[ 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.
Obviously, I am trying to walk back what was clearly sarcasm and save myself from being menaced in a dockside alleyway.
[ Don't make her admit she's a woman and the rules of basic safety are different for women. It'll only embarrass the both of them if she has to turn the menaced (or worse) from metatext to text. ]
You'll scare the idea out of anyone's ambitious minds with a glare long before then. Wear something you don't mind getting dirty, bring something sharp or a bottle to break over someone's head, and you'll be fine.
[ Wait, does he... actually want to hang out with her again? There will be some mental recalibrating here as she adjusts to the concept. That their dynamic might not be entirely characterised by week old kittens that hiss violently at everyone and everything and the people who are, for whatever reason, charmed by the tiny clawed combatants. Weird. ]
Your confidence in my withering stare is reassuring. [ More sarcasm. Maybe. ] Alright. I suppose you could use my protection.
Edited (captcha and linebreaks in unholy matrimony) 2023-10-19 09:28 (UTC)
[ It takes a little longer to sort out when, exactly - her life is brimful with tedious engagements and social appearances; and where, and what the contingency plan is should things go awry. (He doesn't say, "I'll push you into the thick of it and run," which surprises her a bit, and disappoints her an equal amount. The opportunity was right there!) Her clothing is unremarkable and she quite misses her jewelry - it's all hard won at the card table, after all - but he's quite right when he advises accessorising with a concealable blade.
All in all? Pretty fun! Especially once she gets the hang of sitting directly on the alleyway flagstones without her feet falling asleep.
Her shoes do get muddy, though. A tragedy, that. ]
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bakerstreet2023-09-15 12:01 pm
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
Obviously, I am trying to walk back what was clearly sarcasm and save myself from being menaced in a dockside alleyway.
[ Don't make her admit she's a woman and the rules of basic safety are different for women. It'll only embarrass the both of them if she has to turn the menaced (or worse) from metatext to text. ]
no subject
You'll scare the idea out of anyone's ambitious minds with a glare long before then. Wear something you don't mind getting dirty, bring something sharp or a bottle to break over someone's head, and you'll be fine.
no subject
Your confidence in my withering stare is reassuring. [ More sarcasm. Maybe. ] Alright. I suppose you could use my protection.
no subject
Not to mention a knowledgeable guide. You do live here.
no subject
There is that.
[ It takes a little longer to sort out when, exactly - her life is brimful with tedious engagements and social appearances; and where, and what the contingency plan is should things go awry. (He doesn't say, "I'll push you into the thick of it and run," which surprises her a bit, and disappoints her an equal amount. The opportunity was right there!) Her clothing is unremarkable and she quite misses her jewelry - it's all hard won at the card table, after all - but he's quite right when he advises accessorising with a concealable blade.
All in all? Pretty fun! Especially once she gets the hang of sitting directly on the alleyway flagstones without her feet falling asleep.
Her shoes do get muddy, though. A tragedy, that. ]