A smile was a good place to start, and he returned it even though she shrugged off his profession. Be diplomatic, he reminded himself firmly. Besides, it wasn't as though she were wrong... just not entirely right. "Some of it is searching out information from the past that has been lost," he agreed. "But not all lore is found in books or dusty times. We also wish to learn new things, and that means exploring into areas of the world we haven't been to before, and speaking to those who have had experiences that we have not. For instance, I've been learning that there are dangers in the Wildwood that we don't have in the land within the barrier. Things that your people are familiar with and know to be wary of, but that mine do not." He shrugged lightly, tapping his journal with an elegant finger. "So I'm trying to make a record of what to watch out for so I can pass that knowledge along to those who don't have it. Without the barrier, there's no longer anything to stop those dangerous plants and animals from moving into the new territory, and as of yet no one there - not the people, nor the animals - know how to defend themselves from them yet."
Her own profession brought a sparkle of interest to his eyes, though her snap a moment later had him biting his tongue to refrain from his own biting quip. Instead he found a fallen twig nearby and reached it into the water to stir it experimentally in seemingly-idle motion. "Not teach everyone, no," he explained with a chuckle. "But perhaps you and some of the human seamstresses could share patterns and stitching techniques, and see if you know different ones, so everyone involved could broaden their skills? Rather than making the same clothes that you do, the humanfolk might learn to make human clothes with a bit of Fae flair, and maybe there are some plants within the barrier that differ from the ones out here, that produce different dyes you could use to add new colors to your repertoire?" he suggested hopefully. "Not that you likely have to worry too much about any business rivalries. Fae and humans have different enough sizes that I doubt your customers will be going to many human seamstresses, or vice versa." He paused and then grinned at her, mischief bright in his blue eyes.
"Though I would be interested in discussing a trade with you, just so I might have some clothes that stand out a bit more amongst the humanfolk. As a bard I'm also a performer, and it's important to look good for an audience!"
Her question was unexpected but fair, and it wasn't as though it was a secret. Jigano's nod was a cautious one at her obvious suspicion, however, and he set his wetted stick upon a rock beside him while he went back to writing. "I am. Not of my own choice, but... yes. Is that a cause for offense among your people?" Isuma peeped softly in concern at the way her companion tensed a little beneath her, and he stroked her feathered back gently. He'd thought Ianto was accepted among the Fae, for having Arduinna's blessing, but the Fae were no more a monolith than the barrierfolk were. Was this woman someone who had the same biases against outlanders as some of the Natural humans did?
Her own profession brought a sparkle of interest to his eyes, though her snap a moment later had him biting his tongue to refrain from his own biting quip. Instead he found a fallen twig nearby and reached it into the water to stir it experimentally in seemingly-idle motion. "Not teach everyone, no," he explained with a chuckle. "But perhaps you and some of the human seamstresses could share patterns and stitching techniques, and see if you know different ones, so everyone involved could broaden their skills? Rather than making the same clothes that you do, the humanfolk might learn to make human clothes with a bit of Fae flair, and maybe there are some plants within the barrier that differ from the ones out here, that produce different dyes you could use to add new colors to your repertoire?" he suggested hopefully. "Not that you likely have to worry too much about any business rivalries. Fae and humans have different enough sizes that I doubt your customers will be going to many human seamstresses, or vice versa." He paused and then grinned at her, mischief bright in his blue eyes.
"Though I would be interested in discussing a trade with you, just so I might have some clothes that stand out a bit more amongst the humanfolk. As a bard I'm also a performer, and it's important to look good for an audience!"
Her question was unexpected but fair, and it wasn't as though it was a secret. Jigano's nod was a cautious one at her obvious suspicion, however, and he set his wetted stick upon a rock beside him while he went back to writing. "I am. Not of my own choice, but... yes. Is that a cause for offense among your people?" Isuma peeped softly in concern at the way her companion tensed a little beneath her, and he stroked her feathered back gently. He'd thought Ianto was accepted among the Fae, for having Arduinna's blessing, but the Fae were no more a monolith than the barrierfolk were. Was this woman someone who had the same biases against outlanders as some of the Natural humans did?
