(no subject)

[blue_eyed_lord]

His cohort's plans may be failing, but the darker emotions caused by them are helping him quite a lot. His plan is progressing better than even he expected. Lovely.

The Black Rider sits in one of the high-backed chairs by the fire, enjoying a fine brandy. Yes, things are going quite well indeed.

Do come say hello.

Comments

[young_tmriddle]

Tom doesn't want to say hello. Tom would like to say Adava Kedavra but he'd like to avoid the cells a little while longer.

Plus, it wouldn't be polite.

Making sure Ingress is far away and occupied, Tom decides to test the waters with the Black Rider, who is, as far as Tom knows, still utterly powerless.

"Aphelise. I haven't seen your face round here for some time."

[blue_eyed_lord]

The Rider smiles thinly. "No, you haven't, Mr Riddle."

"Nor have I seen yours. Things keeping you busy?" Lightly said, with no malice readily apparent.

[young_tmriddle]

"Oh, as ever. It seems you and your opposite number are likewise busy, of late. That must be nice for you." Oh, so very polite Tom is. He is an Englishman, after all.

[blue_eyed_lord]

He sips his brandy, smiling. "It gets nicer by the minute."

The Rider isn't an Englishman, really. "I hope your family is faring well, Tom. Did little Ingress get what she wanted for Christmas?"

[young_tmriddle]

His lips press together ever so slightly. His family is not a secret, and Aphelise has known about them for some time. He doesn't know about Gavroche, or his new status as a wizard, however.

"Oh certainly. We had a lovely Christmas. And you?"

He asks this in a maddeningly polite tone.

[blue_eyed_lord]

Smiling, he says, "Oh yes. Yes, I did. Still am. People keep giving me gifts."

[young_tmriddle]

"'Tis the season. I imagine you and Mrs. Rowlands had quite a time together. You strike me as a lovely couple."

The nature of the White and Black Rider's relationship has never been... all that clear to Tom. He'd like to know how that works, exactly. In a polite, very English way, of course.

[veryvorkosigan]

Cordelia approaches with a hesitant smile.

"Mr ... Aphelise? I'm sorry, my memory's not what it used to be, but ... aren't you a friend of Will Stanton's?"

[blue_eyed_lord]

Mr Aphelise tilts his head slightly to look up at her, a polite smile on his face, his thoughts hidden.

"Will? Why yes, I have had the young man's aquaintence for some time now. Is anything wrong, Countess Vorkosigan?"

His voice sounds nothing but politeness and slight concern mixed with curiosity.

[veryvorkosigan]

"Nothing wrong as such, just ... I'd hoped to find him here tonight, and I can't seem to find anyone who might know where he is."

A resigned sigh. "Perhaps I'll leave him a note."

[blue_eyed_lord]

"The poor boy has had a very busy time of it, lately. He may be at home." The Rider would know, were Will in the bar.

"I am often here, Countess. I would deliver your note to Will at the first opportunity."

[veryvorkosigan]

"That'd be kind of you." A pause. "Busy? I hope nothing's wrong at home?"

[blue_eyed_lord]

"My pleasure, of course," he says, sipping his brandy. "Honestly, I would not know about the status of things at Will's home, but he has not seemed very happy, I hear, when he has been here."

[song_tra_bong]

Mary Anne rests her arms on the back of the chair, glancing down at the chair's occupant with a small smile.

"Hello there."

From this angle, he probably can't see the shiny new knife on her hip.

[blue_eyed_lord]

Mr Aphelise turns his head to smile up at her. "Good evening, Mary Anne. I hope the holidays have been kind to you. How have you been?"

[song_tra_bong]

"They have been very kind. Got some lovely gifts."

She draws the knife and holds it out a safe distance from his face. "Like this for example." She gives it a twirl, then balances it on the back of her hand.

"How've you been, then? Good holiday?"

[blue_eyed_lord]

"That is a lovely knife, Mary Anne. It should be useful."

He grins and sighs comfortably. "Quite well, thank you. A very good holiday, indeed."

[song_tra_bong]

She sheathes the knife. "I'm looking forward to giving it a proper breaking in." And if there's something a little predatory in her smile, what of it?

"Glad to hear it. Been up to much, or just relaxing and enjoying the season?"

[blue_eyed_lord]

"Just relaxing and enjoying the season. It is quite beautiful outside, really. One gets kind of cramped, staying in the bar all the time."

Oh, the curse of the Bound.

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

Mr. Aphelise gets a smile.

Mary's in a very good mood.

[blue_eyed_lord]

Mary gets a smile and a Great Lord of the Dark getting to his feet and approaching, pulling a small box from a pocket of his cloak-like coat. He holds it out to her, smiling.

"I know it's a bit late, but merry Christmas, Mary."

Inside is a small, black pocketknife, useful for things such as deadheading rosebushes so they'll bloom again, or cutting the roots of weeds, and many other things, besides.

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

Mary's eyes go round, as she carefully takes the box.

"But you have already given me a gift -"

[blue_eyed_lord]

He smiles broadly. It feels good to give gifts. It's the true spirit of Christmas, after all. The mun gags.

"But that wasn't a Christmas present, just something that I had with me that I thought you would like."

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

"That is true," Mary allows. She understands about wanting to Do Christmas Correctly.

Carefully, she lifts the top of the box, and peers inside.

The eyes go, if possible, even rounder.

[blue_eyed_lord]

It's small, about half the size of a regular pocketknife, with a small blade, a pair of scissors, a pair of tiny tweezers, and for some reason, a toothpick.

"I thought you could find some use for it in your garden, should some weed dare to trespass."