Ah, don't take it personally. That quirk was a Slughorn bias, not a witch one, in this case.
Slughorn waved a hand in idle dismissal. "Really now. I'm sure you've lost all perspective on mortal fragility and stuff, but I'm far too old and tired to go prancing about the other realms in the lands of the eternally pretty. I'd be a laughingstock. Or set on fire as an eyesore. Or depress the entire court by explaining the concepts of rheumatism, gout, sciatica, varicose veins, shall I go on?"
Of course, to what degree Slughorn truly suffered from any of these ailments was a fairly open guess -- because whatever he might have, he certainly must hide very well. The witch could simply see the hook in the bait. After all, even setting aside his history and experience, he did much the same, albeit in a harmless and actually beneficial fashion.
"Now trading like businessmen, that's reasonable." He tapped the side of a bubbling cauldron. "You have needs, I have needs, we keep it professional, we both benefit. No dark magic and you don't go using it against the Circle or the Institute, of course, but that still leaves plenty of options for you." He tried to sound like he was bargaining from a position of strength.. but he really wanted the fae to accept the deal. Business relationships were a much better protection from mischief or hostility than tense balances of power, after all. No sense trading solely on Sylvia's protection if he could ensure better.
no subject
Slughorn waved a hand in idle dismissal. "Really now. I'm sure you've lost all perspective on mortal fragility and stuff, but I'm far too old and tired to go prancing about the other realms in the lands of the eternally pretty. I'd be a laughingstock. Or set on fire as an eyesore. Or depress the entire court by explaining the concepts of rheumatism, gout, sciatica, varicose veins, shall I go on?"
Of course, to what degree Slughorn truly suffered from any of these ailments was a fairly open guess -- because whatever he might have, he certainly must hide very well. The witch could simply see the hook in the bait. After all, even setting aside his history and experience, he did much the same, albeit in a harmless and actually beneficial fashion.
"Now trading like businessmen, that's reasonable." He tapped the side of a bubbling cauldron. "You have needs, I have needs, we keep it professional, we both benefit. No dark magic and you don't go using it against the Circle or the Institute, of course, but that still leaves plenty of options for you." He tried to sound like he was bargaining from a position of strength.. but he really wanted the fae to accept the deal. Business relationships were a much better protection from mischief or hostility than tense balances of power, after all. No sense trading solely on Sylvia's protection if he could ensure better.