Just Talk to Him

"Could. You. Be. ANY less tactful?!" Teodolit asked.
"I don't know, I found it hilarious," Adanita said. "The timing was impeccable."

He was angry within acceptable limits for now and Rosamund firmly decided not to make it worse. After his little outburst of comedy, Nivelir politely excused himself from the meal and left, citing all the work he had to do. The remaining trio made their way to Rosamund's office while Teodolit was silently fuming. He sat on the chair with his foot under his knee, while Rosamund and Adanita shared the couch. Her arms were resting on the back of the couch, which he found perfectly comfortable and nice.

"Of course you would find it funny! You- you two- votre degré d'empathie est tellement nul qu'une poule remarquerais plus vite qu'elle a pondu un oeuf!" he raved, holding onto his head.
"Teo," Adanita warned him.
"J'ai rejeté ses avances il y a presques vingt ans. Je m'en lave les mains," Rosamund coldly replied. Hah. At least he located the general region he was from, finally.
Teodolit gave him a rude gesture in return. He chose to tolerate it for the time being, despite him not deserving it.

Adanita rubbed her eyes. "Why do I feel as if I am a nanny to two grown men?"
Rosamund leaned back in his seat, resting his head on her shoulder. "Forgive me. As funny as it was, it won't happen twice," he promised.
"I meant Teo and Nivelir, love," she replied. "Someone should go speak with him..."
"Not him!" Teodolit immediately said.
"Not you, either," she firmly said. "You're acting like an idiot as we speak and I have a distinct feeling you will only make it worse. I'll go talk to the man."
"Give him an hour or two to calm down," Rosamund said. "I don't think he is seriously upset, but your Officer is right. I should've broke the news in a more... appropriate manner. If I know him, then it's more about the way I sprung it on him than about the fact I finally fell in love."
"So he is still in love with you?" Teodolit asked.
"I have no doubt he feels a strong affection towards me. I hope and assume that whatever romantic feelings he had turned into friendship by now. I let him know I have no interest in him and that was that for me," Rosamund said. "Now it's on you to sweep him off his feet. Did I ever wish you good luck?"
"Nita-!" he snarled.
"Relax, I noticed it on my own. You are desperately obvious," he said. "Or perhaps desperate, if I am seeing it right. Considering we knew each other for the most of our lives, I am probably the best person to ask for advice. So, behave."

Teodolit fumed for a few more moments and Rosamund graciously gave him time to calm down. Adanita moved her arm to give him a comfortable half-hug around his shoulders. He was very happy! She should do it all the time!! Nonetheless, he made sure to keep himself perfectly expressionless. He could behave. He was fine.

"And?" Teodolit finally asked, pointing at them two. "How did we get here? I thought I left you with that tiny captain."
"We've decided not to leave Rosamund out of our little get-together and visited him later in the night," Adanita said. "She agreed to provide funding to us, did I mention that?"
"We should, khm, check on that with her. We were all at least a little drunk last night," Rosamund said. She was right next to him ♥ Much like now ♥ She should absolutely sleep on his lap more ♥ "And before you ask, no, that approach will not work on Nivelir. And if I find you approaching him after getting him drunk, there will be consequences."
"As if I would ever do that!"
"Good. Glad that we cleared that up."
"Have some faith in my people, love. He is an idiot, but he isn't a monster..."
"Of course ~♥"
"You two are insufferable," Teodolit snarled.
"Envy is unbecoming. I saw you spent most of the evening with Nivelir yesterday. How did that work out for you?"

Teodolit's face turned red and he looked away, deeply embarrassed. And angry. And sad.

"I don't know what I need to do anymore," he said, obviously pained. "I- I played music, I spent time with him, we constantly chatted. He bought me a cane, I got him all those hair clips and he wore them. I dropped hints they were from me, he didn't catch on. And we danced. A bit further from the crowd because he was being considerate of me. And- and he still didn't notice. What more do I need to do?"

"Did you consider telling him how you feel?" Adanita asked.
"Of course not! What if he secretly hates me?! What if he's just being polite?" The poor man curled up in his chair, turning into nothing. "I- we need him. He is incredible. What if I mess it up so bad we lose his support? Or- what if he noticed but doesn't care, and is only waiting for me to l-leave?"

Oh, there were some deep fears at work here. Not entirely unreasonable, but knotted up together with whatever insecurities the man had, they grew out of control. Rosamund leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, tragically causing Adanita to let him go. Teodolit was crying.

