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"Is that what passes for 'something nice' to you?"
An incredulous voice wafts out of the moonless night. Glowering, Moenbryda turns to face them, her arms folded in disapproval.
"This happens to be the latest from Tataru's boutique. Tis no problem of mine if your eyes are faulty, Ascian."
Striding out of the darkness, Nabriales sketches a bow.
"I stand corrected. Though I must say if this constitutes high fashion for the Scions I must question her taste."
"If all you brought was audacity and insults, I'll take my leave." Moenbryda snaps.
"Wait wait wait", the Ascian darts to block her way. "Let's not be too hasty, love. You don't even know why I summoned you."
Moenbryda raises a skeptical eyebrow, silently prompting him to continue.
"I happen to know you need data for your research, and the assurance it is genuine. What would you say to a trivial favor for me in return for access to the great gubal library's deepest stacks."
"Favor? What need has an Ascian for a trivial favor involving me?"
Nabriales gives an easy shrug, his smirk showing a glint of teeth far too sharp for the Hyuran form he appears to be.
"You seemed amenable to the offer given fair compensation, and, fashion sense aside, a suitable companion for the event in mind."
Moenbryda's other eyebrow climbs to join its pair in incredulity.
"Go on."
"That's not a no--"
"It's not a yes either, Ascian. Explain yourself."
Nabriales sweeps another bow, an earnest grin on his face. The effect is somewhat lessened by the fact he's a head or a head and a half her lesser - his neck craned back to meet her gaze.
"Of course. Lovely Moenbryda of the Scions, will you be my accompaniment to a party of an exclusive nature this evening?"
"A party? What use have the Ascians for a party? Can you not gather information from the shadows like the rest of your kin?"
Nabriales straightens, a smile still playing on his lips.
"And what a waste that would be. I have the good fortune to be possessed of a body, and it would be a crime to not seize the offered experience."
"This is the first I'm hearing that Ascians enjoy a glass of wine the same as any other soul."
"Are you truly surprised? When we met you attempted to cleave me with an axe! Hardly conductive circumstances for a mutual enjoyment of spirits."
Reluctantly, Moenbryda relaxes. As bizarre as it is, Nabriales appears genuine. And for access to the great gubal library - she swallows, mouth drooling at the thought of those restricted tomes in her hands. Nabriales appears remarkably nonchalant that no small part of her research involves him and his kin's demise, but perhaps that's simply another incomprehensible aspect to the man.
A party should be a simple enough favor.
"Just for the night, understand? The others will fret if I'm late returning come morning. And after all that fuss about my attire, tell me you're not coming in that." She gestures to his robes.
"Of course not, love. I simply wished to see what you'd chosen first. Matching your date is the thing to do, after all."
Grinning, Nabriales clicks his fingers and a swath of dark aether surrounds him. The cloud dissipates as quickly as it's come, revealing him in a tight fitted vest and button up, embroidered hems a match to her outfit's stylistic flares. Impressed, Moenbryda allows herself a nod of approval.
His grin deepens as he offers her his arm.
"Shall we?"
"Well this is unfortunate. This vest is hardly waterproof."
Moenbryda glares in the direction of Nabriales's mournful voice, her arms sore from sawing back and forth on a convenient nail to break her bonds.
"That is all you have to say for these circumstances? You're trapped here too!"
"No need to shout." Nabriales grumbles.
Moenbryda flinches as his hands emerge from the gloom of their wooden prison. Some manner of crate, callously sealed and, by the bobbing, already in the water. Water covers her toes and Moenbryda gulps. She was never great at holding her breath underwater.
"Let me get that for you."
The ropes binding her wrists fall free to float in the rising water. Enclosed in darkness, she hears Nabriales retreat again as she rubs the feeling back into her wrists.
"Remind me to never go on a date with such a useless Ascian again."
The shadows bristle.
"Tis hardly my fault they stole your research and hit me with it. Why were you even carrying that crystal?"
"I had to be sure I was safe with an Ascian!"
"Yes, well, look where your caution got you. Locked in a sinking box with an Ascian whose magick is sealed."
Moenbryda can practically feel the man's pout. True, had she not brought the auracite, they could have teleported away from danger the same as how they'd arrived in a breathless blast of darkness. But then what insurance would she have had he'd return her to the Scions come morning? His word? Though, to his credit, he'd kept it best he could thus far. And he didn't have to free her bonds, useless though it might be for swimming whilst confined in an ill-sealed and sinking crate.
"How did a simple date come to this."
