August 6, 2002
Corinal informs Talysen, his mistress, of his need to marry.

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Corinal comes along from the adjacent corridor.

Talysen's lanky limbs are stretched out across the corridor, and though she doesn't quite block it, she's still quite the obstacle. As various people pass, she merely smiles winningly at them, and most of them step over her.

Talysen's lanky limbs are stretched out across the corridor, and though she doesn't quite block it, she's still quite the obstacle. As various people pass, she merely smiles winningly at them, and most of them step over her with frustrated expressions - though they're well used to her presence in similar positions.

"Having fun?" Corinal inquires, a strange sight what with the Tiren entourage in residence. He looks somewhat tired, as if he hasn't been sleeping quite enough, and judging from the looks of his clothing, he's just come from a nap of some sort.

"It's better than being blown about by the wind," insists Talysen, languildy sliding downwards so that her shoulders are square against the wall, and she's rather slumped. "You look tired."

"I am tired, so I suppose that's appropriate," Corinal shrugs to a certain degree. "Have a drink with me?" he offers, nodding down the corridor in the direction of his office. After a certain point, the gossip was too well-known, and he's attempts at sneaking about with the Master Starsmith have become all but open.

Talysen inclines her head lazily, pulling herself upwards to her feet with a languid, lingering movement. "Don't see why I shouldn't," she agrees, once she's made it all the way to her feet. Gossip has never bothered her, and she's never bothered it - sneaking was never something she really worked at.

"Excellent," Corinal answers with a return of his more usual smile. "I think I have something in there you'd like, even if you didn't like that brandy last time," he remarks, already turning to head down the corridor. "There's something I need to discuss with you as well."

Talysen's expression remains dubious. "Oh?" she queries, as she moves slowly to follow along after Corinal at a snail's pace - although she doesn't seem to be lagging back as such. "And oh again, too. What do you need to discuss?"

"Why don't I tell you in my office?" Corinal suggests with something of a shrug as he continues down the hall. At the junction to the southern corridor, he pauses, waiting for the master to catch up. "Coming?"

"If you must," agrees Talysen, not particularly bothered. "Coming, coming." She walks perhaps slightly faster, as if to indicate this, but takes her own good time to get there eventually.

"You weren't often punished as a child, were you?" Corinal remarks dryly before moving into the southern corridor. "I can tell," he adds unnecessarily.

Corinal heads along to the adjacent hallway.

You head along to the wider, adjacent southern corridor.

"You weren't often punished as a child, were you?" Corinal remarks dryly before moving into the southern corridor. "I can tell," he adds unnecessarily.

"Punished?" Talysen shakes her head, following slowly. "Nah. Nejilia wasn't in to punishment, and my Master never really managed it." Unnecessarily answered, of course, as she trails after Corinal. "Why?"

"Oh, just commenting on some facets of your personality," Corinal answers, opening the door to his office in order to let her inside. "I guess it was very enjoyable, to never be punished as a child. I was, every single time I did something wrong."

Talysen follows, her head tilted to the side almost quisically. "I never felt the difference," admits the Starcrafter. "I wasn't naughty, really, anyway. I didn't do much of anything. How were you punished?" She makes herself at home immediately, settling herself down in one of the chairs.

"Chores, a few spankings, and such," Corinal answers with a shrug as he opens one of the decanters and pours her a glass of something orangey. As he offers the glass to her, he notes, "I need to ask you something."

Talysen accepts the glass, sniffing at it warily as her gaze rests upon Corinal. "Yes?" she encourages, apparently unconcerned.

"Within a Turn, I'm going to be married. If the current..offer..is arranged, it could be as soon as six months. I don't, however, have any intention of ending this, though, of course, it will have to be less obvious," Corinal answers bluntly as he leans against his desk.

Wariness of the glass be damned, Talysen chugs down a mouthful, though her eyes never leave their focus. "Oh," she says, wiping her mouth with her right hand. "Who's the lucky lady?"

"I'm not sure yet. An Istan daughter...I'll be reviewing the candidates today and tomorrow. I don't even know their names yet, but..it's part of the deal we've brokered," Corinal answers honestly. He pauses, then adds, "I don't think I need to tell you that this information cannot go any further than this room."

Talysen gives her glass a glance, as if not quite convinced of the taste, and nods. "What kind of deal?" Squaring her shoulders, the Starsmith adds, "I'm no gossip. I'd have no reason to blab about it. Can't see how it'd be in my best interests, anyway, even if I could be bothered."

