#Jokes aside. I suppose Idris will be an Admiral?

[blackrose-ffxiv]

Satisfaction Guaranteed 06/21

As though on cue there was a knock on the door to announce the arrival of the tea. “Get that, won’t you?” Lebeaux Desrosiers suggested pleasantly to Idristan before turning his smile to Luke. “Yes, right. Let’s get to the points.” He agreed, leaning back in his chair and resisting the urge to rub his hands together with everything he had. “Let’s see what you’ve brought me.” He urged, gesturing to the cleared desk to be used as a showcase for Attempt #2.

Idristan Agache gives Lebeaux a glare at this, but seems to decide that outright rebellion wasn't currently worth it, so he gets up to go get the tea. Leaving Lucien alone to show off whatever he had brought with him.

Luke Gravespast waited for Idristan to stand up before he pulled the bag off the floor.  Hands dug out a small leather folio-like scrap, wrapped and oiled and tied closed, that he pulled out and settled into his lap.  Undoing the tie, the smith pulled out the folded specifications and set them down for Lebeaux before, beside it, he placed two correct replications of the design.

Lebeaux leaned forwards in his seat and reached for the parchment first, unfolding it and smoothing it to lay flat on the desk facing himself. Next he picked up one of the twin pieces, admiring the dull black metal as he turned it over in his hands. Glancing between the item and the illustration to ensure there were no immediately visible deviations. For all intents and purposes they seemed to be two thumbscrews, straight from the Tribunal’s basement. “Muuuuch better.”

Idristan drags his feet returning with the tea, so he comes through the door just in time to see Lebeaux admiring one of the thumbscrews. He takes a few steps closer, trying to make out what the metal object held in the other's hands was. Then he spots the second on the desk, and he freezes in place, staring down at them. "Are those... what I suspect?" he asks slowly, his eyes going towards Lucien rather than Lebeaux. Lucien... what did you do?

Luke folded up the leather into his hands, tying it by rote memory.  He watched Lebeaux as the man examined the thumbscrews with what could only be described as a narrow expression, mouth a thin pressed and tense line.  "He didnn't wan' the pair me mate told me were used fer bone-settin'."

Lebeaux continued admiring the device, running a gloved thumb under the small spikes within with a contented sort of smile. Starlight had come early this year, it seemed. “What do you suspect they are?” He asked as he glanced up, smiling sweetly between the other two despite their grim expressions. “Or better yet, why not tell him what they are, Luke.”

Idristan scowls. "No, of course he wouldn't," he grumbles under his breath. His eyes then flick back to Lucien, giving the Garlean a  rather unimpressed look. "Well. Go on then Luke," he says, choosing his words very carefully. No, you're not getting out of this one Lucien.

Luke potentially had far less issues, morally, than Idris gave him credit for.  The man swept his hands with the folded leather folio and muttered, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.  "Ah pretty decent recreation fer thumbscrews, if I say so m'self."  And he did, because if there was something he knew, it was repair or fabrication.  He might've preferred it not be torture implements...

Lebeaux leaned back with the device held between his hands, toying gently with the clip that would turn the actual screw portion. His smile remaining prim as his icy gaze darted between the other two men. Enjoying the flat look Idristan was giving his friend as well as the blacksmith looking almost genuinely uncomfortable for a moment. How delicious. “A beautiful recreation, these are something of collectors’ items since the restructuring of the Tribunal as you surely know. Well, perhaps not you Luke.” He practically cooed over the blackened metal.

Luke certainly had never seen a Tribunal's assortment of accouterments.

Idristan's expression manages to sour even further as Lucien confirms his suspicions. He finally looks away then, towards Lebeaux as he fiddled with one of the screws. "And of course you would have an interest," he shoots towards Lebeaux, his voice very, very flat.

“Of course.” Lebeaux agreed. Entirely shameless. “Now the original set that was brought by, Master Gravespast had made several ‘improvements’ despite explicit instructions not to.” He explained, managing to shift his expression from a far-too-pleased smile to something of a pout. “I suspect he thought he was being funny. That seems to be a running theme.” He noted dryly. “To ensure there isn’t some other private joke I haven’t been let in on, I’ve invited Master Agache to help with a little demonstration.” He immediately held up a hand to discourage arguments. “But I’ll give you a choice.”

Luke finally shot a look over his shoulder, something that could easily be read as an apology in his expression before he snapped back to Lebeaux, almost too quickly.  His eyes narrowed, watching the man as he almost fondled the implements that Lucien himself had crafted.  "I jus' though' y' might like the imprevements," he muttered, the embarrassed craftsman.  "But wha'... demonstration - 'n choice - are y' ... offering?"

Idristan grits his teeth, shooting Lucien a rather betrayed look. You were supposed to be helping me, not him! He then looks back to Lebeaux. He keeps his arms folded, but something has shifted in his stance, a tension creeping in that had not been there previously. "By the Fury... I think you've been drinking too much sake, Lebeaux, if you believe that I'm just going to let you use those on me," he snaps.

Lebeaux set the theatric pout aside in favor of his standard saintly smile. “I’ll need to be sure they’re functional. That they don’t, perhaps jam inconveniently, or the threads slip. Some such. You surely recall the last demonstration.” He noted to Luke before glancing briefly at Idristan, the smile growing as he insisted that the chirurgeon wouldn’t be using the thumbscrews on the conjurer. “Quite right I won’t, now we come to the choice.” Lebeaux finally set the device down and reached for a cup of tea. “You will put them on Idristan and demonstrate their efficacy to my satisfaction.” He suggested. “Or you may put them on your own fingers and I will be turning the screws.” He offered as he sat back to enjoy his tea. “Take your time thinking.”

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