"Bless you," Walter deadpanned. "If it is something that will go away, I'll leave it be. Happen to be something of an expert, you know." After all, isn't this why he was invited for a visit?

It was a duty. With his new state, something that would benefit for him to seek out proactively. Walk through disasters - win peace, if not for long. Was there still value to his compassion, he wondered, or was offering his aid merely a roll to keep himself alive with what came through aiding others?

"That must have been an ordeal and a half, staying in bed despite all of the events, gods, even the ability to go outside," the baron mused. "Are you better now? Have the healers confirmed no issue clinging? I'm asking because as we are sitting here, I've been pondering inviting you out for an autumn hunt. If your health allows."
There it was. Another excuse for her to visit. He shifted a little closer, but did not reach to touch to comfort.
"Would you still wear the dress to another occasion, perhaps?"
 
Leysa perked up at the mention of a hunt. Her younger brother, Beyer, had always made such a fuss when it came to learning to shoot. Not until Leysa began attending his lessons at his insistance did Beyer show improvement. Leysa had always enjoyed spending time alone with each of her siblings, and to have understanding in the quiet on a hunt was always cherished.

It made her miss him, that he had gone to stay with friends of the family.

"It has been a good while since I was on a hunt..." She said aloud, her lips twisting in thought. "And if you have an event you need to attend, at least my dress can pass for an autumnal palette."

There in her dark eyes, the clearing of emotion on her face. Leysa's interest was piqued.

"I am sure the doctor would be against it, but to hells with him. I am bored witless out here, you are the first person I was excited to invite over, first and foremost. Perhaps I should have not pounced on you with the inquiry of magic, but..." Then it all began to click. A sly smile grew on her lips and Leysa lightly shook her head at him. "Oh, you are sneaky, Wally!"

And yet Leysa had not refused.
 
The slightly narrowed eyes were smiling back at her, jet eyebrow peaking briefly, as if to say, 'what did I tell you?'
"I am most certain we could find a festival to serve as an excuse," Walter continued smoothly, "And, between the routes, we'd have time to have some practice. You would have studied some materials I'd send your way, about the basics - what the Shroud is, how it flows in the world, how it relates to weavers - by that time, a perfect opportunity to discuss, I think."

And, a break would suit him, too. To watch the leaves turn color, and something regular, something normal be predated by the hunting party and find its way onto their table. Some bones would then be donated to the drakes and the dogs, and then, some were still good for divination games to play alone, by reading the sound and cracking pattern after they'd be fired.
"Have to keep Lady Caretarius entertained, no?" he laughed, finishing his wine and leaning back onto the cushions to watch the rain draw lines on windows. "I might need some of your help with renewing my wardrobe some. Been stuck to greys and greens for far too long, I want something knew. Brighter, perhaps, if my complexion allows it. Yet... I know when colors don't go together well, but putting them together isn't my strong suit. Pardon the pun."
 
Leysa could not contain her smile.

"Then you shall make plans for us to see to a tailor or visit a textile market!" Her hands clapped with quick succession, and she leaned forward to lower her voice. "I remember every great colour you wore when we were younger. Lettie too!" Leysa's grin was wide, excited at the prospect of playing with colours and fitting Walter in the new trends sweeping across Crown's Hold.

She eyed her friend a moment before sighing in defeat. "Alright. Perhaps I should take you up on your invitation to stay at your home. Would be nice to see your sister again." Of course, Arran would need to be informed. He might even celebrate having the home to himself at long last, all so he could play his piano and at times Leysa took to the library to do her reading.
 
Seemed like the sweets were Leysa's weak spot, or maybe his own presence had finally become not quite so jarring, after such a long time apart? They seemed to be falling right in step of that old connection. Even though he drunk more these days.
"Oh, splendid. I would be much obliged if you would help me. The life's intensity is not promising any yielding - and I've want to enjoy the little things."

And that was true. The little things, few that they were, helped get the darkening veil out of his head, them and wine.
"Besides... there is an old acquaintaince of mine with whom we've exchanged letters, long ago. Something happened on his end of the world, it seems," Walter's voice was ponderous, but a frown didn't set. "Back when I'd known them - somewhat of a celebrity when it came to magitech, most likely still is. I... think I'd like to impress?"

