The Addict and the Ambassador|Malagard, Khelek

[Kender Bard]

"Oh. I suppose," Libre replied though his tone suggested he still found it an odd thing to do. "Well, let's take a look at my quarters for the next couple months, shall we?" He shifted his pack, looking forward to putting it away. He'd brought a number of books with him and they weren't light.

[Darastrix]

Nagi nodded and led the way inside. "I think His Majesty has an eye to the embassy as serving a larger role in government than I'd intended when I proposed the idea to the United Naruta nations," he said, starting up a staircase in the main hall. "Though what specifics he has in mind, I couldn't say."

He stopped at a door that had a small bronze plaque cast in the shape of Sensatia's crest hanging above it. "If the room isn't to your liking, there are plenty vacant right now. It wouldn't be any trouble to change it," Nagi said, and opened the door.

Like the rooms in Sensatia's embassy, Khelek's included the national colours of the ambassador's homeland, though it was subtly done. Sensatia's designated room had touches of purple woven into the design of the curtains, the bedcurtains, and the thick rug that covered much of the polished wooden floor. The woodwork was a a honey shade, and the walls had a light yellow tinge to help the room feel a little warmer, even if the curtains were drawn to block out the sunlight. The bed was comfortably large and made up with heavier bedclothes than most natives used at that time of year. There was a desk and chair, a pair of bookcases, and a small fireplace with a overstuffed chair sitting nearby. A door on the other side of the room stood slightly ajar and one could see that it led into a bathing room.

[Kender Bard]

Libre grinned widely at the sight. "It's wonderful," he enthused, clearly excited. "I'm not going to want to leave. It's nicer than my room at home. Then again-" he chuckled "-that's because it's less cluttered, too." He stepped inside and moved around the room, touching things here and there and overall just admiring the place. "I like it a lot and I imagine any other ambassadors who come after me will enjoy it thoroughly as well. Whoever designed the room put a lot of thought into it." He certainly appreciated the heavy blanket. "Do you have rooms prepared for the nations that are not part of the UN as well?"

[Darastrix]

"We do," Nagi said with a nod. "There's enough rooms to accommodate even ambassadors from Firegem if they choose to send anyone. Those rooms, as well as those for Naurorod, Humontis, and the Beastlands are a little smaller and have larger fireplaces to make it easier to keep them warm."

[Kender Bard]

"Excellent, you already knew what I was going to suggest then," Libre remarked. He slung his pack off and put it on the floor near his bed. He'd put his belongings away later. "Am I really the first one to arrive?"

[Darastrix]

"You are," Nagi told him. "Considering our remoteness and our rather infamous weather, I can't say I'm surprised. If I were still used to living in a climate like Contrasta's, I'd be a little reluctant to come myself."

[Kender Bard]

"I'm a little surprised that Ronduin hasn't sent someone," Libre admitted. "Cascata was swift in sending us an ambassador for our embassy. Though perhaps she's just taking the time in selecting who to send to you. It must be a little awkward for them. No real nobility or even higher class citizenship to speak of so it must be difficult to pick and choose who to send for such a novel sort of a job."

He slid his hands into his pockets and took another glance around. "So... What do I do when I'm not ambassador...ing?"

[Darastrix]

"Your free time is, of course, yours to spend how you like," Nagi said. "We don't really have the amenities that you have in Sensatia--one of Schuldig's favourite things to complain about," he added with a smile and roll of his eyes. "If you want to try the local pastimes, hunting on horseback is very popular, and this time of year, you don't need to break through any ice to fish. You can tour the countryside or just go riding, and there are taverns and entertainers. Most of them will be pretty empty until sunset; summers are short and people like to make as much of the daylight as they can. You may receive invitations to gatherings by some of the Court, too, though not as many as an ambassador in, say, Anarlina might get. People are still a bit standoffish here."

[Kender Bard]

"That's all right by me," Libre replied. "All of those things sound promising. It looks like I'll have plenty to keep me busy. And, ah..." He gave Nagi a furtive glance, grinning slightly. "Would it be rude of me to ask the privilege of seeking out your library now and then? I brought my own books of course but I remember fondly some of the volumes you have that I noticed when I was mentoring under King Lucifer."

[Darastrix]

Nagi grinned back at that. "Truth be told, I was wondering if you would. Please, feel free. I do want to build a collection for the embassy itself with books on Khelek's history and culture as well as that of the other nations, but I think that will be an ongoing project."

[Kender Bard]

"That reminds me!" Libre remarked and hastened back to his pack, digging around in it. He pulled out a slim volume and walked back to Libre, offering it to him. "It's a shorter version than the one we have at home. An abridged book, I suppose. But it has some of the highlights of Mind culture and history. Father and I want to present it as a gift to you."

[Darastrix]

Nagi accepted the book with a smile. "Thank you," he said, already opening it up to flip through. "This will be a welcome addition to our library."

And we can have a copy made for the embassy later, he thought. After I read it, of course.

[Kender Bard]

"If you're going to be going straight back to the palace, perhaps I could accompany you," Libre suggested. "I had no plans to just sit in my room and gawk, and, well..."

He'd already reached out to touch against Harmony's mind and knew from a very hasty, ecstatic conversation that she would be waiting for him in her room. He wanted to spend a little more time with her before confronting her father.

[Darastrix]

"And there are other people you'd like to visit with," Nagi finished. "I was planning to go back there after I left, so if there's nothing else you need to see here, we can go now."

[Kender Bard]

Libre didn't need to say more; his joyful expression spoke volumes.

---

After he'd had time to spend his affections on Harmony, the two hardly talking at all the entire time, Libre managed to pry himself away from her. Harmony had protested but he'd managed to remind her that it wasn't as though he would be spiriting off to Sensatia the next morning and she had let herself be content with that. Brushing his sign, he teleported back to the temple and the Soahcian wing. ~I'm back~ he announced to both Schuldig and Smoke.