Cygna's jaw just drops as Ra'am speaks, and she stares at him, absolutely gobsmacked.
Charles Edward Vintner interrupts in his thick, fake British accent, That, my good man, is a very one-dimensional view of the term pleasure. And Cersei Lannister was anything but a one-dimensional woman. She was interested in the indulgence of all her senses, not just the obvious ones. For example, she...well, she quite enjoyed sunbathing, and a well-ripened grape. None of the other Lannisters would pause in the midst of battle and take a good whiff, not like Mother Lannister would, oh no. She had quite a throat on her, too, I can tell you that. Absolutely adored singing."
Ra'am doesn't notice Cygna just staring at him.
When he hears the grapevine announce his knowledge of Cersei, he says, "Mr. Charles Edward Vintner, you are correct that it is a one dimensional analysis. However I saw evidence in her quarters of implements of self pleasure and implements associated with an interest in astrology, with no apparent notes or other information about her lab. From that, I drew a conclusion that suggests that it has been hidden by magic means and needs to be unlocked somehow. Do you have an idea? I'd be interested in the discussion. Or do you know about the dwarves, because that's what I'm currently researching."
Since Viscaria's been prisoner in the Dwarfs dungeons for the past something like two years, anything she knows would be what she had overheard the guards speaking. So, let's call it a Per roll and a Faerie Lore roll, see what she heard and how she interprets it.
Charles Edward's leaves seem to visibly thrive under Ra'am's praise, "What? Oh, thank you, sir. Thank you. Just a bit of obvious deduction there. It's amazing how one can overlook the obvious. For example, if I were Cersei Lannister -- hypothetically speaking, you understand. If I were Cersei Lannister, then I would keep my notes in the desk that followed me around like a lovestruck puppy."
Per 0 + Faerie Lore 2 + die 6 = 8
Viscaria is also staring open-mouthed at Ra'am, although in her case, it's coming from the opposite end of the prude-scale from Cygna.
"Yes ordinarily I look for simple explanations. However in this case The Bookstand of Hespera is designed to hold a book and writing implements, only, and not for storage.". MT (10)+ int (3)+ Die roll of 4=17 to know about The Bookstand.
With a 17, Ra'am also realizes that the standard variation of The Bookstand of Hespera has been around for a century or more, and that a number of useful variations have come out of Verditus tinkering with the basic design (It's a ReHe 15 item, plenty of room to work in additional details). Not to mention that the dog-like behavior patterns of the Bookstand in Cersei's lab was clearly unusual.
Plus, you did see a large book on the bookstand, which it swallowed right before running off.
Tangent: Most notable among the more recent variations is the Cupboard of Hespera's Mother, which is designed to aid in the kitchen, and the Toolchest of a Man Twice Removed From Hespera's Lineage, both of which were invented by Norbert Guntar ex Verditus, pater of Viscaria Lynchis, and a Verditus known across seven tribunals for some of the worst named inventions in the history of the Order.
(I had actually made up that last bit over four months ago. It probably isn't nearly as funny now.)
Hiems is really intrigued by the librarian reaction, but says nothing, staying mostly quiet and watching.
Meaning that if we don't manage to do the same wine, our trade with the dwarves might soon be over. Can we keep it with mundane wine?
He wonders... Maybe warping some wine through a high-level spell or a Creo Vim one might do the trick?
Yup. This is offensive, making such an offer to a lady as if she was some common tramp.
He tries to keep to himself, but the further conversation between Ra'am and the gravepine only nails it, treating Cygna as non-existent and a tool, both for Ra'am pleasure and for access to Cersei's magical secrets.
Taking a few steps towards Ra'am
Sir. You may want to apologizes towards lady cygna. Now.
Note, this isn't the first time that Ra'am had voiced this conclusion (in front of Heims), and his tone is entirely academic again. Ra'am has shown no lecherous interest in her sexual proclivities, that should be entirely clear in his tone and method of delivery. And neither case has been delivered lecherously suggesting that this is for his pleasure.
Perigrine just indicated she was gobsmacked, not offended. Approaching an academic and asking for an apology for stating a conclusion they've reached based on the facts as they see them isn't going to happen, especially when he's not involved in the conversation.
Ra'am doesn't hear Heims speaking as he's reading, but does sense him coming closer and saying something. "Ahh, Heims, perhaps you can take a look at Tyrion's notes. I've been so busy researching Vis sources and this dwarf contract while Cygna's been studying other things like that map, herself, otherwise I'd ask her."
To be clear, from your description, I didn't get that it was substantially larger (large enough to hold a book within as an amaris). Then there's the issue that commentary made by Ra'am about the bookstand probably shouldn't have happened, based on you bringing the threads of mine and Azura's together at a later post. So, I've been playing Ra'am as having barely seen the bookstand, it ran past as he came up the stairs and jumped out on the second floor. The events, as best I can sort them out is that Ra'am comes in just as the bookstand runs away. Not sure he ever sees the book being taken.
[color=red]"Hiems," Cygna says with jaw clenched, [color=red]"Thank you, but don't...I've heard a lot worse, believe me."
Although Viscaria's sense of the passage of time was a little skewed by her lengthy imprisonment, it feels like the dwarfs had had a great feast with the "special Cijaran vintage" a couple of years ago. Last year, the guards were greatly looking forward to the Midsummer's Bash, and were sorely put out when it didn't happen. Her treatment suffered somewhat for a while after that.