He touched the index finger to his mouth, then bit into the apple again, savoring the feel of its flesh. For a moment, his tongue slipped against a sharp tip of the fangs. He still remembered when that happened all the time, and his mouth tasted like salt and not much else.
The apple's fragrance was rich, blooming and soothing. It turned his thoughts to Leysa once again.
"And there you have it, the beginnings of anything. Make a choice, commit, make calls to pursue." A side-glance to her. "Like hunting."

A wink so quick it might have been a trick of the light, and the baron seemed to focus solely on finishing the apple to the core.
 
Leysa rolled her eyes, but a smile remained on her face. "You truly know how to wear someone down, that is for sure Walter. I will see to it that arrangements will be made for me to take you up on your invitation."

She reached for another sweet, a small teacake that looked as if it were bleeding blueberries throughout. They were her favourite, the berries, and Leysa always liked having them on hand to graze on. "Besides, I need time to visit Crown's Hold so I could find the best fabrics and colours that would suit you. You would make my day if you were to say that Lettie was also invited, and then I have reason to pull her into the plannings of new fashion."

The eldest Caretarius daughter had always liked to dote on others before herself. Her generous nature made her kind, and it also brought her a good sense of happiness to do something for friends and family.
 
"I'm sorry, then. I cannot make your day. I don't think it's a good idea to invite Laetitia on an outing that includes me, when it was her husband that sent people after me," Walter answered wryly.
He refilled his drink and then attached to it until the glass was empty once again. Spiced wine didn't have a hit, but it was sweet enough to indulge into another hidden fancy.
"Still your turn to pour the tea," he grumbled.

An awkward silence fell. Walter stared at the rain, keeping the gloved hand lying lax against the body. The lighting caught against the crows feet in the corners of his eyes, a worried line at the mouth. He still looked young enough, but with these traces that did not belong. Like a few silver threads in the jet black mane that has gotten longer since winter, especially ones at the temple catching lantern light.
 
"Oh." Leysa deflated. "That."

Her face scrunched at the reality of Lettie's family being so troublesome, but there was no time to delve into gossiping about that family when Walter turned the attention back onto her. It earned him a scowl, one that turned the sweet faced lady into a grump.

"Alicia Hammond is being courted by two barons. They say she is having a hard time to choose which to marry, but if she does not make her decision soon, she may be left with no baron at all." Leysa lifted her head, reaching for a sliced apple that was lightly washed in lemon juice to keep it from browning. "The poor girl has always been given whatever she pleases as a girl, never taught how to make decisions of her own, and now she is having a conniption over her father begging her to make a choice. The Lord Hammond only has himself to blame." Her dark eyes settled on Walter.

"There is a shortage of eligible men on the marriage mart. I wonder when the mothers and fathers would start to look to you and your family. They are certainly all desperate to be rid of their daughters." But not Leysa's father. For that, she was glad, in truth.
 
"And yet, even in distress, Alicia Hammond also refuses to rely on herself," Walter sighed. "Family failed to teach her, and she fails to learn on her own. Rather tragic. If it's such an issue, her father should decide and she should take that decision, for everyone's sanity. As for me, I don't think I'll have much trouble fighting off eligible daughers."

He refilled the wine yet again - not getting drunk on something so weak, but at least to enjoy the taste. "I've done enough for my family reputation and mine own, after all. Besides, with Her Majesty's ascension to the throne, nobody quite knows where the tides would turn. And besides that still, there's little advancement to be had in marrying a baron, albeit one bent on achieving success."

Drank deeply, eyes closed. He'd want to sleep until his clothes stopped being just ever so mildly damp, right here, under the pitter-patter on the glass roof. Alas.
"I must confess, I'm veritably out of news," Walter chuckled. "A sad reality of being torn from any polite social circles for a while. Though, part of me hopes that when Bremen affairs settle, I will get to travel some more."
 
Leysa quirked a brow. "No news? None at all?" Her eyes narrowed with slight suspicion.

She picked up a tray of biscuits, made by two pale biscuits sandwiched together with a creamed berry jam. Leysa offered him one, and would not retreat until her friend had taken one. "What of the time you spent away?"

