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[Spirits, he's as rude as the rumors say. Saevel gasps in scandal somewhere beside him, but Kabru barely cares enough to note that any more than his highly observant nature demands.

Rude or not, Mithrun approached him. He must want something from Kabru. That's useful to know. If he recalls correctly, Mithrun is unmarried-- if this is his attempt to win Kabru's hand, it seems he's trying to fail it on purpose.

He keeps a gracious expression and tone.]

It's Kabru. Is there something I can do to make your evening better, Captain?

[ Kabru will eventually learn this is Mithrun actually trying not to fail. It's just...difficult to do when the niceties and intricacies of elvish culture have all burnt away to something meaningless. They mattered to him so much in the past that they left him sooner than other things did.

Battlefield training means he senses killing intent and scans for the source. Milsiril definitely wants him dead, but she probably (?) won't try to kill him in the middle of a party (?) he thinks.

His gaze slides back to Kabru after judging Milsiril's distance and speed of approach. Mithrun decides Kabru would make a good shield in the event she does decide to attempt it. He's taller and Milsiril would probably pull any attacks if faces with one of her wards. Still, better to get further out of her reach before she takes the target (Kabru) elsewhere and makes this even more of an ordeal than it already is.

So he extends his hand, not bothering to actually voice what he wants because he's mentally preparing various spells in case he needs them. In this situation, a dance should get them out of range and also be harder to interrupt.

This is snubbing Saevel even more. Whoops. ]

[Oh, Kabru expects Milsiril will be very unhappy with this interaction. He doesn't care. It's happening anyway. A dance is the perfect opportunity for as private a conversation as one can get without leaving the room.]

I'd be delighted to accompany you in a dance, Captain Mithrun.

[He places his hand in Mithrun's, set to follow. Given Kabru's... situation, he will always be the younger, less stationed partner... so he will always be expected to follow, to be courted. It's a little awkward, with him being so much taller than his dance partners, and Kabru lacks the natural grace elves all seem to have in abundance, but he practiced until you can hardly tell.

Kabru resists the urge to dive right into his questions; he's still uncertain what Mithrun wants out of this. Once he knows, maybe he can leverage it for the information he wants.]

It's so rare to see any active Canaries at these parties, much less a Captain. Can I ask what brings you here tonight?

[ Mithrun frankly doesn't care who leads. Given it seems he's expected to do so - or at least they both pause and Mithrun dredges up memories decades old of the last time he bothered to dance and what one is supposed to do when someone places their hand in yours - and given Milsiril is getting closer, he takes up the lead position. It's good that theirs is a culture that changes at a glacial pace, but even with that Mithrun's knowledge of the "current" dances is somewhat out of date. He ignores the fashionable version of the waltz that most people are doing and instead begins to lead them in one maybe five or six years out of fashion, apparently not caring that it puts them out of step with the rest of the room.

It's not as though he'll hit them into anyone, although Mithrun's habitual use of teleportation to move about when he needs to probably ought not to be used in a ballroom. It's what he'll default to anyway. ]

You. [ Again, he doesn't prevaricate. It also isn't a secret, though Mithrun does not really consider himself to have many of those. If there are any, they are what feeling remains to him. ] I require a spouse.

[ Kabru is looking to be a spouse. 1 + 1 = 2. Mithrun could not possibly sound less passionate about this, but it isn't like he could fake that anyway. ]

[Kabru mentally scrambles a bit to remember the steps, as this of course isn't one of the dances he practiced for hours until it felt completely natural... but Mithrun is confident in where he's stepping even if it's out of time with everyone else in the room, so it doesn't take long for Kabru to catch up.

(At least until the first time Mithrun teleports them without warning and he stumbles.)

The short, blunt answer could almost be charming were it not delivered so monotone and followed up so clinically. In a way, it's kind of refreshing compared to the convoluted social dancing around the subject Kabru is accustomed to.

Well, an engagement would certainly give him plenty of time to get information out of Mithrun... but would just information be worth tying himself for life to him? Would it trap him in elven lands until his death, unable to pursue his goal, unable to prevent another Utaya?]

If I may... you don't seem all that interested in acquiring one.

[He supposes if it starts to look like it might, he could always run off before the wedding.]

My family has made marriage a condition of my continued employment.

[ Which is to say he is very highly interested in acquiring a spouse, by Mithrun standards. He's bothering to try to do so on his own, even though Kerensil probably actually expected to find a spouse for Mithrun. He has spent most of his time since the incident away with the Canaries and when home it has mostly been Obrin who spends time with Mithrun; Obrin was not in the lead of this push for Mithrun to wed or he probably would have known to keep a closer eye on the younger son of the house.

