Kite's After-Date Date

Kite, 6:54 PM Kite goes to find Carrick!

Sir, 6:56 PM He's in his room!

Kite, 7:01 PM Kite knocks first, in that case!

Sir, 7:05 PM Carrick:  Come in!

Kite, 7:06 PM Kite does.

Kite, 7:06 PM The dating event has concluded.

Sir, 7:12 PM Carrick is currently at the small desk, reading a book. and staring hard at a glass of water.

Kite, 7:13 PM Kite goes quiet and watches interestedly!

Sir, 7:24 PM The water freezes in the glass.

Kite, 7:24 PM You are learning magic, then?

Sir, 7:26 PM More like relearning what I used to know.

Kite, 7:27 PM Wizardry, sorcery? Something else?

Sir, 7:27 PM I studied wizardry for a bit.

Kite, 7:28 PM A hobby to pass the time, or a more serious endeavor?

Kite, 7:29 PM Kite leans over to hug him from behind too.

Sir, 7:29 PM Carrick:  I studied it like other nobles might study a weapon or something.

Sir, 7:29 PM Carrick:  So, not terribly seriously, but I had some talent, I thought.

Kite, 7:30 PM Clearly the talent remains.

Kite, 7:34 PM Are you contemplating a change in career?

Sir, 7:35 PM Carrick:  Maybe.

Kite, 7:38 PM Wise. If you are recalled eventually you will have to decide what to do next.

Sir, 7:42 PM Carrick:  Mmm. I think my career as a an ambassador is over.

Kite, 7:43 PM That does seem likely. However, that does present an opportunity to try something new.

Sir, 7:46 PM Carrick:  My family might have something to say about what I do next.

Kite, 7:47 PM That also seems likely.

Kite, 7:48 PM However... you do as well. There may be ways to bring them honor that they do not see.

Sir, 8:09 PM Carrick:  They never saw the magical training as 'useful'.

Kite, 8:10 PM That seems... shortsighted.

Sir, 8:22 PM Carrick:  Not sustainable at all, but Rannon is full of 'this is the way we've always done it'.

Kite, 8:23 PM Perhaps you can serve as a better example.

Sir, 8:25 PM Carrick:  Hopefully I don't have to serve as the bad kind of example.

Kite, 8:26 PM I am sure that will not be the case.

Sir, 8:29 PM Carrick:  We'll see. Depends on what they think of my story.

Kite, 8:29 PM … your story is true.

Kite, 8:29 PM And verified.

Sir, 8:32 PM Carrick:  ... and very hard for peole to understand.

Kite, 8:34 PM I do not feel it's hard to understand. Why do you think that?

Sir, 8:40 PM Carrick:  You were there, and saw it all. Some people back home think I am just corrupt, and claiming 'magic' after I got caught.

Kite, 8:41 PM Why would they think that?

Sir, 8:44 PM Carrick:  Because 'magic made me do it' has been an excuse for many poltical misteps.

Kite, 8:44 PM But it has also legitimately happened a number of times.

Sir, 8:51 PM Carrick:  And people have claimed it's happened a number of times.

Kite, 8:52 PM The claims are not always false, Barrad.

Sir, 8:54 PM Carrick:  I'm aware, I'm just saying that Rannon tends to be cynical in these matters.

Kite, 8:55 PM … either way, perhaps you will have an opportunity for more freedom.

Sir, 9:06 PM Carrick:  .... maybe. I used to care a lot about my reputation.

Kite, 9:07 PM In the long run, people will come to believe what you say, because your subsequent actions will reaffirm that.

Sir, 9:18 PM Carrick smiles. ".... you're ever the optimist."

Kite, 9:20 PM No, I am simply looking further in the future than you are.

Sir, 9:21 PM Carrick:  It's true. I'm a bit focused on the confrontation. Kind of hard to see around that.

Kite, 9:21 PM How do you intend to handle it?

