1. We'll have to stop frequently for food, stretching legs, interesting things on the side of the road. Maybe some publicly indecent touching. So you might as well eat. 2. I have nothing remotely supportive to say to you. 3. Okay, if you accept my apology, please continue to ignore me. If you don't, please fill out the brief survey that follows to help me improve my people relations: a) you're a bitch, please leave me alone b) you're crazy, please leave me alone c) I don't care about you, please leave me alone d) all of the above e) all of the above but I wouldn't mind still spending the night with you f) who are you again? Your answer will not be shared and will be used in accordance. With the law. TY 4. AirDrop > "You know who" would like to share a photo 5. ( Or text him! Modern AU, canon with a texty twist, you decide. )
[ The real question is if his luck is catnapping on the couch without pants on and left him to such a losing streak, does he have money left to gamble. She better be paying for the refreshments. ]
Well, I'm just fulfilling the lady's request. You didn't specify what kind of antagonism.
You mean all the perfume? I'd say so. The air in there gave me a headache. Next time I'll stick to playing in the alley.
[ Considering luck is a weather vane pointing the way the wind blows, probably! Probably something awful is about to happen and somewhere a three thousand-year-old someone is sitting in a dark room laughing with wine, possibly a salad. That would be weird, though, haha!! What would be the chances!! ]
[ When things become unique, don't they stop being what they originally were? Take away an elephant's trunk and ears, give it a mane - is it still an elephant? No, it's too busy being unique to remember that it was, at one point, an elephant. Not that this metaphor can be applied to Anahid, of course, for she is slightly smaller than an elephant. ]
Yes, but the challenge from the pleasure district's gaming halls will be far greater than your alleys.
[ The three bouncing dots indicate some measure of reluctance to her agreement. ]
The perfume can be quite cloying. Why do you think I kept eating the cinnamon dates?
[ Unlike him, she's pretty sure only danger lies in wait for her in an alley. He has the luxury of being flippant and incautious. She's not nearly so lucky; although she would never be so verbose about her own luck (or lack thereof). If he can't figure it out, she's not going to tell him. ]
Do you always drink a lot when playing? Or was your water filled with bubbles?
[ The more important question: can she ever bring him around her social circle again? ]
[ Everyone has a fair shot at getting stabbed or robbed in the wrong alley, Anahid, he's come to see that's the beauty of them. It feels very cosmopolitan. ]
They kept offering them. It was only the polite thing to do.
[ Though truth be told, the answer's still no; less than it probably seems and less than some would say. But it's easier to let others race ahead and get sloppy at the table if everyone's enjoying their recreational drinking. All the same, he's not entirely used to pleasure districts on the whole yet and he'd wanted to keep the better portion of his wits about him. ]
[ But if he's racking up a substantial tab to in anything to soothe losses or celebrate gains, it's only in one—
One is bought with coin, the other with charm; it's possible that can flip-flop in the wetting of one's throat, but buying company... The fullest extent of those amenities is a little ick. But cosmopolitan, too. ]
In the end I came out better than when I went in, so not terrible. And definitely an experience! I had fun. You have a pretty good set up for yourself.
[ All right, he can be a little supportive, just a little treat! ]
[ Talking to him is a bit like walking barefoot through a field that's half-soft blades of grass, half-newly whetted razor blades; so it's nice when he's relaxed enough to be pleasant. ]
Of course I do.
I expect your alleys will provide similar amenities on our next outing.
[ Just kidding.
There's no way that's happening. Her shoes will get muddy, or possibly stolen; or someone will marry them in a fascinatingly grotesque declaration of man and footwear. ]
[ Blades that rarely stand up to scrutiny with blood-drawing points; noise, carrying on, productions, exclamations for effect—all over so much of nothing. They say you have to let go of deliberate childishness on occasion in growing up, but the joke's on everyone else. Bending at every expectation to behave normally is a weak man's game. ]
Oh. YES. It'll be fun. [ Not a beat missed. What an excellent idea. ] I'm glad you're so willing that you suggested it first. Now THAT I can get behind.
We'll have you loosening up and drinking more in no time, you'll it can really make even the dullest players more enjoyable.
