lusi | The Neinhaus

"Of course, of course." He takes the new drink with a smile. Shaun raises the glass in a toast and then takes a sip. "Thank you. Very kind of you."

He sets the glass down and takes out the dominos. They're well made from wood and the dots are set with gems. There's not just magic invested in them but also time and care and money. Like any good enchanted object.

"I'm sure you're familiar with Heroes' Feast? A lovely spell and very useful for adventurers. Sadly, very few can cast it. I found a way to enchant it to objects that aren't bowls." Shaun's very proud of his work.

They are neat little things. "May I?" he asks, before picking one up to inspect with long fingers and an openly inquisitive gaze.

"Enchantment is unfortunately out of my particular area of expertise, though it has always fascinated me. The ability to turn objects into magically useful items a rare skill." Essek lays down one piece, then picks up another, feeling the smooth wood and noting the twinkle of gems in the light. The pattern on the blocks is likewise interesting. "And these tokens, can you arrange them in different patterns to different effect, or is it just the one spell?"

"Of course." Shaun gestures with a hand. The dominos are attuned to him so he's not worried about anyone accidentally casting the spell and he trusts no one here would steal them.

Well, he hopes they wouldn't.

"No, they cast the one spell whatever combination you put them in. The charge of the enchantment is only on certain ones though." The whole set isn't enchanted. Shaun can't cast Heroes Feast all night. "They cast the spell and if you're bored at dinner can be used to play dominos. Hopefully, though, if you're using this spell I would hope the company is good."

That causes a somewhat amused quirk of an eyebrow and curl to his lips. "You've only just arrived and haven't known most of us for very long. We must be very interesting company, at the very least, for you to bestow such generosity already." Good might be somewhat debatable, but then again, Essek still struggles with knowing his real place within the group, such as it is.

"Dominoes. I've not heard of such a game before. How does it work?"

"I'm a very good judge of character." Shaun laughs warmly. These people are flawed, of course, but all people are. They've welcomed him and taken him in, those are the important things. He's not... one of them. Shaun can tell that but they aren't going to leave him starving and cold.

"It's a deceptively simple game. You start with a hand of seven dominoes and there's one on the center of the table. You match the number of dots to either end of the starting domino. Ones to ones. Twos to twos, so on. If the dots on the exposed ends total any multiple of five the player is awarded that number of points." He walks a domino over his fingers, then tosses it in the air and catches it.

"And you can only place the dominoes in a straight line or a right angle. So, there's a fair bit of strategy involved. It's a very popular game where I'm from." Not Emon, but Marquet. It's a lovely piece of home.

There's a flicker of something in his eyes, his expression going just a little bit tighter at the idea that someone with such judgment could come to such a conclusion of all of them, not just some.

The moment passes, and Essek watches the play of Gilmore's fingers. There's something about an arcanist's hands that is so alluring, attractive. Knowing the power they can extract from the world around them, the beautiful potential within. It helps that Shaun Gilmore is quite attractive all on his own.

"I see." It sounds simple enough. "Do people bet on these games?"

"Oh, of course. All the time. Usually the pot is agreed on before the game begins." His smile is sly and somehow also nostalgic. "I used to win money for travel playing dominos. And working but a little extra was always nice."

Essek is quite interesting to talk to and lovely to look at. Shaun will admit some of that admiration is how rare drow are in Emon. But he also just adores the color purple. Essek wears it well.

"Did you want to play a game?" he asks, eyebrow raised. "We could even bet if you'd like."

Essek seems to consider the tiles a moment, studying them, perhaps to determine whether or not he could do well at the game. After some silence he raises his gaze back to Gilmore, one eyebrow arched in amused interest.

"What shall we bet? Money is not something that is used here. Is there something in particular you want?"

"We could bet magic," Shaun says with a grin. "You could teach me something. I could teach you something. Though, what a wizard can't cast that a sorcerer can would be interesting to find."

Wizards seemed to be the jack of all trades for magic. They learned so much. Shaun's never had a formal education in magic. He's self-taught and proud of it.

"Perhaps I could teach you to twin a spell or carefully cast it."

A smile, somewhat more genuine than it has been thus far, takes over his expression, pleased. Essek shifts, settling forward a little more and rests his chin elegantly on slender fingers. Shaun Gilmore is intriguing; his gentleness and good nature are different than most people Essek has encountered lately, and an interesting balance to most of the rest of the house.

He's still very curious about the connection to Vax'ildan, but he's putting that off for now.

"I like that idea. Agreed, let's play."

