dusting off and maaaybe sending to ryansgulch

[tenacious_stray]

Must you be certain of this?

A city where both my blade and rank will be rendered useless, yet monsters and maddened humes roam the streets — beneath the ocean? The fact that I am to be separated from my charge and duties would be well enough on their own, but you think this manner of realm is one appropriate for me?

I advise you send me back, mundane, and reconsider your choices. If I am to go there, then so be it, but know that I shall not go of my own will.

Comments

[diplomatique]

The situation may not be as dire as it seems now.

[tenacious_stray]

My lord.

If I may speak plainly, all evidence I have seen thus far indicates that the situation may well be even more dire than it seems.

[diplomatique]

I am stripped of rank; and if your mundane follows her plan, so will you. Formalities are not a need. [ but the small smile he gives silently says that if he wants to, Gabranth can still call him that. ]

Is there no one you would consider your ally in this city? [ he's quietly hopeful for Drace. ]

[tenacious_stray]

[That's good, because he's still going to. Even if he does pause for a moment first.]

Aye, my lord.

That I cannot know with any absolute certainty, but what is certain is that not a single Ivalician may be found there at present.

[diplomatique]

[ somehow, he guessed that wasn't going to fly. ]

What could your mundane achieve by sending you to such a place...

[tenacious_stray]

Little more than her own amusement, I suspect.

[diplomatique]

[ he doesn't want to think about that 8( your mun surely can't be that mean right 8( ]

If only I should be able to come along.

[quixotically]

Think about it this way... Maybe you'll be able to do a lot of good while you're there. You don't always need weapons or rank to get things done.

[tenacious_stray]

'Tis an easy claim to make when one lacks weapons or rank of their own.

[quixotically]

Doesn't that just mean I'm speaking from experience?

[tenacious_stray]

[Hmph.]

I doubt sincerely that no amount of "good" I could do in such a place would make it any less of a hell.

wow I need to redo my icons

[quixotically]

You should have more faith. Sometimes, all it takes is one person to improve matters for someone else.

[tenacious_stray]

You speak as though concerning myself with someone else would best be a priority of mine in a city without allies.

[quixotically]

How else are you supposed to make allies? You're not the only one who's going to be there without friends from home, you know.

[tenacious_stray]

[Hmmph.]

Taking into consideration what I do know of this city and its inhabitants, I believe it not would be in my best interests to seek any alliances amongst its masses.

[quixotically]

Ever heard of "strength in numbers"? It helps, even if you don't actually like the other person. Having the common goal of "surviving in this hellhole" can make all the difference.

[tenacious_stray]

[stop making sense jeez B(]

Perhaps so. But it hardly seems as though this is the sort of place in which the common man can be easily trusted.

[quixotically]

[can't stop won't stop]

You might not be able to trust them about everything, no. But in the end, it boils down to knowing what they want and what they're willing to get it. That's what you can trust them to do.

[tenacious_stray]

Even so, I'm not well inclined to give over any amount of trust to an unpredictable lot.

[Which isn't going so far as to say she isn't right, because she is. He knows she is. He's just not going to actually say as much.]

[quixotically]

[Talk about stubborn. But stubborn is something she's used to dealing with.]

I never said not to watch your back. I just suggested that maybe you're looking at this whole thing all wrong.

[tenacious_stray]

[Hmmph.]

How else might you consider it?

[quixotically]

I'll be honest, I'm not that thrilled about going myself. But...

[Going through hell... Elle's expression becomes distant for a moment.]

It's another fire to walk through.

[tenacious_stray]

[That's a bit more of a profound answer than he was honestly expecting.]

Then may this fire be one we all have the fortune to walk through unscathed.

[quixotically]

[He can blame a Mormon.

She smiles.] Now we're on the same page.

[cloudborne]

A fanciful tale that is, Judge Magister. One that seems quite...unusual.