OOM: A Tale of Two Cities

[herr_bookman]

Pain never used to bother Autor, not really. He didn't dwell much on his or others'--there was no point wasting the time when he had so much work to be done.

But then Lohengrin flinched and Rabastan cried, so now the boy is looking back at other ponds he may or may not have made waves in. To his chagrin, he found a few. Even worse, he found some storms ready to burst.

So he put off his work and scoured the library for a solution. He devoured poetry after poetry book, history after history, and found nothing. As much as it irritates him, he's out of his depth. He knows he needs to turn to a person with experience in these matters.

Someone who knows him, but is disconnected from the situation. Someone who can't possibly guess who else is involved. Someone who happens to be walking right beside him at the end of a long day.

"Majesty Lemia?" he asks hesitantly, and then straightens his posture. "You have a great deal of experience in diplomatic negotiations, do you not?"

Comments

[herr_bookman]

Autor is torn between rolling his eyes and flinching. He does neither, instead choosing to offer Nash a closer look, if he wants one.

"No," he says, and snorts. "They have guards surrounding them at all times, who will handle threats far more efficiently than my ordnance. Plus, I wouldn't want to injure them should something happen. Good heavens, Mia."

He sniffs and turns his head, clearly affronted by her lack of faith. "Nor do I carry them in the library, around the books, for the same logic."

[gorgonfondness]

"I didn't know you were carrying anything like that," Mia says, only a bit relenting. "Althena's sake, Autor, you could have said something."

"That's a cheery topic to bring up," Lemia points out.

"Does this mean you'll be taking courier jobs through Nanza?" Nash adds.

[herr_bookman]

"I could have," he concedes. "But there are pros and cons to being underestimated." Then he raises a brow, trying to keep a straight face. "And I figured you'd keep me from making them in the first place had I informed you of my intentions."

Then he shrugs. "Also, you didn't really ask. I don't have magical ability, so how could I possibly be a threat, right?"

He blinks at Nash. "That's a good idea. I'll probably make more money that way."

[gorgonfondness]

Mia cringes, unsure of what to say.

"You're too trusting sometimes, Mia," Nash tells her, essentially saying it for her.

[herr_bookman]

Autor replaces the grenade and sighs. He crosses to Mia slowly and offers his hand.

"'To this day, she still cares far too much about other people,'" he says, with an encouraging smile. "'Her council advises her to stop doling out kindnesses willy-nilly, as she'll likely get herself killed.'"

He shakes his head, chuckling. "And that would be a damn shame."

[gorgonfondness]

"But she'd never be able to forgive herself if it brought harm to the people she loves in her home," Nash remarks.

"Okay, that's enough," she tells them both. "This matter doesn't change what I know of Autor's character."

[herr_bookman]

Autor drops his hand and backs off as gracefully as he can manage. He's a little curious as to what she does think of his character. A little. The matter has been called into question pretty often of late.

He finds himself taking in more oxygen than his lungs actually need. So he turns to the woman filling his usual role, that of the silent observer. "More tea, Majesty Lemia?"

[gorgonfondness]

"No, I'm quite content," the former Guildmaster answers with a pat to Autor's shoulder.

[herr_bookman]

The boy nods politely and takes his seat again. Close, but not too close to the former Guildmaster.

Mia clearly underestimated him, again and again. And that bothered him. He didn't know why, but it did. There are many people who are threatening in Milliways. Am I not allowed to be? Why would I be the exception?

He had a sneaking suspicion that it was because she welcomed him into her home. 'You cannot misrepresent your city or your resources,' Lemia had said. And, remembering that, Autor winces.

Eventually, he screws up the courage to look at the younger Ausa again.

[gorgonfondness]

Mia gives him a sigh and a shake of her head.

"I wonder how upset Draco will be when he learns he's missed out on a potential potions apprentice."

"Does Draco need one right now?" Nash asks.

"Dragonlight's been swamped, as I'm sure you've seen, Autor. It's the shop at the end of Black Rose Street, the one with the fountain in front."

[herr_bookman]

"Wait, what?" Autor says, blinking at them. "What? I can't do that!

"I mean, I've made a working Muggle form of the Bruise Removal Paste and I'm working on a Girding Potion," he rambles, "but I'm fairly certain that if I try, say, a potion for closing wounds or a Dr. Ubbly's Oblivious Unction I'll end up poisoning myself."

He fidgets a bit and stares at his shoes. "As everyone under the sun keeps pointing out, I lack magical ability."

Looking up, he furrows his brow. "Why are you being so nice to me?"

[gorgonfondness]

"Because I'd rather help you find positive outlets for your obvious skills," Mia answers.

"And because Draco can probably keep you in line," Nash adds.

"He's not that difficult," Lemia remarks. "But I'd much rather have him with me in the library."

[herr_bookman]

Autor leans back. "Oh," he says. He's not sure what else to do.

Except give a side-eye to Nash. There's always that.

"What hours does Draco keep? I could drop my courier work and work at the shop then," he says, glancing at Lemia. "But I would prefer to stay at the library as much as I'm able."

[gorgonfondness]

"There are some evening hours you can work if you like. I'll ask Draco what he might have for you."

[herr_bookman]

Autor adjusts his glasses, nodding. "Evening hours would be preferable; I'm sure there is inventory to catalog, if the store is as busy as you say."

He begins gathering the empty cups. "Thank you for these opportunities, Mia. Majesty Lemia."

And Nash... Well, Nash just gets a good-natured smirk.

[gorgonfondness]

Nash smirks back and goes, "Thanks for the tea, Autor."

[herr_bookman]

Autor ignores him completely, because, well, that's just what you do when you want to get a rise out of people like Nash. Ridiculous, Lemia said, he thinks, but not in a bad way.

And Autor finds, to his great surprise, that he likes Vane, Lunar, and its people.