(out of order) RP w/ Variel at the Bergwin Inn

First stop after leaving Riverpuddle. Between Journal #26 and #27.
 
Still very pumped after the evening's goings on, Variel practically floats into her and Amity's room. Earlier than Amity expected, to be honest, she evidently hasn't done any house calls which is strange, especially after such a productive night of seduction. She humms her way over to the small collection of possessions she dumped in the room, gets her lute kit out, and sits down at the bottom of the bed as she usually does - Amity takes the top half, with the pillows while V sits cross legged - but instead of looking out as she usually does she faces Amity.
 
"So. How are we doing? I hope you've had enough aloney time for processing and moping and such? Because if so and you're receptive to the notion, I'd like to ask you about some things." She looks genuinely pleased and excited, and you're not sure it's just got to do with the gig she just rocked or the probably lumberjack/jane beauty waiting for her downstairs.
(I imagine Amity curls up with one pillow and prim perches on the other until they snoozle cuddle?)

Sprawled on top of the bed, Amity squints up at Variel from beneath the arm she’s currently holding over her face. Prim is indeed snoozing, one long length of dragon-noodle pressed against her side. Her coat, bag, and other winter accoutrements are in a pile on the floor nearby, just barely out of reach of the puddle of water spreading from her discarded boots. Her bag of crystals is on the bedside table, next to a softly glowing candle. Amity says,
 
“I mean, I feel like I’ve got a lot left in me, but I can squeeze in some time for you.” She pulls her knees up to make more room for Variel, which causes Prim to twitch his tail in annoyance, but otherwise both of them make little effort to change their current arrangement. She adds, “You did really good tonight.”

Variel draws breath to reply, before the comment on her performance, and returns to bounciness." thank you, dear! It was rather spectacular, wasn't it? One of those nights where everything inexplicably goes right, the energy is good…" she beams, seeming a lot less tall than she usually does. For a moment, there's a glimpse of her as a young woman, new to performing, all the freshness and wonder of bringing joy to a room." so nice when everything comes together like that!"
 
She smiles a moment longer, before the veil of maturity re-applies, and she is once again a wine aunt. She looks down to her lute, begins waxing, loosening the tension on the strings, whatever one dies to keep a lute fresh…
 
"I'm wondering as to your philosophy behind the lies you tell and the omissions you make, how much is genuine and how much is… Well whatever other motivations you might have!
 
I don't think it's so wrong that you lied or avoided telling whole truths - you know I enjoy you greatly - I'm more curious as to why. Did you think we wouldn't help you with your wizard if we knew the truth? Did you just not want to deal with it? Was it worry, avoidance, lack of care, or thought? " she is obviously leaving openness amongst her own assumptions and " get out of jail" cards, calmly prompting, no threat, no judge, just good willed curiosity.
 
Haze: [If Amity needs more prompting or explaining she is also clearly ready to provide it and help her through the process. You get the impression it's very not new to her]
[similarly, the word "lie" has no inflection, no weight. Its not presented as bad, just as a thing that happened. Not guilt trippy like maybe swindle would have said it, or obvs bad like Rhogkun]

Kris: (Thinking about why = amity cat being yelled at by ladies)

Amity listens attentively as Variel talks about her night, but as she begins her friendly inquiry, Amity takes her arm down from her face, and holds her hands very still on top of her stomach. When Variel finishes, she doesn't say anything for awhile. Maybe she's thinking, or just hoping Variel will give up and move on to another topic, but eventually, she says, quietly, "I don't know."
 
She looks over at Prim. He's just sleeping, no help there. Amity says, "I like stories. Other people like stories. If it's true or not, it doesn't matter, it's just... for fun. It seems like the right thing to say. And some things are true in a way or true from a certain way of looking at it, and some things... I don't want to think about, so if I don't, they don't matter anymore either. And once it's going it just... keeps itself going."

Variel nods slowly. "believe it or not, I do understand. To some extent, at least. You must forgive me for the heavy introspective question, I forget how young you are on occasion and that you've not had the decades, or centuries for self reflection that can be needed to learn those things about ourselves. You just sometimes remind me… " another trail off. She nods, seemingly happy with Amity's response.
 
