[Closed] I've got the magic in me

[justice_is_blond]

WHO: Five billion mages.
WHAT: The mages Anders has invited mingle
WHEN: The tenth of Wintermarch
WHERE: A warehouse in the docks
NOTES: None atm.

The warehouse is set up pretty sparsely. Part of the warehouse is taken up by a table of food next to a table of drinks next to a table of plates and cups that don't match, near a lot of scattered chairs. A short space away is a deliberate oval of chairs because he, at least, is amused in making sure no circle shapes occur here. Finally, there's a table with a stack of scraps of parchment.

When everyone's gathered and is starting to mingle, Anders stands up and clears his throat.

"Thank you for coming." It takes work to look calm and confident. This feels so important to him and he doesn't want to make a mess of it. "Obviously the food and drink is self-explanatory," he says with a faint smile before gesturing at the oval, "As far as the rest, I figured we could have a small area set up for serious discussion, any heavy matters that people want to talk about, easily joined and left or ignored completely."

He jerks a thumb in the direction of the last table. "Finally, the parchment is for writing down anything you particularly want to teach or learn. Put your name on it, and people can page through them and be in contact. And I think that's enough from me."

Comments

[justice_is_blond]

If he hadn't been feeling guilt toward Kostos, Anders might have picked at that statement. But he is, so he doesn't.

"If the potential was good enough to bring you out, of course it would bring others out." There's a beat before Anders grimaces and looks down at his plate. "I'm, I owe you an apology, by the way. I got after you for not saying something you didn't know. A certain name. That we're not saying here and now. But I'm sorry. I didn't know you hadn't been told that, and found out later from Myrobalan. Is there a way to convince you to not mention him to anyone?"

It's a lot of words, all in a rush, all hushed so that no one else will overhear.

[exequy]

That's a lot of words, the vast majority of them unnecessary. Kostos doesn't ask anyone to be nicer to him than he is to them, so Anders could have been significantly more—whatever-he-was—before it registered to Kostos as a something warranting an apology. He tilts his head a little, almost curious, like Anders is some weird bird singing a weird song, until the last part, which requires an actual response.

"Asking usually works," Kostos says. He gestures with his hand full of donut. "And now you've asked."

[justice_is_blond]

"Oh."

It feels too easy, but Kostos also doesn't seem like the sort to set up traps. There's no sense of manipulation there. If anything, Kostos is one of the most honest people Anders has come across and that's why he sometimes takes Anders so much off-guard.

"Thank you. Or I'm assuming the usually means it's worked this time?"

[exequy]

"Yes," Kostos says, a little slowly, like obviously, and takes a half-step back. Can he go now?

[justice_is_blond]

Anders gets the hint this time and nods.

"Thank you. I hope you enjoy yourself here tonight." Even if he's... not sure Kostos will. The thought is still there.