An old kind of magic

"A pilgrimage?" she asks with interest.

"mm to one of the lea lines....talk to some old friends..." he gives a small smile "its easy to loose contact"

"That sounds... rather interesting actually," she comments trying to imagine. She has met ghosts in school but..

"well it can be nice and relaxing sometimes...depends on whats going on i suppose"

"In the physical world or the spirit world?" she asks.

"spirit i rarely take another mortal with me...even a monster"

"Because it makes them nervous?" she asks already thinking 'shame'.

"hmm no not really...just few are interested in it and those that are are usually 'weird'" he gives a cheeky smile

"I would not consider myself 'weird'," she comments with mock offence. She sticks her nose up but has a smile about her.

"really?" he sounds 'very' curious "do elaborate"

"Er well uh.." She finds herself thrown for a second. She hadn't noticed herself falling into the trap of open interest. She'd intended to try the aloof approach to inviting him to spend the holidays or have dinner at hers if he weren't doing anything. Fucked that up good and proper. She clears her throat and decides on her continued statement. "I have always had interest in fields of study connected to my own."

he chuckles "well you can always join me some time if you wish...." he gives her a soft smile taking pity on her given her exspression

She resists sighing knowing he has done so - or feeling that he has anyway. "Well.. If you don't think it will be distracting?"

"of course not and who would I be to deny you some more knowledge" he has that cheeky little look

She tries to avoid that look but fails caving. "Oh ok... I just don't want to spend the holidays on my own again," she admits with a nervous ear twitch. That was telling more than she'd told anyone in a while but lying to him doesn't sit right. "And it does sound kind of fun. I like walks - no dog jokes," she points

he holds his hands up "alright no dog jokes, but i enjoy them to so it probably will be fun"

She hesitates before asking her next question. "Do you have no one to visit over the holidays? Family? Friends?"

he shakes his head "no there has not been a family for many years"

"Oh.. I am sorry to hear that." She doesn't ask the 'but you are a necromancer' line of questions thinking it could get a bit too personal at this stage so just accepts his answer as it is.

"mmm thank you" he seems..more pulled back not openly sad but obviously painfully wistful at least

She watches him finding something sorrowful about his expression. She can only image what he means by 'many years' but it looks like it still has a hold on him.. "Is it.. anything you wish to talk about..?" she asks. It isn't nosiness that prompts her to ask but the need to offer him an ear.

he waves a hand "another time...maybe" he smiles again "so...you will come with me and we can make something of a holiday out of it"

She moves with the change of subject gladly. The previous one was a little too tense and the staff room didn't really feel like the place for it with anyone able to walk in at any time. "Sounds like a plan. I was going to offer you dinner but.. Well. Perhaps I can still get that in somewhere. How do you usually travel on these pilgrimages? Hostels? Just one hotel or holiday home? Tents?"

"depends on where the lines take me...there are usually hotels and the odd tent..if you up for that"

"Sounds like a fun little holiday. It has been a long time since I have done any 'rough travel'. I will have to see if I still have the knack for it. Mind you.. I'll have to pack some toilet paper... I'm not going through that again."