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Cheese mottled in more shades of blue than a Treviso canal covers Emmrich's desk. The spread however, would be incomplete without several more blocks. Variety is important. Creamy, white Brie and cheddar delicately stack alongside each wedge.
"Manfred? What purpose…Why?" Emmrich is speechless, a rare thing.
Manfred knows precisely how to illustrate "why," and "what purpose." He beelines away, straight towards Rook's room. This is easily the simplest problem his friend ever presented him with. Indulgence! He'd solved it! Curiosity doesn't leave much room for pride, and Manfred wasn't all that interested in such an emotion for himself. Usually, pride is best when given from another (preferably Emmrich) to him. Still, he can't help but feel pride's flicker. He'd solved "Indulgence," in less than one human week!
Their earlier conversation flits across his mind with perfect clarity. "To think she'd be interested…" Emmrich paced across the library balcony. "A man of my age! Do you know what Viago asked?"
Manfred hissed inquisitively. (He did not know.)
""Is she your granddaughter?"" as if she's young enough or I old enough for such lineage to be possible." Emmrich huffs and stops pacing. "Yet, she flirts; I know she does! An indulgence is what it is, Manfred, to think I could be more than a curiosity to her." Bones clacked together as Manfred gleefully clapped. Emmrich LOVES curiosity! Perfect! Simple! His friend was too caught up examining scuff marks left behind by his boot's erratic path to notice anything amiss.
Emmrich discussed "Indulgence," once before, in reference to cheese. They'd finished depositing almonds Manfred bought inside the pantry. His tone soft and slow, scholarly brain fully engaged, he'd explained. "Too many at once will make us both sick. Such things are too precious for commonplace snacks. Treat them like cheese when we're at home, an indulgence."
Rook's prescence and sustained curiosity will make Emmrich happy. Manfred LOVES making him happy. An indulgence surrounded by lots of other indulgences means those many indulgences become common. Emmrich will have only one indulgence left to choose from! Manfred needs cheese.
Now, as his skeletal fingers rap against Rook's door, he can't help but hiss joyfully. Her voice rings out from inside, bright despite a long day. "Coming! Oh! Good evening, Manfred. I'm afraid pick-up sticks must wait until tomorrow. Assan is training with Davrin."
Manfred eagerly motions for her to follow. "A surprise? Well, I do love those." She dons a long linen tunic and walks behind him to Emmrich's room. Disaster nearly strikes at the door. She hesitates. "Does Emmrich know I'm visiting?"
One frazzled looking necromancer with an armful of cheeses appears. "Budgie? It's always delightful when you visit. Manfred…appears to have taken an interest in different foods besides almonds."
She laughs. "I can see that! Brie? Blue cheese? My favorites! Though, I must admit, such a cache wouldn't last long if I had it. I eat some every day." Manfred leans forward, anticipation rattles his ribs; his bony jaw rests on Rook's shoulder.
Emmrich pauses. His eyes crinkle as he looks from skeleton to elf. "Perhaps, if you're amendable, we could…enjoy it together."
"I'd love to." She steps further inside their quarters. "I think we must have some every day to avoid waste."
Emmrich lets his hand lightly rest on her back. "I agree. We must." Manfred hisses joyfully while serving cheese.