Sir, 9:28 PM Carrick:  ... no idea.

Kite, 9:31 PM Kite kisses him on the cheek.

Kite, 9:31 PM Come with me.

Sir, 9:33 PM Carrick:  Where?

Kite, 9:33 PM It is a surprise.

Sir, 9:38 PM Carrick nods. "all right, sounds good.  How was your thing?"

Kite, 9:40 PM I met several people and helped a vampire. Cedric found a criminal and gave chase; he seemed happy.

Sir, 9:59 PM Garrick:  he would.

Kite, 9:59 PM He is very uncomfortable in social situations, I think.

Kite, 10:04 PM Kite takes Carrick by the hand and leads him out of the room, then up a set of stairs, and then up another, narrower set of stairs into an attic full of boxes, around the boxes and to a ladder.

Sir, 10:05 PM Carrick:  I think he’s very good in specific sort of situation.

Kite, 10:06 PM Which is not speed dating. By the way, I have been challenged to a duel.

Sir, 10:32 PM Carrick:  .... by who?

Kite, 10:33 PM I am not sure. Someone who apparently seeks to stop me from dating Cedric.

Sir, 10:51 PM Carrick:  it was not me I can assure you.

Kite, 10:52 PM I had assumed not.

Kite, 10:54 PM … I find it very aggravating. I do not think it right to try to dictate someone's choices in that manner.

Kite, 10:54 PM Whoever wishes to duel me is attempting to force Cedric's decisions. It is not right.

Sir, 11:01 PM Carrick:  Erelayn is a.... strange place. All disputes and issues are settled by them sending someone to duel.

Kite, 11:03 PM That is what I have been given to understand.

Kite, 11:03 PM However, Cedric and I are not exclusive, obviously. Should he wish to date this person that is his choice.

Kite, 11:18 PM Kite climbs the ladder and opens a hatch up, leading Carrick onto a wide, flat part of the roof. It's a pretty good view of the city! She's got a bottle of wine with mugs and a couple bags of candy up there, too. Nothing fancy, because it's the roof and something might fall.

Sir, 11:29 PM He looks around with a smile. “Still technically on the premises, too.”

Kite, 11:30 PM Yes. I felt you could use a day out.

Kite, 11:31 PM Kite takes a couple blankets and cushions out of a bag she left up there and spreads a blanket out so they have a place to sit.

Sir, 11:39 PM Carrick: candy and wine? Have you been taking suggestions from my 12 year old self?

Kite, 11:42 PM No. Candy is easier to transport than alternatives. However, I believe one of the bags has crackers in it, and one has figs.

Kite, 11:43 PM … I do like gummy bears, however.

Kite, 11:47 PM Kite sits.

Sir, 11:57 PM He sits down.

Kite, 12:00 AM Kite pours him a mug of wine! It's like a college student party, but with fewer doritos.

Sir, 12:10 AM He smiles. "Still, the pub didn't explode from speed dating, that's good."

Kite, 12:10 AM Yes.

Kite, 12:11 AM Next time, I will order food from somewhere fancy, and we could have a nice dinner. But I felt this would at least allow you to be out.

Sir, 12:11 AM Carrick holds up his mug. "I appreciate it!"

Kite, 12:16 AM There is the arbor district. And there is the theater.

Sir, 12:22 AM Carrick:  I haven't been to the theater since I first came here.

Kite, 12:22 AM Perhaps we could go, when you are no longer under house arrest.

Sir, 12:30 AM Carrick:  Maybe. If I'm still in good standing with them I could get us some good seats.

Kite, 12:32 AM I would like that. But even with bad seats, I would enjoy it.

Sir, 12:35 AM Carrick smiles. "It's a date, then."

Kite, 12:38 AM Kite kisses him.

Sir, 12:45 AM He returns the kiss!

Sir, 12:45 AM Happily. Then grabs a gummy bear.

Kite, 12:45 AM Kite does too.

