On Ven's request for some distance, Jewel retreated to a bench by the far window, listening to the patter of the raindrops against the individual glass panes. It was good, for the moment, to be able to just sit back and observe -- he did not often have guests besides family, and he certainly did not often have guests who were invited into his study, and it was a bit of a relief to be able to put aside the act of being a good host for the few minutes it took Ven to look over the maps.
Jewel had tried, of course, to be fairly thorough in his choices. There was the Northwood map, of course, and the one of Northwatch in total, of Serendipity, of the northern countries, of the world itself... surely one of them would provide the information needed, right?
But as Jewel observed, half-watching and half-packing a smoking pipe, Ven seemed only more defeated. And then, very quickly, defeated turned into distress.
At the first 'no', Jewel sat up a bit straighter, pipe still unlit and brows furrowed in concern. Ven was looking at him oddly, accusing him of joking, and for the life of him Jewel could not understand why. The maps were there, they were in good shape, they had all the information that Jewel could possibly provide-- what was wrong?
Just as quickly, it seemed, the distress sank back into disappointment, and Ven put the maps back in their cases. Jewel considered what he could say in this moment. Was there anything that could be said? Jewel was good with illnesses and injuries, and what it took to soothe someone when they were bright with fever. But heartbreak was different, and none of his bedside manner seemed appropriate, here.
Jewel nodded immediately upon Ven's request. Tea. Tea, he could provide. Tea was easy.
"Of course you may. I'll return shortly."
Pipe completely forgotten, Jewel left both it and the satchel behind on the bench, and walked quickly to the study doors. He'd left his own cup out there by it, he realized, and picked the cup and saucer up on his way back down the narrow stairs to the kitchen. If he was going to make tea, he may as well brew himself a fresh cup as well.
It was never easy, not knowing what was wrong, and Ven seemed to have a lot going on in that category. His condition was a mystery, his past was a mystery, and now after all the trouble and the incarceration, even a map had not been of much help. While the kettle boiled, Jewel stared at the assortment of tins of tea leaves. Nothing in those tins could rid a man of (for lack of a more accurate term) vampirism, or memory loss.
Jewel took a breath, and brought a tin down from its shelf. It would provide no miracles, but it was full of his best leaves. That much comfort, he could give. He set about preparing a tray while the kettle boiled. Jewel hesitated for a moment, before deciding to include some dried fruits and nuts and cheeses to a plate, along with jars of of honey, cream and sugar. A bit more luxurious than he'd usually set out for himself, but a guest was a guest, and he was sure Aderyn would know if he'd done anything less.
She always knew.
Tea ready, Jewel brought the tray carefully up the stairs. He hesitated outside the doors of his study, considering one of the potted plants beside the door. Opting against offering up one of the poor things without a need to, Jewel instead brought the tray over to an empty table nearer to the bookshelves.
"I'd offer to serve you, Mr Ven, but that would put very little distance between us. Please help yourself to as much as you like."
Jewel retreated with his own cup to the window he had abandoned earlier, giving just that extra few feet of space and also allowing him to finally light his pipe.
"...Did you not recognize anything on the maps, then?"