fate_has_spoken | (no subject)

[Teasingly:] Oh, so it's not that I'm easy to read, but that I'm terribly common? I should be insulted. And here I thought I might stand out to you, a little.

Oh? I'm flattered. If I had to make a choice between traveling with you or fighting, I'd also choose to travel with you... but I can't deny that I liked the feeling of running into the right -- or wrong, perhaps -- kind of fight. Up until my neck was bitten, that is. I'm sure there's a way to live that can provide both a good time with a good traveling companion and a good fight now and then.

... We don't have to fight the vampire if you'd rather not. I believe I've told you already: while I like the trouble we've found in that city, I enjoy your company much more.

I wouldn't say 'terribly' common. It rare to be the other way.

[He laughs a little.]

Well, now I want a bit of payback. And it isn't like we are going in blind again. We'll have a few tricks for them. I'll have more now that I know what I'm up against. It will be fun.

[Reaching out to pat her face.]

You'd like a little payback as well, right?

Mostly I suppose I don't want you thinking of me as squeamish. It's not that I'm particularly bothered by corpses, but I'm not about to go out of my way to desecrate them without a good reason.

[She briefly raises an eyebrow at the face-patting, but lets it happen and laughs.]

I won't deny that payback is part of it. I was terribly useless the first time. I'd like to see the look on that vampire's face if things are different for round two.

[Looking at the Tease he gave her, thinking.]

I'd bite the bullet and have this Tease multiply before we face that vampire again, but I wouldn't be able to hide them the way you can. I'm honestly not sure how I'll keep this one from drawing attention -- not that I'm ungrateful.

I don't think of you as squeamish. Don't worry. But anything eating corpses is bound to turn more people than not green around the gills.

It will help. And you were much more useful than the rest.

[Holding his hand out for the Tease.]

I have an idea.

Since you have more than one Tease, I imagine it's a sight you're used to.

[Tries to pat his arm.]

I appreciate you saying so, but I don't need you to bolster my ego about that time. When I say I was useless, I'm not trying to mope about it. It's my way of saying I want to be more useful in the future. Can't let you have all the fun.

[She hands over the Tease.]

I don't let them feed as often as I used to.

[He takes the Tease and tucks some hair behind her ear. He uses it as a clip in her hair. It surprisingly holds on well.]

I'm glad you know your limits, but I also grateful for the help. In any form. I usually don't have a teammate.

Hmm? Running into less fodder, or just less inclined to?

[She touches the Tease, figuring out what he did, and smiles. She leans over and tries to give him a peck on the cheek as thanks.]

Are you often getting into trouble on your own? You have said that not everyone takes learning about your past or your skills well -- but if that's enough to drive them away, it's their loss.

As much as I do appreciate the flattery -- and believe me I do -- I am aware I'm not the most honorable or upstart citizen to cross any nation. Not that I care, but I wouldn't even come close to qualifying myself as 'good'.

Not that I think you care about that, but most people do.

[She touches the Tease in her hair again and thinks about how to put her thoughts together. Her tone is light, but not joking.]

"Goodness" is a factor in what makes someone worth knowing, but "goodness" is relative, too.

You're no knight in shining armor, certainly. I don't expect you to take the time to start a soup kitchen or help the elderly cross busy streets. Then there's the matter of your past. I'm not looking to you to find a moral compass.

You've been good to me, however, and -- regardless of your reasons -- you've done good things along with the bad just in the time I've known you.

Most people are the same in this way whether they like it or not. To a lesser extreme, as far as I know, but who hasn't done both good and bad things? What is life without both black and white?

[She pauses, considering whether to add a certain thought, and then nods slightly.]

That's not to say that there aren't things that are... weighted a little more heavily, naturally. If you had told me about your world within the first few hours we'd known each other -- or if I thought you were still destroying worlds -- I likely wouldn't be here right now.

But... You've seen me kill as well, when we fought those thugs. Perhaps it's not the same scale, but stones and glass houses, as the saying goes.

[She shrugs.]

[Taking her chin and looking at her carefully.]

... The way you react to the Tease. Black and White. You do remind me of someone, myself actually, I think, but .... it would be impossible.

[Dropping his hand.]

The difference between that is the reason for killing. I do it for pleasure. Though I've found much more interesting things than killing. Trust me, I'm not trying to say run the other way. I'd rather just be honest.

[She blinks, then shrugs.]

I would say "nothing is impossible," but I'm only myself as far as I know. I'm sure you've known quite a few people over the years; it can't be too surprising to find someone who reminds you of yourself, in some way.