Kite, 12:46 AM What type of magic are you most interested in?

Sir, 12:46 AM Carrick: Transmuations, I think, making one thing another thing.

Kite, 12:47 AM Why that?

Sir, 12:53 AM Carrick:  I don't know. I always imagined turning into animals and the like, like Cedric.

Kite, 12:54 AM Then I would be able to pet you as well.

Sir, 1:01 AM Carrick:  You just want more cat-boyfriends.

Kite, 1:03 AM I have one cat and two boyfriends, I feel that is sufficient. However, you do not have to be a cat for me to pet you, either.

Kite, 1:03 AM Kite strokes his hair a little bit.

Sir, 1:12 AM Carrick smiles. "That's true.

Kite, 1:16 AM … though I do admit I certainly would.

Sir, 1:22 AM Carrick:  I'll see what I can do.

Kite, 1:23 AM You do not have to change yourself for me. I like you.

Sir, 7:22 PM Carrick:  Oh, I always wanted to learn different shapes, well before I met you.

Kite, 7:23 PM It is useful at times.

Sir, 7:27 PM Carrick:  I wanted to learn to be a spider to climb anywhere I wanted.

Kite, 7:28 PM I find spiders somewhat unnerving.

Sir, 7:36 PM Carrick:  I always liked them.

Kite, 7:37 PM … I am afraid of spiders. The next time I see one that Murr is uninterested in, I will come and find you.

Sir, 7:46 PM Carrick smiles. "Lots of people are."

Kite, 7:49 PM I do prefer that they be placed outside if possible.

Sir, 7:56 PM Carrick:  What kind of animal would you turn into?

Kite, 7:56 PM A cat, perhaps. I did not greatly mind being a rat.

Sir, 8:18 PM Carrick:  Not a bird?

Kite, 8:19 PM I would likely enjoy flying.

Sir, 8:19 PM Carrick:  With a name like Kite...

Kite, 8:21 PM It is my given name. My mother is fond of birds.

Sir, 8:23 PM Carrick:  What's she like? I'll be she's very nice.

Kite, 8:23 PM She is very kind. And an excellent businesswoman.

Sir, 8:28 PM Carrick:  What does she do?

Kite, 8:29 PM She owns and operates a small fruitstand in the market.

Kite, 8:30 PM It is an extremely competitive environment.

Sir, 8:30 PM Carrick:  What was your childhood like?

Kite, 8:33 PM Sometimes I assisted at the stand, but I was not very good at selling. And my mother insisted I go to school.

Kite, 8:34 PM … the Market was very like having dozens of aunts and uncles around at all times.

Kite, 8:36 PM As I was largely well-behaved, I was often trusted with running errands and delivering messages.

Sir, 9:07 PM He smiles, wistfully. “That sounds pretty great.”

Kite, 9:08 PM It was very pleasant. Usually there was enough to eat, although I suspect I do not remember the most difficult times as I was too young.

Sir, 9:50 PM Carrick:   I wasn't shown a lot of affection growing up.

Sir, 9:51 PM Carrick:  At the same time, when I was kid, I didn't realize it was something I was missing.

Kite, 9:52 PM But you did later?

Sir, 9:53 PM Carrick:  When I came here, yes.

Kite, 9:55 PM What did you do?

Sir, 10:05 PM Carrick:  Nothing, really. Just got a bit sad. Made an effort to connect more with my parents, but that was largely rebuffed.

Kite, 10:09 PM … why?

Sir, 10:09 PM Carrick shrugs. "I don't know."

Kite, 10:14 PM You did not seek out another companion?

Sir, 10:14 PM Carrick:  Eh, I had friends, and whatnot.

Kite, 10:16 PM Did not Lady Varia have useful advice?

Sir, 10:45 PM Carrick: I’ve never met her. I got an invitation to her establishment shortly before I...

