[Collector’s answer to Rust is just as quick, a clever twist, half words and half intent-]
(Do you have an explanation for why a violent crime occurred only when we left you to your own devices?) [It was so easy to flip the question, wasn’t it?
Siva’co’s answer to her comes sharp and insistent- not words, a wall, impenetrable, endlessly tall- enough. No more games.]
[Collector shrugs- a borrowed, somewhat unnatural motion on her. From the edge of his bunk, Lyr undoes a few hooks and eyes to open the high collar of his tunic. He grimaces, working his fingers between skin and fabric while speaking across his wrist:]
As it turns out, I was taking a walk in an inconvenient place. The orchard is similar to a place I was once familiar with - I thought it might bring my thoughts in line.
[It isn't Lyr's mind through which the image leaks, but Rhan's: an orderly garden with a series of fruiting waist high bushes - a tang of some sweet flower smell - and in the distance two figures that seem familiar to the memory if not those experiencing it. It's film viewed through a filter - some thought of Lyr's translated through Rhan and poured voluntarily or otherwise into the connection between all of them.]
(As for our timing, poor study. We did not think it was so dire of a situation. The girl was making little traction, and it seemed as though the coast was peaceful-)
Well-- [Does strange animal attacks in the night count? Let's go with 'more peaceful than anticipated,' shall we?]
(--enough.)
[Siva’co speaks again, finally, still obviously tense- still thinking of what distrust could sow among troops. The rationale that went into executing soldiers who stole from their own. A reality his people had nearly eliminated the need for by seeing to it that they were all raised to believe that such a thing was- unthinkable. There are barbs and thorns that circle his thoughts.] (Who does the aunt think did the killing?)
[Given the patience of just about everyone in the room, rather than fully dovetail them from Siva'co's demand (heaven help her if she undermine him in this moment, eh?) Rhan instead just opens herself up in the interim. It's gutting a fish: sea salt and brine tang and guts spilling out. The four of them on the transport ship, skimming high above the Hyrypian clouds and then dropping like an invisible stone. There: a distant shadow on the horizon - a spectacular spire pale in the night--
Hyrypia is terribly backwater, isn't it? There's only so many ways to access intergalactic communications.
War updates, Rhan thinks. It's brittle like baked parchment paper.]
no subject
( Do you have an explanation for why a violent crime occurred only when we left you to your own devices? ) [It was so easy to flip the question, wasn’t it?
Siva’co’s answer to her comes sharp and insistent- not words, a wall, impenetrable, endlessly tall- enough. No more games.]
[Collector shrugs- a borrowed, somewhat unnatural motion on her. From the edge of his bunk, Lyr undoes a few hooks and eyes to open the high collar of his tunic. He grimaces, working his fingers between skin and fabric while speaking across his wrist:]
As it turns out, I was taking a walk in an inconvenient place. The orchard is similar to a place I was once familiar with - I thought it might bring my thoughts in line.
[It isn't Lyr's mind through which the image leaks, but Rhan's: an orderly garden with a series of fruiting waist high bushes - a tang of some sweet flower smell - and in the distance two figures that seem familiar to the memory if not those experiencing it. It's film viewed through a filter - some thought of Lyr's translated through Rhan and poured voluntarily or otherwise into the connection between all of them.]
( As for our timing, poor study. We did not think it was so dire of a situation. The girl was making little traction, and it seemed as though the coast was peaceful- )
Well-- [Does strange animal attacks in the night count? Let's go with 'more peaceful than anticipated,' shall we?]
( --enough. )
[Siva’co speaks again, finally, still obviously tense- still thinking of what distrust could sow among troops. The rationale that went into executing soldiers who stole from their own. A reality his people had nearly eliminated the need for by seeing to it that they were all raised to believe that such a thing was- unthinkable. There are barbs and thorns that circle his thoughts.] ( Who does the aunt think did the killing? )
[Given the patience of just about everyone in the room, rather than fully dovetail them from Siva'co's demand (heaven help her if she undermine him in this moment, eh?) Rhan instead just opens herself up in the interim. It's gutting a fish: sea salt and brine tang and guts spilling out. The four of them on the transport ship, skimming high above the Hyrypian clouds and then dropping like an invisible stone. There: a distant shadow on the horizon - a spectacular spire pale in the night--
Hyrypia is terribly backwater, isn't it? There's only so many ways to access intergalactic communications.
War updates, Rhan thinks. It's brittle like baked parchment paper.]