RtA Log - Return Of The Map, A Crystal Mouse Appears
Characters: Kiernan, Catriona, Quina
Location: Gilded Steel Lodge - Arden
--[ Gilded Steel Lodge(#7355RJ) ]----------------------------[ Somewhere ]----
Rustic Opulence - extravagance of the interior shouldn't be a surprise
if one has ever been to Gilded Steel in Amber, but the tone is that of
a hunting lodge. Trophies taken from hunted beasts hung on the walls,
sturdy tables spread through the common room of the great building,
with weapons and armors hung about on display alongside the animal
trophies.
Closer to the front is a bar where patrons can drink and enjoy the
company of others, and serving wenches roam the tables to take orders.
Just beside the open end of the bar is the door to the kitchen,
allowing the waitstaff access to the tables and to patrons at the bar
as well.
Toward the back there is a display counter, where one can purchase the
various metalworks and services from the smithy. There are also stairs
leading to the upper balcony, and the rooms available to travelers.
------------------------------------------------------------[ Exits: Out ]----
Late afternoon sees a new arrival to the Lodge. Catriona Karm, looking somewhat shabby in a pair of breeches, worn boots and wrinkled blouse, strides in, her cloak slung over one arm, satchel slung over the other. Her dark eyes skim the place, pausing on exits, empty tables and recognizable faces, in that order.
The exits are clear. The empty tables are many. The occupied tables are few. Kiernan sits at one of the tables, obviously an occupied one. Sitting on the table before him is a bowl of something breakfasty, it looks like porriage with fruit in it, as well as a glass of something pale pink with a hint of green to it. He's got a sword belted around his waist but appears otherwise unarmed. And is eating. Quietly. Expression staring off more or less blankly, lost in though. He doesn't even seem to hear Catriona's entrance into the lodge.
He'll hear it when Catriona thumps down into the seat across from him, her satchel carefully placed on the table, in clear sight, and not on another chair. Though delicate, the movement certainly rattles the table, and the man's breakfast in the bargain. What does she have in that satchel, anyway? "Ranger Kiernan. I do hope I'm not interrupting?" One silver-pale brow lifts in elegant question. "I can find another table, should you prefer to be alone?" It must be a test. The way the Karm says it, it sounds like a test.
Kiernan doesn't so much as shift an eyebrow or jump or show startlement of any kind when the satchel thumps to the table. He focuses on it, and then on the one who'd thumped it there. He just looks at her for a moment before a smile, small but genuine, blossoms on his face. "M'Lady Catriona, please feel free to join me." He's a good bit more relaxed, and a /lot/ more alive seeming than the last time they'd spoken, that's for sure. "Nothing to interrupt save a decent breakfast. Are you hungry? You should eat."
Cat's lifted brow smoothes out. She doesn't hit Kiernan with anything. He must have passed. Instead, the woman relaxes back into the chair, looking mildly pleased. "Your mood is much improved from when I saw you last, Ranger," she notes. Blunt Cat is blunt, as usual. Then she adds, "I'm glad to see it," in a somewhat softer tone. "And, I will. Eat, that is. I've just returned from deep Shadow, and I'm on my way to see Prince Julian at Immeraus. It's my good fortune to run into you, first, though. Have you the map I... gave... you?"
The man's lips twitch further upward at that pleased look. He shrugs a little bit. "I got laid a couple of times. That's bound to improve anybody's mood." Blunt Cat meet blunt Kier. He smiles to her and dips his head into a nod. "I'm glad to be in a better mood. Being sad all the time sucks." Literally. At the heart and soul none the less. Kiernan lifts a hand and beckons a waitress over for Cat to order some food. He nods to her question and reaches down to the chair beside him. The hand comes back up with the rolled up map in it. He must have settled it to the side when his breakfast arrived. He reaches out with it to tap her lightly on the head with it, and then offers it, lips twitching ever so faintly upward.
Cat has never been quite that blunt, it may be said. Her cheeks flame, as if by kneejerk reaction, though all the Karm does is give a small nod of recognition. "Ah." She clears her throat, spared from having to say anything further by the arrival of the serving wench. "The same, I think," murmurs Cat, giving a dip of her chin to the food on Kiernan's side of the table. "Tea, to drink, please." Then, she turns her attention back to Kiernan, her blush marshalled and under control once more. The map that taps her head as she turns draws a faint smile. She accepts the rolled parchment. "Thank you." And unrolls it, to see where he's placed markers.