As for the rest... I'm not trying to make excuses for you. I don't approve of killing for pleasure, but... [She waves a hand in a vague gesture.] Unless you've been very stealthy about it, you haven't been killing people without a half-decent reason in front of me. Expect an earful from me if I've missed something.

If you wanted to make me run from you, you'd have far better means at your disposal than that. I could be angry with you and still enjoy your company in some way.

People are hypocritical. Everyone is guilty of something. My point was more that it's a shame so many people would limit their options over something like you "not being a good person" when too few people are.

Well, actually... .I got stuck in this very large, always changing building with duplicated from my home world. I saw may face more often than I would have liked. Some of them were very, very disturbing.

[Shaking his head to rid himself of some of those thoughts.]

Well, I was a lot more ... frivolous when I was younger. I've tried a lot of things. Some I don't need to try again. Some I would enjoy trying again.

I appreciate the words. The fact that we can have this conversation at all shows how well we are able to get along.

You did mention that, including the... people? Person? With the different Tease. I don't share your face, however, so it can't be the same situation with me. [A raised eyebrow and a grin.] I'm interested to hear what sort of people could disturb an unrepentant murderer, though. Care to share with the class?

As for being frivolous... [Laughing a little.] My, my, I'm trying and failing to think of a way you could be more vague. I'm glad we get along, though.

What is so disturbing? Hmmm. Well imagine you were looking into the mirror. And that mirror comprised of things you hated. Things you could never imagine yourself doing. Except the mirror wasn't a mirror. It was real, and it flaunted its existence in front of you. And honestly, it was mostly people without a backbone. Without alliance or allegiance. Those that would betray at a drop of a hat. It's like a bad film.

[He laughs.]

More indulging my whims. I've calmed down truly. Imagine what a terror I used to be. What lack of impulse control.

[Which he still has.]

[She considers his words and nods slowly.]

In that situation... I don't know whether I would be quite so bothered by the same things you are. If there are so many versions of yourself around, surely some of them will be unpleasant. Finding someone who represents everything you hate, but with your face, however -- that does sound distressing.

Ah, I see. I don't know if I want to imagine that, to be honest. Even without you telling me about your past -- I've seen enough of what you can do to guess at some of the havoc you could have caused. What led you to calm down? Time?

I like people with conviction if you hadn't noticed. But also those smart enough to understand reality. Ha! Perhaps I'm not even sure I know what I want sometimes.

[He shrugs.]

Time would probably be the best answer. Company would be the second. I try not to push the boundaries too far. Bend, of course, but not break.

I'm not sure being smart has anything to do with understanding reality, unless you're telling me you have a thing for scientists.

[A grin.]

Not knowing what you want, I can believe. Does it matter much as long as you know what you like when you see it? Picking apart why you like something, or predicting what you'll like, seems less important than enjoying it while it's there.

If you did make a habit of breaking boundaries, I'd understand why people might avoid you. Bending doesn't sound so bad.

[A pause.]

That's not an invitation to try pushing mine, mind you.

[He laughs.]

Of course it is an invitation. One I'm already taking advantage of. What were you going to do this morning before you met me, hmm? Go to the store. Run more errands and go back to your home.

.... Actually where do you live in Old Korvosa?

Normally? You know I don't remember that.

[She looks away, frowning in thought.]

I "woke up," let's call it, perhaps a day before I met you. I spent... Hn. I'm embarrassed to say I spent a fair amount of that time in some distress. I wasn't good for much.

I might not actually live in Old Korvosa. When I pulled myself together and had a look around, nobody seemed to know me.

[She looks back at Tyki and cracks a smile. There's a mix of amusement and unease.]

Certainly they should have kicked me out of Eel's End on sight if I normally spent much time in the area.

A day.....

[Leaning up on one elbow and reaching out to cup her face.]

You failed to mention your memory was that short. Or is my memory mine simply shorter?

[She pushes his hand away firmly but not forcefully.]

I thought I mentioned it, but perhaps not.

You look more concerned about it than I am. There's no need to worry.

[UGH MY SPELLING / GRAMMAR ERRORS WOMP WOMP]

[Then he grabs her hand in return.]

Don't I get to be the judge of that? When to worry.

[~~Bah, it still made perfect sense!~~]

[She lets him grab her hand and doesn't try to pull away.]

Before a minute ago, did you have any reason to worry about this? Have I seemed to forget anything important in the time you've known me?

I am not belittling your skills, personality, or beauty. You are quite capable.

[Kissing the back of her hand.]

Memories are very important. Trust me.

[She squeezes his hand, then tries to pull hers away. She won't be insistent, though.]

I'm enjoying myself at the moment. If I try to recover my memories, instead of taking any that might come... What do I stand to gain except reasons for this to end?