24 ◦ [VIDEO]

[akingmuststand]

[It's rare indeed to see any sort of mistake from Schneizel el Britannia, but it seems that on this occasion, he's been caught out. The screen shows the camera's view, pointing upwards at the night sky, bright with stars. Black and imposing against that backdrop, the pillars and high roof of the temple can just be seen

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[video]

[a_la_turk]

[ It's a little more than an hour later that the video feed is activated in response and Valeria leans forward and into the candlelight, her arms crossed and at rest atop the pages of the book in which she had only just started to write. She had been of the mind to record every detail she could recall of the dreams and had she thought about it, she still was, but to find her the network visited by such a broadcast was... wrenching, in a word, both emotionally and mentally, but especially following dreams of that magnitude. What hints might be present in her facial expression, however, were rooted out in those minutes before she activated the feed so that it is, for the most part, a note of surprise and... something else, something not so easily placed that is featured in both her expression and tone. ]

Schneizel.

[ And she pauses a brief moment, considering her words very carefully. There are a great deal many things she could say, a great deal many things she wants to say, but she has not held her tongue and heart in check for so many months to give them free reign on a whim. Indeed, she reminds herself that her concern should rest more with his safety and perhaps with the implications behind his initial expression than with anything else, so that she forces herself to temper her emotions with something akin to practicality. Despite this, she can't quite help her initial statement, nor the faint, barely audible tinge of underlying relief that accompanies it. ]

Your timing is impeccable. I trust you've made it to the village by now.

[video]

[akingmuststand]

[ -- that voice. He recognizes it instantly, and when his lips quirk, the smile is small, still a little taut, but knowing and perhaps fond.]

Valeria.

[A nod of recognition, and his smile brightens, warms as though at the sight of her. He chuckles, an airy, flyaway little thing, expression turning a tad sardonic.]

Was it? Their's was less so, I must say. [But, that's hardly important against what's happening now. On to business.] I have. Perhaps you might update me on anything I've missed?

[video]

[a_la_turk]

[ Valeria does not miss that smile, nor the change about it as he regards her and it's as much a relief as it is a comfort. She does not allow herself to dwell too long upon it, however, her attention fluid with its attraction to the matter at hand. That the matter at hand should be business is no surprise and proves in some ways a relief as it's all too easy to fall into professionalism and temporarily drown out the emotions beneath the surface. Inclining her head forward, she speaks, rapidly shifting through the relevant information she has collected during his absence. ]

There is little of significance to report with the exception of one of our number having potentially damaged our relations with the forest. The cause of this is likely a lack of information in our welcome to new arrivals as the individual responsible was amongst those newer to the village.

[ It's that or the individuals brought to Demeleier are becoming more hardheaded and prone to confrontation, but until she has evidence to support that claim, she won't be issuing it. Instead, she moves on. ]

The Watch continues its work. There has been no resolution that I've heard of regarding the murder of the young girl. On a lesser note, an unnamed resident has seen fit to draw up some form of... nonsense he or she has christened a 'love-love' list. Nothing else comes to mind.

[video]

[akingmuststand]

[Another nod, this time of understanding.] I see.

[He's unsurprised at the range of her tidings, the latter bringing out a hair of amusement amidst his concern. Unimportant as it is, he can already guess at the culprit. As for the rest, there's the dream to consider, something he'll have to think about once settled, and Myhrta will likely already have matters with the forest in hand.]

Thank you. It's been two weeks, right?

[video]

[a_la_turk]

You're welcome.

[ Lifting a gloved hand, she pushes a few stray strands of black behind her ear and inclines her head forward once more. To think a little less than a month ago, the roles had been reversed. ]

That is correct. If I may, how long did you return for and did you recall your time in Demeleier?

[video]

[akingmuststand]

Only a few hours. [His mouth curls into the pensive frown once more.] I did not recall a thing. However, my mind was preoccupied with other matters.

[video]

[a_la_turk]

I see.

[ And she pauses, considering whether or not to inquire as to those matters. Details or none, his words coupled with his initial expression do seem to indicate that he has yet to reach a resolution regarding the conflict in which he was immersed in his world. Her words come of their own accord. ]

Your return was an inconvenience then.

Re: [video]

[akingmuststand]

On quite a grand scale, yes. [The bone dry amusement in his voice dissipates. He shakes his head.] But, an inconvenience is all it is. Things have merely been put on hold again.