2 ✦ text ✦ unseelie locked

[erythristic]

[backdated to August 2nd, sunrise.]

I require several shardholders who can accompany me to Redgate within a few days. Aside from your availability, I also require that you be skilled in combat without magic and that you can take directions without raising a fuss. None of this is negotiable.

If you believe yourself to be capable of this, please respond, and we can arrange to meet.

Comments

[erythristic]

Then I'd say I'm a bold woman who is charming, intelligent, and brave, who reserves foolishness for matters that don't have one's life potentially on the line.

[caditquaestio]

'Charming', 'intelligent' and 'brave'. And 'virtuous' and 'modest', yes?

[erythristic]

It makes me blush to have to describe myself so highly.

[blatant lies]

[caditquaestio]

A blush the donna hides.

[erythristic]

You also hide your face, sir. Yet forgive me, the magic that allows one to look upon another is still something I'm getting used to.

[caditquaestio]

That much I'll grant you. It's a fickle thing. My horse, mind, enjoys the viewings.

[erythristic]

I could eliminate the hindrances and simply come to see you in person.

[caditquaestio]

You won't name me your goals or your means or your reasons, but you'll come see a stranger at a moment's notice.

[erythristic]

Yes.

[what else did you say to that? no?]

[caditquaestio]

I... don't... follow your reasoning.

[erythristic]

If you had been interested in my proposal, we would have met at a moment's notice so that I could observe your ability. Then, the same as now, we would be strangers save for an exchange of names.

You've proved yourself a clever man in our talk. Is it odd that I would wish to place a face to the one who has given me the pleasure of this discussion, that I should meet a stranger so that he is no longer one to me?

[caditquaestio]

Hardly. If you were a man.

But you're a woman.

[erythristic]

A woman can be curious too, sir. A trait we've had since Pandora walked the earth.

[caditquaestio]

But do I want another woman who reaps tragedy?

[erythristic]

I would hope I'm not as ill fated as that.

[caditquaestio]

Yes. Hope is what you'd have, yes?

[erythristic]

The sole reason humanity perseveres while we suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Minus it, what ruin befalls one!

[caditquaestio]

Ah. Aegroto dum anima est, spes est. But then, humanity need not live at all.

[erythristic]

Is it because humans are too wicked to inflict upon the earth? Or simply because that every one will die in the end?

[caditquaestio]

...no. No, nothing so philosophical. Nothing so perverse.

But we predicate the need for humanity's perseverance: 'Ecce homo! And now, he must live'. And yet, must he? Truly? There is no logical causality between 'is' and 'must continue to be'.

You say will and effort and endurance before hardship dictate existence. I say it's inertia. Habit. At times, fear.

[erythristic]

I can agree with it being a habit. After all, he lives because of those before him and those before them, and those who come after live because of what he has come to expect in his own existence.

Perhaps fear is applicable as well. We praise the martyr for having the courage to die, and shun the traitor for having the cowardice to live. Each are remembered by their choice with where their life went.

[caditquaestio]

Then don't speak to me of hope. Remember the chronicles, the words and the histories: 'He lived for his duty.' 'Begot sons for his clan.' 'Fell for his king.' 'Died for his honour.'

Never do you see written, 'He did all that man could see done because of hope.'

[erythristic]

Have I touched a nerve, sir?

[caditquaestio]

[ And laughter - ]

No. No, of course. Forgive me. This isn't the pleasant conversation a good man makes with a better woman.

[erythristic]

There's nothing to forgive, I rather enjoyed it, all told.

Will you at least give me the honour of your name?