Shaun puts the whole set of dominos on the table and mixes them together with his fingers. He doesn't use magic so Essek won't suspect any cheating.

He puts a domino in the center of the table and deals out the rest between the two of them. "I'm feeling very generous so you can make the first move."

He winks and settles back. Shaun's had so much practice playing this game. He imagined he'd win but Essek could surprise him with brilliance. He almost hoped he would. Wouldn't that be fun? He would admire the man in the meantime.

Shaun Gilmore is a terribly charming man, and Essek can't help the smoldering look of approval that appears on his face in response to the wink.

"How kind," he muses, and it's only just barely not a purr.

His gaze soon returns to the pieces before him, taking several moments to study his options, to plot out a few potential strategies even based on his currently limited knowledge. Finally, he picks up and places his first piece nimbly with tapered fingers, setting it down deliberately and flicking violet eyes back to the lovely man across the table.

"Let's try this."

Oh, the little hint of something. He drags his teeth over his lower lip. It's almost like Essek wants to flirt but holds himself back. What a shame. Shaun had never flirted with a drow before. He imagined it was fun.

"Now, if you win... what would you like me to teach you? I'm a man of many talents." Shaun doesn't linger over his move. He places his domino easily with no hesitation.

"Though my teaching style is usually more... hands on." Like pushing Vax to fly for the first time. Oh, the fun that was.

Gilmore's read is mostly accurate, although it's hard to not rise to the subtle bait the man keeps dangling in front of his nose. Yet Essek finds he appreciates the hints perhaps even more than open flirtation. His eyes linger obviously on those lips, then carefully watch his hands as he moves the piece. He remembers Vax's bare curiosity about his hands and magic the first time they met, and can't help wondering what sort of magic those hands have woven for him.

"Indeed, I imagine that you are." There's a slight lilt to his voice, amused. "And hands on sounds...preferable."

Essek examines his pieces again, and places another. He tilts his head, considering.

"Teach me something you're particularly proud of."

"Have you ever met a sorcerer that can cast Identify?" The pride is obvious in Shaun's voice. He knows that spell is the domain of wizards and artificers and what not. Sorcerers weren't supposed to be able to cast it. "Because I can. I taught myself. Picked apart the magic and fundamentals of the spell and made it work for me."

He plays another piece with the same sort of casual arrogance. "I wonder if I can teach you something only sorcerers can do. Twin a spell, for example. That's a fun one. And I think something of a worthy challenge for you."

And he loved a good mind as much as he enjoyed a beautiful face or pleasing body. He imagines Essek has all those things.

Essek's interest is clearly piqued. Far from put off from the pride and arrogance in his voice, he is most impressed. Clearly there is much more to this man than he could have predicted.

"I must admit that no, I have not." The number of sorcerers he knows is quite limited, but none have been that accomplished. "Had you not been born a sorcerer, you would have made a fine wizard, with a mind such as yours."

He places his next piece shortly after Gilmore, his decisions faster and more deliberate now. "I should be delighted to take on a such a challenge."

Slender fingers lift to touch his own lips thoughtfully, peering at Gilmore curiously over the game. "And what should you like to learn from me? I regret I am currently unable to access my Dunamancy, but I could still explain the tenants of a spell."

Shaun laughs softly. "I can't imagine life without magic in my veins. Without the spark I made as a child, who knows if I ever would have gotten interested in magic."

It's so hard to say what he would have become without the magic he was born with. There weren't many opportunities where he was born. "But I appreciate the compliment. Thank you."

He can tell Essek is starting to understand the game. Not perfectly but he's figured it out, the basics. Shaun makes his next move to secure more points for himself.

"Is your favorite spell Dunamancy? Because I would like to learn that." Shaun felt it would tell him more about Essek to know that from him.

It's after that move that Essek sees his fatal mistake; he won't win this round, but it won't be completely embarrassing.

"Dunamancy is a school of magic that is unique to my people." He picks up his piece, turning it in his fingers. "Only one human has managed to master some of its power. It deals with time and gravity. I personally have developed some of its tenement spells."

As he lays the piece down, his fingertips linger before he settles back once again.
Essek considers Gilmore a further moment.

"What does it feel like?" he asks, voice soft and gently, genuinely curious. "To be born with it? I have studied from a young age, it has become part of my daily life, but magic is not in my blood, as it is in yours."

"Oh, just dangle the challenge out there for me and not be able to learn such a magic." Shaun playfully waggles a finger at Essek. "Shame on you."

