As he enters the Ravenwood abode, Amadeo is greeted by a distinct lack of people, aside from Anna and Tyrion playing what looks to be a game of chess. Tyrion chuckles, setting down a rook and sitting back. "Beat ya again, lass. That's three for three."
"Bah! How do you get so good at this?!"
"I had alot of time to practice." He looks up at Amadeo and waves. "How'd it go?"
"It was a mixed emotional moment." Holding up the book, he scratches his chin. "But at least I got something for our troubles. Someone's journal."
"Who's it belong to?" Tyrion asks, setting up another game.
"Dunno. Someone connected to Mercy Warren, apparently. Where's everyone else?"
"Your folks went out to check on the hands. Miss Ingrid decided to enjoy the fresh-ish outside air with Melody. Kira and Hope are in your old room talking about...well, something. It's none of our business."
"Well, this journal just became our business." Amadeo walks through the kitchen toward the bedroom.
"Ah, I wouldn't-" Anna starts before Tyrion holds up a hand to silence her, a gigantic grin on his face.
Amadeo steps into the bedroom and, not seeing Hope on one side of the curtain, opens it to see beyond. His eyes focus first on the exposed lower back and hips, tail coiled around trouser-covered legs. The figure turns and Amadeo gets a view of an exposed stomach, navel centered between a cluster of six toned abdominal muscles. He traces upward, the sight of skin cut short by a lowering tunic that does too little too late to hide at least half of the figure's chest. Emerald orbs lock with chocolate hues, and for a brief moment, the two stare at one another. Hope drops the tunic the rest of the way to cover her upper body, and Kira looks out with a gasp.
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"Seriously? Learn to knock!" The half orc throws a pillow at her brother, who promptly closes the curtain and backs up into the main room.
A smirking Tyrion watches from the table. "Nice job, lad. If only you'd gotten there sooner."
Hope opens the curtain and steps out, marching right up to Amadeo. The wizard's face twists a bit as she stands before him, arms folding across her chest. "So...Get a good look?"
"Ah...Well, you see...I wasn't trying to spy, I just, we, umm..." The wizard stumbles over his words and retreats, holding up the journal as he backs into the door. "Book! I got a book that might help us-"
"Your spells can wait." The devilkin slams a flattened palm against the wall on the right side of his head. "Did. You. Get. A. Good. Look?" Hope raises an eyebrow.
Tyrion looks between the two of them. "Red, don't be too bothered by it. It's my fault, I didn't stop him."
"Stay outta this, you overgrown pixie." Her eyes flare at the halfling, who looks back down at the chessboard.
Amadeo bites his lip and looks away. "Yeah, ok, I got a good look."
"And did you like what you saw?" Her tail raises somewhat at his response.
"Did I what?!" His eyes widen, and those emerald orbs lock back onto him.
"Did you enjoy the view?" She rephrases the question, stepping close enough that their chests press together.
The wizard's face turns redder and redder by the second as he nods his head, eyes shifting away from her stern gaze. "I-I mean, you're very attractive, so yeah, it was nice."
Hope's tail lifts more before she steps back. "Thank you for your honesty." Her face remains stoic, though inside she releases a held breath. "Oh gods, that was so embarrassing! I can't believe I got that close to him! I am never letting Kira give me advice again, he must be terrified!"
Amadeo sighs, holding his chest to keep his panicking heart from exploding out of it. "You're, uh, you're welcome." Inwardly, he takes a deep breath. "I thought she was gonna kill me...She did look nice tho-No, no, more important stuff to handle!"
He holds the book up again. "This may be connected to Mercy Warren somehow. Ondra gave it to me."
"Oh! Right, that!" Hope shakes her head, putting the last minute out of her mind temporarily. "Have you read it yet?"
"No. I thought it best we all hear what it has to say." He sits down, gingerly undoing the leather string tieing the book closed. "It's damaged pretty badly around the edges. I'm honestly surprised it's in even remotely ok condition."
"Maybe it's enchanted to increase its durability." Tyrion suggests, and Amadeo shrugs.
"Not sure. Regardless-" He cracks the front cover open. "-let's see what we can glean from its pages."