Quina walks into the lodge, a heavy pack on her back. As always, she looks pristinely kempt and unrumpled so its hard to tell how long she's been traveling. If at all. Her gloved hands rub together as they meet the warmth of being inside. As the pack and her coat are slid off, she takes a moment to take stock of those already here.
Kiernan chuckles softly at that blush, not the /slightest/ bit repentant. He remains quiet as the serving wench is with them, though. He watches the wench for a moment before going back to eating his breakfast. He nods to Catriona. "You're welcome." There are eight or ten different markers. Half of them have a circle around them, perhaps indicating more ideal locations than the others. He glances over to the door as another comes in, and lifts a hand to wave to her. "Good morning, Lady Quina," he offers. Yep, he's in a much better mood than he has been. Bonus!
Catriona is busy in her perusal of the map, plus, she's seated opposite Kiernan at the table, so she doesn't see Quina just yet, as the woman enters. All she sees right now is strategy. "Hm." That's the extent of the Karm woman's words as her eyes flick from location to location on the map. One finger steals out, tapping a particular circled X. "That's a good location. I would not have thought of it on my own." Her dark eyes lift, fall upon Kiernan. "This is invaluable help. Thank you." She repeats the words again, more meaningfully, and then begins to roll the map away. When Kiernan addresses Quina, then, of course, Cat notices, and turns, offering up her reserved, polite smile, along with a nod of her silver-pale head.
Quina nods her head in greeting, first to Kiernan and then to Catriona once the Karm turns. A server takes her pack and coat, and then she walks over to the pair so she does not need to raise her voice at all. "Good day to you both. I hope it's a good one, so far?" To another passing server, she expresses her desire for some tea.
On the heels of the newly entered Lady, a tiny white cat slips into the building. It trots over to Kiernan, holding something squirming in its jaws. It looks like crystal of some sort, but it's moving! Kiernan is oblivious, eating his porridge. It looks like it has raisins and other assorted berries in it. The porridge, not the cat. That stops at Kiernan and sits on its rump, staring intently up at Kiernan, tail lashing from side to side. Kiernan doesn't even notice the cat. He nods to Catriona, though. "I almost didn't mark it. Then I thought about it, and its location, and.." He shrugs a bit. "And the rest is, as they say, history." He glances to Quina and nods, waving to an empty seat at the table. "Well enough, aye. And yourself? Will you join us?"
Ever-observant, at least when her eyes are turned that way already, Cat spies the... cat. Sort of ironic, isn't it? However, instead of noting the white creature, she first answers Quina, "A good one, so far, but an appointment with His Highness Prince Julian impending, I cannot tell you whether it will stay that way." There is a wry smile that accompanies that statement. "Kiernan, you've a fan, it seems." The Karm's fair chin tilts down nonchalantly, indicating the cat with the present in it's jaws.
It's unlikely that Quina's missed the arrival of the cat, but she gives it no attention. Rather, hers is entirely on the two people seated at the table. "I am well, thank you." she replies to Kiernan in her usual calm tone, then smiles to Cat. "Indeed." she replies, on the matter of how a meeting with Julian might change how her day goes. She considers Kiernan's invitation for a moment, then nods and takes a free seat as she repeats to him. "Thank you."
Kiernan tilts his head just a bit. "Good luck with that," he says. "The one time I met the Warden, he mostly ignored me. Something I was grateful for at the time." He doesn't notice the cat until his attention is drawn to it by the other Cat. He looks down just as the jumps up into Kiernan's lap. It then places its front paws on the table and deposits the crystal thing on the table beside Kiernan's porriage bowl. It looks like a live crystal mouse. Tiny. Its duty done, the cat jumps back down and diappears back the way it had come without so much as a backward glance. He glances up to Quina as she sits and offers her a nod. "You're welcome," he says, though the tone is distracted and baffled. He looks back at the mouse. Thing. Mouse-thing. Crystal mouse? What?
"I have always had a cordial relationship with Prince Julian, from what I have been told," Catriona replies. "And I doubt he would have appointed me to the Watchtowers and commissioned six more if he'd been of a mind to..." She pauses, brows pursing with unheard laughter. "Hm. Maybe he does dislike me..." Her forest-dark eyes stray to the crystal mouse upon the table. "Don't show that to a dragon."
RPG: Quina declares that she has the Animal Empathy (ANI-EM) gift. Use '+gift ANI-EM' to view the gift description.
