Carpe Noctem

At least Sam’s Ascended status made it unlikely that he’d contract a disease from his culinary adventures with metal beans. Unless there was an Ascended-specific disease that roamed the Spire, similar to whatever had driven the Demon mad. The thought made Jigano’s blood run cold(er than it usually was these days) and he shivered, barely resisting the urge to reach out and smack the bean out of his friend’s hand – much the same way Sam had stopped him earlier.

But it was too late for that, too late by far if he’d been hoping to keep that particular fear from coming true. The explanation earned a raised brow, for however much the bard distrusted the Voice, he had a hard time thinking that the pretty young goddess would expect her children to lick things to use them. That seemed to be taking the ‘child’ metaphor a bit too far.

To say nothing of jamming things up noses.

”Did the cube require licking to use?” he asked mildly, remembering that strange piece of technology that they had poked and prodded in the Guildhall when the world was simpler and the barrier still stood.

Blue eyes dubiously examined the proffered metal device bean, for he might not have known what it had been doing for the past three hundred years, but he certainly knew where it had been in the last three minutes. ”I would have preferred to try that avenue before it went in your mouth,” he said drily. ”But if you’re sure it’s safe…” He reached out to take the harmless-looking little object, studying it for himself – and surreptitiously giving it a more thorough wiping down on his own sleeve before he lifted it to his ear, settling it gently into place as he listened for the sounds of any clockwork or ticking within.