A Day In The Lab (Valan)

 It's Valans birthday today so he gets a not so mini fic to celebrate!

It’s not extraordinarily often I stop by Tel Mithryn, but when I do it usually involves some kind of strange experiment and at least one cup of tea. Since the Red Year and Neloths relocation to Solstheim I don’t see him quite as often as I used to when he was at Tel Naga full time, but often enough that I’m well known around the current tower. It’s not that I’m avoiding him so much as I’m avoiding that godsforsaken island, nothing good has ever happened when I’ve been there, and my guess is nothing ever will. Unfortunately, business brought me to the tiny freezing island, and to Neloth in particular.

Stepping inside out of the ash and wind which had begun to pick up as I finished my journey from Raven Rock I remove my scarf before folding it and putting it away. With that sorted the levitation pad takes me up to the lab, a genius invention really- I’ll give Neloth credit for that. Levitation magic is an important part of navigating any Telvanni tower, and with its use banned one has to find a work around for modern mages who lack such a skill, like Talvas…though I’m fairly certain Neloth has arranged to teach him secretly, as one does.

 “Did you get the ingredients I told you about?” Neloth asks from across the lab, closer to the enchanting table. “Of course not, instead I got four daggers and a pickaxe.” I reply sarcastically while walking over and placing a bag of alchemical supplies and needed ingredients on a table, giving Talvas who sits nearby fidgeting with a mortar and pestle a wink. Neloth and I have known each other for long enough that we can get away with sarcastic comments to each other, a dynamic that to this day startles and confuses Talvas, he wouldn’t dream of such a thing…or perhaps he would, but regardless wouldn’t end up actually saying such things.

Joining Neloth over in the enchanting section of the lab after a few bumps into things and nearly falling on my face he explains that he’s rearranged some things, and informs me of what his current project is. I make a mental note of the rearranging for next time, and in the meantime ask Talvas to please retrieve the foldable cane in my bag. Usually in familiar places I can rely on memory and my remaining vision to navigate, but when things unexpectedly change or a new environment is a challenge it’s a very helpful tool.

Hours pass slowly as Neloth tells me all the details of his current projects, a staff enchanter, research into spriggans now that his tower is repaired, searching for the black books of Hermaeus Mora, and even a few experiments involving my dear friend Anna- though Talvas notes the last one ended in a rather unpleasant manner, at least for him. “Apparently it can cause tentacles to temporarily grow out of the eye socket. Fascinating, in its own way, but not what was expected.” Neloth adds casually before wandering off toward the makeshift library setup diagonally across the lab from the enchanting area, mumbling to himself. I can understand why Talvas was disturbed by the whole thing, I’ve seen some strange things and even I think I’d probably vomit if I saw that. I should probably ask Anna about it, getting her opinion on the experience would be interesting.

As the sun sets the new steward brings dinner up, Neloth and I continuing our earlier discussion topics while Talvas reads quietly as he eats separately. Eventually the meal is finished and Neloth goes off to work on his own things, leaving me alone to chat with Talvas for a bit. Not much has changed from the last time I saw him, Neloth continues to be difficult and old and grumpy, he still sleeps on a bedroll in the corner, and he continues to have generalized anxiety, all in all nothing new. The day in the lab has since finished allowing for a bit of relaxation, Neloth has me make tea because no master wizard makes his own and goes back to his experiments, Talvas attempts to go to sleep early, and I find myself sitting in an odd but comfortable way in one of the library chairs reading a large print book until I eventually fall asleep. Two out of three mages end up sleeping through the night, while one very old tea fueled one continues to manage to never sleep, a skill matched only by a few certain lycanthropes, though it’s a general rule, while they can watch, to not let werewolves meddle with a day in the lab.