Kite, 10:45 PM Oh. … that is unfortunate, she is very kind.

Sir, 10:46 PM Carrick:  I’ve heard nothing but good things.

Kite, 10:47 PM I admire her. I believe her to be quite principled. I must introduce you at some point.

Sir, 10:53 PM Carrick:  how do you know her?

Kite, 10:53 PM We assisted her with several minor matters, including stealing a painting from your double, who had arranged that it be stolen from her.

Sir, 11:00 PM He makes a face. “I wrote her a letter of apology, as I had many others.”

Kite, 11:00 PM I am sure she understands.

Sir, 11:06 PM Carrick:  well, still makes me a bit nervous to meet her.

Kite, 11:07 PM I would be glad to introduce you. … I do not know a great many important people who could assist you in your situation.

Kite, 11:08 PM I did once meet the Empress. It was... stressful.

Sir, 11:12 PM Carrick:  mmm. I understand”l” almost met the empress.

Kite, 11:12 PM Until you helped us stop him, yes.

Kite, 11:24 PM By convincingly pretending to be ill.

Sir, 11:25 PM He smiles a little, pridefully, the self-effacingly.

Kite, 11:26 PM We could not easily have done that without you. If at all.

Sir, 7:43 PM Carrick:  So, does your mother know about the whole.... prophecy thing?

Kite, 7:44 PM No. I have not seen her since I found out.

Kite, 7:47 PM … I suppose I must tell her.

Sir, 7:50 PM Carrick:  It might be for the best.

Sir, 7:51 PM Carrick:  She might worry more if you dont' tell her.

Kite, 7:53 PM That's true.

Sir, 8:02 PM Carrick:  …. intuitive people tend to pick up that something's wrong. Imaginative people will fill in the blanks with something worse than the actual bad thing.

Kite, 8:04 PM That is true as well. I am not intuitive.

Sir, 8:08 PM Carrick:  I don't think that's true.

Kite, 8:09 PM What makes you think that?

Sir, 8:09 PM Carrick:  … being good at people doesn't make you intuitive.

Kite, 8:11 PM That is true.

Sir, 8:11 PM Carrick:  You have a quick and perceptive grasp of situations around you.

Kite, 8:15 PM Sometimes. Not always.

Sir, 8:16 PM No one is always on top of things.

Kite, 8:17 PM I have difficulty sometimes with expression, more so than perception.

Sir, 8:30 PM Carrick:  There's a lot of kinds of insight, Kite.

Kite, 8:30 PM I have more difficulty with expression than insight. People very often think me cold.

Sir, 8:40 PM Carrick: ….. I don't see how.

Kite, 8:41 PM I forget to smile.

Sir, 8:43 PM Carrick laughs. "I was in politics.  The ability to smile has nothing to do with how warm you are."

Kite, 8:48 PM That is true.

Kite, 8:49 PM I do not feel particularly cold.

Sir, 8:58 PM Carrick:  I don't think you are.

Sir, 9:00 PM I don't think anyone who's met you would think that.

Kite, 9:03 PM Most people do.

Sir, 9:04 PM Carrick:  do they say that? Or is it just because you think they think that?

Kite, 9:04 PM They have said so to others, who told me.

Sir, 9:08 PM Carrick: I would say they didn't really know you, then.

Kite, 9:11 PM Yes.

Kite, 9:19 PM They did not. But no one knows anyone else at the beginning.

Kite, 9:30 PM What was your first impression of me?

Sir, 9:33 PM Carrick thinks. "Thank the Song someone got me out of this tube."

Kite, 9:35 PM Kite smiles.

Kite, 9:35 PM Then what?

Sir, 9:36 PM Carrick:  … you seemed the nicest. The others were letting their opinions of the demon influence them.

Kite, 9:37 PM I do not recall being particularly nice.

Sir, 9:44 PM Carrick:  You were kinder.

Kite, 9:45 PM We should not have been so short with you. It was not your fault and you were likely in shock.