"I suppose I thought Gegeruju wouldn't murder his party guests. My mistake, underestimating lalafellian wrath." Nabriales sighs.
"What in the seven hells did you even do to get him this mad?"
She can't help but ask as she sets to testing the crates limits, water up by her calves now. Her frown deepening as Nabriales describes a truly unfortunate set of coincidences, culminating in their present circumstances. Her investigations of their watery prison ends with her crouched over Nabriales, feeling the wooden walls behind him for any sign of give. If they can break the crate, then at least they'll have a chance to swim in open water back to Costa del Sol and then teleport back after a brief rest to Revenant's Toll.
Distressingly, the wall appears as solid as the rest.
"You know, a woman feeling a man up like this might present a misunderstanding to certain audiences."
She glares at him beneath her, unable to see his expression in the darkness but willing all her disapproval to him regardless.
"That is what you're concerned about? The propriety of being locked in a box together? Not the imminent flooding and death?"
She feels him shrug.
"I work with what I'm given. And unless you're offering some means to stabilize my aether, this is what's left."
"Stabilize your aether..."
"Yes, your crystal had quite the nasty effect. My head is fairly swimming with a headache. Aether sickness if I've ever suffered it."
"Stabilize your aether!"
"Yes I believe you already said that."
But Nabriales's sour quip falls on deaf ears, Moenbryda suddenly hopeful that she'll not have to exist in a reality where Urianger reads her 'gone out, back soon' note without an answer.
"Auracite stagnates the subject's aether, though its area of effect relies on the caster's aether. You got hit with only incidental intent, shoving part of your aether out of balance with the rest. So all we need do is energize that portion and the body's natural rhythms ought to resync it with the rest."
The alternative solution of stagnating the whole of his aether goes unsaid. From the readings of the impromptu field test, she'd need a whole cart of crystals to adequately power the auracite for a full body effect on the Ascian. Invigorating a smaller portion should be far simpler with their current resources.
"Energize how. As I'm sure you've noticed, we're confined in an increasingly small interior space." The water is near waist height on her, now, so likely mid-torso on him given his stature. "Any spells of note will surely harm us in such a limited venue."
"Spells aren't the only means to deliver aether." Moenbryda cackles, reaching for Nabriales's shirt. His yelp of surprise is fine payment for what she's about to do. Pulling his shirt up to bare his waterlogged abdomen, Moenbryda feels for where the auracite struck him. A pained hiss guides her, and she lets go of his shirt to frame the injury between her hands.
"Say a prayer to your god that this works!"
Gulping a breath, Moenbryda shoves her head into the seawater and aims for his injury. A sage's nouliths would make for more precise work, but she's never had the knack for the fiddly things. Instead, Moenbryda gathers aether on her lips. The most active, energizing shock she can. And kisses Nabriales's injured side.
His reflexive kick nearly catches her, and she loses her breath out of startlement. Bubbles of air streaming by her head as she tries to surface. And tries. And tries. But the band of air is no longer there.
It feels like she flails through syrup, reaching for hope, when a strong arm catches her. Abruptly the pressure surrounding her ceases, the burbling of night creatures reaching her ears. Without the support of water around her, she collapses to the earth, coughing.
"Of all the fool things to do. No explanation, no forewarning, 'here Nabriales let me shock you like I've just stuck a lightning shard down your pants.'"
Moenbryda's coughs her laughter, unreasonably amused at the Ascian's annoyance. And phrasing, if she's honest.
A hand braces her back, thumping helpfully.
"Cough it all up, love. There are far finer things to swallow than seawater."
"You keep talking like that...and I'm going to insist...you find us an inn." She manages, lungs sore. Nabriales brightens comically at her remark.
"That can be arranged." He drawls. "I even know a place with tub access included. The seawater will have done little to help you, nevermind your outfit."
Sadly, she views the ruined fabric of Tataru's gift. No, the seawater did it little favors. To be fair, tis not as though 'near death by drowning' was listed as a use case when she'd made the request for fancy clothes to Tataru.
"That...would be lovely."
Moenbryda manages to stand. Nabriales braces her immediately, the warm line of his body a welcome comfort.
"So about that inn room."
Darkness swells to consume them both, ushering them away from their unexpected adventure.
Later, after their fill of 'we survived' sex, and after Nabriales makes his courteous excuses and exit, Moenbryda chances to look at her once-outfit for the night.
Set over one of the inn's chairs, the clothing shines pristine as when the night had started.
Perhaps not such a bad date after all.