Private Tales Come Recover

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Livia Quinnick

Livia Quinnick

Leading the Way
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Monthly Poster I Can't Stop! Seriously Likeable III Lore Maker I
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This was not her first time in Elbion.

She had been eleven, and her father and mother decided to take the family to the city and see the sights for a few days while her father had business with the pearl market. That business had been started by his father, and now Livia had a collection of near three hundred pearls inherited. She remembered fondly that the city had been great and new to her, but at that age did not appreciate the grandeur and history as she did now.

Livia was glad to take an extended stay after the gala, for she had a mission to follow. She had already asked for Henk's help, where they got a step closer to uncovering details needed to her cold case. Of course, she could have done the job alone, but seeing her old friend and mentor after many months without a word — her doing, as per usual — Livia felt the gentle nostalgia to enlist his company.

Sat in the quiet bistro located directly opposite from the fine rooms she had booked her stay in, Livia was sat at a window table and slowly piercing fruits with her fork. She ate as she peered out the window, watching the life of the Elbionese play before her eyes. How odd and yet similar that it almost reminded her of Vel Anir, yet their use of magic had more of an array being displayed. Liv saw carts rolling on their own, all by the use of a spell and not the mind of an individual with the talent of telekinesis. She had been obsessed with her own magic and the origins in which her father had sourced and stolen it from before forcing it on his magically strong daughter. The power of corruption did not feel like the magic born to the Quinnicks.

"Was anyone else joining you, my lady?" Asked the server, who placed down the brewed coffee, strong and honey sweetened, on the table.

Liv turned her head, eyes finding the steaming cup before lifting to the server. "No, no that will be all."
 
The sound of concrete cracking made Alistair wince as his eyes were quickly alight as he took a long look at the broken slab that now littered the roadway. A gang of workers looked sheepishly at him, as it was clear they had been careless in loading this particular slab into the magical wagons.

"Once again, I remind you to please be careful. The instantaneous arcane fortifications may be cheaper to make, but that does not mean they do not require skilled labor...Expensive, skilled labor."

The workers simply nodded before quickly shuffling to remove the debris and continue the loading process.

Just before he was set to leave Elbion he had received a business proposition for some of his newest creations. The offer had been too good to refuse. The young man would have continued to watch the workers like a hawk all the way until the delivery when his magical senses caught the trail of a rather familiar trail.

His head whipped around as he followed the trail before turning to his second in command, Rudolph. "See that the delivery is completed and payment received." Before waiting to hear the confirmation, Alistair's legs were already carrying him down the road.

Those legs eventually stopped him right outside the window of a small bistro, and sitting near that window with Livia Quinnick.

"Ah, Livia, I knew I sensed the presence of someone unusually competent." He said with a casual smile.

Livia Quinnick
 
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Her brows furrowed first, eyes finding Alistair Krixus easily, then her brows shot up with mild surprise. Despite all the hard work she was putting into whatever she could now she was no longer an Initiate, hearing praise from anyone still fed the girl she used to be. The one that tried so hard, she ignored all the fractures she gave herself. In all her four years at the Academy, Livia strived to be seen as capable.

Even now, she still turned towards the praise.

"Krixus." She rose from her seat, holding out the spare one opposite from her own to invite him to sit. "Please, take a seat."

Of course, it should be the man pulling out the chair for the woman, but Livia did not mind when it was just them, between friends. At least... she counted him as one. Same as Henk, as Thraah, Houri, and a great many and few. There was a line now, for Livia went against Henk's advice and began to retreat from those relationships and friendships. It was better this way, Cenric had advised her.

"I find it quite amusing so many of us Anirians have extended our stay here in Elbion." As she returned to her own seat, she allowed a glimpse of a small smile. Her voice held the inflection of such a musing. "Do you have time for a tea? Coffee? Perhaps something stronger?"

Last they met before meeting at the gala, Livia had met with Alistair in some non-descript town. She had been on a mission on behalf of the Republic of Vel Anir, but they had little to say in that choice. Of course, they had wanted someone better, someone more capable and experienced. Alistair himself had given Liv that chance to bail out of the mission, and yet she stayed. She had grown since then, a year having passed.

Alistair Krixus
 
Alistair graciously accepted the seat as he sat down next to her, looking out the window down the road where, in the distance, he knew his caravan would be.

