storypaint (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
storypaint) wrote2011-03-08 08:13 am
storypaint) wrote2011-03-08 08:13 am
[Tortall/Chrestomanci] come and go without ever leaving (Cat & Numair gen)
Title: come and go without ever leaving
Fandom: Tortall/Chrestomanci
Length: 604 words
Prompt: Tortall/Chrestomanci for![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
spellcoats
Pairing: Cat-as-Chrestomanci and Numair gen
Other: n/a
Summary: When Daine calls for a legendary magician from another universe to help her children, Numair is a little surprised by the result.
For being the head of magical abuse for a whole set of universes, the Chrestomanci was an oddly unimposing being. Tall, blonde, and skinny as a rail, he hardly looked like he'd escaped his teens. He was silent, adjusting his coat with an absent hand in a manner that suggested he was unused to formal jackets.
Numair tried not to discount him based on first impressions. After all, hadn't Daine been just a slip of a girl when they'd met, and half-wild besides? And back them she'd had more power than she knew. He could tell that the Chrestomanci had power -- his own glanced off it like nothing; their strengths were utterly incompatible. Not that he intended to fight with the man, but it was natural to be curious.
He gave the Chrestomanci a cup of tea and turned back to find a book he thought would be relevant to the situation. When he turned back, he found that the Chrestomanci had talked his tea into having more milk in it, and was calmly sipping as he studied Numair's crowded office. His eyes were bright with interest, although they slid past Numair's face without pausing.
"I'm a little surprised that you came all this way so quickly," Numair said, moving some books to rescue a stool for himself to perch on. Absently he warmed his cup between his palms. He'd probably forget to drink it in the end, and Daine would scold him later, but now he had a more interesting puzzle at hand.
The Chrestomanci shrugged. "She called for me," he said. "I have to come when called. I try to help when I can."
Numair made a mental note to ask what it was he meant by that statement -- he had to come? But for the moment, he just leaned forward a little, pinning his stare on the other. The Chrestomanci shifted uncomfortably and said nothing until Numair looked away.
"I have some experience," the Chrestomanci said, his tone calm and dry, "with people who drain magic. Although not quite like this. Let's go see them."
Numair scrambled to his feet, setting his cup down on a pile of paperwork already ringed with mug stains. Daine had wanted to take the man straight to see his children as soon as he appeared, but although she was as worried as Numair was, his wife had urged caution. After all, a foreigner whom no one had seen in decades, whose name was only marked down in the most esoteric books, had just appeared in their midst, and it had taken him no more effort than it took him to wake up in the morning.
Numair had agreed to speak to the Chrestomanci, who'd only seemed bemused by his appearance, resigned and stiff. Now he was satisfied. The other meant no harm. And he might be able to get to the bottom of this, when every mage that Numair knew had failed. He probably betrayed his worry in his swift stride. Although the Chrestomanci was a little shorter, he did his best to keep up.
"Cat," Chrestomanci said suddenly. Numair looked over at him, brow furrowed.
"Chrestomanci is a title. They won't be able to pronounce it," he said, nodding towards the small bedridden figures. "My name is Cat. Well, not really. But close enough."
Numair thought something about the way that Daine attracted animals, and for the first time in a week, he smiled. Then he followed Cat into the room.
Fandom: Tortall/Chrestomanci
Length: 604 words
Prompt: Tortall/Chrestomanci for
spellcoatsPairing: Cat-as-Chrestomanci and Numair gen
Other: n/a
Summary: When Daine calls for a legendary magician from another universe to help her children, Numair is a little surprised by the result.
For being the head of magical abuse for a whole set of universes, the Chrestomanci was an oddly unimposing being. Tall, blonde, and skinny as a rail, he hardly looked like he'd escaped his teens. He was silent, adjusting his coat with an absent hand in a manner that suggested he was unused to formal jackets.
Numair tried not to discount him based on first impressions. After all, hadn't Daine been just a slip of a girl when they'd met, and half-wild besides? And back them she'd had more power than she knew. He could tell that the Chrestomanci had power -- his own glanced off it like nothing; their strengths were utterly incompatible. Not that he intended to fight with the man, but it was natural to be curious.
He gave the Chrestomanci a cup of tea and turned back to find a book he thought would be relevant to the situation. When he turned back, he found that the Chrestomanci had talked his tea into having more milk in it, and was calmly sipping as he studied Numair's crowded office. His eyes were bright with interest, although they slid past Numair's face without pausing.
"I'm a little surprised that you came all this way so quickly," Numair said, moving some books to rescue a stool for himself to perch on. Absently he warmed his cup between his palms. He'd probably forget to drink it in the end, and Daine would scold him later, but now he had a more interesting puzzle at hand.
The Chrestomanci shrugged. "She called for me," he said. "I have to come when called. I try to help when I can."
Numair made a mental note to ask what it was he meant by that statement -- he had to come? But for the moment, he just leaned forward a little, pinning his stare on the other. The Chrestomanci shifted uncomfortably and said nothing until Numair looked away.
"I have some experience," the Chrestomanci said, his tone calm and dry, "with people who drain magic. Although not quite like this. Let's go see them."
Numair scrambled to his feet, setting his cup down on a pile of paperwork already ringed with mug stains. Daine had wanted to take the man straight to see his children as soon as he appeared, but although she was as worried as Numair was, his wife had urged caution. After all, a foreigner whom no one had seen in decades, whose name was only marked down in the most esoteric books, had just appeared in their midst, and it had taken him no more effort than it took him to wake up in the morning.
Numair had agreed to speak to the Chrestomanci, who'd only seemed bemused by his appearance, resigned and stiff. Now he was satisfied. The other meant no harm. And he might be able to get to the bottom of this, when every mage that Numair knew had failed. He probably betrayed his worry in his swift stride. Although the Chrestomanci was a little shorter, he did his best to keep up.
"Cat," Chrestomanci said suddenly. Numair looked over at him, brow furrowed.
"Chrestomanci is a title. They won't be able to pronounce it," he said, nodding towards the small bedridden figures. "My name is Cat. Well, not really. But close enough."
Numair thought something about the way that Daine attracted animals, and for the first time in a week, he smiled. Then he followed Cat into the room.