Sleight of Hand

EXT - Callisto Wilds

Lance stands among the trees, humming silently to himself as he awaits the coming of those who would bid him farewell. He packs as lightly for his departure as he had for his arrival - with only a single suitcase of clothes sitting by his feet. Perhaps he is not one for physical attachments, or perhaps the man has judged that such things would only be a burden where he was going. Whatever the reason, it was unlikely that the dark haired man would divulge it. He rarely did, after all, keeping his motivations and desires closely to his chest like a poker player aiming for the grand prize.

When he does see the pair of figures approaching him, the butler smiles and offers a bow in greeting. "It's so good to see you both today," the man calls out, "even if the reason is somewhat somber. I've enjoyed my time here and with you both, and I would like this one last chance to share in pleasant memories."

Dorian had come along through the woods, quiet but for his footfalls. With the fog dispersed, everything looked new again, it seemed, unblanketed, free. Walks through the forest were good for keeping him focused on the moment, rather than vexed over things he should have done differently. The middlest Windgrace had not been best pleased to hear that they were losing Mr. Song's discretion and expertise as well as his company, but neither would he miss a chance for a proper farewell.

Upon being greeted, he'd lift a ring-bedecked hand in reply, then when only a few paces off call out, "Mr. Song! I would be a fool if I did not try once more, are you sure we cannot convince you to stay on with us?" He punctuates with a hopeful lift of his brows above a benign smile, coming to a halt just a few paces off in the little clearing.

Naoki Sato was not typically the type for such things and it showed in his approach. He was reticent and slow-stepped until he realized it was a relatively small gathering. It was a comfort to know that he knew those present. He stepped closer into the clearing and returned the bow to Lance. "Somber?" he repeated with a curious tilt of his head. Sato quieted to listen to Dorian's own protests before finally nodding. "I see. You're dear to the Windgraces. I hadn't realized." Clearly Sato hadn't read too deeply into Lance being so often at the Windgrace estate, nor had he looked into their relation beyond professionalism.

"They have skillsets beyond the norm - you and your siblings that is," he said to both men, the latter to Dorian. "You could communicate I'm sure if you really wanted to." Sato's eyes went back to the butler and gave him a little once-over as if searching for something. "Will the body stay or does it go with you?" he asked.

Lance shakes his head in response to Dorian's question, "I am afraid not," the man replies, "Whether you ask today, yesterday, or a week ago, I am afraid the one thing which may not change is my resolution. I told you sister as much, that I sense the coming era to be one of great upheaval... and that it should fall to man to shoulder his own burden."

Lance's attentions shift to Sato in turn and nods, "Quite," the serpent responds, "Perhaps I might allow myself a moment of vanity in these final hours to say that I have been quite indispensable to them. Worry not though, I have prepared my replacement fittingly. I have been training him in secret." This bears a tricksy smile from Lance - apparently the serpent has not divulged this information as of yet. "As for your question... The body comes with me. I am afraid that I continue to need it to function."

Dorian took note of the jikininki and lifted his chin in greeting toward him, before remarking in his urbane drawl, "Mr. Sato, Good to see you again, as well." He'd canted his head at Naoki's question, but he was fairly certain that was not the strangest thing he'd ever heard from that particular mouth. He'd nod reluctant acceptance to the fact that Lance couldn't be dissuaded, necessitating a swipe of his hand through his hair to get it out of his face.

Turning toward Lance he'd tack on, "It is not mere vanity when it is true Mr. Song. Forgive me if I cannot imagine any replacement filling your shoes. Harping on the matter is not mannerly though, so allow me to keep the grapes from being too sour, and thank you once more. And do take good care of yourselves. We should hate never to hear from you again."