"A coffee will do nicely, thank you." At this point, the man practically ran on the stuff.

He had not been aware that so many Anirians were taking extended stays in the city of magic, but it certainly made sense. It was a nice change of pace for those Anirians that were becoming more accustomed to the wider world beyond Vel Anir, Alistair included.

"Yes, I will be here for as long as it takes for the last of my trade deals to be finalized, which hopefully will be no longer than two more days."

While the Elbions were incredible when it came to magical innovation, that often meant their eyes were cast too far in the distance. Some of Alistair's more simplistic and practical inventions had become rather popular in the city.

Not to mention that the Krixus Trading Company was now one of the premier shipping and procurement services for magical materials. This all combined to mean that business was booming for Alistair in this city.

"And what is keeping you here? Besides the strong coffee?"

Livia Quinnick
 
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Livia held her hand to call over her attendant, ordering Alistair's coffee before tuning in to here his reason for extending his stay. Of course, it was always business. She could not recall a time she ever traveled somewhere for pleasure.

"Yes, the coffee is strong and enjoyable." A small laugh rumble into her words. "Yet I am afraid I too have coordinated some work while here in Elbion. Chasing down some leads to a cold case. Nothing too serious that I need a team of Vigilite behind me, it is better to go alone and not attract such attention."

A quiet lull happened naturally, in which the space was only interrupted once Alistair's coffee had been delivered.

She turned her olivine eyes onto him from across the table, knowing he would notice her attention was on him. "You were not around when I returned from my mission for the Republic." A gentle way to approach the subject. Last she had seen him, she wasted time asking him if he had spoken to her then burning flame, Silas. It did not matter, for two months after that, Silas had found her and Livia had no other choice but to push him to the point where he ended things.

It had been some numbing weeks after that. The way her luck suffered after that... "You were not there when Cenric and I called to meet to give an update before I was to return. Were you reassigned?"

Alistair Krixus
 
Alistair could feel Livia's eyes on him, but his never left the cup of warm coffee that had just been set down in front of him. For the longest moment, Alistair said nothing, only the small frown growing at the edges of his lips was the only indication that he was thinking of something at all.

The silence was finally broken as Al reached out and took a long gulp of the coffee, ignoring the warmth that spread down his throat.

"Yes...I was reassigned, which led to further situations. Apologies for not being more cordial without cooperation."

His mind could barely remember the details of their treasure hunt and his journey to the north. They had retrieved that strange artifact from the royal line, but someone else had been assigned to continue the matter...It all seemed so blurry, like a lifetime ago.

Now that he was limited to his own financial assignments, he had essentially been sidelined by the Vigilite until he could pass a psyche evaluation. The mere idea was ridiculous, as he did not know a single Dreadlord that could validly pass such an evaluation.

"I would offer you my assistance to make the matter go quicker, but you will already handle your assignments with haste, and I would merely slow you down."

The smile that spread behind the cup, being raised once again to his lips, never made it up to his cold and icy eyes.

Livia Quinnick
 
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Livia quirked a brow at him, although he would not see it. "Oh?" She spoke her curiosity.

She loosed a breath, the exhale still leaving her with weight pressing on her chest. Her brows furrowed, eyes drifting to the street. Watchful, always, even if her magic would tell her if something was amiss. "I always worked better alone. At the Academy or in my role with the Vigilite." She could not keep friendships or relationships well, for it had always been her curse to ruin something and deny herself a shred of happiness.

It was that feeling of owing someone her time, but even now, after her accomplishments, Livia now lived a life where she needed to constantly look about her surroundings.

"You would not slow me down, Alistair Krixus ." Her tone held it's steady cadence. "I in fact value your insights. You have a knowledge I have not had time to delve into. Some may call you an asset."

There was no need to fill this stated fact with tenderness or smiles. It simply was not how Livia was as a person. "How long do you plan to be in Elbion? Would you come visit me in Vel Anir? I have curated a few curious items from my travels evading rogue Archons, and something curious I would like your advice on. Procured it from the Savannah." A detour in order to get away from Viviana, a loyalist to Gilram. Not only did they want the artifact, they wanted Livia. A phantom chill ran down her spine, as it often did whenever she thought of the woman that was too strong, she was impossible to kill.

