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"Massster..." this came from a disembodied head floating in front of Raistlin's desk. The archmagus didn't look up immediately, busy scratching writing onto a piece of flattened parchment, the quill in his thin golden fingers practically vibrating with the speed of his notes.

Genessia was a land of fascinating marvels. He'd be sure not to forget a single one.

"Masssster pleasssse," the head tried a second time.

Finally, Raistlin glanced up, impatient at the interruption. "What?"

"Therrrre is an intruderrr in the Grrove."

That. That was interesting, and Raistlin's hand finally stilled. "In the Grove, you say?"

"Yesssss. The defenderrrssss have not been able to kill it..."

Extremely interesting. Something from Genessia, no doubt, nothing else would make sense. The blackrobe dabbed the last of the ink off the feather quill onto a pad and set the instrument aside, and then took the time to carefully close up the inkwell. This could take a while.

And so it was that whatever this stranger was doing, he suddenly wasn't the only living creature in the dark, ancient grove. Raistlin lurked in the deepest shadows, silently watching.

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Raistlin took that in silence for a moment and then, after a long, slow blink, "What?"

"I like you, full stop. Gonna list the reasons I've come to this conclusion, feel free to take notes, here we go.

First of all, you tolerate me, I actually remember stating this as a reason why I thought you were pretty cool prior.

Speaking of cool, magic. Really cool. Another point for you.

Also, no jokes comparing me to meatballs or avocados or avocados that fucked an older avocado, nor have you told me I look like a sick naked nutsack. Points for you.

Also offering to kill me by actually asking first, because fucking no one asks first. Also agreeing to my terms to go home. Also knocking me out before setting me on fire, that was a big one, also the sheet, I appreciate that man, also the food, and the water, and the wine.

... I think that's it for the moment, but I'm sure I'll find more reasons."

"You have an extraordinarily low set of standards, I see."

Very dry, and just a bit biting.

Didn't make fun of his appearance, and had the basic courtesy to not want to listen to his screams while he burned? Obviously, best friend material.

"No, see, you missed all the other shit you didn't have to do but did anyway, which, and this is scientifically proven, is considered 'above typically decent behavior.'"

"As I said."

Very low standards.

He's not going to budge on this, sorry Wade. No one likes Raistlin; you're just that desperate.

"Fine whatever I have garbage standards, whatever shakes your martini, but I still like you, so the end result's exactly the same."

Raistlin just laid there in silence for a few moments, staring.

"Is that why you always bring 'presents'? To gain my favor?"

'Always' was like, twice, now. But still. The language of it and the mannerisms around it had spoken volumes to the mage.

He... waves a hand about, puffing his cheeks before blowing out the air.

"....Mmmnnnnyyeeeaaaah kinda."

"It's unnecessary."

Because he already likes yoooou. But don't say it.

"Well it's clearly necessary if I wanna hang out with someone who doesn't like me, right?"

SAY IT.

"Why else would you want this ugly testicle face haunting your cool wizard tower unless I brought shit over?"

"I do not dislike you."

Which is saying a hell of a lot. Who hermits this hard if they don't dislike everyone? He has a forest around his place that terrifies even the kender to keep them at bay.

"Your damaged appearance matters not to me. You aren't rotting, and that qualifies as an automatic improvement over most."

"That's about as good as I'm getting, I assume." He knows, Raistlin. He knows.

"I remember. So you like me, and you think I'm good looking."

"You have quite the habit of stretching the words I use to suit you, don't you."

Honestly he can't believe this conversation is happening, let alone while he's only wearing a sheet and a knife.

He can give you some privacy there, ultra buddy.

"I think I'm taking it to the logical conclusion, also it gives me a fleeting sense of self worth and validation, thanks.

Anyway, I'm gonna go step outside for a second. Not outside, outside, just outside the room.

Since you're feeling better, I'm gonna also assume you might wanna get pants back on."

"That would require me to have the energy to leave the bed."

Energy Raistlin didn't have, still so wiped out he hasn't even lifted his head off the pillow. It was a wonder he was awake, honestly.

Hell, there was a solid lock of white hair that had been trying to fall into his eyes this entire time, and he hadn't even spared the effort to move it.

"Oooohhhh, okay yeah I get that." A beat, staring at the lock of hair that had begun to drift into Raistlin's eyes. Yeah it was pretty obvious that could get obnoxious pretty quick, and if the guy was too tired to even get up...

"Lemme... lemme just... I gotta get this man-" He'd reach over and just... carefully pick the lock up, and move it up and out of the way.

".... There. Okay. That was driving me nuts, sorry."

"My hero."

So very fucking dry. And for more than one reason, honestly. Hadn't Wade just gotten done peeling him off the floor?

And getting blood coughed up all over him.

"Yeah I know I'm pretty amazing, thanks." Yes he is adding that to the heap of totally assumed compliments. What a good friend you are, Raistlin!

"Alright, so... I'm gonna hang out here then. Uh, anything you... need to get done? While you're resting?" Look he's a guy with a lot of energy almost all the time, he's gonna need something to do.

"Such as...?" Genuine question, here. Wade can't exactly do any studying or magic on his behalf, it doesn't work that way.

"I dunno, I can get some books you want and read them out loud? Head into town for pizza and a movie and... something to watch that movie on orrr... We could just sit here and talk about how you said I looked good for a while."

The word 'watch' in that sentence tipped Raistlin off that whatever a 'movie' was, he wouldn't care much for it. Anything they 'watched' it on would degrade quickly in between blinks.

And that last thing wasn't an option, thanks.

"Books, then, I suppose. If you are going to the study, take care not to touch the Staff."

"I will... ask what you mean by that when I get back. No touching the staff, got it." Normally, he'd do it anyway. Like a lot.

But... wizard. He was willing to resist the temptation of being a contrary piece of shit in the interest of possibly not having something even worse happening to him.

"Any book you were in the middle of?"

"Several," because Raistlin's a super nerd, and reading one book at a time is for squares.

He listed one off, though, to make things simpler. A book on one of the assorted sciences he was studying up on -- nothing magical, sorry Wade. Reading a wizard's spellbooks without being a wizard was a good way to be driven mad, and Wade really didn't need the assistance, there.

He was about to say something along the lines of 'I got two eyes and they only point in one direction', but Raistlin did in fact give him the name of a book to grab. He was, in fact, a little disappointed when it wasn't a magic book, but... well.

He'd come back with the correct book despite his disappointment.

"Alright, A Crack in Creation. You're gonna have to keep your shit together when I mispronounce stuff."

Raistlin had damn near dozed off in the interim, but as soon as Wade came back to the bedroom he mustered some remaining energy to stay awake instead.

"I will endeavor to." To, uh, 'keep his shit together'.