“We came about this topic in the way most odd topics are addressed at parties - by being specturalily -no, spectr- SPEC-TAC-ULAR-ILY - drunk.”
Greycoin looks at the Gremlin, "What’s wrong with da water in Polythreme? I’ve business dere and I will be travelin’ dat way after dis party. Never been dere, so any advice is welcome."
Sajach slurs at Greycoin "The worst part of Polythreme was ma shues"
Then without explanation or continuation he promptly passes out.[li]
edited by Sajach on 11/4/2016
“It has an alarming habit of complaining when you try to drink it,” he explains, in between sips of the mushroom wine. “As long as you can manage to come to an understanding with your clothes, you’ll avoid most of the troubles, provided the locals find you fascinating enough.” He peers at Greycoin. “Though I suspect your wits may be sharp enough to prosper there.”
“I rather like red honey. Innocents have such sweet dreams. Made me feel warm in the chest. 'Spect that might be a souless thing…”
"You toffs seem like much more of a lark than those sleepy ones at four. Can I come claim my wine-prize now, dear?"
The Mirthless Colonist settles at the table.
"Oh, are we talking Polythreme? I lived there for a while. Five decades, to be exact. My bandages hail from them, watch them quiver."
His bandages do, indeed, quiver. They also undulate, pulsate, wriggle, and writhe. When you stroke them, they lay flat. When you poke them, they stand on-end. Perhaps they’re like dogs, more likely they’re as vicious snakes that lack a way of defending themselves.
"I’ve had them for a while now, they’ve grown on me. Quite literally, I have to cull a few inches every so often or they won’t be form-fitting anymore."
Greycoin nods, "I had 'eard dat da chairs and walls 'ave life in Polythreme. ‘ad not considered dat da water would talk to. Imagine if da wine ‘ere could talk? Probably be complain’ dat we weren’t worthy ta be drinkin’ it."
To the Colonist, "Which is more alive, you or yer wraps?"
edited by Jo Greycoin on 11/4/2016
[quote=Jo Greycoin]Greycoin nods, "I had 'eard dat da chairs and walls 'ave life in Polythreme. ‘ad not considered dat da water would talk to. Imagine if da wine ‘ere could talk? Probably be complain’ dat we weren’t worthy ta be drinkin’ it."
To the Colonist, "Which is more alive, you or yer wraps?"
edited by Jo Greycoin on 11/4/2016[/quote]
"Depends on your definition of life.
Most of the things you bring with you to Parabola will animate and live, conspire, love, yearn, hate, and so on. But when you leave- they settle down. I’m not sure if you could call it dying, but their personality just… disappears.
Things that hail from Parabola don’t do that, they stay lively. But it does make you wonder if they were ever really alive to begin with, or if it’s just an aftershock of the Hundred’s dreams.
As for me… I’m a lot more lively than you’d expect, courtesy of my voyage out at Zee with captain Dynamo. He’s around here somewhere, I believe. Or perhaps it was his sibling, can’t quite recall.
Oh, but to answer your question, I reckon my bandages are more alive than me, seeing as there’s a multitude of them and a singular me."
"Intriguing." Vena says. "I have yet to visit Polythreme, my travels at zee has been somewhat impeded by business in London and the arrival of the Hallowmas festival. Though I do eagerly await the chance to see the realm for myself."
She plays with her glass; but despite her obvious delight over her surface drink, a sharp eye might notice that she has yet to drink more than a couple sips, only ever tasting without growing intoxicated.
.
"Really?" The way Vena licks her lips is almost predatory. "I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of the Captivating Princess herself, and I remember that she was quite enamoured by the substance. After our last… encounter, she suggested I share a taste with her, come the Feast of the Exceptional Rose. With such a recommendation as this, I am quite looking forward to the experience."
.
edited by Akernis on 11/5/2016
“Others would likely recommend against it. Of course, rumor has it the Princess and her siblings got a notoriously bad batch - burnt away bits of their humanity, first inside, then out. I distilled my own, at the University, but the supplies are ludicrously difficult to get this side of hell.”
"Dat red ‘oney sounds interestin’. I’ve never 'ad it before or met da Captivating Princess." Looks at Vena," I envy yer opportunity ta become more familiar with both."
“I admit I’m not well acquainted with the Captivating Princess,” says Inevitable Gremlin. “There was an…incident, last time I was at the Palace.”
"Oh, yes. Red honey is delightful, as long as your conscience doesn’t bother you. They turn innocents into memory-farms for it, you know. I’ve had a few memories removed by those bees, both to forget and to be able to remember again. The experience wasn’t, what you’d call, er- pleasant."
He shrugs.
"Not that I’m one to complain, I’ve probably inflicted more suffering in the past 300 years than I’d ever be able to undergo myself."
Eleonor gawps at the conversational tone Pillbox affects on the word "burnt", and turns more pallid than one would think possible. "There are, apparently," she says, staring at her now water-filled glass, "advantages to Temperance the Campaigners would barely guess." She shudders "I’d rather words scorch me!" She turns back to Jo. "I could provide a few example copies of the books I’d like to see eaten to train your crew on, and the locations of several personal libraries and Proscribed Material caches. You’d be doing good work, and their teeth would be nicely polished in the doing, I’d think.
[li]
Greycoin nods to Eleonor, "Dat is a good plan. I’ll get da weasels ready. Just tell me where ta send dem."
[quote=Eleonor Donegal]"I could provide a few example copies of the books I’d like to see eaten to train your crew on, and the locations of several personal libraries and Proscribed Material caches. You’d be doing good work, and their teeth would be nicely polished in the doing, I’d think."
[li][/quote]
"Oh, I really cannot abide by the destruction of books. Whatever sin you see in words, the greater evil is in action. You cannot guide the world to a better future by trying to blind the past! Moreover, the truth is the most terrifying of weapons, when handled deftly; lies and censorship the most faulty. You do better to use those books to undermine your enemies, rather than give them the satisfaction of knowing you’re on the defensive."
edited by pillbox on 11/5/2016
edited by pillbox on 11/5/2016
"Odd that you’d talk about evil and a better future in the same breath as you speak of sipping red honey. I know lesser criminals that avoid that stuff like the plague out of principle. Merely an observation, dear."
"Which is worst? A world without books or a world without dreams or a world without wine?," Greycoin asks while re-filling several wineglasses.
"A world without wine, definitely. A world without books would be bad enough. Dreams…we are oft-times better off without." Lady Catherine holds out her glass. "Greycoin, if you would be so kind as to top me up, please! And when I manage to get on my feet again, I must thank our hostess for that wonderful madeira."
Greycoin fills Lady Catherine’s glass.