He ignores Kabru stumbling but is perfectly capable of supporting the larger man for a moment without faltering himself. ]

I am not a desirable partner for most elves. You aren't an elf.

[ Not that he thinks he is a desirable partner for not-elves, but it doesn't seem like other races mind shorn or clipped ears so much. Otta never seems to have trouble finding her half foot partners. ]

[Kabru is very quickly picking up that Mithrun is serious about this, and that it is not an attempt to get his family off his back about trying to find a spouse by putting Kabru into the position of having to turn him down. Which means, Mithrun wants to continue his role in the Canaries. Of course, it's an honor to serve in Her Majesty's Dungeon Investigation Unit... an honor that most people would rather avoid.

(Kabru himself, who dreamed of becoming a Canary as a young child, notwithstanding.)

The Captain is also rather strong for an elf, to be able to support him so easily. He'd undoubtedly make an incredible combat instructor, if Kabru can convince him to teach him. He can't pass up this opportunity, no matter how rude Mithrun comes off. He turns up the charm in his smile a little more.]

Her Majesty has made marriage a condition of my continued occupancy in her kingdom. And I am also not a desirable partner for most elves.

[Some calculated honesty-- they're in the same boat, here. Maybe they can help each other out.]

[ There is no? Real reaction? To the charm? Mithrun doesn't seem totally present for all he's keeping them from hitting anyone else. There is something a little distant about him, or empty. His body moves to complete the tasks in front of it, and this is a task in front of him. ]

Hm. [ He has no opinion on Kabru's desirability. As far as he can tell, the man is the exact opposite of his previous "type". Were he the Mithrun from before the dunegon it is unlikely he would have pursued or agreed to such a match. Of course, that Mithrun would probably be seething with jealousy about his brother's upcoming nuptials, while Mithrun keeps forgetting when they're supposed to be. Kabru is likely too tall, not graceful enough, not very many things that are desirable in the elven lands... ]

Your smile is elvish anyway. [ That isn't a compliment, exactly. It reminds him of his own smile from before. Mithrun thinks it isn't very real, though it doesn't bother him that it isn't.

There's more important things. Such as: ]

I need to be wed in the next two weeks if I am to leave on time for the next expedition that was to be assigned to my squadron. [ Not like any of the others would mind extra leave, save perhaps Pattadol, but that isn't a factor in his decisions. ]

You think so? [It doesn't feel like a compliment, either-- though it never really has whenever anyone's told him he's 'elvish' in some way. Even when it was meant as one, it always felt backhanded. He can never be elvish enough, no matter what he does or how he acts. But if he let a little comment like that stop him, he'd never make any friends living here save for Rin.

The surprise on the incredibly tight deadline (even by tallman standards, let alone elven ones) has him tripping over his feet, and thus clinging to Mithrun a little more than might be appropriate for their dance.

He quickly steadies himself, his smile straining and eyes a little wide.]

That's-- not a lot of time for a courtship. [To say the least.]

[ The strained smile and confusion is a popular reaction to Mithrun doing...whatever it is he thinks he's doing in any given situation. He therefore doesn't take it in any particular way. ]

It is if one cuts out the pointless posturing and parties. [ This attitude does not make him popular with potential spouses, one would think. Kerensil already has plenty of the pointless, time-consuming bits of courtship being fulfilled by the heir to the house. Mithrun sees no reason to contribute. ]

I imagine my father does not believe I can fulfill his requirement in the timeframe, however. [ As Mithrun has absolutely no standards whatsoever, he's fairly certain he can meet the timeframe even if it means marrying a criminal or desperate degenerate, though.

Kabru is not the bottom of the barrel when "has a pulse" is about the only standard Mithrun does have. He then circles back around to the question, because Mithrun does tend to answer them unless he decides not to: ]

You don't mean your smile at all. It fits in.

[It's also not a lot of time for Kabru to try and get what he can out of the arrangement before he's tied to Mithrun forever, which is of course the real problem. Elven courtships usually take years, and he was expecting an expedited timeline due to his shortened lifespan but two weeks? He gets the sense Mithrun would march him down the aisle tonight if it would get him what he wants.

It speaks to a singular focus. Who he marries does not matter to him in the slightest, only that he can return to the Canaries. And that he can see through Kabru's smile-- well, most everyone's fake here. It's not that hard of a read, really. He likes to think he wears the mask well, though.]

He expects you to fail. [To what end? From the things he's heard, it seems House Kerensil is better served with their troublesome second son far from home, serving the family honor from a distance. The change in tactic is intriguing-- but not so much so to divert Kabru's attention from his own goals overly much.