Anahid's stuck now, isn't he? He's taken her sarcasm and run away with it. Azatani rules of etiquette (all 8174754, approx., of them) won't let her decline the invitation, not now. Not without coming across remarkably boorish. Right, then. Manners. Propriety. The infuriatingly numerous steps of simple courtesy, no doubt prescribed by someone who never had the misfortune of enduring a whole conversation. Or a man. One of the two.
...
Wait, what did he just say? ]
You think I'm a dull player?
[ If so, this may be the closest he's ever come to actually hurting her feelings. ]
[ Maybe some of her social circle, depending on who wanders in and out of it, and how closely vetted they are. Maybe most of it, if the bulk is composed of nobility and the wealthy, though! There are exceptions. ]
I'm saying for the other dull players at the table. [ Allow him, if she courteously doesn't want to say it herself. ] Drinking to avoid yourself is a bad habit to start, I'm sure most would agree.
[ Her social circle is fleeting - opponents at the table, sailors and landed nobles from other city-states dotted around the map like flotsam - and one (1) miscreant. Well, maybe two now? When your marriage is laughably fraudulent and your not-dark-enough skin tone suggests foreigner blood polluted a previously spotless azatani gene pool some generations ago, people are fair-weather.
Anyway, 'other dull players' is neither confirmation nor denial. His slipperiness would allow him to fit in better than he thinks.
He would hate that if she told him.
...
She kind of wants to tell him. ]
Well, I think I will have to take a miss on the alleyways. My husband would be quite fraught. [ At least he's good for an excuse. ] Let me know next time you feel like sitting on an actual cushioned chair and want a buy-in.
[ The answer should be obvious, he thinks. Why would he ever attend such a thing with someone whose company he found driveling?
Well, true enough, perhaps to use the foot in the door to win her money were that the case and the opportunity, but if it's cards that's a Light-forsaken tall order. ]
If he's not already fraught about what goes on in indoors, moving outside won't matter. It's not like he'll be there to mind.
Unless you plan on inviting him, in which case he can come, too.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
gutties) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
bakerstreet2023-09-15 12:01 pm
Mat Cauthon | The Wheel of Time
1. We'll have to stop frequently for food, stretching legs, interesting things on the side of the road. Maybe some publicly indecent touching. So you might as well eat.
2. I have nothing remotely supportive to say to you.
3. Okay, if you accept my apology, please continue to ignore me. If you don't, please fill out the brief survey that follows to help me improve my people relations: a) you're a bitch, please leave me alone b) you're crazy, please leave me alone c) I don't care about you, please leave me alone d) all of the above e) all of the above but I wouldn't mind still spending the night with you f) who are you again? Your answer will not be shared and will be used in accordance. With the law. TY
4. AirDrop
> "You know who" would like to share a photo
5. ( Or text him! Modern AU, canon with a texty twist, you decide. )
2
[ Fun fact: Your imgur link led me here, and now it's abominable flavour text. ]
LMAO, LOVE IT, THO'
no subject
[ What did she do to earn such a quarrel, she can't help but wonder. Take all his money at the gambling table?
I mean, knowing Anahid, that's precisely what she did, so — ]
no subject
Well, I'm just fulfilling the lady's request. You didn't specify what kind of antagonism.
no subject
Fulfilling my request immediately after saying 'no, shan't' is a unique brand of diplomacy.
It wasn't really that awful, was it?
[ It was worse than that, in fact. It was awesome. ]
no subject
We must have different definitions of diplomacy.
You mean all the perfume? I'd say so. The air in there gave me a headache. Next time I'll stick to playing in the alley.
[ Considering luck is a weather vane pointing the way the wind blows, probably! Probably something awful is about to happen and somewhere a three thousand-year-old someone is sitting in a dark room laughing with wine, possibly a salad. That would be weird, though, haha!! What would be the chances!! ]
no subject
[ When things become unique, don't they stop being what they originally were? Take away an elephant's trunk and ears, give it a mane - is it still an elephant? No, it's too busy being unique to remember that it was, at one point, an elephant. Not that this metaphor can be applied to Anahid, of course, for she is slightly smaller than an elephant. ]
Yes, but the challenge from the pleasure district's gaming halls will be far greater than your alleys.
