A simply-dressed black Eeee and a white poodle in the robes and armor of a Templar enter one of the cozy balcony nooks, the Eeee carrying a small tray of food and drinks with him. He sets the platter down on the table, then pulls out a chair for his companion. "My lady?"

"Thank you, Cyprian." The poodle woman takes the offered seat with a smile, carefully arranging her sword and robes before sitting herself down.

After seeing the lady settled comfortably, Cyprian walks to the opposite side and seats himself. He closes his eyes for a moment and exhales slowly, shaking his head, then reaches for one of the cups on the tray. "Always an adventure when I'm with you, my lady," he murmurs, wryly.

Tilting her head slightly, Elise feigns mock-innocence in her expression. "I am afraid adventure often finds me, though I imagine you are well aware of that now. I suppose it is a … benefit, of being a Templar. Join the Guard, and the the world and the strangeness upon it," says Elise. She folds her hands quietly in her lap and her smiles fades slightly. "Though it is an uncomfortable fact others are often drawn into it, though I do not mind the company … assuming they are willing."

The Eeee takes a teapot from the tray, pours from it into his cup, and a mild fragrance of berries wafts through the air, while he listens quietly to Elise. "Willing allies are invaluable," he remarks. "Would you like some tea? It's berryswort; I don't know if that's common on Rephidim."

"I would. I am somewhat familiar with it from my time in the Saskanar Territory," answers the noblewoman. "As for allies, they are indeed invaluable. Though I have found they come in the most unlikely of shapes and backgrounds. It has all been such an adventure, has it not? So much has changed since I started out on the path to become a soldier."

Cyprian smiles, and fills the second cup. "And since the first time we met, when you feared to partake of a little tea with me. Care for milk or sugar?" he asks.

"Hm. Yes, times have definitely changed, noting that. Though I fear you have poisoned me in an entirely different manner." The edge of the poodle's muzzle quirks in a smirk, and then she just shakes her head. "Both, if you would."

He adds a little of each to the cup, stirring it with a carved chitin spoon. "I could almost wish to go back. It was a dream, but I still recall the details as vividly as if I had really been a carnival sideshow, with nothing more important in my life than to run my little game and serve my goddesses in doing so. The Kindly Ones know me well," he says, softly, then offers the cup of tea to Elise.

"I can see how you may long for that. Such simplicity in life is something I occasionally long for, for it is often that my life becomes greatly complicated. Though even then it was. It has not been simple for … a long time, now," comments the officer. She unfolds her hands to accept the cup, which she sips once then holds with both hands carefully in her lap. "I wonder sometimes if you resent me for taking you from it. From that dream, and in a manner from your Goddesses. You know how I feel about them."

The mage shakes his head. "They were never my goddesses – not these spirits that Babelite dream mages are trying to pass off as such. I know that," he says, though there is something in his voice that is not quite certain. "I knew it as soon as I considered – was able to consider – it closely. You were only the messenger, not the message. You are hardly to blame for the unfortunate complexity of reality." Cyprian takes a sip of his tea, then shakes his head. "And growing more complex daily. I fear I have erred in judgement today."

The Gallee listens quietly to the Eeee speak, sipping her tea as she does so. When he finishes her ears perk at the comment about lacking in judgement. "I had never known your Goddesses until these mage-created spirit versions of them called upon me. I was greatly uncertain of what could be done, being that I was never much to follow their whims. Though that may change soon … " The cup is placed on the table and the poodle leans forward a little. "But, what is this error you speak of?"

A look of concern passes through his eyes at "that may change soon," but he lets it slide, choosing to answer her direct question instead. "I do not know if you are aware of this or not, but the use of mind magic - even seemingly non-invasive spells like truth ones – is … limited, on Caroban. Strictly speaking, we are not forbidden to cast them without consent, though I think Dean Viscoi would prefer that. But using a truth spell on a Dean … Had Mage Yffryn interrupted my spell, or refused to answer our queries, no mage on Caroban would have spoken against her for it. Indeed, she could have me reprimanded or even possibly even exiled from Caroban for even having begun the casting."

"Oh dear." Letting the cup rest on the table, Elise folds her arms, glancing off to the floor as she considers the matter. "I am not greatly familiar with the laws of Caroban, since I myself practice no magic. At least nothing that is of my doing if the research is to be believed. That the new Dean is somewhat naive is perhaps what saved both of us from a great deal of trouble, perhaps more so than her being guilty. It is thankful that we are mutually guilty and that it is not well known, such is our advantage. However small it may be. Also … I believe that my assisting Dean Yffryn in her experiments may help ease this trouble of yours."

Cyprian frowns at her last words. "I am unconvinced of the wisdom of that – or that Dean Yffryn is as innocent as she would have you believe." He takes another sip from his cup, then continues. "When I started the spell, I was counting on her newness to her post as one factor that would keep her from calling me on it. But there were other issues at work. I suspect her real reasons for letting it slide are twofold – first, if she did not consent to my questioning, she would be faced with the Watch – and I suspect she felt more comfortable dealing with just the two of us than with whatever the Watch might present her with. Second, you were there. And she wanted to convince you she was innocent. And while I and every other Caroban mage would know better than to take a refusal to answer as an admission of guilt – you would not. My lady, Mage Yfrryn would not expect you to know of Dean's privileges or mage's rights. All you would see is that I said 'Verify it' and she refused."