As it turns out, Kabru dances better when he's thinking about other things, his mind turning over plans and implications rather than worrying if his feet are stepping in the right direction. Two weeks... maybe a tight deadline is exactly what he needs.

The false smile remains, but a blazing intensity burns in his eyes. Could it really be so simple, his ticket out and the answers he's been seeking, all in one? Surely not. There's something here he's not able to account for yet. Probably several things.]

If you take me with you on your expedition, I will marry you.

[ The joke is on Kabru, as he's probably going to realize it a little too late after making that one supposedly huge request: he could have asked for literally anything and Mithrun would have stamped it as acceptable, given he has exactly one goal and that goal requires him to marry someone. The details surrounding that marriage matter exactly not at all.

Pretty much the only thing he wouldn't have agreed to would be anything getting in the way of his goal, i.e. retirement and/or coming back home for longer stretches than he would like. Dragging along an extra body on expedition doesn't seem like a big deal in comparison although admittedly any other captain would have refused and Pattadol will probably get a very large headache. ]

Very well. [ Immediate agreement, no bargaining or argument, which is...likely not what was expected! But Kabru gave exactly One qualifier to agreement and therefore it is now a Done Deal as far as Mithrun is concerned. ] I assume you can handle arrangements for a ceremony that is acceptable to you.

[ As Mithrun has no opinions on the matter. He will show up! That is enough, surely. ]

[wait what

He was expecting more of a back and forth, some bargaining, or at least some convincing that he could handle himself. Immediate acceptance was not among the possibilities he had considered. He swallows back the boyish 'really?', not wanting to undermine himself.

The joke is surely on Kabru, though he has no way of knowing that yet.]

Yes, I can handle that. [Spirits, this is happening. He's going to get married to Mithrun of House Kerensil. And it's going to get him into a dungeon. Maybe more than that.

And if they still try to hide the truth from him, well... it'll be a lot easier to escape from an unwanted marriage on the road. Now, the biggest obstacle is Milsiril. Kabru's caught glimpses of her from across the room, and she is blatantly unhappy with Kabru's choice in dance partner. She's never liked when Kabru tries to talk to active duty Canaries--- he usually hides it from her. A shared dance at a ball specifically geared towards finding Kabru himself a spouse is the exact opposite of hiding.]

I'll handle Milsiril as well, of course.

[ Mithrun is actually hilariously assuming Kabru can't handle himself on an expedition, he just isn't worried about it. The other Canaries will likely give Kabru more shit than Mithrun would ever bother with. Of course, Milsiril will probably have a great deal to say about the suitability of Mithrun as she knows full well about his lack of desires and singular focus. Though it's hard to really fully prepare anyone for Mithrun. ]

Very well. [ Weddings, however simple, cost money. There are various rules and customs about who pays for what, but Mithrun has no interest in getting involved. He ponders that for a second before nodding as he draws them to the side of the dance floor. ]

I will arrange for you to have access to my accounts for whatever is necessary.

[ He doesn't remember what's in there. His entire salary for decades, mostly, since Mithrun doesn't really buy shit. Is it really wise to just add someone on just because they said they'd marry you? Who knows. Mithrun will do it anyway. ]

[Given Kabru's canon track record, Mithrun's not wrong about that. He'll be fine up until he faces the first monster more intimidating than a slime, and that overconfidence will get a reality check. It won't stop him by any means, though.

Maybe he should be more worried that they'll just let him die and leave him behind than he is.

Being granted access to Mithrun's accounts because of a simple verbal agreement is a dangerous amount of trust. It's a good thing Kabru isn't one to take advantage of that-- Milsiril already provides whatever he might need or want financially, and he doesn't ask for much anyway. He doesn't care either way for luxuries, beyond things that are good quality so that they perform well and last long. But Mithrun doesn't know that about him, he couldn't even remember his name at first.

He'd worry it was a test were it offered up by anyone else.]

I'll keep it small and simple-- we don't have the time for anything else.

[It'll be scandalous, but Kabru doesn't intend to stick around long enough to need to care. Any arrangement he made, if he went through with it, was going to be a scandalous affair regardless-- keeping it small removes the opportunity for gawkers to attend. They can keep it to close family-- maybe even just one witness each, and an officiant. It's enough to make people speculate there might be a pregnancy involved, if one of them were capable of bearing children, but again-- he won't be sticking around to care.