Of course, she was curious of what had taken his time away. She had heard of the rumours, never gave them any mind for she was worried sick thinking of her friend. There had been little to none correspondence from him at the time, that Leysa began to wonder if he would write to her one day. She would pen many letters to him, wondering if they would ever get a response.

She had half expected to get no response this time upon hearing his return, and in fact, she had shed happy tears to read familiar tone written by her friend.

"Where were you, Walter?"
 
Walter looked at her, paused, and averted his eyes as he grabbed two for good measure. It's not that he could get drunk on mulled wine, but... he also did like sweet things. Sometimes, sweet nothings.
"What of that time?" he hummed, landing his snatched snacks onto a platter and re-settling holding it straight. "I've fought with the warbands, sailed with the pirates, walked with the creatures of the dark," a play of eyebrows that would imply a tinge of jest, and yet, he was quite truthful. "I, veritably, did not kick puppies or eat babies, a man has to have standards. Been all over, gathered a few journals of stories and songs and myths from people... burned them, after, but what does it matter, it's all here," an idle point to his own temple and a grin. "Not much in terms of news. But I do have some stories. Macabre, most of them, mind you, but even those are sort of beautiful in their own way."

He then put attention to the treat, biting away a piece from one of the biscuit halves, so that he could turn it upside down and taste the jam on the next bite.
"Some of the things I've learned, were that some merfolk seem fond of lemon, it's rude to eat breadplates in the free city of Nanvir, and hauling a mummy around for half a year requires a very particular knotwork even with the cart."
 
And this is where she saw how Walter grew into the man he was now, that the time away from Altalusia had done him some good.

She wore a worried expression. No, not so far as to be worried, but perhaps concerned. It worked at the furrow of her brows, her pursed lips as she listened to him mention of macabre tales. That of course would shift their entire lunch, would make the rain feel as if it were another guest here with them. Leysa had been about to speak on this, but her friend reminded her how well their friendship fared with time and distance.

The conversation steered to the curiosities of the world. She sat upright and alert. "You got to see merfolk?" Leysa had never seen the sea.
 
"Only briefly. One of the captains I sailed with was..." A distant look, a slow sigh. "Ocean's own. Not merfolk, exactly, but man was himself a hurricane." A chuckle under his breath, with a bit less humor, and Walter brought the glass back to his lips. "Gorgeous eyes, dark, vibrant and selfish in equal measure. Fiendish sort of charm. Not sure if that's the sort of men you'd like. Not sure if that's the sort of men..." ...I like anymore, all things considered... "...that is likeable. But a sight to watch, all the same. Got thrown overboard from his ship, in a storm. Dark Mother preserved, and... eventually, I'd found my way from a barren beach and a few scattered fisher villages along the coast." Found the way to civilization, in time. Found him in a brothel. Fair winds.

He drank until the glass ran empty, and reached for some more.
"The merfolk we've seen was... crab people, Ever seen a crab holding a stick? Well there was this blue lobster with a spear, and I had trouble taking it seriously..."
The afternoon would continue, with many more stories, like an outside mouser tomcat come home after a bender, to shock and awe the homebound cat. The world outside was vast, and morbidly funny.
 
Leysa pursed her lips, thinking it better to not further question him about the specifics of merfolk and how crab people fell under such a category.

Walter had been given the chance to travel, to see the world beyond Altalusia. She remembered she would long to see the places her friends spoke of, had dreamed of perhaps being brave enough to go to such places. When she had been young, the Caretarius' had a seaside cottage as one of the family properties, but had been sold off before she had turned the age of ten.

"You should write a book, so that I may hear about your travels and adventures. Now, let us enjoy some quiet." Just like they had used to. When parties were in full swing, and there were far too many people present, the children used to sneak to the quietest of nooks and sit a moment in silence. That tranquility was enough to put Leysa at ease.

She had a lot to think about, to process. A hunt and accepting Walter's invitation meant she needed to pack all sorts of things to be ready for any party invitations or luncheons or...

There was still time to think about it. In the next few days, Leysa would be ready to make her way to the home the Thornley's resided in.
 
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