"Officer, I can tell you with absolute certainty that Nivelir doesn't tolerate annoyances in his life. In any form. If he found you to be unpleasant company, he'd not bother spending time with you," he firmly said. "He is a good man and a good worker, who is perfectly capable of separating his personal feelings while carrying out his duties. The few times we had to work with people he found downright disgusting, he did his job perfectly without complaint. And he refused to spend any time with them outside of work. So the fact he is willingly allowing you to be around him while the two of you are not working is already telling me he finds you to be perfectly pleasant company. That being said, he is the densest cretin I've ever met in my life, and I am telling you this as his friend. You will either have to tell him how you feel, or keep waiting until he notices it himself. And I can't promise you how long that will take. If you can't do it, move on to another man."

Teodolit didn't reply. Rosamund excused himself and went to order some tea for the three of them. By the time he returned with a platter, the man had calmed down enough to continue the conversation properly.

He served everyone their tea and returned to sit by Adanita's side. He was becoming aware of how dangerously out of everything his brain was at the moment. He missed her in that short of a time. He hoped things will balance out in the coming days. Not too much, though. Being in love was exciting!

"Shall we continue?" he asked.
"Aye, aye. I was just reminding Nita how I promised her a mutiny if she betrayed the Cove," Teodolit said.
"Officer, do I need to detain you?" he quietly asked.
Teodolit's hairs raised on ends.
"It's alright, Rosamund," she said. "Teo, I don't plan to stay here. This is a temporary arrangement between him and I, until we finish our work and part ways. We have feelings for each other, but I can't stay."
"And I won't leave my position. However, there is no reason for us not to enjoy ourselves while we are together," Rosamund finished. It hurt to think about, but this was what they agreed to. He refused to allow an inevitable future breakup to sour his feelings now. He was happy. That was all there was to it.
"Sure. Private matter. I can get that," Teodolit said. "What if it gets out?"
"I am still thinking about this. Perhaps we could use it to our advantage..."
"Please no," Adanita said. "I don't want the things I do in the bedroom aired out for the nobility."
"Ah, you've made up your mind, then?" he asked, placing his hand on hers.
"Aye. I had a bit of time now and I don't want it known."
"Very good. My lips are sealed, and I can vouch for Nivelir," he said. "I'd like my family to know, though... I worry you may have gotten off on the wrong foot." Judging by her reaction, she really didn't want to go through that. However considering the monumental amount of work still ahead of them, this relationship could easily last for several years. "I think it may be better they learn from us than from someone else. There is always a chance it gets out."
"How about not today?"
"Whenever you want."
"Thank you."

He gently squeezed her hand and gave her a smile.

"Hah. Should I leave the room?" Teodolit sarcastically asked.
"In a moment, yes. I did want to ask you if you've told Nivelir that you are a witch yet," Rosamund said.
"Of course not! And I don't plan to, so you better keep your mouth shut. If it were up to me, you wouldn't know about it either."
"I think you should," Adanita said. "You'd be surprised how far a bit of honesty gets you..."
"Or a complete baring of the soul, in my case."
"It was endearing, in either case. Teo, I want to delay my departure for Hannau by two weeks. Make up a reason for it. I don't plan to leave a few days after entering a relationship," she said, gently stroking his cheek. There was nothing urgent happening at this time, otherwise he was absolutely certain she would be there. He appreciated her taking some time for herself. And for them.

"Aye, aye. Don't worry, our dearest alchemist will make you a teleportation circle, and I'll be able to send you back to your lover whenever you'd like."
"I know. But it won't be done any time soon, will it?"
"Officer, you should stay here after Adanita leaves," Rosamund said. "We will need someone to represent Hannau while she handles the work there."
"Absolutely not. I have no intention of leaving her side," he said.
Oh? Opportunity rejected? Perhaps it will give Nivelir a chance to notice something is missing, then... no, wait, this was concerning.

"If you and my Secretary begin a relationship, I hope you don't expect to bring him to Hannau," he said.
"Don't be ridiculous," Teodolit replied. "It's just love. I don't plan to stay behind for him or expect him to leave with me."
"Then..."
"Then what? Am I not allowed to feel something for him? My place is by Nita's side."