As Cyprian goes on, Elise begins to tap her fingers along her arm, as if agitated. "I see. And you may well be right, no, I would be inclined to believe you are right." He nose wrinkles at something. "Set upon restoring her Sphere, and I am the best source of information she has. It does worry me, Cyprian, but I am also concerned about how best I can assist Rephidim in showing the College we mean well. On one hand I imagine she would as she has before, not be completely open with her plans. Or take liberties beyond what she is due. On the other, this could serve to answer my own questions, assist relations, and serve to help the Sphere and in doing so perhaps help Mage Envoy."

Sharing some of her agitation, Cyprian reaches over to pluck a grape from the platter, and rolls it between his fingers. "And there's the heart of it. How closely will your own goals mesh with our acting Dean's?" He frowns. "Then, there's the matter of Rephidim. I am not sure that you or your Ambassador realize this, Lady de Bellefeuille, but in some ways, the more helpful you are to the College, the more you may alienate them. While surely some are grateful for the assistance, others resent it … and the apparent attitude of Rephidim that the College cannot manage without its aid."

The poodle watches the Eeee take a grape, and as he speaks, she too picks one and eats it. After he finishes, she is quiet, staring thoughtfully off at nothing in particular before she speaks again. "Is that so?" she finally says, followed by a sigh. "To think, that all I have done may have been seen as little more than acting as a 'big sister' of sorts. You and I know the greater reasons, but many do not – and cannot – know them. I am no politician. I am a soldier, and I do what I can to protect people. I will admit that I have gone too far at points to achieve what we have now, but I thought it necessary. Helping people … or politics … " She shakes her head in dismay.

"I knew it would happen sometime," says Elise suddenly, quietly.

"And I have been none too politic myself, of late," Cyprian admits with a sigh, then a frown at her next words. "What would happen?"

"That I would need to make a choice between the two. This may come as no great shock to you, considering where you grew up, but as a servant of the Temple there comes times when a political agenda is given greater weight than the needs of people, or of what we would generally think is right. I imagined that such a thing would have occurred on the battlefield, not here. Or … perhaps it has happened before and only now am I aware of it. I have realized many things since I have become a officer, apart from the nobility," answers the poodle quietly.

The mage devours the grape, taking the time to consider her words. "I do not even know how I would advise you," he admits, after some moments. "Quite apart from the question of public versus political concerns … I am at a loss to say how you might be assured of assisting either cause."

A nod from the Gallee. "And that is the question, is it not? Help one, harm the other. And even in helping, you may harm. Which is the best choice … though they both may not be? Just something I had been considering." Looking up she again faces the Eeee, hand reaching for another grape. "As to your comment about my goals, I think they are roughly aligned. Yffryn is some manner of defense and assistance, and influential now, and I am her prized subject. It may become necessary however that I perform as Envoy did, that it be monitored for research purposes. Which … bothers me greatly."

Cyprian shakes his head. "If you are to return to the dream tests, it's as well that it be under observation, I think. And yet … What Envoy did … " He grits his teeth together, and shakes his head again. "In my mind, I believe that she has fallen into a trap – that she has become a pawn in someone else's game. Do not make the same mistakes she did, my lady, I beg of you."

"I plan to leave clear instructions for how I am to be dealt with should I be … possessed. It was told to me by you that by finishing these tests, we assist the Royal Mages in their plans, and by failing we do much the same. But I do not think they expected their contact here to fall or this all to be known," explains the officer. She searches the arrayed food and finds a croissant, which she gathers up in a napkin and moves to her plate. "The trouble is, I do not know what Envoy did when she reached Paradise. She won the game, and was granted possession. But what if it had been refused? And what happened to her mind? She is so very strange now. Should I turn out like that, I will require I be held, against my will, here until it is purged."

The bat mage leans away from the table, tipping his chair back while he closes his eyes, shifting his arms, at last crossing them, disturbed and agitated. "I do not like it, and frankly I could wish for someone other than Mage Yffryn to be charged with monitoring you. Well, surely she will call on others to assist, and perhaps Mystico or another is more trustworthy. Not that I-" He cuts himself short, and takes a deep, steadying breath, gently letting tapping the front feet of his chair back to the floor, visibly calming himself.

"I imagine she will be inclined to grant me whatever I wish within reason to assure my comfort and safety – at least, while I am awake. While I am not, I must assign someone to be charged with speaking for me, for I will be unable to do as such and may well be awake but hardly in a condition to talk of my own welfare. I would choose you to watch me, but there are problems with that choice. For one, you are a believer in the Sisters and close to me. The combined may well sway you. Also, you are with me a great deal. We must not appear suspicious," she tells him. His obvious agitation causes her to hesitate on speaking further, though at last she offers, "I suppose I should also say that in some small manner, I am doing this to … understand your goddesses a bit better."

