It was so rare to be on this side of the equation that Tal had wanted to enjoy it to its fullest - which probably would have resulted in pushing Maea too far, if he hadn't stopped himself by accident. The moment of playfulness faded into something a little more serious at first, and then, unexpectedly a lot more serious as the ambassador spilled just a few delicate drops of tea for the courier to try and read auguries in.
"...Oh. I mean, I'd heard about him becomin' King an' then... not bein' it anymore," the Messenger admitted slowly. "But I hadn't realized he'd left. Huh." He settled back on his hands, chewing at his lip in thought as he looked up to the cloud-chased sky above. "Anyone out on th'Sea in Deepfrost without protection's gotta be a little daft, sure, but other'n that he didn't seem like... like he had much in need o'changin'," he mused, comparing the older man to himself and not finding Harper being the one lacking.
He slid another glance at Maea and his words no longer held their teasing lilt. "So... are y'helpin' him t'change? Or is it more like... are y'wantin' t'be his anchor?"
"...Oh. I mean, I'd heard about him becomin' King an' then... not bein' it anymore," the Messenger admitted slowly. "But I hadn't realized he'd left. Huh." He settled back on his hands, chewing at his lip in thought as he looked up to the cloud-chased sky above. "Anyone out on th'Sea in Deepfrost without protection's gotta be a little daft, sure, but other'n that he didn't seem like... like he had much in need o'changin'," he mused, comparing the older man to himself and not finding Harper being the one lacking.
He slid another glance at Maea and his words no longer held their teasing lilt. "So... are y'helpin' him t'change? Or is it more like... are y'wantin' t'be his anchor?"
