Seeing Marcus’ memories and subconscious—or perhaps mused-on—thoughts for the future was revealing, at least for his character and hopes and dreams.  It made Kleris feel closer to him, beyond their casual meetings like this.  That just made their casual rutting feel even closer, juggling the imagery of being Marcus’ bride and his willing victim in a lovey-dovey/bestial lust haze.  She was glad Marcus was here now, able to explore magic and society outside of more negative influences.  While necromancy had some benign and helpful applications, it was too easily exploitable for negative ends, if not outright Evil, and Marcus shouldn’t have to learn solely in that shadow.  As Marcus remembered the vampire queen, however, Kleris too was getting distracted and musing on some future cosplay and roleplay, putting together a red gown, possibly with some black leather underneath to “conquer” her minotaur lover.<br/><br/>Before that could progress further, Zull startled her with the sudden lateness of the day.  Reluctantly, she kissed Marcus goodbye as she dressed and prestidigitated the mess and stink from herself, trying to look presentable as a human again, instead of the monster-toy she’d been so recently.<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Rushing, Kleris was just in time to join the other students meeting outside the school, catching a sky coach to fly to the workshop.  While Kleris sometimes felt there were times it was better for Ari to stay in the dorm, this seemed a perfect time to have him along—not only were they out in the big city, but were going to visit the very institution he was invented, if not personally built.  Boarding the flying boat, Kleris recognized Sella, the girl he’d seen<em>engaged</em>with Andrei and who had come to him with questions about enchantments.  The imagery that accompanied that flush of recognition perhaps made his senses focus, clearly overhearing her conversation with the prefect.  It was Kleris’ first year at Redhurst, so he wasn’t as used to a planes-hopping schedule, but that was an interesting observation; perhaps there was a lot for the students to learn here, or there was some disruption to their schedule following the unpleasantness in Bemmea.<br/><br/>Seeing Suthrak and Adeline was surprising—just their presence reminded Kleris of the things he’d done for money and attention, blushing a little, but also he wasn’t aware that they were artificers or crafters of any sort.  Still, if he could focus on academic projects and “work,” so could they of course.  That provided a little comfort that he wasn’t squandering his time and focus.<br/><br/>It was most comfortable sitting next to Elmira, showing of her origami flock fluttering in a cage under their own power.  “Very nice.  It takes a lot of precision and patience to get all the little details, but repeat it again and again to fill a cage.”  He had to chuckle at Suthrak’s speculation.  While it painted a grim picture in reality, it was an evocative idea to imagine dozens of tiny paper cranes and swans swarming to peck and slash someone.  “It’s okay, Elmira, she’s just impressed that your project is both beautiful and practical.”<br/><br/>When they finally got into the industrial and research facility—passing through a lot of physical and magical security and protocols—the tour could begin in earnest.  It was amazing to see not only the individual experiments and testing, but the automation and industrial-scale processes that allowed Cannith to create items mundane and magical on an international scale, supplying whole cities and armies.<br/><br/>Just as Horishkad communicated his warning to Kleris’ mind, Filomena murmured the exact same concerns.  In that case, it seemed prudent to heed them, because he certainly was distracted by both the spectacle and organization of the institution.  Concentrating on their tour guide now, he tried to get a hunch for what he might be focusing their attention away from, or what he wasn’t saying.  If nothing else, his experience as a waitress and call girl might shed some insight on what—if anything—he might find attractive and reasonable in a student.<br/><br/>Hiking his skirt up a bit, he walked beside the gnome’s chair, putting his behind and thighs on display as he put on the impressed schoolgirl charm.  “Wow, this is all so amazing, you invent and create so much, and so many, it’s all so<em>big</em>!  So what are we going to work on, watching an experiment or newest invention tested?  Or even helping work on some top secret new project?  What’s the most fabulous, fantastic thing you’re working on?  I promise we won’t tell!”<br/><br/>[Perception 19+11=30<br/>Sense motive (hunch) 6+17=23 vs DC 20<br/>Diplomacy (influence attitude) 7+18=25 vs indifferent DC 15+Cha, extra step at DC+5<br/>Diplomacy (request) 20+18=38 (unimportant secret -5, secret knowledge -10, punishable aid -15) vs friendly DC 10+Cha, helpful DC 0+Cha]