Morning settles over the Obsidian Tower. Delfarius completes his familiar meditation, then brushes his long dark red hair until the waves lie neatly over his shoulders before carrying coffee and mortal reports to the breakfast chamber.
He reads of trade disputes, repaired wells, and restless noble houses while the coffee cools between his hands. The quiet routine holds until the copper coin slips free from his belongings and spins upright in the air before him.
A glittering archway opens beside the table, shedding warm motes across the black stone. Chance steps through by his own magic, wearing an amused look and carrying no urgency beyond the invitation in his smile.
Chance
Good morning, Architect. Your coin missed me, so I thought I would return it to the conversation personally.
The coin drops neatly into Chance’s palm, then gives a small, willing tremor. He crosses to the table but leaves the distance between them open, respecting the quiet Delfarius built around his reports.
Chance
I wanted to ask how last night went with Marrec, and whether we should reclaim the private time we missed. Coffee first, perhaps, then an honest answer from you?
✓ Quest Accepted
Share private intimacy with Chance
“I take back my coin from this trickster. "Well someone had to fill the role since you and Morghain were so sure of private dates and trysts with each other..." I say going to drink my coffee. Chance surprises me with a kiss and remarks how he think jealousy looks on me.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled -1)
Delfarius reaches across the table and takes the copper coin from Chance’s open palm. The coin settles securely between his fingers, warm with willing luck.
Delfarius
Well, someone had to fill the role since you and Morghain were so sure of private dates and trysts with each other.
He lifts his coffee and drinks, the faintest victorious curve touching his mouth. Chance’s brows rise as he studies the accusation, amusement brightening his face.
Chance
Oh. That is what jealousy looks like on you.
Before the cup fully lowers, Chance leans across the table and kisses Delfarius, brief but warm, then retreats just far enough to leave the tease hanging between them.
Chance
It suits you more than I expected. Though I should warn you, I have no intention of surrendering my private dates with Morghain.
Chance settles back with a delighted grin while the coffee’s warmth returns to Delfarius’s hands. The coin remains safely his, its luck quiet beneath his thumb.
Quest Complete
Share private intimacy with Chance
+ New Item Acquired
Copper coin
“I narrow my eyes at him. "It is not 'what jealousy looks like on you.'” I say using his own voice and cadence with his own words towards me. "It is what my face looks like when I was not given an opportunity to have much say besides I agree." I say huffing and sulking a bit into my coffee. Chance remarks on me narrowing my eyes and huffing as I sulk a bit and drink my coffee. He remarks how he is here now. And Morghain is not.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Deception, rolled +0)
Delfarius
It is not “what jealousy looks like on you.” It is what my face looks like when I was not given much say besides “I agree.”
Delfarius narrows his eyes at Chance, then huffs and sulks into his coffee, deliberately wearing the demi-god’s cadence back at him. The coin stays warm beneath his thumb.
Chance
There it is again, the narrowed eyes and the huff. You are sulking at me with my own voice, which is flattering, incriminating, and very difficult to mistake for indifference.
Chance leans forward across the table, amusement softening into open attention. He does not reach for Delfarius or the coin, leaving the accusation room to stand.
Chance
But I am here now. Morghain is not. This morning, you have my attention, my coffee, and an actual opportunity to tell me what you wanted before I decided anything for you.
Chance lifts both hands in surrender, his grin returning without turning the gesture into a wager. The quiet between them becomes an offered correction rather than a defense.
“"Your coffee?!?" I scoff looking at my Tower around us and the coffee in my hand that is mine. "Did you bring me a peace offering I do not see or are you claiming my brew as yours?" I say with a wry expression to him.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled +0)
Delfarius
Your coffee?!?
Delfarius scoffs, looking at the Tower around them and then at the coffee in his hand, plainly his. His wry expression makes the accusation playful rather than hostile.
Delfarius
Did you bring me a peace offering I do not see
He lifts the cup slightly between them, guarding its warmth while raising one eyebrow. Chance’s empty hands make the missing offering impossible to overlook.
Delfarius
Or are you claiming my brew as yours?
Chance
Yours, unquestionably. I was claiming only your attention, though I see now that coffee requires its own treaty. I will fetch you a peace offering before I touch another drop.
Chance gives a theatrical bow toward the cup, conceding the point completely. His grin returns as he reaches for the nearest bell used to summon the Tower’s kitchen.
“I laugh softly. "And now you are summoning my pet to bring you my coffee." I lean into him with a grin on my face. "The nerve. The audacity of it all."”