RPG: Quina declares that she has the Observation (SKL-OB) gift. Use '+gift SKL-OB' to view the gift description. Last edit: 48 months ago.
RPG: Quina declares that she has the Keen Senses (PHY-KS) gift. Use '+gift PHY-KS' to view the gift description.
RPG: Quina declares that she has the Blood of Mandrake (BLD-MA) gift. Use '+gift BLD-MA' to view the gift description. Last edit: 50 months ago.
RPG: Quina declares that she has the Sense of Nature (NAT-SN) gift. Use '+gift NAT-SN' to view the gift description. Last edit: 63 months ago.
When the mouse is deposited onto the table, the whole of Quina's attention moves to it and she stares intently. All of her senses are brought to bear on the thing. "Hm." At least it saves her from any discussion of relationships with Julian.
"I don't know the Warden well enough to have a relationship with him. Only met him the once." Kiernan shrugs a little bit. His eyes are on the mouse, too. He holds his hand out to the little creature, and it hops up onto the hand, snuffling at his palm, crystal whiskers twitching. He looks after where the cat, lowercase c, had disappeared to, then back to the mouse. "Huh. I wonder..."
Catriona, as she will now be known to avoid confusion, watches both Kiernan and the little, glinting mouse. "I'm afraid I've no experience with... whatever that is. I could attract more of them, if there are any, or I could send it back from whence it came." There is a small roll of her shoulders in a shrug, and her meal and tea arrive. The confused looking serving wench is paid, and backs away.
While Quina's intent on the mouse, it doesn't mean she's entirely unaware of everything else around her. Her eyes flicker upwards just slightly, towards Keirnan, then back down at the smaller creature. "From Dirk?" she ventures. It came via cat, after all. Her tea is brought along with Catriona's meal, and set down in front of her.
RPG: Kiernan declares that he has the Animal Empathy (ANI-EM) gift. Use '+gift ANI-EM' to view the gift description.
RPG: Kiernan declares that he has the Keen Senses (PHY-KS) gift. Use '+gift PHY-KS' to view the gift description.
"I think it might be a gift from Dirk, aye. He's never sent anything but chocolate before, though. Nor anything via cat. Everything he's sent has been with a bird. Usually penguins." He doesn't even notice the wench's confused look, nor her backing away. His attention is on the mouse... no, well. His eyes are on the mouse. "It feels like a normal mouse. Smells like crystal, though. I've never seen anything like it," he says with a certainty despite the greatly lacking memories most knows he suffers from. He doesn't seem to have noticed Quina's flickered glance to him.
"Are you sure it's from Dirk?" Catriona asks pragmatically, one brow lifting. "I thought Pattern Sendings had to be a bird of desire. I've never seen them come in the form of any other animal. Do you happen to have Dirk's trump, to ask him?"
"Or, perhaps Quinlan might know," the Karm adds. "He's versed with Pattern, somewhat."
Quina arches an eyebrow slightly, looking a little surprised. Perhaps that Dirk does not always send things via cat. It is Dirk, after all. She doesn't comment on the matter of what and how messages and other things can be sent, instead nodding her agreement with Kiernan's observations about the mouse.
Kiernan lifts a shoulder to Catriona's question. "I've no idea. He's never sent me anything but chocolate before. This mouse doesn't look, nor smell, like chocolate." He lifts a hand to stroke the mouse's crystaline fur. "It's cute, though." He shakes his head. "I don't have his trump, no. I don't have many, to be honest." He glances to Quina and shrugs a bit. "I have no answers." He lowers his hand to the table and the mouse seems content to hop down onto the table and invesetigate Catriona's messenger bag.
The mouse doesn't get far. Catriona's satchel is off the table moments later, the Karm giving the mouse a suspicious glance. Then, she's reaching into that satchel, pulling out a card. For any close enough to catch a glimpse, the visage on the card is unmistakeably Quinlan. "I'd wager Quinlan will have Dirk's trump, at the very least." She extends the card to Kiernan.
Quina takes a careful sip of her tea, still studying the mouse. Another gesture to a server brings them a small roll which is set on the table near it. Also set on the table near it is a small piece of soft soapstone from one of her pouches. Who knows what a crystal mouse eats.
The disappearing satchel gets a laugh out of Kiernan. He taps the table and the mouse looks up and over at him and comes back to his part of the table. The roll and soapstone are gone over to and investigated next. The crystal whiskers twitching. It ignores the soapstone after a moment and goes to the roll. Seems it eats normal type food. Kiernan glances up at Catriona as the card is offered. "Okay, thanks," he says, accepting the card. He studies it.
