(Ouch... Too much blue! )
Having delivered the spider to his master, Gerard will leave them. He knows Hiems can take care of himself, and that he's have perceived any trickery (a false assumption about second sight), so she really must be a maga, and not a faerie or demon. Clearly dangerous, but the kind of danger that the "kid" could use. He? He'll pass his turn, no thanks.
But back to our magi, as Hiems ponders Azura's words a little.
I understand your objections. I would have had the same. I intend to add something, but, to tell the truth, it's a little far down my list of priorities, at the moment.
Anyway, we can walk a little. The place is nice, if you except the occasionnal vines, and the weather is clement enough.
As they discuss some more...
I can take my own letters, of course, but my sodales... I do not even know what they're doing, nor do I particularly want to. Their affairs are their own. I've seen viscaria, but that's all. So I fear you may be on your own here.
Sadly, the same goes for Jaime. And we have no princeps. Really, we haven't decided much: As far as I know, everyone, myself included, is busy settling in. I guess the biggest autority figure you could find these days would be our autocrat, and she only handles mundane matters, so that won't help you much.
(...)
I guess... As a full-fledged magus of Phoenix, you may probably speak to me, and maybe I'll be able to advise you, but I won't be able to take any decision binding the covenant.
As azura flirts, she'll notice several things:
- Hiems doesn't seem to notice most flirting, or to ignore it. It feels a little like talking to a woman, save that he's quite attractive (In truth, he's so wrapped up and detached, he doesn't notice anything that is not glaringly obvious, viscaria style)
- If she gets to touch his skin, it is cold, like a corpse, despite the fact that he is clearly a living, breathing, and very beautiful young man.
- I guess your rolll will also mean Azura's conversation to be quite pleasant. He'll speak nicely with her, will appear to follow her conversation and be interested in what topics she may bring up, but won't appear to be particularly enjoyed or bored. That is, until he suddenly clams shut. He'll also increase the physical distance between them a little, without realizing it.
1d10=9 + Guile 2 + 1 hiding his emotions + Attribute? + Cool-tempered trait??? = 12 + ? If she can perceive it, Azura will notice, right before that happens, the first hint of emotion she sees in him, and that is pain and sadness.
What happens, in short: For a moment, he takes some pleasure in Azura's company and conversation. Which reminds him of another lady, in another time. Which hurts. Which causes him to shut down.