voicetestin'

[muarim]

This is unexpected.

I admit I am unaware of the reasons that brought you here with me. Though as...interesting an opportunity as this is, I really should be back with my little one. May I ask you to return me from where I came?

Comments

[lightoftheeveningstar]

You have a child?

[muarim]

He is...a youth I have cared after for several years. I am afraid he might get into even more trouble should he be left alone.

[lightoftheeveningstar]

He is blessed to have your guidance. I am told he will not know you are missing, however. I pray that brings you comfort.

[muarim]

Oh? I hope that is true. Thank you for letting me know.

It's strange how things work in this place. Have you been here long?

[lightoftheeveningstar]

Such knowledge can only bring you comfort. (Why would she keep it to herself?) My time in this realm has been short. I have spent many of my days observing others.

[muarim]

I see. Not a bad idea, given the number of unusual individuals that appear to congregate here. I may do the same myself.

[lightoftheeveningstar]

You can learn much from their mannerisms. (She has found some amusement at their expense.) I am Arwen Undómiel. Aaye. (Hail.)

[muarim]

[How could he have forgotten his manners.] Ah - please, forgive me for being rude. Lady Undómiel. [nods] I am Muarim.

[lightoftheeveningstar]

You needn't apologize. Manners are often forgotten in strange circumstances.

Lord Muarim, I believe you will fare well in these lands.

[muarim]

Please, simply Muarim is fine.

Thank you again for your kind words. However, I am hoping not to stay long enough to test this.

[snippysnipe]

Good luck getting back. Even on those big, filthy paws, it's definitely too far.

[muarim]

...

Then the only thing I can do is politely ask to be taken back. There is no harm in that.

[snippysnipe]

[He laughs. A mean laugh.]

Well, so far so good, eh?

Big furballs like you ought to be good at groveling. It's in your blood.

[muarim]

[ :| ]

...You are one of the mercenaries under Sir Ike, yes?

[snippysnipe]

[Ooh, boy. His other favorite topic!]

"Sir" Ike? Are we still calling him that? That spoiled little man gets more titles shoved in his face than I can keep track of.

[muarim]

[Lovely as always, Shinon.]

I choose to use the title to convey my respect. He has done much for my little one and our group.

You do not seem to respect him, nor his ideals. And yet you travel and fight with him.

[snippysnipe]

[His tact is legendary. Still, the response this time isn't so snappy.]

His father was a man worth fighting for. Commander Greil. I couldn't pay him back before he got a sword to the gut.

[muarim]

[How surprisingly noble.]

I see. You continue to fight under his orders to honor his father's memory.

Thank you. That clears up some of my confusion over your behavior.

[snippysnipe]

[Yeah but let him tell you about how he ran away to Daein first and then got kind of gang pressed into it.]

Tch. I'm not like your friend Ikey-poo — all I fight for is a wage. If some fancy pants noble offered me peerage, I'd gladly hang up my bow and never look at the damn thing again.

[muarim]

[And there's the unsurprising part.]

Of course. And that sheds even more light.

Regardless of circumstance, even here, you are one of Sir Ike's streak and I will treat you as such.

[snippysnipe]

[Shinon pauses, narrowing his eyes a little as he looks Muarim over.]

You will? Even if I call you a stinking half-bread or a worthless sub-human? Because of the glorious Sir Ike, you'd just stand there and take it like a big, stupid oaf?

[muarim]

While not pleasant, they are names with which I have become accustomed.

If the worst harm you will do is sling insults then I am sure I can withstand.

[Or he could just, you know, walk away. What Sir Ike sees in this man, Muarim will never know.]

[snippysnipe]

[Welp, despite how impervious to provocation Muarim seems to be, Shinon is not quite ready to give up.]

I can sling more than insults. Just admit that you're too much of a scared kitty-cat to come at me.

[muarim]

...You would like me to attack you? It would serve no good purpose.

[snippysnipe]

[Shinon lets out an annoyed groan and rolls his eyes.]

It might cure my boredom… for a few seconds.

[He exhales.] What's your name?

[muarim]

As I said. No good purpose.

[suspicious]

Muarim. And yours?

[snippysnipe]

Shinon.

You're from Begnion, right? That almost makes me feel sorry for you.

[muarim]

Correct. You were not with the group when we first met; that you remember is nearly a compliment.

[snippysnipe]

[He'll ignore that.]

What was it like to go back after the Goddess delivered her judgement? Was it fun to see that all the humans who used to hate and torment you had turned to stone?

[muarim]

...No. I would not have wished that fate on anyone.