milliways_bar | (no subject)

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A line of silver light flickers and then widens into a portal. Beyond it can be seen a stone corridor, dusty with disuse and somehow almost wrong in shape, and sealed at each end.

The illusion of "Syrenne" fades as Moiraine steps through into Milliways, and for a single unguarded moment the Aes Sedai looks unutterably weary.

"Matters worsen, I think, if familiar paths are twisted so," she murmurs under her breath. "Perhaps a space here will grant respite enough, still." Moiraine straightens, then, and glides toward her usual table, signaling to Holly as she passes.

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Draco did gesture for her to have a seat. "Go ahead, and yes, I'm aware. As long as the others follow it."

"That is the expected manner of things, I should think," she says serenely as she seats herself.

Whether or not expected matches the actuality she does not mention.

Draco gave a nod of acknowledgement at that.

"I suppose you've been here for some time?"

"I have, as it happens," she tells him, smiling serenely.

"I see. I'm sure you've seen a great deal, and met many here then."

"One would presume so, I should suspect."

It is an answer and not, as well.

"And have you, yourself, had the chance to meet many here yet?"

"Not yet. A few of note."

"Is it so?" she murmurs.

The serene tone seems to invite further elaboration.

"Just some people from my world really." Draco evasively replied.

"And they are of note, to you?"

The serene tone does not change, and her gaze remains calmly curious.

"Yes." Draco responded, a bit tense, but still hiding it. Not liking this kind of attention.

"What about yourself? Anyone of note?"

Oh, no, that didn't seem too desperate.

Daes Dae'mar, the Great Game, is an exercise in sublety and discovery, among other things. A necessity in the land of Cairhien, particularly among the nobility, it is also said that among the Aes Sedai it has been elevated to an art form.

Moiraine is Cairhienian, of a royal House, and was raised Aes Sedai over twenty years before. It is with utter serenity that she tells him,

"I myself have found that there may be something of note in each person, to a discerning eye."

"Oh? How so?" Draco inwardly though thought that idea was rubbish. Most people were not that important at all. He could be subtle, but he was not nearly as good as his father in terms of discretion. He had long been chatised for lacking in it.

"Consider yourself, to begin with; would you not say that there is that of worth within you?"

"But of course there is. What kind of question is that?" Draco remarked with a crowing tone. There was some hesitancy in his eyes however.

"Most people, I suspect, would say something similar," the Aes Sedai explains serenely.

"What remains is simply discernment."

Draco shrugged, and bit back a snarky comment of 'Most people are idiots.'

He only said, "I suppose."

She smiles serenely at him. There is a pause.

"You clearly think well of yourself, however."

There was the hint of a pause before he answered with, "Of course, I do."

Really, Draco? You don't quite so sure anymore.

She tilts her head, watching him.

"I should be interested to hear more about you, and what brings you here, then."

"I just found myself here. That's all."

One eyebrow arches.

"Did you pass through a door, or a portal, perhaps?"

Draco blinked, and nodded, "I did. In the middle of a forest oddly enough. Usually use other methods of travel where I come from. Portkeys, the Floo Network, or Apparation."

She has suspected it, of course, since hearing his name.

"A wizard, then."

Serenely said, without surprise.

Draco nodded, "Yes, you met others from my world, then?"