There's so much to do, and so little time to do it in. He can pretend it's already a done deal, that will help with Milsiril. He needs to pack. He needs to write Rin to let her know he's finally really leaving this time. He needs to figure out what to pack. He needs to say goodbye to his adopted siblings. He has to get in contact with-- someone in House Kerensil that will know what needs to be done on their end.

His mind is whirling with all the things that need to happen in very short order. But he's going to be stuck at this damn party all night, and he can't do any of it-- except maybe talk to Milsiril.]

I'd like to spend at least a little time getting to know you more. Can we meet in private? Before the official betrothal is announced? [After, they won't be able to meet privately, they'd need to be chaperoned.] Would tomorrow work?

[ Insisting on actual training from Mithrun will probably be effective. Maybe? Mithrun at least has never died and he is very acutely tuned to dungeon dangers. He's less attuned to others outside of it, or more accurately doesn't care. Many people have tried to take advantage of his state. Cithis had him dress up a bunch and do other dumb things when she joined, though she doesn't always do such things now.

The request is met with a nod. Mithrun doubts there is anything of interest for Kabru to learn but he doesn't have an interest in keeping secrets. ]

Just come by the dormitories when you like. I stay there. [ And Kerensil doesn't argue that as of yet because routine helps. And he is after all supposedly a jailer of sorts to his squad even though Mithrun generally lets them do whatever they like. ]

[He stays in the dormitories, even when he's back home? Another oddity. For as much as Kabru needs to know everything about him now, and his usual interest in others in general, when face to face with Mithrun... it's strangely difficult to want to learn about him. Blank spots he can't quite place.

He doesn't seem to want anything other than to do his job. But that can't possibly be all there is to him. Even people with highly demanding jobs who dearly love what they do have lives outside of that. And Mithrun's life outside of his job is about to include Kabru, so he needs to find out about it.]

I'll be sure to come by, so make some time for me tomorrow, okay? [It is then that a familiar hand wraps around his bicep, and Kabru turns to see his adopted mother behind him, giving Mithrun a deathly glare. Her expression softens to something worried and borderline tearful when she looks to her adopted son.

"Kabru--"

He interrupts.]

Mithrun of House Kerensil has offered for my hand, and I have accepted.

[ Mithrun makes it known exactly what kind of spouse he is likely to be by taking in the scene of Milsiril coming up and hearing that and providing Kabru with the stunning support of teleporting away and leaving him to That Mess. Good luck! He did what he set out to do and can now abandon the entire party and also Kabru by proxy.

...that said he is more of less a man of his word or at least doesn't really make plans, generally, so he will be pretty free tomorrow save the usual at home routine of meals and practice, all done within the confines or reach of the dormitories. ]

[To be fair, Kabru did say he'd handle Milsiril, so how mad can he really be when Mithrun just teleports away?

Still a little irritated, as it turns out, but he forces that emotion back and slams it behind a wall of 'everything is going to plan and I'm very happy about how it's turning out'.

Back at the House of Tol after the party, Kabru manages to out-stubborn his adopted mother, ignoring her repeated warnings that he doesn't know what he's signing up for with Mithrun, that he should think this through more carefully. The news that they'll be married in two weeks goes over like a lead balloon.

Kabru hardly sleeps that night, too busy hurriedly refreshing himself on the most necessary elven marriage customs for nobility in between trying to figure out what he needs to have packed in order to leave with Mithrun.

It leaves him a little haggard looking in the morning, but that's nothing that can't be handled with makeup and some coffee to perk him up. (Yes, they have coffee on the elven continent, why not.) It's far from the first time he's had to cover up the bags under his eyes, anyway-- he's no stranger to sleepless nights. At least this was a productive one.

Kabru makes for the Canary dorms at midday, having to stop and swallow down the bundle of nerves creeping up his throat before opening the door to the building. An elven woman with messy blond hair lifts her head from the desk she was draped over, her vacant expression turning to glee and amusement when she spots him.]

"No. Fucking. Way." [She cackles, elbowing the man next to her, shirtless and about Kabru's height, which makes him incredibly tall for an elf.] "Pay up, asshole!"

[He grumbles, glaring daggers at Kabru as though this interaction is entirely his fault and he didn't just innocently walk into the building. Both their ears are notched-- criminals, then. He can't let them intimidate him. He straightens up, putting a hand to his mouth and clearing his throat.]

I'm here to speak with Captain Mithrun. Where is he?

[They ignore him, bickering among themselves over the exact amount of whatever bet they had going that clearly had something to do with Kabru.

You know what? Never mind. He'll find Mithrun himself!!]

