( he settles into a small bench and table set, trying to tuck a stray bit of claude's hair behind his ear. it flops back into place and he frowns a bit, looking like he might say something about it - he decides to silence himself. )

I doubt you will. ( he says that instead, canting his head to the side curiously. ) Let's start off with probably the most important aspect... there's a staff at your back. Can you hold it? Don't force it if you can't.

( it sounds like a deceptively easy task, but aspen's concerned frown makes it clear that it's not. he knows that the only people who can hold his staff have accepted positions of leadership. accepted being the key word, there. he remembers how the staff burned in his hands when he hadn't accepted his birthright, how it'd felt like boiling water inside of his skin.

but... if claude can - it'll make casting much, much easier. )