You concentrate on Quinlan's Trump...
RPG: Use '+trump/cancel' to hang up before Quinlan takes the call.
The contact with Quinlan comes like an icy wind.
The image of Quinlan is ...in a pub, it looks like. Though what surrounds him is as much research material as it is food. "'Allo..."
"Keep it," Comes Catriona's reply, along with a nod of acknowledgement. "And you're welcome." Her satchel remains firmly upon her lap, even after the mouse has scampered away to greener pastures. Cat focuses then on her own porridge and tea, subsiding into quiet as Kiernan studies the trump of the mage.
The stone is returned to Quina's pouch, when it doesn't interest the mouse. She seems entirely content to study it in silence while Catriona eats and Keirnan contacts Quinlan.
To the image of Quinlan, Kiernan appears to be sitting at a table in a lodge. It might be the lodge at Eastgate. On the table is food, and a little mouse made of crystal. Kiernan looks about to say something to the image, and then looks up, surprised at something said. "Uh. Thanks, Cat," he says. His eyes shift back to the card and the image within. "Hey Quinlan. Do you have a way to get ahold of Dirk? I got a crystal mouse from a little white cat. Doesn't seem to be causing any harm, but I think it's making people nervous."
Kiernan appears to be sitting at a table in a lodge. It might be the lodge at Eastgate. On the table is food, and a little mouse made of crystal. Kiernan looks about to say something to the image, and then looks up, surprised at something said. "Uh. Thanks, Cat," he says. His eyes shift back to the card and the image within. "Hey Quinlan. Do you have a way to get ahold of Dirk? I got a crystal mouse from a little white cat. Doesn't seem to be causing any harm, but I think it's making people nervous."
The image of Quinlan blinks. "I can send a message to him, yes. You want me to tell him there's a crystal mouse?"
To the image of Quinlan, Kiernan nods. "Aye, please. Ask him if it's from him? I'd appreciate it greatly, if you don't mind."
Kiernan nods. "Aye, please. Ask him if it's from him? I'd appreciate it greatly, if you don't mind."
The image of Quinlan nods. "Where do you want me to send him?"
To the image of Quinlan, Kiernan glances around. "The Lodge at Eastgate is where we're at."
Kiernan glances around. "The Lodge at Eastgate is where we're at."
The image of Quinlan says, "I'll send him there, then. Anything else?"
To the image of Quinlan, Kiernan smiles to the other. "Thanks, Quinlan. I appreciate it." He pauses, thoughtful. "Lady Catriona was wondering if Pattern Sendings can be sent with anything but birds. And, to be honest, so was I. I've never gotten anything from him that wasn't sent via some sort of bird."
Kiernan smiles to the other. "Thanks, Quinlan. I appreciate it." He pauses, thoughtful. "Lady Catriona was wondering if Pattern Sendings can be sent with anything but birds. And, to be honest, so was I. I've never gotten anything from him that wasn't sent via some sort of bird."
The image of Quinlan grins. "Generally birds. I think Martin uses flying fish, mind. I'll let you go, so I can get hold of Dirk. Later, man."
Quina sips her tea again, still intent upon the mouse.
To the image of Quinlan, Kiernan nods. "Thanks, Quinlan. I appreciate your help."
Kiernan nods. "Thanks, Quinlan. I appreciate your help."
The image of Quinlan nods, says, "De nada," and ends the contact.
The image of Quinlan vanishes.
The Trump contact ends.
RPG: The Trump contact ends.
The mouse continues nibbling on the bread. Kiernan finishes with the trump conversation. Kiernan blinks at something said on the trump. Confused. "What's 'de nada' mean?" he asks, looking to Quina. He pauses, and frowns. "Oh hell. I was supposed to ask him about something else. Oh well." He takes another bite of his nearly empty bowl of porridge.
Quina tilts her head a bit. "De nada." she echoes. "I have no context for it, sorry. There are several languages that use 'nada' or something similar as 'nothing' or 'zero'.""
"Hmmm. Oh well. I'll have to ask him later, I guess," says Kiernan. He eats the last little bit of his porridge, and then lifts the glass of that curious pale pink with a hint of orange.. whatever it is. He drinks some of it down, then glances to Quina again. "So. How've you been?" He pauses for a moment. "The box isn't quite ready yet." That sounds accurate, but there's something he's not saying, there, and his eyes lower to the glass.