He would like to learn it. To be the second human to manage it? Well, his ego can live with that but if the magic is beyond Essek at the moment his own limited magic might not be able to do it either. Perhaps with a little more time and once he's regained his spells Shaun could convince Essek to teach him.

Shaun actually gives Essek's question the contemplation it deserves. It's a few minutes of thought before he answers. "I would most equate it to the same sort of comfort a Cleric gets from their God. I know it is with me. Always. I don't need spellbook and while a wizard might end up spent I can pull on that power inside me and bring it back. I am never without it."

Essek offers a faint, serene smile, though there's an intensity to his gaze that's stripped of the previous teasing, leaving just bare honesty.

"You could do it," he murmurs quietly. "I can still teach you. I believe Caleb may be able to demonstrate one or two. But it is possible." And more possible, besides, if he could complete a few more squares to please the Augur.

Gilmore's answer shifts something in his chest. It's a funny pang of understanding and envy. It shows in his expression, a rare, soft moment of openness with someone he's only just met. Briefly, Essek can't help but wonder if being able to find connections with people so easily now is entirely because of the Nein, or if he had simply been without the right sort of people all his life. Would he have gone down the paths that he had if people such as them, such as Vax and Gilmore, had existed in the Dynasty?

"That sounds...beautiful." And it does, truly. Essek places his next tile almost absently. "I find myself a little envious. What a comfort it must be, to know that it can never be taken from you."

"You'll have to teach me then. Since it looks like I'm going to win this one." Shaun shouldn't assume given they're still playing but he feels that this game will go his way. "And I'd very much like to learn."

The soft expression catches Shaun's interest. It makes Essek appear... not younger, that's not the right phrase but less... worn. Less... heavy. Shaun can't quite put his thumb on it but there's something there, something more.

"Oh, it's possible. The force here has blocked me from it." His frustration is clear in his voice and his expression. Shaun drums his fingers on his knee for a moment. "It's there, but weaker. Like I'm just learning it all again."

Only Vax got to know that it scared Shaun. No one else.

His demeanor shifts back toward amusement, leaning his head into fingers loosely curled against his palm as the corners of his lips twitch up into something more wry.

"So you are," Essek agrees lightly as they play out the remaining dominoes, his loss clear. "And I would be happy to teach you."

But the next piece of information is discouraging news. Essek frowns, brows drawing together delicately in concern as he tilts his head cautiously. Gilmore seems a little too at ease for having most of it gone, afer just explaining how much his magic is part of him. Even he and Caleb weren't completely bereft.

"How much of it have you lost?"

"I seem to be only able to cast cantrips." Shaun demonstrates with a little prestidigitation making a lovely shower of purple and gold sparkles and the words 'Shaun wins' appear over the dominos. "But when I reach for the magic necessary to cast anything higher... it doesn't come when I call."

The Augur has blocked him from himself. His soul. His heart. His magic. It's there but he can't reach it. It's almost worst than losing it completely. Almost.

"I believe it's to motivate me to have sex as soon as possible so I can reclaim that power." He picks up the dominos to reset the game. "And it's a powerful motivator but I might wait a bit just to be spiteful. Magic or no, I'm still glorious."

One eyebrow quirks up at the little display, amused. Essek gives a little flick of his fingers to send little spinning silvery dodecahedron shapes whirling around the words.

"I see," he muses thoughtfully. So it is worse than what he and Caleb have been made to deal with. It must be especially difficult for Gilmore, to be suddenly without such a vital piece of his person. "My sympathies, not even I have been stripped of that much power."

Slender fingertips tap at his lips as he watches Gilmore reset the game. The last little quip has him smiling a little.

"And so you are. But yes, it is." It's on the tip of his tongue to offer help in that matter, but Essek refrains; knowing there is a connection between Gilmore and Vax'ildan, he's reluctant to be too forward. For now, at least.

Shaun grins as Essek joins in. Maybe, deep down, there's a playful side to this man well hidden behind a stoic expression and dry tone. It might take a little teasing to draw out but... he thinks it's there.

"Well, with my magic I don't think I'd be terribly motivated to find sexual partners. I enjoy sex, it's fun, but I'd focus more on using that magic to... cheat this island." Shaun dealt the dominos again and set the starting piece. He once again let Essek make the first move.

He will figure things out with Vax. Shaun is determined to do that the moment Vax stops being flighty and skittish around him. But he wouldn't mind getting to know the wizard more intimately. "I do so hate being kidnapped. It motivates me to subvert my captor's expectations."

The Neinhaus

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject