[hr][center][h3][u][b][ShieldTown - Interior][/b][/u][/h3][/center]
[center][A Fate001/XianaEvermor Collaboration][/center][hr]

This was punishment.  

Dean was clearly exacting payment for her attempt to peep into his home, evident by the tone in his voice that her attendance wasn't optional.  ID could think of worse punishments than being treated to a free meal and some coffee while under a truth spell.  Truth spell probably wasn't accurate: data manipulation spells usually had rules and technicalities that you could navigate to avoid revealing information.  "Creative truth-telling" as it were.

The problem was... without knowing the rules that governed the spell, the only way to discover them was through trial and error.  ID couldn't quite place the air of smug amusement Dean exuded: it didn't sound like he was going to interrogate her, and the lasting effect may have even been a miscalculation on his part depending on who had made the charm that had contained the spell.

However, everything became clear once the door opened...

[b][color=#d9145f]"Whoa...,"[/color][/b] she blurted out, her eyebrows shooting upwards upon getting a face-full of Alex's naked chest.  It became noticeably warmer in the doorway as she cleared her throat uncomfortably.  Her eyes flicked past him for a moment to the active stove and she took a breath reflexively.

[b][color=#d9145f]"Yes, a stranger,"[/color][/b] she grimaced, forcing herself to look away.  [b][color=#d9145f]"In the context that we haven't met,"[/color][/b] she corrected herself.

Alex took in the new information and glanced to the now recovering Dean, when he got a thumbs up through the remnants of his laughing fit Alex stopped tensing and gave a friendly smile. [color=deepskyblue][b]"Well, make yourself at home, i was just going to start second breakfast for myself. want any? I'm making omurice."[/b][/color] There had been a split second when the woman had claimed to be a stranger that Alex's eyes flashed blue with momentary power. 

[color=#d9145f][i]Oh no.  He could cook.[/i][/color]  

Dean finally recovered and went over to the kitchen table. [color=8dc73f][b]"Ash, meet Alex. Alex, This is Ash."[/b][/color] He pulled two chairs out and sat down in one. [color=8dc73f][b]"I'll just have coffee."[/b][/color] He looked back at Ash and motioned to the other seat. holding back a grin when he noticed that she was very obviously trying not to look at Alex.

[b][color=#d9145f]"I'd love that,"[/color][/b] she answered, eyes flicking over the gold sheen in Alex's tattoos with interest.  ID crossed behind Dean to the seat by the window, spearing him with a narrowed gaze

[b][color=#d9145f]"[払拭する],"[/color][/b] she whispered tersely into Dean's ear as she passed.  The command echoed through the Manascape and for a moment the golden threads of the Truth charm shuddered.  ID flinched as she was rebuffed and squinted at Dean as she sat down.  She let out a breath as she opened the window, momentarily more interested in the origin of the charm than the slab of man in the kitchen.  Prodding an enchantment that had resisted a [i]Dispelling Command[/i] any further probably wouldn't be a good idea.

[b][color=#d9145f]"So how are you two related?"[/color][/b]  She asked, changing the subject.

[color=8dc73f][b]"College roommates. He hasn't been able to get rid of me ever since."[/b][/color] Dean replied as-a-matter-of-factly and gave Ash a smug look that indicated that he was well aware of her failings to dispel the charm.

Alex piped up, ignorant of the mage's stare down. [color=deepskyblue][b]"I majored in electrical engineering, while lazy bones here got a degree in Geological sciences. and to think neither of us really use them for jack."[/b][/color] Dean and Alex gave chuckles, Though Dean's was for ironic and on the nose reasons. Alex looked back at the two. [color=deepskyblue][b]"Mind getting the coffee going?"[/b][/color]

ID snorted quietly... Geological Science was actually very important for an Earth Mage.

Dean made a scene as if it was the most annoying thing in the world to do. [color=8dc73f][b]"Fiiiiiine."[/b][/color] He lurched out of his chair and moved intentionally slow towards the counter before prepping a fresh pot.

[b][color=#d9145f]"Yeah, I [i]noticed[/i] Dean has a... [i]thing[/i] for rocks,"[/color][/b] she replied, giving Dean a suspicious glance before focusing her [Dreamsight].  The house itself was alight with charms and script hidden in the graffiti outside, and she noticed the subtle thread of caramel scented green tied about her pinky now that she was focused.  A marking cantrip that she probably picked up when she entered.  ID suppressed the urge to snuff it out.

[b][color=#d9145f]"Do you feel alright?"[/color][/b] She asked, her head tilting with a note of curious concern after observing Alex for a long moment.  What had caught her eye was the knot of [Crimson] coiling around his insides like crawling vines.  It was intermixed with a number of other signatures, including the static cling of [Blue] that read as awakened energy but felt foreign.  The [Crimson] was smothering the other signatures, almost leaking out of him.

Ash's question was waved off as eggs were poared into the skillet. [color=deepskyblue][b]"Me? Im perfectly fine."[/b][/color] There was a loud sound not too dissimilar to an oak barrel being smacked as Alex beat his chest a bit. [color=deepskyblue][b]"Super physiology brute. I'm healthy as can be. why do you ask?"[/b][/color] Ash's question got a raised eyebrow from Dean and a quick gesture that would be best interpreted as "Where is that coming from?"

[color=#d9145f][i]Hmm... informative.  Was that the actual truth?  Or just what he believed?  Either way, retaining Haze was unusual.[/i][/color]

[b][color=#d9145f]"I'mmmmmmmmm...,"[/color][/b] ID bit the inside of her lips as her eyes flicked between Alex and Dean rapidly in a moment of panic.  She wasn't sure whether or not Alex was initiated with Arcane knowledge.  It wouldn't be unusual, particularly for a Hedge to be living amongst Mundane folk. Lack of strong magical community was part of why she chose ShieldTown to be her sanctuary.

[b][color=#d9145f]"... Sensitive to strong emotions,"[/color][/b] she answered, with a note of relief.  A technical truth.  [b][color=#d9145f]"I can [See] the [Haze] in your [Aura],"[/color][/b] she said cryptically, flicking her eyes back to Dean to observe his reaction.  Another technical truth.  [b][color=#d9145f]"Forgive me for prying, I... can't really turn it off."[/color][/b] 

There was a pause in Alex's cooking before he finished up. [color=deepskyblue][b]"Some type of thinker power? I mean . . . I was dealing with some personal stuff and wasn't my best yesterday or this morning."[/b][/color] His shoulders sagged somewhat at that. The moment quickly passed as food was plated. Japanese omelette over rice. Three servings were quickly set down at the table along with extra seasoning and condiments since he wasn't sure how their house guest wanted theirs.

ID just smiled and didn't clarify.