Lance: "It is vanity when the mouth it comes from is mine," Lance responds to Dorian, a smile on his lips, though he quickly moves to other topics. "According to Mr. Sato here, it's not impossible that you might be able to reach me. Though I shall confess that I do not plan on sitting on one place. I plan to visit the land of Baihe's youth in the East, traverse the mountains of the South. Journey through the vast forests in many parts of the world. I apologize if that makes your attempts to contact me difficult."

Dorian looked up to the canopy, eyes momentarily going faraway as he doubtlessly romanticized the adventure about to be undertaken by Lance and Baihe. After taking a moment to come back to Callisto and the gathered company he admitted, "You make it sound all so exciting. Well as I am sure you've already been told you shall always have friends here so long as we are here. I imagine we'll be doing our own adventuring here for while yet. We just got the place back, and you helped us do that. Helped us through what was rather a difficult time. We will remember that. For the life of me, I couldn't imagine what to bring you as a parting gift. I didn't want to encumber you on your journey, and you strike me as a man who... well... has what he wants." After letting himself go on for a bit, he'd offer out a hand to shake, a meager offering but one that wouldn't take up any luggage space.

Lance smiles - clearly listening to Dorian's description of him, yet refraining from commenting or responding to it. As always, cards are ever close to the serpent's chest. Lance accepts the handshake with a gloved hand, gripping tightly through the motion, and then releasing it. Then, he pulls from his jacket a small box, the kind you would find in a jewelry store. This is because that is where Lance sourced it from.

"A small trinket for you," Lance responds, "I considered getting you a great many things, from objects I thought might serve you, to tomes I thought might teach you. However, in the end I decided that you should be free of my hand trying to guide you towards what future you think best. So instead, have this and remember me when you see it. Or, should you choose to do so, when you wear it."

Dorian shook with Lance, just a respectful clasping before letting go, and upon receiving something in turn was clearly surprised, as his mouth fell open before he took the item. It stayed ajar as he looked from the box to the man who'd given it to him, and he embarrassedly scruffled the beck of his head where his hair was short and brushy. He ultimately laughed before managing, "Gods help me, you have outdone me again, and this is precisely why I am sure I shall think about you in all sort of moments when I realize I should have learned something long ago, but have only lately comprehended. You've made a better man of me, have you not given me enough already?"

With delight reigning on his face, he'd hold up the box, and intended to open it then and there to see what it was, gleefully like a child would.

Lance does not stop Dorian - letting him open the box. Inside is a bracelet, fashioned in the image of an ouroboros, the serpent biting its own tail. Its "scales" seem to glitter in the light filtering down from the tree branches, lending it the image of being iridescent and ever-changing. Truly, it is Lance.

"I have not changed you one whit," is all Lance says in response, "Every step you have taken, each time that you decided to be a better version of yourself was by your own will. Because that is your singular power as a mortal, to be ever changing - shedding who you were yesterday to emerge today as a new, happier you... and I will always be proud of you for it."

Dorian plucks the item from the box and holds it close to his face to admire it, with a lopsided grin taking over his expression. After a mesmerised few moments of admiration he'd replace the item into its box, shaking his blond head. He'd answer warmly, earnestly, "Thank you. I ah..." Not many people knew as much about his kin as Lance Song did, and still spoke to them with so honest a tongue, coyly shrouded as it was. It was refreshing as it was comforting to be normalized. It was something else entirely to be told someone was proud of him. But Dorian couldn't put that into words, so he just stammered another "--thank you."

For a moment it seemed dust might have gotten into his eye, but he blinked that extra tear glass away in very manly fashion. Then he stirred his voice back to glibness, "As you say, I think I've yet to win an argument with you, and I do not think that is going to start today. You are going to take care of one another, aren't you?"

Lance shakes his head, "I do not believe we have had an argument to date," He replies back, "And yes, I assure you that we shall keep good care of each other. When I return, for I shall, I shall be sure to visit you, even if just to prove that point. Though I should hope that I might be allowed to do more than just that, of course."