What a remarkable display of loyalty and short-term thinking. "Hm... I suppose Officer Cinda will do, in your place. She seemed highly capable at handling the nobility. I'll need Zaum to stay, he is helping me keep the Coterie in check..."
"Should I leave Lotus with you, too?" Adanita asked.
"The whole trio? I will enjoy that for sure," he tiredly said. "I will find some use for her, too. May I keep Ekliptik with me? Alberic needs them to get the books out of the library."
"Aye. They have their ways of reaching me, they don't need to be next to me at all times. Lilac can stay in the Cove for as long as you'd like, too."
"Very good. In that case, it is time for me to return to my work. Adanita, I am counting on you with Nivelir," he said. "Officer, best of luck in your endeavor, too."

Teodolit mumbled some curses in Franac as he was getting up to leave. Charming as ever. Once he closed the door, Adanita pulled him in for a kiss and he gladly responded, running his fingers through her hair.

"I will see you tonight, I hope?" he quietly asked.
"Of course. And I expect you to play some music for me," she said.
"Anything you'd like," he promised. He kissed her on the back of her hand and let her go. They both had work to do, after all.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Adanita raised her hand to knock on the door at the same moment as Nivelir opened them. His eyebrows twitched, but he kept a decently neutral expression despite everything. Annoyed, yes. Angry or heartbroken, not really. Rosamund really knew him well.

"Good afternoon, Captain. Do you urgently need my attention?"
"Not particularly urgently, but I will insist nonetheless. Unless I am interrupting you?" she asked.
"I was about to ask a servant for some tea."
"By all means, make it for two."

He looked like he'd rather not. "Captain, do you need me for something work-related?"
Oooh. Oh, he hated her. "Aye," she firmly said.
"In that case..." He let her into the office, holding the door for her. He left to find a servant and returned inside, closing the door behind him. Adanita took the opportunity to have a seat at the coffee table, just to show he won't get rid of her that easily.

He sat down across from her with his legs elegantly crossed, both waiting in silence for the tea and for the servant to leave. It occurred to her she perhaps should've changed her shirt into something with a higher collar to hide the love bite before coming here. Too late.

"Lord Secretary," she started politely. "I hope you are feeling better?"
"Captain, is this supposed to be an apology?"
"For Rosamund's joke during our meal? He should be the one apologizing for that, not me."
"Then why are you here?"
"It appears the reveal made you upset. I want to know if you are upset with me or with him."
"Baroness Vervain... may I speak freely?"

Adanita blinked. Oh. She had a title and a city. Nivelir, a noble by birth, had neither. He was just 'lord', not even an heir. She was more of a noble than he'll ever have the chance to be, probably.

That never occurred to her. She was above Rosamund.

"You may," she said.
"To be frank, whatever the two of you do privately is none of my business. I was shocked by his behavior and yours, to brag about it so openly, but I have no interest in hearing more about it."
"It wasn't intended as a brag. We planned to ask Teo and you for advice on how to proceed, but your reaction was eye-opening. I've decided not to allow it to get out. That being said, our friends and family should be in the know. Because you are people we care about. Rosamund cherishes you as his dearest friend and I hope you can understand this is a show of trust. He wouldn't want you upset and to be equally honest, I don't want you as a rival or an enemy."
"I don't intend to be either, Baroness," he said. "I care about him too. If he is happy, then I have nothing more to say. I only wished it would be someone worthy of him."
"And I am not?"
"You are a criminal, a pirate, and a murderer."
"And yet."
"Indeed. And yet." He clenched his fists. "For a while I worried he'd pull something like this for the sake of legitimizing you. Trapping himself in a marriage with you because he felt he owed you something..."
What venom. What disgust. He almost- almost managed to really twist the knife she already had in her heart. But no. "That is not what is happening," she calmly said.
"I understand. I am glad. I will be the first to congratulate both of you when you decide to announce your engagement." He seemed honest.

"Lord Secretary. There will be no engagement," she said. "This is a temporary arrangement between us. The moment our work is done, I will sail back to Hannau Cove. Unless you took me for a woman who would willingly trap herself among nobility? I don't intend to spend a day more than necessary in this cursed land. And Rosamund would never leave his position."

Nivelir looked as if he bit into a lemon. He really was a nobleman through and through. Starting a genuine, loving relationship with an intention to end it, choosing to spend time with your lover without plans to marry... She'd give him less brain damage if she bludgeoned him with a paper weight. Rosamund was right, this man wasn't upset because he was still in love. He was angry because he was a posh prick like the rest of 'em.

Poor Teodolit. She simply couldn't see them having any fun unless he loosens up at an incredible speed in an incredibly short time.

"If that is all, I will leave you to your work now. It was a pleasure to chat with you, Lord Secretary," she said.

"Have a nice day, Baroness Vervain," he bitterly replied.