Sir, 9:50 PM Carrick:  You had no idea what was going on either. You just knew me as a bit of an arse. Given even those circumstances, you were still kind to me.

Kite, 9:53 PM And that is all you thought? Not, "She seems stern" or "why is she so serious?" or "She is intimidating and offputting, likely deliberately"?

Kite, 10:00 PM Or "She has a plank up her ass?" I have heard that one before.

Sir, 10:01 PM Carrick:  No, the only one I thought might have had something up her butt was Ander.

Kite, 10:03 PM Oh.

Sir, 10:05 PM Carrick:  Most prudish halfling I've ever met. You'd almost think she was a human.

Kite, 10:07 PM She would be a very short human.

Sir, 10:08 PM I just mean that they're almostalways gregarious, and out going, and flirty.

Sir, 10:09 PM Carrick:  AT least, those from Verendra. Cultural differences from down south, I suppose.

Kite, 10:10 PM People can be very different from their cultural heritage or parentage would suggest.

Sir, 10:13 PM Carrick:  That's true.

Kite, 10:17 PM … I believe my other parent was likely an incubus. Though I am not certain.

Sir, 10:29 PM Carrick:  Why do you think that?

Kite, 10:31 PM The claws are consistent with their natural form, and my mother has no demonic ancestry that she is aware of.

Kite, 10:36 PM And I... I did say I would tell you. It is more difficult than I had expected.

Sir, 10:40 PM Carrick:  I appreciate it. I know it wasn't easy.

Kite, 10:42 PM No, I haven't... said it yet.

Kite, 10:45 PM You're the first person I ever... I believe there's something wrong with me. Likely due to the heritage issue.

Kite, 10:56 PM I have feelings of hunger when I have already eaten food.

Sir, 10:59 PM Carrick:  Hunger forwhat?

Kite, 11:00 PM Not souls. Fortunately. I could not exist in that way.

Sir, 11:29 PM Carrick: What, then?

Kite, 11:32 PM … sex.

Kite, 11:39 PM Kite watches him anxiously.

Sir, 11:41 PM Carrick:  Oh. … could definitely be worse.

Kite, 11:41 PM Much worse.

Kite, 11:41 PM Kite relaxes a little bit and looks away again.

Kite, 11:42 PM I still find it very... shaming.

Sir, 11:43 PM Carrick:  I thougth you were going to say blood.

Kite, 11:44 PM No. That would be significantly less intimate and … disturbing.

Kite, 11:44 PM ... you're the first person I have ever been with when I wasn't hungry.

Sir, 11:45 PM Carrick:  Well. … I don't see why itneed be such a big deal.

Kite, 11:47 PM I was accustomed to going to the temple of Sune, but ... it was not entirely by choice. And I do not like being touched by strangers. I do not always like being touched by people I care for. I used to wait as long as I could.

Sir, 11:53 PM Carrick:  As long as you're not with me... or Cedric, for... sustenance, then there's nothing wrong with it.

Kite, 11:53 PM No. There would be no need.

Kite, 11:54 PM ... and please do not feel obligated at any point. I can always return to the temple if needed.

Kite, 11:55 PM I have been compelled enough, I dislike extremely the idea that someone else should feel compelled.

Sir, 11:55 PM Carrick nods. "I won't."

Kite, 11:57 PM ... are you sure you aren't disturbed? Or concerned?

Sir, 12:10 AM Carrick:  I'm not. Not in regards to me, no.

Kite, 12:11 AM ... in regards to who?

Sir, 12:11 AM Carrick:  You, mostly.

Kite, 12:11 AM Oh. ... why?

Kite, 12:15 AM Kite takes one of his hands, still a little nervous.

Sir, 12:20 AM He gives a winning smile, and gives your hand a squeeze.

Kite, 12:22 AM Kite hugs him tightly and says "Thank you" into his shoulder, more or less.