Lance either does not see, or pretends not to see Dorian's sorrow get the better of him there, instead keeping on his lips a cheerful smile. As if Dorian was the one journeying off on a grand adventure, not him. In a way, it was true. While Lance would be retreating to another realm, it was ultimately one that could be understood. Predicted. When you grow as old as the Spirits do, you tend to fall into a rut. It was man who lent that element of spontaneity to the world, and by leaving behind the land of men, he was also leaving behind their capability to affect mass change, to surprise and invent. Even if he was bringing along a pet to keep his attention. Whereas in turn, Dorian, even  by staying right where he was, was about to embark on a long, tumultuous journey throughout the ages. Watching as legacies are built, destroyed, and rise again from their own ashes to form Callisto once again. Experiencing passions Lance could never dream of, and sharing memories he could never hope to create on his own.

Dorian wryly pursed his lips instead of explaining what he meant by arguments, presuming Lance knew too. That he more meant corrections of his foibles. Certain glances and questions that had passed between them. But as usual, he knew better than to argue. He chose some fights well. He'd just tuck the box under his arm and shake his head as he considered their acquaintance once more in brief. As soon as Lance had loosed the question, Dorian was answering with a tumble of words, "Of course, please come find us. I can speak for my siblings enough to say that I think we will be here for a while, and that you will always be welcome. You transcended duty and became a friend. Our memories are not short. So come on back, whenever you may."

Naoki Sato had observed the exchanges and gift-giving with a silent fascination. It was only when they seemed to be coming to the end of it that it seemed appropriate to even attempt interjecting with his own questions. "When you do return you'll have to tell me how a physical body handles itself in so different an environment," he said, ever the scientist in these matters much like his Master. That he expected Lance to come and find HIM too upon return went unsaid, not directly anyway. "Your replacement. You said you were training him - is he similar to you?"

Lance: "Good!" Lance responds, still smiling, "I would be quite upset should you decide to turn me away after I come find you... Not to mention it would probably upset Dinah as well, as I've already made this promise to her." That last part is said with a hint of playful teasing, something rare but not entirely unheard of from Lance.

When Sato finally makes his interjection, Lance nods, turning to the man, "I shall make sure to record any observations that I have. As for my replacement... He has been trained well to fill my shoes, however I do not think that he will be similar to myself in the way you are hoping. A normal mortal, picked off the streets by Miss Dinah and myself. Offered the chance at a new life, and granted tutelage under my wing. However, I do not think that he will ever come by the unique circumstances that granted me the opportunity to become like I am today. Even if he did, I expect his journey would be much different than mine."

Dorian was mystified by this talk of a replacement, but it'd be no surprise to Lance that Dorian had little to do with the running of the household. He was as mystified about talks of bodily thresholds, but in his way he'd not pry on those matters, just listen and parse what he could from their talk. He chuckled with good humor about the impending visit at some point in the future not being rebuffed, and made sure to say once more, "You absolutely must not be gone forever then, if you've promised. And we shall try to make do in your absence. So that you are able to be something like proud even when you return, hm?"

Naoki Sato hummed at this response. There was a flicker of disappointment in his features for those schooled in reading such things but otherwise his expression remained relatively neutral. Instead of responding he turned to Dorian, observing the other man and surprise. "The Windgraces seem capable of keeping their house in order until you return," he observed as an effort to make conversation.

As he spoke he looked over his left hand, turning it over to examine it before promptly clasping his other hand around it and wrenching it out of its socket. Blood coiled around stump and severed finger quickly to stem any bloodflow while Sato sealed the ends with minor acts of fleshcrafting. Once done he offered the severed finger to Lance. "To take with you, if you can. I'm sure your body will react to that plane differently from my own. I'll look forward to your return and the results."