"In fact, the house I have bought is small, but houses a great manner of trinkets and such from all over Arethil. The last owner that occupied the home was a traveler and has quite the collection I have no thoughts on what to do with. Sell, donate... pack away and put it somewhere I will forget it."
 
An asset.

Well, he was glad someone still considered him such a thing. The past few weeks had made Alistair feel like nothing more than a large piggybank to help fund some of Vel Anir's more eccentric projects. He had even been removed from his teaching roles at the Academy for the time being.

A small laugh escaped from his lips, contrary to the dour thoughts in his head.

"I value those words coming from you more than most, thank you."

He would only be in Elbion for a few more days before he returned to Vel Anir. Then, he may choose to travel somewhere else for business ventures. Without the consistency of Dreadlord activity, Alistair found himself to be quite the restless person and had taken to traveling to calm such nerves.

Assisting in some other project was just what he needed, "I would love to. In fact, I should show a new...hoard I also acquired some months ago from a dark sorcerer who found himself a bit too confident. Some of the artifacts involved are...disturbing, but interesting nonetheless."

Even examining a few of the artifacts he had obtained had fundamentally changed the way he viewed magic...Or at least, that had been what was happening before his little...vacation.

Livia Quinnick
 
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Livia tried to keep the smile in her face, but in the cracks and gaps in her strength bloomed uncertainty. "I hate to admit I have begun to be fascinated by such things. A different fondness for it when it is before you and explained by those who know the subject well." She had grown up with it.

Before the memory of her father soured in his last few days of being alive, Livia and her father had spent time learning about magic and artifacts. He shared with her his love and excitement for tracking down pieces and an even greater enthusiasm when he was able to purchase it. Caelum Quinnick held the same talent as Livia. The Quinnicks were skilled at finding things, but Liv was the strongest in a few generations.

"My father was a collector. He loved it, taught me a few things I daresay I will pretend to have forgotten... in fact, my corruption magic had been stolen from an old relic taken from the ruins of a castle in the deep south of the Falwood." Magic he stole and placed upon her. Livia dreamed of being powerful with her magic, of being useful... she never thought her father would ruin her dream.

"Mournful memories aside, I would like to see this hoard one day." A light chuckle, an attempt to turn to more happier topics. "I should be wrapping up my investigations before the week is out... but I would not wish to impose a visit upon you so soon after returning home."

Alistair Krixus
 
A small smile pulled at Alistair's lips as he nodded in understanding at Livia's admission. Interests in such things were rare in Vel Anir, if they were not being used for military purposes, but Alistair had long since been encaptured by the history and strange innerworkings of random...' knick-knacks'.

"Really? A few months back, I ran across a fae artifact that had magic that reminded me of you. It seems the fae and the elves really do enjoy their corruption."

It occurred to him that he and Livia were more similar than he even remembered at times, as they both had some forms of magic pushed onto them at certain points in their lives, and like any good Dreadlord, they had adapted to thrive with them.

"Truly? I do not recall if I ever told you this, but my runic abilities were also pressed upon me. I was not born with a particularly strong magical affinity or even unique talents, which is common in our profession. My father did not take no for an answer and managed to find some ancient rune that he likely had no clue what it did. He carved it into my back at a young age and set me onto my current path...I suppose I should thank him for that." He added the last part with a chuckle.

Her meeting suggestion, in a week from today, would coincide with a few business ventures in the Empire, but he could send one of his representatives. He did not have to be everywhere at once, and some acquaintances were worth making time for.

"That would be perfect. I look forward to your visit."

Livia Quinnick
 
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Liv moved her lips to turn into a small smile. It was different to speak with Krixus in this manner, no business or duty fueling their conversations. This was... casual. Friendly. The first time she gleaned information about him without hearing it from others. Perhaps this was how it was done, taking acquaintances towards friendship.

She did not have many of those. A not too younger version of herself used to fret over relationships and friendships, and put an end to them before she could ruin them. Believed it was to protect those in her life that way.

Perhaps Henk had been right about it... that she should start to learn to trust in others to hold their own against her.

"I did not realise we had similar... childhoods." The smile faded a little, but still Livia pressed on. "And... am I right to assume the fate of your father is no longer living? Seeing as you inherited his title, of course." She was second in line to her own family title, but that would change the moment her brothers started their own families. As a daughter of a minor noble house, she knew the name Quinnick would not always be part of her own.

Alistair Krixus
 
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