[ The three bouncing dots indicate some measure of reluctance to her agreement. ]
The perfume can be quite cloying. Why do you think I kept eating the cinnamon dates?
Next time you're uncomfortable, say something.
no subject
And whoa. First of all, let's not write off alleys. The pockets might be deeper and the pots fuller, but halls don't have a monopoly on challenges.
[ For the fun of it, the gaming and the players can be just as good as, if not better; for a fat pay off, bigger fish hold an appeal. ]
You like sweets?
Well, the bar is closer at hand indoors, on the matter of comforts.
no subject
Do you always drink a lot when playing? Or was your water filled with bubbles?
[ The more important question: can she ever bring him around her social circle again? ]
no subject
They kept offering them. It was only the polite thing to do.
[ Though truth be told, the answer's still no; less than it probably seems and less than some would say. But it's easier to let others race ahead and get sloppy at the table if everyone's enjoying their recreational drinking. All the same, he's not entirely used to pleasure districts on the whole yet and he'd wanted to keep the better portion of his wits about him. ]
no subject
[ At least he had enough grace not to also partake in the, uh, talent on her dime. ]
Regardless, I do hope the experience wasn't too terrible for you.
no subject
[ But if he's racking up a substantial tab to in anything to soothe losses or celebrate gains, it's only in one—
One is bought with coin, the other with charm; it's possible that can flip-flop in the wetting of one's throat, but buying company... The fullest extent of those amenities is a little ick. But cosmopolitan, too. ]
In the end I came out better than when I went in, so not terrible. And definitely an experience! I had fun. You have a pretty good set up for yourself.
[ All right, he can be a little supportive, just a little treat! ]
no subject
Of course I do.
I expect your alleys will provide similar amenities on our next outing.
[ Just kidding.
There's no way that's happening. Her shoes will get muddy, or possibly stolen; or someone will marry them in a fascinatingly grotesque declaration of man and footwear. ]
no subject
Oh. YES. It'll be fun. [ Not a beat missed. What an excellent idea. ] I'm glad you're so willing that you suggested it first. Now THAT I can get behind.
We'll have you loosening up and drinking more in no time, you'll it can really make even the dullest players more enjoyable.
no subject
Anahid's stuck now, isn't he? He's taken her sarcasm and run away with it. Azatani rules of etiquette (all 8174754, approx., of them) won't let her decline the invitation, not now. Not without coming across remarkably boorish. Right, then. Manners. Propriety. The infuriatingly numerous steps of simple courtesy, no doubt prescribed by someone who never had the misfortune of enduring a whole conversation. Or a man. One of the two.
...
Wait, what did he just say? ]
You think I'm a dull player?
[ If so, this may be the closest he's ever come to actually hurting her feelings. ]
no subject
I'm saying for the other dull players at the table. [ Allow him, if she courteously doesn't want to say it herself. ] Drinking to avoid yourself is a bad habit to start, I'm sure most would agree.
no subject
Well, maybe two now?When your marriage is laughably fraudulent and your not-dark-enough skin tone suggests foreigner blood polluted a previously spotless azatani gene pool some generations ago, people are fair-weather.Anyway, 'other dull players' is neither confirmation nor denial. His slipperiness would allow him to fit in better than he thinks.
He would hate that if she told him.
...
She kind of wants to tell him. ]
Well, I think I will have to take a miss on the alleyways. My husband would be quite fraught. [ At least he's good for an excuse. ] Let me know next time you feel like sitting on an actual cushioned chair and want a buy-in.
It was nice having you there.
no subject
Well, true enough, perhaps to use the foot in the door to win her money were that the case and the opportunity, but if it's cards that's a Light-forsaken tall order. ]
If he's not already fraught about what goes on in indoors, moving outside won't matter. It's not like he'll be there to mind.
Unless you plan on inviting him, in which case he can come, too.
[ Nice try; an admirable effort. ]
It's the least I can do to repay the favor.
no subject
What is your endgame here?
no subject
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
1
no subject
3
no subject