"Various issues you don't really care about. Basically, Igen will be paying significant reparations for a long time to Ista, as well as to Iliana. In return, I stop my prosecution and agree to marry a daughter, to seal the rift, as it were," Corinal answers, straighting up. "Care for me?" he inquires, motioning to her glass.

"Bet they're fat, ugly and old," declares Talysen. "Though I suppose you don't mind old, so it can't matter much anyway." She gives another glance to her glance, wrinkling her nose, though she outstretches the hand within which it is held. "It's better than the last one," she notes, "but only just. Drinkable, barely."

"There's a few who are young, nineteen or so," Corinal remarks, taking her glass from her. "And yes, I do mind. I need heirs, and older women may not be able to reproduce as well as younger ones."

"Mere babes," says Talysen, dryly, as she pulls her hand back into her lap, although before it reaches there it ends up flopping at her side. "Though I suppose you've got a point. Poor baby-popping machine."

Corinal hands back her glassed, refilled before settling himself into a seat behind the desk. "A nineteen Turn-old is closer in age to me than you are," he points out.

Talysen accepts the glass, fingers wrapping about it as she draws it downwards to rest upon her knee. "There's a world of difference, though," she remarks in a counter-point. "You're an adult. A mere girl of nineteen only thinks she is."

"I was a Journeyman at nineteen. Was a I boy then?" Corinal inquires, arching a brow.

"I was nearly one, and I certainly was. No life experience," insists Talysen.

"Well, maybe you shouldn't be casting your failings unto others, though in all honesty, any Blooded girl is a girl until marriage, I've found," Corinal admits.

Talysen's smile is amused, if anything. "Perhaps I'm not such a good example," she agrees. "Some would say that I might as well be a child now-- though I'd disagree." Her usual, lazy pattern of speech grows thicker still. "Bet you're right. Sheltered little flowers."

"Aren't you?" Corinal teases her before his smile fades somewhat. "I'd rather continue sleeping with a woman after I'm married though, so I hope you'll agree to continue. I don't have much hopes for a woman that Igen might raise."

Talysen sticks out her tongue in retort, a cheeky smile well in place upon her features. It doesn't fade, as she nods, quite lazily, her smile creeping about more lazily as she stretches out her legs in front of her. "'Course. I've no inhibitions about sleeping with a married man. Rather pleases me, that I've something to offer /she'll/ never have."

"No morality what so ever," Corinal chuckles, inclining his head. "I quite glad it's not you to whom I am getting married," he comments with a chuckle. "But, since this marriage is arranged as a conciliatory gesture, we must be more discreet. I'll be taking too much of Igen's marks and profits to flagrantly insult them."

"Nope," agrees Talysen, rather cheerfully. "And quite proud of it." She finally lifts her glass, taking another sip from it, though more cautiously this time. "I'm rather glad you're not marrying me, too. Though the scandal might've been amusing." Though she can't help her face falling slightly, she nods. "Would've been quite fun to rub it in her face, but discreet it is. Skulking 'round corners, hiding in shadows."

"I cannot risk insulting Igen once this is concluded, so discreet will be our watch word," Corinal nods. "As the threat to Ista is now incarcerated, I've dismissed my constant guard presence, and it should be easier than it was."

Announcement: WEATHER: Rain comes down hard in big drops; it's dark and grey and visibility is very poor. The tops of the trees are swaying, and when the wind catches the rain, it flings it like a handful of gravel at everything in its path.

"So long as the gossip doesn't get back to her, and she isn't the suspicious type, we'll cope," declares Talysen broadly. "Good. They get on my nerves, always being there."

"Gossip always gets back to those involved, Talysen," Corinal replies. "It never fails," he continues, though this time he stands. "I need to prepare for my latest round of talks with Tiren. Shall I see you later tonight?"

Talysen stands, her glass still half full, nodding. "Perhaps some obvious bickering, just to throw her off the scent!" she declares, almost too enthusiastically, as she sets her glass down. "I'm not busy. I'll see you then."

"Until tonight then," Corinal grins at her. "I should know in the next few days if, when, and to whom I'll be married," he adds.

"I look forward to hearing!" insists Talysen, with another of her charmingly cheeky smiles. "'til tonight."

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