FAILURE (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled -4)
Delfarius
And now you are summoning my pet to bring you my coffee. The nerve. The audacity of it all.
Delfarius laughs softly and leans into Chance with a grin, turning the accusation into affectionate mischief. Chance catches him easily, but his raised bell has already sounded through the Tower.
Chance
My audacity is apparently contagious. Since you have named the arrangement, I see no reason to deny your pet the chance to perform his duties.
The tease lands crookedly. Instead of retreating, Chance turns the bell’s summons into a deliberate challenge, keeping one arm around Delfarius while the kitchen door opens behind them.
Marrec enters carrying a fresh cup on a silver tray. He pauses at the sight of Delfarius leaning against Chance, then approaches with composed obedience and sets the coffee before his master.
Marrec Voss
Your coffee, my lord. Chance requested a peace offering, though he did not specify whether it should be served to him or to you.
Chance
To you, unquestionably. I only wanted to prove that your accusation could become a perfectly respectable household ritual.
“My eyebrow raises a bit as my eye twitches at the slight amusement in this act. "Chance wanted you to bring an offering of coffee for you. Well what do you say to Chance who was nice enough to have you bring a coffee here for you?" I am trying so hard not to be amused greatly at the absurd act. Mad at this spectacle?”
FAILURE (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled -4)
Delfarius
Chance wanted you to bring an offering of coffee for yourself. What do you say to Chance, who was kind enough to arrange it for you?
Delfarius raises one eyebrow as his eye twitches, fighting a laugh at the absurd spectacle. The question lands more like a formal household inquiry than the playful reprimand he intended.
Marrec Voss
I would say thank you, Chance. It was thoughtful of you to arrange coffee for me, though I confess I did not expect the matter to require my lord's judgment.
Marrec accepts the second cup with both hands and takes a measured sip. His composure turns the intended tease into simple courtesy, leaving Delfarius's accusation without the sting he sought.
Chance
You are welcome, Marrec. I thought a man who serves everyone else deserved a coffee that was plainly his. Apparently I have created a ceremony.
Chance's amusement brightens, but he does not press the joke further. Marrec keeps the cup, and the household's absurd little ritual settles into an unexpectedly sincere act of hospitality.
“I sigh a bit amused at the luck turning decidedly against me in this moment. "Marrec you can drink that then finish what tasks you were doing before...this." I narrow my eyes at Chance and he remarks on what he thinks the narrow eyes means.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled +1)
Delfarius
Marrec, you can drink that, then finish what tasks you were doing before... this.
Delfarius sighs, amused, and narrows his eyes at Chance. The gesture carries more tease than threat, while Marrec lowers his cup with careful obedience.
Marrec Voss
Yes, my lord. I will finish my coffee, then return to the tasks I had begun before this ceremony overtook the morning.
Marrec takes another measured sip, sets the cup securely in his hand, and turns toward the adjoining hall. His composure makes the household absurdity seem almost official.
Chance
That narrow look means I have been judged guilty of turning coffee into a domestic ritual, and you are pretending the verdict is not amusing you.
Chance watches Marrec depart, then returns his bright, knowing gaze to Delfarius. The copper coin remains warm in Delfarius's possession, but Chance makes no move to reclaim it.
“I put my copper coin he gave me as a gift back into my personal belongings. "The narrow look means I am deciding how exactly I am going to make you pay for disrupting my peaceful morning coffee." I say with a small laugh. I let him think I am seriously threatening him for a moment before I break the serious look with a loud laugh.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Deception, rolled +2)
Delfarius slips the copper coin back into his personal belongings, then turns his narrow-eyed stare on Chance. His posture grows solemn enough to make the harmless morning feel briefly judged.
Delfarius
The narrow look means I am deciding how exactly I am going to make you pay for disrupting my peaceful morning coffee.
He holds the serious expression in place, letting the threat linger across the breakfast table. Chance studies him, weighing the words as though luck itself might reveal whether punishment is truly coming.
Chance
That sounds dangerously official. Should I prepare a defense, or simply accept that your coffee has its own laws?
The solemn mask breaks. Delfarius throws back his head and laughs loudly, the sound rolling through the chamber and shattering the last pretense of menace.
Chance
There you are. I knew the executioner of peaceful mornings would eventually reveal himself as a man enjoying the performance.
Chance laughs with him, bright-eyed and entirely unafraid. The Tower’s quiet returns around their shared amusement, while the hidden coin rests safely among Delfarius’s belongings.