Lance smiles nods, accepting the finger. In turn, Lance pulls from his coat a vial of scarlet fluid. Much like the gift to Dorian, this too is iridescent, though in a much different fashion. With each jostle of the container, the fluid within seems to shift between the seven colors of the rainbow and more. "I attempted to synthesize the strongest toxin I could," he clarifies, "As a brief farewell, I hope that this manages to sate your hunger until my return. Or, should you find yourself in a spot of trouble with a vampire, perhaps it will serve as a... Mm. Deterrent? I am not sure to be honest. I cannot say I have ever had the chance to test the effects of my blood on the Bloodless."

Lance looks back to Dorian and nods, "I am sure that I shall be more than proud of all you have accomplished upon my return. You three have a way about you, a way that says that you will not stop until you have stood atop all others. In a literal and figurative way both. So I shall be surprised if you have done anything but pursue that goal to the best of your abilities."

Dorian watched the exchange between the pair of men with some apparent fascination, and blinking surprise over it. But again, as was mannerly, he didn't ask questions, and even stopped himself gawping by putting his mild grin back up one side of his face again. He listened to the description of his family and it turned from grin to beaming, because he hoped that was true. He was so sure his siblings were bound for greatness once. Surely they still were. And it could be a simple truth. Maybe he'd even do something worthwhile with his time, he did have a few ideas about that moving forward which he hoped would come with a few stories to tell next they met. In response to Naoki's... ...reassurance? Dorian snuffled something like laughter, then waved off the assertion.

Given his own tangled feelings about his dead father, getting something akin to parental approval was welcome, and he'd not sully anything about it with words. He'd just bring the box he held with the bracelet in it up to his chest near where his heart was.

Naoki Sato bowed his head when Lance took the finger from him. The vial was taken with care and curiosity, held up to the light and jostled a bit to see the iridescent shine. "I'll have to make it last," he said quietly and glancing at Dorian took a few paces back and away before popping off the stopper and taking a small sniff of the contents. The potency of it had his eyes shutting and his fingers working to cork the vial again, a few veins popping prominently in his face and around his eyes as his body's resistances fought off whatever effect it caused. His attention skittered back to Dorian as Lance mentioned the Windgraces and their lofty goals. Furrowing his brow he said, "Not everyone can be stepped on. Be careful with that." It didn't sound entirely hostile; in fact there was little tone to it at all. Following just on the heels of Dorian's laughter, it could even be taken as a joke.

Lance chuckles and nods as Sato points out that not all people can be stepped on. "A good point," Lance agrees, "As much as I hope you will let your ambitions carry you, I hope you will also exercise caution. Make your enemies wisely, and your friends even more so. Avoid hasty decisions, and have a plan before you need one... and of course, never forget to keep a good chef on retainer..." The man pauses, thinking for a moment before finally asking, "Mm... Is that all, I wonder?"

Dorian repeated the list, ticking them off on his fingers, "Caution, enemies, friends, chef... blimey Lance. I will try to remember." He wasn't even being a jokester, he was trying to take the words of advice to heart. He didn't seem to take any sort of exception to Sato's warning, they'd already had to go to war of late. Words of caution about avoiding the next one were sure to be heeded, even by someone with Dorian's umimpressive level of cleverness. Gripping his gift in one hand, he seemed reluctant to part, but found himself short on further words.

Naoki Sato lifted the vial as if in toast to Lance's parting words of wisdom. "I can see how invaluable he'd have been to your family he said before facing Lance and bowing at the hip. "Thank you for our collaborations. I hope your journey is an enlightening one."

Lance smiles, looking between the pair and noticing Dorian's reluctance to part. So he smiles, and reaches for the suitcase by his feet - lifting it into his arms and giving the pair a last look at him before his departure, "I have every faith in you," he says, "And with that... Let me perform my final magic trick. Not that I ever engaged in sleight of hand to begin with though." So saying, Lance turns around, walking behind a particularly thin tree - and failing to emerge from the other side. Without so much as fanfare or applause, the Serpent has returned to his hole in the ground.

Or perhaps this is her first time visiting? So closely entwined, there is no longer distinction between them.