11 ɂ open spam

[mattersverymuch]

[It's been so many years since the marquis was young that he'd almost forgotten what it was like. He had been so small, ill-fed and underweight, and so easily broken. Which, really, explains a lot about what he's become - none of which he particularly wanted explained to the Barge as a whole.]

[To distract himself somewhat from this unfortunate reality, he has begun work on a compendium of stories, as he has nothing else to do with his time. Much of his work is done in the library, but much is also done in the CES, which becomes, variously, an abandoned city in a mishmash of styles, a thick, temperate, and foggy hardwood forest, and a riverside. He works mostly from memory and attempts comprehensiveness, though his writings as late veer toward tales of the trickster.]

Comments

[mattersverymuch]

Then look the other way.

[deadly_ned]

You don't feel just a little overwhelmed some days?

[mattersverymuch]

No.

Here? I'm bored.

[deadly_ned]

What would make you less bored?

[mattersverymuch]

Not being here.

[deadly_ned]

I can't help with that.

[mattersverymuch]

So what you're really asking is what you can do for me to alleviate your own discomfort at not being able to send me back where I belong.

[deadly_ned]

You're always so cynical.

[mattersverymuch]

And yet you're not denying it.

[deadly_ned]

What can I do for you?

[mattersverymuch]

You have trouble accepting helplessness, don't you.

[deadly_ned]

I just really...really want to help make sure people are happy.

[mattersverymuch]

Also excellent at dodging questions.

[deadly_ned]

Yes.

Yes I am.

[mattersverymuch]

Hilarious.

I'll adapt.

[deadly_ned]

That's your answer for everything.

[mattersverymuch]

That's because it works.

[deadly_ned]

Sometimes I really...really wish I was as cool as you. I know it's an odd thing to wish. And I know I'm not really...focused on the coolness..factor.

But I do wish it.

[mattersverymuch]

But you seem to think everything I believe is abhorrent. The one doesn't come without the other.

[deadly_ned]

I don't think that.

[mattersverymuch]

Don't you? What do you think, then?

[deadly_ned]

I think that you come from a harder world than I ever had to and you did what you needed to do to survive.

[mattersverymuch]

. . . I did what I needed to do to survive.

Yes, that's accurate.

This place won't cure me of that.

[deadly_ned]

No. And it shouldn't.

I don't know why you're here.

[mattersverymuch]

Because by doing what I needed to do to survive, I destroyed a lot of people. But mostly, I think, because I don't regret it.