[ The security is not tight considering the security is arguing about a bet and everyone Kabru runs into seems mostly curious and amused and not at all serious and law abiding because Pattadol isn't someone he runs into. They're also mostly not helpful, because Mithrun does not run his squad with the same iron efficiency in terms of etiquette and protocol as other people might. He basically doesn't care what anyone else does 99% of the time and only takes a true interest in things inside Dungeons and at that point his goal oriented nature still doesn't care about either etiquette or protocol so his squad is pretty used to being allowed to be lax like this.

He runs on routine when he's in the dorms. Having an alarm and a schedule isn't something he cares about but he also doesn't care enough not to follow one. It's easier to do that sort of thing in an unchanging place like this so at least Kabru doesn't have to break down dorm doors as Mithrun leaves his and doesn't bother to lock it as he passes the wake up > get dressed > leave room portion of the morning.

Seeing the tall man strolling down the hall isn't routine but Mithrun merely pauses so Kabru can catch up and then starts walking without explanation or warning as he continues on his little routine like he's an old cat very set in his ways. He's drifting towards the common area with the small kitchen right now. ]

[Kabru is used to receiving all manner of reactions from elves towards his presence; curious and amused are among the more benign, if annoying and unhelpful. Who is keeping this squad from falling into complete and utter anarchy though, because it's obviously not their Captain. (He does not run into Pattadol, who only barely fits that role. She at least wouldn't have let some random tall-man just wander around the barracks without at least confirming his identity and purpose for being there.)

Fortunately he doesn't have to wander too far in before he finds Mithrun, and the man is even polite enough to wait for him to catch up before he starts walking off.]

Thank you for waiting. How are you today, Captain? [You wouldn't know he'd had a very harried, stress-filled night and morning and right now from how he smiles.]

[ Manners will get Kabru nowhere that rudeness wouldn't also get him. Mithrun blinks as he continues on his way. ]

I wasn't waiting. [ Since he isn't sure how he is, Mithrun ignores the question. He knows people ask it of one another but does not see the point. His current task is to acquire and eat breakfast and then to go train. The kitchen is somewhat cluttered but neat, shared by the squad but empty. Mithrun doesn't have to do anything but pull out a meal already made for him, uncaring of what it actually is.

Normally they make him ordinary things. He's too boring to bully. ]

You can have whatever. [ Mithrun offers as he meanders to the table. ]

[Then what does he call standing there while Kabru walked towards him, if not waiting? It's not worth arguing over, though. That stays an inside thought.

And Mithrun is completely ignoring him. Alright. He really is just this rude, all the time. As unorthodox as this situation is, especially for a newly courting couple, a shared meal is a fine enough way to get to know him a little better. Kabru just grabs a piece of fruit from the pantry and joins Mithrun at the table.]

What are your plans for the day? [And how can Kabru impose on them to try and gain more information about his future husband.]

[ At some point Kabru will realize he can probably just flat out ask and get an answer because subterfuge is useless on a man who no longer really cares about secrets or nuance. Mithrun's prepared meal seems to be some kind of breakfast sandwich he doesn't look at as he picks it up to take a bite. Chew. Swallow.

It's purely methodical, but the rhythm of a schedule is easier to follow in the dorms than on the road. The others will check on him periodically, but he can often be left alone so long as no one expects him to deviate.

He did deviate to go to that party, but it was on family orders. ]

I wake up and get dressed, then have breakfast. Then I train for a while. I have lunch when training is over. Then I take a walk. If anyone is in the common area when I return, I sit with them, or if Pattadol has reports to go over I go with her to do them, or I can go back to my room if neither of the other things are true. Then there is dinner. I am meant to bathe after. Then I sleep.

[ His daily schedule. Any deviations generally get told to him when they're going to happen. Theoretically he should be handing resupplying and such but in actuality Pattadol and Cithis handle that. ]

[He will certainly figure this out eventually. For now the subtle maneuvering continues as he tries to puzzle Mithrun out. He's been shockingly straightforward so far, particularly given the upbringing he must have had... there has to be something more going on, though.

Kabru takes a few small bites of the fruit he'd picked up while Mithrun rattles off his daily schedule. It would be informative to see how an active Canary Captain trains, at least... though it sounds like Pattadol is the one to handle all the administrative work for Mithrun. Is that really all he does, though? Sleep, eat, and train?]

You're very methodical. [That's a diplomatic way of putting it.] I hope you don't mind if I join you for training. [Casually inviting himself along.]

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i had the flu but I return

!!! welcome back! glad ur well! i was just thinking about checking in with you about the tdm thread

i am a procrastinator who is moving into a house but I won

🎉🎉🎉 the struggle is real for us procrastinators and no one understands

i live on the edge...

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