Decide to make an awareness roll to see if Ra'am notices this. Aware (0) +Per(0) + Die 1, reroll, result of 2*6=12. If it's not stressful, then he says nothing and keeps studying not noticing anything, and I'll edit accordingly. I can see it either way.
"Looking up from his reading, noticing everything has kinda gone quiet as everyone stares at him. What?" It's readily apparent that Ra'am has no idea what's going on, just that something is going on.
Seeing the potential for this to get unnecessarily ugly, Azura tries to defuse the situation with inappropriate humour and misdirection. "Oh! We were just debating when it is or isn't acceptable to reference a woman's sexuality. For example, there was this one time I seduced a young Jerbiton apprentice. His master was so incensed when he found out why Optimus hadn't shown up to help him in the lab that day, he threw a summa across the room (and we're not talking any summa but I mean this was a copy of Bonisagus' original Magic Theory text, this particular copy had been scribed by my Founder himself and his penmanship was vastly superior to old Boney's, so really this copy was better than the original). Anyway, as mad as Heinrich had been to find his apprentice in bed with a fourteen-year-old girl, he went to my master and then found himself completely incapable of explaining why he was so angry with me. He just sat there spluttering, "Your apprentice... she... she... she...." Old kraut looked so pathetic sitting there, arguing with himself about how to get recompense for his lost day of research without insulting a lady's honour by talking about her promiscuity, I felt bad for him! So I just told my master right there, "I shagged his apprentice when they were supposed to be doing research," and Heinrich was so mortified he just left and never spoke of the incident again. My master, on the other hand, was so pleased that I was taking such a personal interest in expanding the Founder's bloodline, he gave me a week off of lab duties to go sunbathing at the lake!"
Ra'am blanches at Azura's story and now seems slightly offended himself. "Speaking so casually about one's personal dalliances isn't even close to what we were discussing." And then it dawns on him, looking from face to face.
"Oh, you don't mean...
"I never said she and I..." indicating Cygna.
"I'm happily married.
"Father of two.
"I could never.
"Please believe me, I was speaking about the previous occupant of the sanctum. I was suddenly struck by the fact that security of the sanctum was probably achieved through readily apparent factors and then stated that. The contents of the room.."
And then realizing that no matter what he says will help, he turns beet red and stuffs his nose back into the book, pretending to read. You can tell he's pretending, because you can't hear him speak. After a little bit you hear him speaking in a different language, one Azura will recognize immediately.
Cygna blushes at Azura's ribald tale. [color=red]"Does no-one have any sense of propriety around here!?" Cygna cries to the heavens. She then heads toward the door, obviously exasperated.
Just before she leaves, however, she turns to the library staff. [color=red]"I'll talk to you ladies about this Gilderoy chap later."
She's going to take another walk to calm down, maybe splash some water on her face, before tracking down Marguerite Vintner and talking to her the rest of the day.
Arf, you 2 posted while I was gone... I'll edit... Edited!!!
Ra'am should pay more attention to others.
However he may have said it, it was nonetheless offending to make such a proposition to a noble lady. Offending, too, to treat her like a means to an end. He may be lecherous, or not. But he shouldn't say things like that to a lady, and he shouldn't treat people as if they don't exist.
(Paranoiac OOC: this is Hiems reacting, eh?)
As he sees it:
- If it is a lecherous proposition => fail
- If it is acamedic => Fail: He tells cygna to debase herself for some vis, like a tramp. The fact that he's willing to "help" only shows him to be attached to wealth instead of people and honor
- Plus he ignores her and her feelings => fail.
But, before he may say or do anything
This stops Hiems dead.
He breathes, then turns to Cygna, slowly, looking at her. What was that? What could have happened to her?
Still looking at Cygna, and thus turning his back to Ra'am, he'll wait until Azura tells her baudry story. Whatever, if she's a tramp and a peasant, she's a tramp and a peasant. Still, he recognizes her intent behind the vulgarity...
He'll wait through Cygna's outburst, perfectly understanding her.
Looking at the floor, his skin becoming colder by the minute
Thanks azura. But no. You... Ra'am... Whether you realize it or not, you were insulting to this lady, in more ways than one. I would have challenged you over this, but she has more kindness and generosity than any of us deserve. I suggest you apologize to her whenever you can, and thank her, too.
And with that, he walks toward the exit, with the intent to hole up in his sanctum.
Azura tries to keep a straight face, but gives up, and falls into a heap of giggles. She whispers conspiratorially to Gerald about how ridiculous it is for magi to hold the same silly standards of social propriety as mundane society, before quietly regaling the porcupine with a tale about seducing a Jerbiton maga, just to see if she could succeed.
BTW, Azura is continually monitoring Gerald for signs that his disposition might be improving (or worsening... 
) She can't imagine anything worse than losing a familiar or vice versa, and she really wants the cute li'l rodent to find the will to live. Would Folk Ken be appropriate since he's sentient, or would it require Animal Ken (which she doesn't have)?
Animal Ken allows you to speak with a animal, so no.
With a normal animal, you'd have used animal handling, but he is intelligent, so I guess folk ken is the way to go.
EDIT: Checked RoP: M: Folk Ken is for humans. For a magical, intelligent creature, you should use Magic Lore.