194

[impure_tale]

Although I know the answer, it serves a person well to consider what it is that drives a crowd of people -- even those who profess themselves relatively good, or even religious -- to relish the notion of hanging, shooting, or beheading a person in full public view.

[Private to Stildyne]

Dearheart, if you are not otherwise indisposed I would relish some proper company.

Comments

[umgekehrt]

On my way. What's up, Donatien?

[He wishes he had the hang of pet-names, not for the first time.]

[Private]

[impure_tale]

Better spoken in private, pet. When you get here.

[Spam]

[umgekehrt]

[Stildyne's a little worried by the time he knocks: their liaisons are usually mutual, playful convenience. A request like this, as light as it seems, usually means one or the other of them is out of sorts.]

[Spam]

[impure_tale]

Entrer, Brachi.

[The Marquis is standing from his desk just as Stildyne enters the cabin.]

[Spam]

[umgekehrt]

I do like that native dialect of yours. Very pretty. [He moves in for a brief kiss, in greeting, trying to judge the mood.]

[buywithme]

[He wants to say something reassuring, but... it's not easy. He was as guilty as calling for hangings as anyone else was in this event.]

At least we didn't have to reclaim anyone's organs this time.

[impure_tale]

Are you well, comrade?

[buywithme]

As well as ever, Brother. I didn't see you during this breach, were you harmed?

[impure_tale]

...Not so much as others, Prefect. Not really.

[curiositydies]

Mob mentality. Humans do like to see justice done, and when enough people pick it up, things just escalate.

It's quite interesting, don't you think?

[impure_tale]

A sad fact of human nature, but when you've more than had your fill of it, that becomes rather tiresome.

[curiositydies]

It does, doesn't it? Even death becomes tiresome, after a while.

Although that may just be me.

[impure_tale]

It troubles me but I shudder to think what manner of person I would be if I were to grow so wholly accustomed that I would not feel this way at all anymore.

voice forever;

[zeitgeists]

Mob mentality is such a charming phenomenon, isn't it?

voice forever;

[impure_tale]

Only on paper, I've found.

[plays]

Did you run afoul of a gang of bloodthirsty so-and-sos, or were you just watching from the galleries?

[impure_tale]

A little of both.

look i remembered c;

[surrenders]

Could be that it makes them feel safe.

[impure_tale]

How might you see it that way?

[surrenders]

[ She was lurking about the edges of the Barcaza for three days and has a pretty good guess what he's talking about. ]

Couple ways you could.

[ She's clearly thinking really hard, trying to put into words the vague ideas in her head. ]

You want to know you don't have to worry about something you're afraid of. See a man die like that, makes you feel like he's gone and you don't have to be scared. It's somebody to blame for it, right?

[impure_tale]

And if you hardly knew them at all?

[doctor_j_crane]

Is this directed at me by any chance?

[impure_tale]

Toward you? Hardly. Involving you? Possibly. Do you want to talk about it?

[Private]

[doctor_j_crane]

Not directed at, but involving. I can't deny that that's rather clever, albeit in a way that I don't like.

I was a rather disturbing individual in the port, even by my standards. It's not pleasant to be such a zealot.

[Private]

[impure_tale]

Everyone is a zealot about something at some point in their lives.

That's not to limit what I'm certain you're feeling. Considering you met a rather unfortunate end, I'm more given to overlooking any less desirable traits you adopted while there.