regards to a more personal part of his life. You're his best friend, I admit that that means there are certain things you will be better able to deal with than me."

There's nothing good to come of commenting about the gossip. Isi isn't likely to see it that way or appreciate that Ver does. Not that she was promised or expected any kind of confidentiality.

"Such as...?" Verity's listening, Isidor, now's the time to tell her. The longer the subject is danced around, the more suspicious she's going to get.

"Women," she answers quickly, eager for it to finally be dealt with. "You and I both know that of all the things Viatorus is smart about, social situations isn't one of them. If I complain, I'm the overprotective sister. If you tell Viatorus that someone is flirting with him, he'll listen to you more immediately. He's clueless about these things, but also curious about nearly everything. It wouldn't take much for him to find himself in an uncomfortable situation."

She draws in another breath. "I'd like you to keep women away from him. In that sense. Friends are fine, but dates aren't. I think it would be best for everyone if we avoid waiting until after someone has started to like him it that way before we explain Viatorus' situation."

She immediately regrets this entire conversation. It is bringing up all kinds of uncomfortable feelings she would prefer to keep ignoring. The fact she wears her heart on her sleeve doesn't help. There's nowhere to hide the way she's flushing except behind her hands. Maybe she can make it look like she's rubbing her eyes.

"You are overprotective. Cripplingly so. And please don't mistake the following question for my approving of this team-up you're suggesting, but: what exactly is his 'situation'?"

Defiance was expected. It doesn't surprise her that Verity is quick to go on the offensive. It won't surprise her if Viatorus' friend forces her opinions down Isidor's throat once she hears this next part. But then, trying to change Verity's opinion of her was of lesser importance than the point of this meeting.

"He's betrothed." False, but more impactive, easier to remember. "Rather, he will be. Probably next year. It was stressful enough with him wondering if he'd be able to keep the friendships he'd made in the Nexus. If he started liking the wrong person, really liking them, and fell in love? Viatorus is far too sensitive to be put through that."

Lying to her isn't going to help anything. Isidor's lucky that Verity's too distracted by the bad news to yell at her about it.

There is very little reaction to be seen, in fact. Long moments stretch out before she wearily tells the other woman, "Get out."

Verity would rather be alone in her heartbreak.

She debates for half a second about whether or not to feign obliviousness, but instead lifts a shaped eyebrow, takes a moment and then stands. It would be easy to press questions or make a remark on the reaction, but she decides not to. This is better for everyone.

"Thank you for your hospitality," she says simply and then takes her leave.

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Making a delivery for brave_heart_verity

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