Quina's gloved hands continue to warm themselves on her teacup as she sips from it. "Quite well, thank you." she replies to him. "Looking forward to getting back to work on the planting." Which, at this point, mostly has to wait until early spring. The mention of the box, and Kiernan's subsequent reaction causes her to look curious.
Kiernan's smile seems to have faded as well, with the mention of the box. He closes his eyes for a moment and just.. breathes. When he opens his eyes that moment later, the smile is back. He lifts his eyes to Quina. "What are you planting? More trees, or something else?"
Quina replies "A variety, to replace what was lost to the Road. Trees, of course, but also other flora that was destroyed. Clearings must be replaced as well, after all, for the balance."
Kiernan nods slowly to that. "Trees, flowers, shrubs, grass... If you need any help with it, please let me know. I'll help as often as I can." He lifts the glass and takes another drink. Then sets it on the table. He watches the mouse for awhile, and leans back in his chair. "I helped pack as many of the young trees as I could before the snows fell."
"Thank you." Quina replies. "I have had quite a bit of help with it, fortunately. I'm grateful. There's so much more to do, but I feel good about what's been done so far."
Kiernan smiles to her and nods. "You're welcome. If everybody helps, it'll get done and restored that much more quickly, right?" It doesn't sound like a question so much as a statement of fact.
Cat blinks, and looks down at her empty bowl of porridge. "Hm. Must have been hungrier than I thought." Her silver blonde head tilts up, to the other two. "What's that about a box?" she asks, catching only that part it seems. Curiously, the map has found its way back into her grasp.
"Indeed." Quina replies to him. When Cat weighs in on the box, she looks at Kiernan again and waits.
That brings a smile to Kiernan's face. Well, a bigger one. "You should eat more if you're that hungry," he points out. The good humor falls away again, and he shakes his head, looking down to his glass. "Just a box for a plant going to Alhambra. I'm sure she'll let me know when it's ready." He pauses for a moment. "Maybe."
WHACK!
The map comes down on Kiernan's head split seconds later.
Cat sits back after, staring at him.
Quina looks curious. "Drama?" she ventures, looking perhaps uninterested in other than establishing the nature of the delay. She blinks then, as Cat thwaps him on the head with a map.
Kiernan actually /flinches/ when that map comes down on his head. "Hey!" His eyes lift from the drink to Catriona. "What was /that/ for?!" He sounds indignant and actually shocked. He glances to Quina and shakes his head to her question.
Cat is back to sipping her tea quite calmly. She eyes Kiernan over the lip of the cup with a lift of the brow, and says nothing. Her dark eyes, of course, say 'You know why' quite openly.
Quina settles back into silence, and studying the mouse. She seems content to leave this between the two of them.
At least it was just a map. Kiernan glowers at Catriona. And calmly, pushes his chair back so he's just out of range of any further map whacking. The mouse is looking a little wide-eyed at Catriona and her whackery. Kiernan eyes her warily, more glowering than not. "It'll get done when it gets done," he finally says. Grumbles.
"Now there's the spirit," Catriona replies, in her low voice, between sips of tea. The map is tucked away into the satchel. "I'd best be on my way to Immeraus," she announces with a pleasant smile. "It was good to catch up. Lady Quina, perhaps I might speak with you some time, about gardens for the Watchtowers about to be built? When we both have a little more time?"
"And with you, Lady Catriona." Quina replies with a smile. "I would be pleased to speak further, as our schedules allow. I'll be spending some time deep in Arden soon, but otherwise I tend to be somewhere hereabouts."
Kiernan frowns at Catriona. He lets out a breath, relaxing again. "I suppose that was payback for me tapping you with it when you asked for it, hm?" He's probably referring to today. He looks back and forth between the two women, settling on Catriona finally. "See you next time, Lady Catriona."
"If you think that that was what it was for," Catriona replies to Kiernan, rising, collecting her satchel, "then I fear for your head the next time we meet." Her smile is still graceful, polite, and she essays a bow to both of them. "Afternoon." Then the Karm slips off, satchel and all.
Quina watches Cat go, then looks back to Kiernan. "All is smoothed over, between you and the Lieutenant?" she asks him, then gestures to a server to refresh her tea.
