If Max's rising to greet her properly was unexpected, and a little quaint even by Cassiopeia's standards, it certainly wasn't unwelcome. She responded a little indulgently, dipping in a shallow curtsey as if he'd been her dancing-partner, and then looked over his map again as he resumed his seat.
'It's a remarkable talent you have,' she commented. 'I'm unsurprised that the Council have taken note of it, although of course they will be quite unaware of any - shall we say more-than-ordinary properties it might possess?' Cassi gave him a knowing half-smile. If such maps were his family's work, as he'd mentioned over the network, then there had to be complex spellworking of one sort or another involved.
She was quite unaware of their potential monetary worth. A respectable way to make a living, he'd said, and she hadn't laughed at that, it wouldn't have been polite. Cassiopeia and Pollux had found their own solutions, hadn't they? She produced what they needed. It was a little trickier now that Pollux had warned her of the need to change the serial numbers on the bills, but if she concentrated properly she could do it. They were Blacks, they weren't going to lower themelves to seeking muggle employment.
Max asked after her health, then, and Cassi nodded. 'Yes, thank you, I'm quite well,' she said, only a little stiffly. The day before yesterday she had left the clinic, with her doctor's approval, having made a full recovery. Only a respiratory infection, she'd been told, but with her history, and continued leukopenia - she'd made them explain that to her, at length - she did have to be careful. She had allowed them to test her for a few specific conditions, as well, but those results she wouldn't have back for a few days yet.
'It's nothing to worry about,' she hastened to assure Max. 'I've had bouts of illness since I was very young, they're very rarely serious.' It wasn't unheard of for Cassi to stretch the facts to make people believe she suffered more than she did, but she found that she didn't want that here. A different situation called for a different approach, didn't it? It was clear enough that Pollux had no intention of indulging her whims or even attempting to tend to her when she was unwell. Cassi had to adapt accordingly.