A visitor to Darkenhold

[Glenn]

Glenn knew something about that palm of Ariane's, or at least his the finally healing scar on his arm did. The motion, then, had been different then and for very different reasons, ones more along the line of reflex and self-preservation. Still, if anyone could tell you the sort of force that might be behind it, it was the young mapmaker.

She had been very, very principled about holding back any real violence upon him, even when there were reasons for it, either due to what he had done or due to other things done to her. That she had gone so far as to strike this man was telling. That she hadn't stabbed him despite her body language was telling as well.

Nonetheless, Glenn didn't look too impressed by Dias' words. They might have been good with someone else, but they weren't the sort of things for Ariane. At least, it wouldn't be HIS technique in dealing with this situation, in dealing with her, and it might well be his technique in dealing with most in Myrken. So he silently watched next to Siris. Drama and easedropping DID happen to be part of his business, after all.

[Carnath-Emory]

One half of my heart, she'd once said of her sister, long, long ago, and she had meant the words. Were they less true, were her regard for Quincy Randall any less than what it is, if her sister's care for the man were less than what it is...

Well, then Dias Coyne would have enjoyed far simpler a welcome.

It makes for curious circumstances, doesn't it? So that she must appreciate his return, and what little she'd seen upon Quincy's delicate features in response to it. And in the same moment that she welcomes the return, she must condemn the absence, and perhaps Dias himself must reckon it worth something, that the condemnation is so ferocious.

There is no satisfaction to be had from this moment, except that he had not retreated an inch from that blow; there is no pleasure at all in doing the young man harm. And in the wake of it she has stepped back a pace, and afforded him a measuring gaze, this woman who has so little appreciation for promises at all. Except that this had been explained to her once, this matter of promises and their keeping, and how had those words gone? But a promise, when it is true and of the heart, becomes much more than a promise; it is an indication, a confession...

And that is worth something, in this swordswoman's mind.
That is worth a great deal indeed.

There are no words for him now, none at all. But perhaps a smile is answer enough, and that is what he has of her: this subtle curve to the corners of her mouth, and a hand that accepts what he's returned to her.

[Quincy]

A sharp crack of flesh meeting flesh echoes in a chamber that does not have enough books to absorb the sound, and the one hand tucked at the small of Quincy's back tightens into a small fist; similarly, there is a tightening about her dark eyes in a very silent wince. She observes with a raptness born of great interest; if she does not seem upset, it is only because there is no empath here -- no scale-skinned traders to read beyond the fighter's proverbial armour of mostly-schooled features.

When Ariane smiles and takes back her sword, a large amount of tension lifts from this room. The girl exhales very quietly, slender shoulders relaxing. It is after a few, long moments of silence that she realizes that someone has to say something. How exactly does one move past an awkward situation like this? 'Well, that was fun.' 'Now that that's done with.. !' 'Whoa, did you hear that echo?'

In the end, Quincy opts to not address the situation at all, and with a sudden grin, she clasps her hands together underneath her chin: "Well, I dunno about all o' you -- but I've been smellin' somethin' cookin' in the kitchen all mornin' long and I'm gonna go crazy if I don't eat soon. You're gonna stay for lunch, right, Glenn?!"

[Glenn]

Glenn Burnie had a fairly good idea when he was being used as a diversion or at the least an icebreaker. He used Treadwell or the demon girl, Aerin or really anyone in the Dagger who wasn't the governor or Ariane for such a thing every now and again. Normally, he probably wouldn't allow it, at least not lightly.

This time, however, was a little different. He was a guest, as always, in Quincy's Darkenhold. Moreover, free food was involved. He had to get some value for missing a chunk of training today, right? So with an amiable shrug, he decided to play the role. "Lunch sounds good, yeah. I never really get to have it here, only breakfast." Granted, he would eat quickly and rush to see Rhaena, but that was fine too. The Olwak girl was used to his somewhat erratic schedule and he always factored in a great deal of time between training and his usual lunch date. Two lunches in one day was a fine idea in his book.

[Tebrin]

Dias returned that smile with one of his own, releasing his grip upon the blade when she accepts it - lest he lose a digit or two as it is withdrawn. He was thankful, truly, that Ariane was reasonable - or, at least, willing enough to give Dias the benefit of some doubt.

Or, failing that, simply NOT stabbing him with the blade he had returned, and offering him a smile that had reassured Miss Randall at his side that further violence was NOT forthcoming. He would not apologize for the interruption of anyone's training - it had not been HIS desire to draw Ariane from whatever task she had been attending. He glanced to Glenn when the man was addressed, offered him a polite nod - he would introduce himself later, perhaps, for now simply did not feel too social an occasion to do so. He certainly had nothing to say to Ariane Carnath-Emory at the moment.

And so he turned to Quincy, simply content to allow her to direct their disregard of everything that just happened.

Boy, this wasn't awkward.