He offers a wry smile at this last. "Perhaps it is better for us both that you do not understand them, Eli- my lady." The bat presses thumb and forefinger to his brow, and takes another deep breath. "Ah, I hope Viscoi can help," he murmurs, more to himself than aloud.

The poodle closes her eyes and abandons her meal to thought, tilting her head downward. "You … are welcome to use my name, if you so chose," says the Gallee. She smiles faintly, an expression that lasts but a moment, before she moves on to darker topics. "I see. No matter, it still leaves me with a choice of which of them I would go to meet. The path of Inala is finished, and though I am apparently welcome there, I doubt anything good could come of a return to that place, what with Mage Envoy in control and quite strange. I believe Barada and Sunala to be bad choices given matters. That would leave me with Blakat, Gorphat, and Zakaro. Though I am thinking Gorphat too, should not be considered."

The bat mage winces at the use of the Sisters' Eeee names, and glances around for a moment, nervous. "None of them are good choices, my lady. No sane person wants to be much in the eye of the Kindly Ones, and these tests are further warped to serve the ends of mortal mages. In honesty, the Lady of Disease might be a better choice than the others, for at least you would understand where she stood. You would not like her, nor whatever tests she posed – but I think she would be least likely of any to trick you, my lady."

On the other hand, Elise does not seem nearly so phased by the mentioning of the names as Cyprian, though she frowns some anyway. "Sanity is not often the way of the soldier. Were I more sane, I would be at home gossiping with my sister about men and trivial matters of the nobility," says the poodle. She smirks, and continues. "I had thought Blakat would have been a good choice, given that of them all, she is closest to a soldier. But insanity is not something I well comprehend and that may be too great for me to overcome. My fear of Gorphat is obvious. She is disease, and dangerous for that. Though here we have access to life mages, and that eases my worry in that matter considerably. Also I am aware she is somewhat … lazy? And that helps me as well."

"The Corrupt One … I do not know. Most of those who honor her do so only to ask that she pass over them. Some who suffer from disease request that she take her touch from them … but most fear that doing so will offend her, and therefore worsen their situation. Of course, there are always those who are insane and embrace her. Tales of those who undergo her trials usually become plaguebringers – sometimes people who carry disease but are not touched by it, sometimes ones who let it consume them entirely, but go on regardless," Cyprian says, musing. "I am sure her charms would not lure you in, Lady de Bellefeuille, and perhaps that is why I suggested her. I do not want you to sympathize with the Sisters, my lady," he continues, his voice even softer. "Fear them. Hate them. Understanding them – " He stops abruptly, and rests his head against his hand, rubbing his forehead.

"I am sorry this pains you, Cyprian … should we discuss something else?" asks the poodle worriedly, watching him.

"Perhaps that would be best," the mage admits, taking a sip of his tea before folding his hands carefully around the china cup on the table. "You … admire your gods, do you not, my lady?"

A butter knife is picked up after Elise breaks open her croissant, and she uses the process of applying some of the jelly Cyprian brought to steady her thoughts. "I admire them, yes. And I believe in what they teach. I believe they help guide our actions, providing paths for us, and assisting those who have lost their path. I pray to them often for assistance in such. They are those who have ascended, and I try to follow their wisdom that I might be worthy," she explains.

Cyprian smiles. "That sounds very … comforting. My lady, I do not recommend that you understand the Kindly Ones, but perhaps it would help for you to understand this fact, about the Eeee. Some Eeee worship the Sisters because they … admire them. For their raw power, their control, their influence, their domination, their status. They ask that the Sisters help them to attain these things. But many of us … only worship out of fear. I do not love the Sisters, nor do I think that They love me. But I support them, because to do otherwise is suicide. I cannot work against them, nor can I ignore them; I have seen, first hand, what comes of that. But they are not your deities. Perhaps your First Ones can protect you from them – I do not know. Perhaps you may yet keep out of their eyes. I do not know how closely they watch this game of mages. I hope, if they are watching, that they see it as blasphemy. I suspect they have some deadly plan in mind for those mages who would dare try to manipulate them so."

"It is comforting, and sometimes the only solace I have. My gods may not be so visible, but I feel them working and can see their reflection in other things that I believe." The knife is put down, and a section of her croissant is lifted. "Then let us hope. I believe my gods guide my actions here, and as for your goddesses, should they observe, then let us hope they find favor in me seeking to unravel this magical nightmare and find it fit to punish those that would use them. An enemy of my enemy is my friend. Though I would not believe they would find favor in me beyond being one who acts against that which is blasphemy."

After taking another few grapes and consuming them while he listens, the Eeee mage nods, as well. "That would be my hope, as well. I only wish I felt more certain of it. The thought that what the Royal Babelite Mages do might find favor with the Sisters terrifies me almost as much as the dreams themselves. But I have already made my choice, have I not? Too late to change allegiances now." He takes a peach from the tray, and bites into it.

Elise casts her gaze skyward for a moment, after taking a bite of her croissant, searching the heavens for something. "Yes, no use looking back. We have made our choices and we shall see the results of our actions." Her gaze levels, and she nods to the mind mage. "Gods, and politics. First Ones preserve us both."