(Untitled)

[merrimanlyon]

At one point in time, Merriman would have looked upon the days after Twelfth Night as a point of relative calm after the troubles of midwinter.

The relative calm is not quite so reassuring this year, but nonetheless he is taking advantage of the moment to claim a table, a tea service, and the Times crossword.

[OOC: Due to oncoming plot, this

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[kitchen_maid]

"Good evening, Professor Lyon. And a belated Happy Christmas."

[merrimanlyon]

Merriman looks up, and a bit of a smile crosses his face as he sets his newspaper aside.

'Good evening, Amy. And a happy Christmas to you and your family as well -- and a most sincere thank-you for your thoughtful gift.'

[kitchen_maid]

"Thank you," she says. "And I'm terribly glad you like it. I thought you might be able to use it whenever you found yourself."

[merrimanlyon]

Merriman nods. 'I had something rather like it once, but it was nowhere near as easy to carry with me. I believe I ended up leaving it in my office more often than not, which rather defeats the purpose. The one you gave me will see a good deal more use, I imagine.'

He gestures to both the chair opposite and the tea service. 'Would you care to join me for a time?'

[kitchen_maid]

A very bright smile. "I'd be delighted to," she says, settling gracefully and easily into the indicated chair.

"And how is everything with you, Professor Lyon?"

[merrimanlyon]

He takes the opportunity to pour a cup for her, and refresh his own, before saying anything.

'Fairly well,' he says as he sets the teapot down. 'Midwinter, at least, has passed relatively uneventfully. Though there is something I should mention to you now while I am thinking about it.'

He takes a sip of tea, with practised calm.

'At some point in the quite possibly near-future, I may be out of the bar for a time. I will be working with a very delicate and complicated magic, and it will require my full attention. So if you do not happen to see me for a time...well, that will be the reason.'

[kitchen_maid]

"A blessing, that," she says, with a slight frown. It's been more for her than the year it's been here, but she's not likely to forget their first meeting.

The frown deepens slightly. "Is something wrong?"

[merrimanlyon]

He tries for a smile, and mostly succeeds. 'If I do my work well, it will not be. But I may leave tomorrow, or it may be in a month, or even longer still -- so it is only sensible to tell you now.'

He picks up his cup and saucer, but does not drink from it just yet.

'Mister Wellard also knows. I gave him the keeping of my pocket-watch, along with the bracelet he made for me last Christmas. He will not be affected by any of the magic I will be working with, that way.'

[kitchen_maid]

Another event she is not likely to forget.

"Would there be some danger of it otherwise?" Amy asks, hands wrapped around her own teacup.

"And is there anything you need of me?"

[merrimanlyon]

Merriman lets out a slight breath that's just short of being a sigh. Not at all exasperated or irritated, only a little tired.

'I do not want to run the risk of it,' he replies, quietly but with determination. 'Apart from the magic being complex and delicate, it is also somewhat...experimental. I do not fully know how it will react, and therefore I will not take the chance of the reaction affecting him.'

He finally takes a sip from his cup, and the click that the cup makes when he replaces it on the saucer punctuates his words with finality.

'As for what I might require,' he continues in a less stern tone of voice, 'would you be good enough to keep an eye on him, when you can? I have a feeling he would not like to hear me say so, but he does appear to have an unfortunate habit of ending up in inexplicable predicaments.'

[kitchen_maid]

Amy nods. "I hope it will go well and as easily as it can, sir."

And then a very slight smile.

"Of course," she says. "And as surreptitiously as possible."

Though she's more than willing to be less than surreptitious should she feel the situation warrants it.

Ask Caspian.

[merrimanlyon]

That, in a way, is precisely what he is counting on.

'Then that is a very great comfort to me.' One less thing to think about, on the whole. 'I will return to the bar at some point -- but you know as well as I that time can pass very differently here and elsewhere.'

[kitchen_maid]

"Yes, it can," says Amy.

"I'll miss you, and I'll hope to see you sooner rather than later, and I'll keep an eye on Henry for you. Fortunately, he has a great many friends to look after him, even if they do occasionally choose unorthodox methods."

[merrimanlyon]

'I will miss you as well,' Merriman replies, sincerely. 'And I too indeed hope that this will all be over with sooner rather than later.'

One eyebrow twitches slightly at her use of the term "unorthodox methods", but it's quickly followed by a smile. 'There are times when unorthodox methods are amongst the better options. Perhaps even the best option.'

[kitchen_maid]

She mostly means abducting to semi-derelict ships in late autumn, really.

"They certainly seem to have worked thus far," she says, easily.

And then she stands, and holds one hand out to him, in a gesture that manages to be friendly and regal all at once.

"Godspeed and good fortune to you, Merriman Lyon. In this and all things."

[merrimanlyon]

He stands as she does and takes the hand she holds out to him, and there is an almost calm formality to the half-bow that he gives her in return.

'My thanks, madam -- and my sincere gratitude, for your good wishes and your thoughtful concern.'