fate_has_spoken | (no subject)

Honestly, they'd probably devour your mind. It wouldn't be pretty.

That's a little excessive, don't you think?

They don't really do things in half measures.

If these voices -- these Memories -- devour minds... I suppose it's foolish to ask since you're talking to me now, but is your own mind safe from them? Are they part of you, so you're fine?

Oh, they want to. But we've coexisted for a few thousand years or so. I'd say I'm doing quite well.

[She stares at him.]

[After a long moment, she sighs and tries to rest her head on his shoulder.]

If you're happy with the way things are, then whether it's true or not, I can't complain, but...

[She rubs her face with one hand and gives a small huff, something between exasperated and amused.]

I don't know whether to be impressed or concerned.

Impressed, of course.

[Tilts a little so she has better access.]

I'm sure you'll find something in this world you wouldn't want to give up as well.

I wonder about that.

[She's quiet for a few moments, reflecting on the thought. She knows something was very important to her, but would she have held onto it if it had gotten too dangerous? She can't say; she doesn't remember enough.]

[When the pause passes, she says airily,]

My, my. Taking chances, running risk -- that's part of the fun in life, but it has to be worth it. Those Memories must be really be something if they want to destroy you and you're still pleased with them.

Who knows. Maybe we'll find something of yours if we keep looking. I've always been an optimist.

They are like dogs that constantly chew your slippers. It's a regrettable price, but you still don't get rid of the dog.

Edited 2018-10-24 05:36 (UTC)

There was something important to me at some point... but if something was truly that important to me -- or worth being that important -- I might not have forgotten it in the first place. I might as well be open to something new.

Oh? I think that dog needs to know some pretty entertaining tricks if keeping it means buying new slippers all the time.

I wouldn't argue being open to something new. But magic is -- fickle at best. I've forgotten things for a time. It just might be worth looking into. This important thing of yours.

This might not be something magical. If it's not magic and I still forgot it, it can't have been important enough to keep.

Have you ever forgotten something as important as those Memories?

Yes. They were suppressed along with my actual memories once. By the grace of some very kind allies, I didn't fall off a hotel tower or get maimed by harpies.

Well... That's a fairly unusual situation. I doubt most people are suddenly at risk of falling off of buildings or being eaten by monsters when they lose their memories. Not more than they were before, in any case.

[A pause.]

I know you prefer to have your memories, magical or otherwise, but -- even for a moment, did you regret getting them back?

You can't miss what you've forgotten. But when I got them back... No, I didn't regret it for a moment. As I said, perhaps I am simply greedy.

[She laughs.]

Perhaps. There are worse vices than greed.

There are.

[They probably can see the walls of Korvosa starting to peer out in the distance.]

Then we spend the night and deal with the supernatural in the morning.

Sounds good to me. If the city can't last another night on its own, there was nothing we could have done for it.

[He pulls the cart over, releasing the ox and giving it a pet on its broad back before walking back over to her. He sits against a tree and pulls out cigarettes or whatever version of cigarettes they have here.]

Looking at the city, you wouldn't imagine it was infested, would you? Ah, how looks can be deceiving.

[She hops down from the cart, stretches, and settles next to Tyki.]

Things certainly seem more peaceful from outside the walls. If the city fell, I wonder how long it would take for someone on the outside to notice.

Probably not until the next ship was do to use this as their port.

[Hand her a cigarette.]

They'd be in for a surprise. Korvosa is part a vassal city I believe. Though I can't remember the name of the country it is a vassal to.

[She takes the cigarette with a grateful nod, and digs out some matches. She lights her own cigarette, and if he hasn't lit his yet, she'll offer silently.]

Oh? I'm a little surprised to hear that, though perhaps I shouldn't be.

I wonder how far word of the plague has spread outside of Korvosa -- or if even that there is a plague is being kept under wraps outside of the city. I'd have thought that whatever country Korvosa is a vassal to would want to do something about it, unless the ruling class there is also in favor of genocide.

[She puffs on her cigarette.]

Honestly. Politics is exhausting.

I doubt they know about the genocide. Or if they did, it isn't genocide against those in power. Why would they care?

[He does take the offered light.]

They'll probably only start caring when trade drops and their coffers follow suit.

[Wryly:] Don't we make a fine pair of optimists?

I wonder if it doesn't play into their hands in some way. Even if they think it's a normal plague, wouldn't it make sense to be a little concerned about their investment?

Unless they plan to take over properly when enough people have died. I'm not lifting a finger for Korvosa in that case. Fighting a few monsters, perhaps deposing a queen, that's one thing; standing against an army is quite another.

[He can't help but laugh at that.]

So your limit is an army? It might be fun. Actually, it would be fun. But I'm afraid after we wouldn't be able to go on our nice tour of this land as our reputation would precede us.