Kiernan snorts softly at Catriona, but the smile has returned. He shakes his head to her and reaches up a hand to rub his head. "I fear for my head the next time too," he says. He shakes his head and watches her leave, then looks back to Quina. He nods. "Aye, 'tis. And between him and Harper as well, I think. Or, 'tis how it seems."
Quina inclines her head. "Good." she replies. "If any other misunderstandings occur, please feel free to contact me. I am happy to act as an intermediary."
Kiernan nods and smiles. "Thanks, I will," he says. "Did you talk to him?" Pause. "I appreciate that. He found me in the city and apologized. We talked for awhile. We're good now."
Quina mms quietly. "He and I spoke a while, yes." she replies to him as a fresh cup of tea is brought. "What's wrong with your heart?" she asks then.
"Ahh. It's not a bad thing," Kiernan says of speaking. "Communicatino is always a good thing." He pauses, and blinks. And stares at her confused for a moment. He grimaces. "Does everybody in the Rangers know about that now?"
Quina looks curious. "The Rangers? Not to my knowledge. I was looking at the mouse, but you were right there. I'm Mandrake." she adds, as though that might be explanation enough.
Kiernan realizes he didn't really answer the question, and a blush turns his fair skin crimson for a moment. "Ah," he says, of the Mandrake part. That really does explain a lot to him. Or, seems to. "It's weak," he says and shrugs a little bit. "I need to set up a meeting with Lady Celeste to get it fixed. I woke up here with it."
Quina mms to the answer. "Best to, yes." she agrees as she picks up her new cup.
"I've no idea how it happened. Chase said it was a sickness of some sort, but I don't remember what happened. That was from Before." Kiernan lifts his glass of fruity juicey looking stuff and takes a drink. "Any suggestions you have to offer?"
Quina considers, then shakes her head. "I am no doctor. It's much better to let those of Mandrake that have devoted themselves to medicine help you. Perhaps some bloodwork would answer a few questions, if the sickness is still somewhere inside you?"
Kiernan watches her for a moment, and then nods. "Ah." Pause. "Uh. What is bloodwork? I don't think the sickness is sitll inside me. Or is that something you can't tell?" He sees to be using 'you' as a catchall phrase for Mandrakes, there.
Quina explains "There are tests that can be run on someone's blood. It can tell a great deal about their health. Amber isn't as technological a society as some, so there are some limitations there, but those can at times be offset with magic or other non-technological means."
Kiernan listens quietly, taking in the words. He even seems to understand most of what is said. "I grew up in Lyonesse. Out in the forest, as far as I can remember." Pause. "Which isn't much. I think I have three, maybe four memories that I can recall." He shakes his head. "I'm not sure it is, though. When I spoke with Lady Celeste last, she said she had a method to do something to my energy to make my body heal itself. I... did not really understand it."
Quina smiles. "She does, yes." she says, then sips her tea. "She'll do a fine job of it." There's a moment of consideration, then she says as she stands "I should see to some correspondance, now that I'm back here. It was a pleasure, Kiernan."
"I admit, it makes me scared as hell," says Kiernan softly. He takes a deep breath and releases it slowly. "I hope so. I'm tired of dealing with it." He manages a small smile. And then offers a nod as she rises. He rises as well and offers her a bow. "Aye, 'twas a pleasure seeing you again." He sounds sincere there.
Quina inclines her head, then notes "Please do let me know what more you learn about the mouse? I'm curious as to its place of origin and any other ways it differs from a local mouse." Aside from being made of crystal, of course. "If it happens to shed at all, I'd love the opportunity to study the cast-off."
Kiernan returns the nod. "Aye, I can do that. I imagine Dirk will be along eventually." He holds out his hand to the mouse, and it shakes it's whole body before it scampers over to jump onto his palm. There on the table, left behind after the shake, are several tiny crystaline hairs. Kiernan opens his cloak and holds his hand to an empty pocket there. The mouse hops into it and then its head peeks out. It squeaks once and then disappears again. Probably curling up to sleep, judging from the content and happy feelings coming from it.
Quina smiles again, watching the mouse. She nods to him, then carefully sweeps the hairs into a small vial from one of her pouches. "Thank you." she says to him, then with another nod of farewell she takes her tea and walks towards the rooms.
Kiernan watches her with the hairs and chuckles softly. "Seems he doesn't mind helping out." He touches the pocket. The mouse feels sound asleep. "You're welcome. Thanks for stopping by. And thank you for asking about my heart." Even if it does make him uncomfortable, the concern is surely appreciated. "Be safe."