Illyana's shoulders visibly seemed to lower as Geralt walked away from the mess area. Now that the Magician had left them, she was finally able to relax. It was clear in her expression as she looked around the table that she was more comfortable, albeit less alert as well. She would have been worried about Lucien being alone with him, if it were anyone else but their Ringleader. 

Cora watched Geralt go with a neutral expression and smiled at Ivory as she sat and took a card from her. At the mention of the show, her expression brightened as she nodded in agreement with Akane's statement, [color=00a99d]"Oh yes, it will be wonderful to see him perform! I can't wait to see what else his hands can do."[/color] She added enthusiastically. At Ivory's comment, however, her smiled drooped a little and she tilted her head inquisitively as Ivory continued to speak. It was clear that the dhampir did not appreciate the Magician's company, at least to Cora. She had noticed the way her eyes narrowed and her tone lowered when she spoke with him, as she did very little. Ivory had been nothing but kind to her and the others. Perhaps she wasn't as bright as Akane or as compassionate as Illyana, but she was always kind, though stern. Although her smiles were few, she shared them with the troupe before, but now that Geralt had joined they seemed to have left her completely. It had only been a day though...maybe she was in a bad mood?

There was no way to know for sure except to ask, so she did. [color=00a99d]"I'm sorry that you're not happy about him, Ivory. But...can I ask why? He seems so...charming to me. Not like any of the other men around here..."[/color] she paused and looked apologetically to Aurel, [color=00a99d]"Except for you and Lucien, of course."[/color] She paused a moment, contemplating her statement, then added, [color=00a99d]"He reminds me of Lucien a little, actually."[/color] And this was true, although he had none of the feminine qualities that shined through in Lucien, Geralt was smooth, kind, and witty, just like Lucien. The more she thought about it, the more alike the two men seemed.

Illyana listened to Cora speak while biting the inside of her cheek. She opened her mouth to disagree, to tell Cora that the Magician was [i]nothing[/i] like Lucien at all, and point out how different the two of them were. But she closed it again when she realized that the mermaid was not entirely wrong. Both men were charming, handsome, intelligent, and well-spoken. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that Cora was right, from the outside. She remembered what Lucien had said about not judging people based on appearances, or abilities, alone and subconsciously a hand moved to her forehead and the secret she concealed under the brim of her hat.

She dropped her hand and said, [color=598527]"He is a little like Lucien, Cora, you're right. But their not the same. Lucien is special, he brought us together...didn't he? Geralt doesn't seem like the type of man who would do that."[/color] She had learned in her time with the mermaid that it was easier to let her decide things on her own. Cora was strong-willed, though she appeared docile and laid-back, she could be fierce about certain things. She was intelligent, and cunning as well, though a stranger would never know it. If Illyana and the others helped her to see the differences between Lucien and Geralt, she would soon realize that sweet words and promises were not enough to make someone good.

Cora turned to Illyana and seemed to take in her words, mulling them over. She couldn't deny the truth in Illyana's words. Though Lucien and Geralt seemed very similar to her now, she did not see the kindness in Geralt that Lucien radiated. Maybe they were more different than they seemed after all...but she couldn't go judging the Magician too harshly just yet.