Had he ever met one with a demeanor so soft, so quiet as hers? Her quiet, serene self contrasted sharply with him and his ways. Ysuelte seemed crafted for magical forests where white trees stretch tall to touch the face of the moon, made to walk through endless nights where water cascade down a steep rock face in melodic streams and murmur secrets to those who cared to listen. Him, on the other hand, was as born for battle and strife as an ax, blunt and to the point with little imagination for things beyond the battlefield. What did he know of beauty or grace, he who had stained the coat with blood from countless others, who had killed and harmed and stolen all the things counted as precious?

Rightfully, it should have been she to be graced with the Moons touch, her to collect and shape wonderful things from shadow and starlit water. He could manage battle gear and practical things to carry and contain, but when it came to beauty... Not everyone appreciated the elegance of a dragon as she dove to capture her prey, or recognized the dignity within a snakes eye as it coils through the night. And while a spiders net can be oh so intriguing when coated in morning dew and lit by rays of a rising sun, how many stops to admire the fat spider sitting in is nest - waiting for dinner to come to it?

Then and there, Lace felt very tempted to simply resign his high position in favor for this soft spoken young doe. So very tempted, but while Mirage remained a captive and wasn't there to protect the family, he would have to do his best in her absence. The tasks of a Glazier didn't amount to much in times of war, but the rank was unquestionable. He owed it to the Qian to offer guidance while the WeyrLeader was away. His own personal feelings in the matter could be addressed later; when the Queen was back and everything went back to normal.

But what to do for Ysuelte? The waver of her voice caused by longing didn't pass him by, and it was with thoughtfulness painted across the masked face that he regarded her. Surely, there must be something he could do for her, as head crafter and second in command along with the rest of those in second tier.

"Tell me.." he said carefully, "if you were free to create anything at all. What would you make, and what tools would you use to make your vision come alive?"