private to Bull;

[tevinteriscoming]

[After the trial lets out, he's tired, but not ready to go back to his room and fall asleep. Instead, he takes his several bottles of wine left over from ordering at the trial and will go find a place to drink in privacy. Before he departs, he notices Bull, and considers maybe speaking to him - but, instead, cheerily suggests he might be amenable to sharing a bottle, and then leaves without telling Bull where he'll actually be.

The place he winds up in is the chapel. Why not, it's quiet, and no one is in here, and the idea of it tickles his subversive streak.

It's decent enough wine but he didn't get any cups, so he's drinking straight out of the bottle as he lounges on one of the pews.]

Comments

[tevinteriscoming]

Yes, quite.

As though you don't wish to know my opinions on the other mages, considering that any one of them may try to come after us. It would serve you right if I decided I'd keep my thoughts to myself. [He doesn't want to, though.] The only one who might be a threat is Judar, and I imagine he can be distracted the same way you might a dog. The rest are subpar. Well, Adam will be good someday, and perhaps Kazuma as well.

[qundercover]

Adam's a nice kid.

[ Seems to be sincere? Adam was a nice kid. Honestly. He could use some training, but he doesn't hold the same opinion of mages as many of the Qun.]

Judar do anything to seem like a threat? Kid has got some bad jokes and bad lies, but yeah. Easily distractible.

[tevinteriscoming]

He is that, and he has the thoughtful and inquisitive mind that makes for a good mage. [Good to see that we're agreed, we're adopting him.]

Likewise, my comments on Judar. His card shows more variety in disciplines than the others, and from brief conversations, he is attuned to the theoretical side more than one would suspect given his general, ah, demeanor. The others are, in varying degrees, students and apostates. I suspect Judar is actually trained.

...Though, I ought to warn you. I haven't exactly advertised this fact, but I am far from full power.

[qundercover]

Turns out that my "hitting things really hard" skill turns out to be hard to suppress after all. Pretty useful in the long run.

So, point is, none of them really that dangerous anymore in a fight. Except maybe Judar. Good to know. And would recommend continuing to not advertise that - they probably know, but you can make 'em wonder. Let them speculate, people always overestimate this shit.

[tevinteriscoming]

Oh, is that what you recommend? Thank you, that strategy never would have occurred to me on my own. And I've been referencing my magic constantly merely for my own health. [Well is it that far fetched.]

Believe me, I've thought it through. I only thought to warn you not to expect a barrier any time soon. I need some time to assess my capabilities while it's safe to do so.

[qundercover]

Wasn't exactly expecting one. Managed without barriers before too. [ Is that a jab at Dorian's barrier skills or just a statement of fact. Who knows. (Dorian everyone knows you barrier everyone else first) ]

I see anything about the mages, I'll pass it on.

[tevinteriscoming]

[Raising an eyebrow.]

I should hope so. [Since it's of no use to you on your own.]

[qundercover]

[ You're getting an offer of a direct line to information from a literal spy, and you're not even a little grateful. You're welcome, Dorian!!!!]

Only because we're friends.

[tevinteriscoming]

[Yeah, but you were being shady about it, offering to pass on mage related information. He had just assumed they were obviously sharing information from the get go. But that's a lot better.]

Oh, are we? I must have missed the announcement.

[qundercover]

Oh, sorry. You want an official announcement?

[Enemy of my enemy and all. Holding out his bottle.]

To friends.

[tevinteriscoming]

[Well, obviously he's supposed to be an asshole about this, but he smiles a little despite himself, and his cover is blown. Nothing for it, sighing resignedly.]

I suppose I've had worse friends. Well. A few, at least.

[Clinking his bottle against it!]