"Very good. I do enjoy your compulsive storytelling, it inspires wonder and magic. Reminds me of my lady when she was young. We always made a good team - I rarely lie myself, but enjoy misleading emphasis and implications, inflections in true statements that can make people think otherwise… You know…" [hard to do in text] she trails off. "Anyway, we made a good team."
 
She pauses, smiling lightly and (probably?) side eyeing Amity. "I was wondering if we might be more honest with one another to better bring some light mischief to those around us? A collaboration is always more fun, don't you think? Or if you find yourself in a tangle you don't know how to escape I could try to help you extract yourself from it? "
And as I'm honestly still not familiar with this world, I find myself far preferring your interpretation of it and feel leaning into it would be more enjoyable. I just wonder if we need a system of sorts to be able to read the other better and get on the same page?"
 
She glances down at the snoozy Pseudodragon. "I know his highness is not ahh… altogether too fond of me for reasons unknown, but a telepathic signal could be a wondrous cue for implicit agreement, or disagreement, and backing up. Or else if there are other things on our pasts we'd rather not talk about to the group, we could agree that we knew and must have simply forgot the others didn't or were worried to share much more beyond the barrier of trust, so there's less of all THAT nonsense…" she gestures with her head in the general direction of Swindle's room and whispers, "blackmail tends to be less effective when other people know the particulars."

Amity scowls at that, leans up a bit, awkwardly, "He didn't even blackmail me right! He didn't want anything!" She flops back down. "He just... he just. I don't know what he wants."
Prim lifts his head a bare two inches to crane his neck back towards Amity, then looks at Variel with a very slight lip curl. Amity pats him absently. "And um... I was thinking about trying to... maybe not do that? Anymore? To you know... you guys. Normally I would just um... leave."

Variel giggles "Oh oh course you don't know what he wants, he likely doesn't either! He probably just enjoys the feeling of being in control, honestly." She points her cleaning implement at Amity pointedly. "That's why I asked about your intentions with lies, you see. I lie for amusement and good times, you lie for stories and safety, he - I imagine - lies for fear of the truth and control of a situation." she shrugs. "It's why I couldn't work with him like that. There's no... joy to it..."
 
She nods, "of course I would prefer if you didn't mislead us like that, I mean more..." she gestures cycles with her hands, searching for the right phrasing "more... As a team based thing. Like after Lord Cirano's catastrophe, your hide and blame Sahuagin ploy. You know. Lies can be used for good, as well. We all know we did a good thing in that house, but would have been reprimanded for it, yes? Those situations require a special approach. One I believe we both excel in. I am in the business of storytelling, after all. You just do yours without an instrument!"
 
She stops herself from going full aunt and asking if Amity has ever considered learning a musical instrument, but only barely.

Amity eyes Variel cautiously and says, "well that would be okay, right?"
"Is that like... permission?"

Once again, Amity sees what Variel must have looked like as a tricksy little youngster. Maybe it's a weird fey glamour thing, or maybe her eyes are more expressive than she thought.
 
"Hmmm... Permission? Perhaps... Perhaps more... An offer of guidance? You have a talent, and it shouldn't be allowed to atrophy, I'm sure together we'll manage to find a noble application for it" she winks, before adding
 
"I promised to keep you out of trouble, after all, it would behoove me if neither of us got caught… That's where most of the trouble starts after all." :3

Amity puts her hands behind her head, looking up at the ceiling thoughtfully. "Mm...Well yeah, if you promise..."
 
 
Variel smiles gently. "Promise." Maintenance done, she stands and begins packing her lute up in its case. "Wonderful. Wasn't too bad, was it?" she winks and sticks her tongue out over her shoulder. "Anything else you'd like to discuss, before I go? I have an appointment with the bar."

Amity stretches her feet back out, reclaiming territory on the bed. "No... I'm good. Go have fun, Variel."

She nods and heads to the door "leave a light on for me, I'll try not to wake either of you if I come back." goes to close the door behind her, then peeks back through "also... I'm very glad you didn't leave when things got hard. Thank you for sticking it out. You're a lovely travelling companion. Goodnight!"
 
And exit stage right.