[indent] [/indent][h3][hr][color=Tan]Ferris Talese[/color][/h3][hr][sup][i][@Pezz570][@HokumPocus][/i][/sup][indent] [/indent]
The innkeeper’s instant fear of Ferris was clear, but Ferris didn’t mind much. While it might impede some interactions with the man for the time being, the innkeeper wasn’t a permanent part of the group, and with his lack of magic, Ferris wasn’t too concerned. The innkeeper wasn’t someone Ferris felt he’d need, not after the innkeeper served his purpose and led the group to The Watch. 

So, as the innkeeper led them onwards, muttering under his breath in an effort to keep himself calm, Ferris focused on his surroundings instead, unmasking to keep a tab on any magic use around them. Enemies without magic likely wouldn’t take them down unless the enemies far surpassed them in number, but large numbers naturally drew attention, so that’d alert the group automatically. 

When the air around them offered no indication of foul play, Ferris focused instead on his teammates, attempting to commit their specific scents to memory. His adept power was a bit finicky, relying on his sense of smell since he was forced to choose between activating his powers and using his powers to detect magic use in his surroundings. Still, it was a useful power, especially for keeping track of people. Different types of magic smelled different, and if he focused on single scents, they too smelled distinct, like unique scent prints that varied per person. Upbringing, temperament, and age could all influence the scent, as Ferris had found, but he was largely unable to differentiate which factor was contributing to which aspect of a specific person’s magic scent, mostly because there were likely a lot more factors that affected the scent but that he wasn’t aware of. In addition, it was hard to pick up the underlying scent markers, and usually Ferris found that he had to go through a lot of trial and error as well as spend a decent amount of time around the person. And, even more, the person would have to use magic on a regular basis for Ferris to be able to actively track them, but thankfully most magic users he was tracking had a habit of doing just that. 

In this case, Chres’ Touch-based magic smelled of the usual pine, but, with the scent fresh and strong, Ferris picked out an unusual sharpness to his scent, which Ferris would have thought to be the smell of Octavio’s Sight-based magic except that it was still strongly pine in its nature. However, it may have also been because of the familiar, Sil, who smelled of the rusting metal most familiars did. Other than that, Chres’ magic also had lighter notes of a sweeter nature, and though the sour-like scent stuck out like a sore thumb now that Ferris was thinking about it, he knew he’d have to double check another day before he could conclude anything. 

Octavio’s scent, on the other hand, made more sense. Pungent vinegar was doubly echoed by the smell of his lynx familiar, who provided the sourness a metallic touch. Under that, though, Ferris found minor notes of a somewhat kinder scent, but he couldn’t place it well at the moment. Floral or fruity, most likely, but he’d have to check back later. 

Some strange glances between Chres and his familiar clued Ferris in to the mental conversation being held, and he was almost glad he didn’t have to deal with a familiar. Far and wide, familiars seemed to be more trouble than help, discounting the companionship they offered. 

A moment later, the fairy familiar elongated into a ferret, then back into her usual form before speaking aloud about… Puddles? Ferris looked on, bewildered as Chres expertly maneuvered his familiar into being someone else’s problem before turning to him with a question. 

“Used to this sort of thing”—Ferris supposed he was. Not many people would say they liked him or trusted him, but he didn’t need someone’s complete favor or trust to be able to do his job. It was helpful, of course, and Ferris appreciated the rare times when someone really didn’t care, but only because it made his job easier. Past that, whether or not he had someone’s liking or trust was superficial and rather meaningless unless they might hold use to Ferris in hos future ventures, so the remark about distrust being unpleasant evoked few thoughts when it came to the innkeeper. 

[color=Tan]“I suppose I’m used to it by now. It doesn't affect my job, and it’s not like I can convince them otherwise without time and effort.”[/color] 

He paused. 

[color=Tan]“I’m glad you both handled it better than him, though.”[/color]