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Jorah gave Clarissa an incredulous look at her mention of his table manners. [color=FFAB66]“If I don’t eat [i]this[/i] one quickly, then [i]that[/i] one is going to get cold,”[/color] he explained, gesturing with his fork between his two plates. 

He continued to scarf down his meal as she spoke, listening as she launched into a lengthy retelling of events at the cathedral. Honestly, she said [i]he[/i] talked too much, but Clarissa could carry on both sides of a conversation all by herself. Not that he minded; after those few precarious years where she withdrew from the world, he was all the more grateful for her enthusiasm in returning to it. He’d let her go on forever if it meant she wasn’t bottling things up inside. 

But boy, the things she got up to in such a short time! Only Clarissa could turn her very first day at Garreg Mach into tea with the Archbishop. Goodness, next thing he knew she’d be bridge partners with the King of Faerhus and pen pals with the Adrestian Emperor - though he supposed the latter wasn’t all that far-fetched anymore. Man, Garreg Mach really was an ocean of opportunity for enterprising types like Clarissa, wasn’t it? 

[color=FFAB66]“And here I thought I’d be the one making friends in high places,”[/color] Jorah joked between bites, eyes crinkling with a full-mouthed smile. He really was happy for her; this place was her dream come true, and she was certainly making the most of it. Not to mention, he was glad she’d find some routine here; she bothered him about [i]his[/i] routine, but he could raise the same concerns for her. He knew how close she was with her father, and he was a little worried about how she’d get on without him, but as usual, it was clear his worries were baseless. 

He couldn’t help but smile as he polished off his second plate; Clarissa’s joy was infectious and mellow, like a hot drink warming up the whole body. It was a pure and wholesome sort of happiness he didn’t get much anywhere else - Clarissa had always been clear and direct, and her feelings were no different. 

[color=FFAB66]“Would it be naive to hope that tea with you and the Archbishop will loosen him up a little?”[/color] Jorah asked, shaking his head. He loved the way she worded things: Auberon’s opinion of him was “malleable”, he noticed his “natural informality”. What a nice way to say that first impressions hadn’t been great. Jorah himself was rather pleased how things went among his fellow House Leaders, but then again, he’d made a career out of teasing the stiff-necked nobility, and Auberon had painted himself a fine target. 

At long last Clarissa commented on the return of his usual adornment, and Jorah’s grin turned a fair bit more mischievous. [color=FFAB66]“Oh don’t worry, he tried,”[/color] he assured her, remembering his father’s periodic patrols while his servants were packing his trunks. He gave Clarissa a wink. [color=FFAB66]“Poor Duke Riegan is always just a trick behind.”[/color] 

[color=FFAB66]“And of course I did! At the cost of a few pairs of riding pants maybe, but I’m sure the horses aren’t too picky,”[/color] he assured her. As if he’d forget his lute! He’d sooner forget his arms and legs at home. [color=FFAB66]“Rai expressed the same concern, but don’t worry, I’ll be dancing on tables in no time.”[/color] 

[color=FFAB66]“You’ll have to join me, though,”[/color] he added quickly, pointing his fork at Clarissa. [color=FFAB66]“One song at least, and no sneaking off before things get rolling!”[/color] He gave his friend a serious look, which on his face looked even more comical than any smile.

Of course, he could only hold it for a second before breaking into chuckles, looking around the dining hall. There was a niggling feeling of tension coming from somewhere, and a brief look around made him pretty sure the source was the next table over, where none other than Auberon, the shining knight of Faerghus himself, was eyeing what Jorah assumed were his housemates. Yes, there was the tall redheaded one, and the chilly white-haired one facing away; the third boy must have been the nervous one, if that shuffling was any indication. Oh dear, oh dear, things did not seem to be getting off on a good foot over there. 

[color=FFAB66]“Maybe you should see if Auberon will come, too,”[/color] Jorah suggested, quirking his chin in the direction of the forthcoming storm. [color=FFAB66]“I don’t think he’ll accept my invitation, but I daresay the man might need some stress relief after today.”[/color] 

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