18 ⚓ Video ⚓ Let the bard sing what he has a mind to

[hearrrtofgold]

The Admiral appears to be running on a Julian calendar – thank God – which is pretty standard for most of us. And for those who don’t know: our new year starts at midnight in two days. So we’ve got another upcoming holiday and a bar. We could have karaoke. [He says it with the salacious, promising tone in which one might say "public sex" or "veal."]

Let me know if this sounds good. And if anyone has ideas, or wants help put things together, whatever, let me know that too. Just CC me on anything to do with this, really.

Comments

[private]

[hearrrtofgold]

There's only one person who can get rid of the Troubles, and I'm not her.

[private]

[mercurialize]

... Evi?

[private]

[hearrrtofgold]

No. If she was, we'd be screwed.

[private]

[mercurialize]

So, just someone else.

But you know the Admiral can't just get rid of it, then?

[private]

[hearrrtofgold]

Her name's Audrey.

The only thing we know for sure about the Troubles is that they run deeper than we think. If he just got rid of them, we have no idea what the consequences would be. [And Audrey might never come back.]

[private]

[mercurialize]

And those consequences would definitely be worse than the Trouble itself?

[private]

[hearrrtofgold]

They could be.

[private]

[mercurialize]

[He's trying his best to understand this, but he's still falling a bit short.]

Then, how are you going to help?

[private]

[hearrrtofgold]

[It is incredibly hard to explain, and to be honest, Duke doesn't have many of the answers either.]

We know one way to end the Troubles, but we can't do it. I want to find another one.

[private]

[mercurialize]

The Admiral's just going to make up another way?

[private]

[hearrrtofgold]

Maybe. Maybe he'll just find and tell me another way.

[He pauses.] This probably sounds really dumb to you.

[private]

[mercurialize]

Well, I hope he does. If he can't I'd set up a plan B if I were you. Just in case.

[Pfft.]

I'm hardly one to judge. But no, it's not dumb. I think you're making it harder on yourself, but you probably think it's the right thing to do and you definitely know this more than I do so.

[private]

[hearrrtofgold]

Thanks. We do have a plan B but it sucks.

Maybe I am. But it's hard to start with, you know? There are parameters to work in that I don't understand. This is the best I can do right now.

[private]

[mercurialize]

Maybe start on a plan C then.

Well, you do have a library full of books from a lot of different worlds all at your disposal. And literally all the time in the world. With all of that, you could probably find another way.

[private]

[hearrrtofgold]

You've got a good point. I'll see if there's anything on Haven.

...Thanks.

[private]

[mercurialize]

I didn't do anything, this is all on you.

[He considers something a moment. Kylar's never going to this world, so why should he care? But, it's easier not to when you don't have a face to associate to the issues at hand. So then...]

Can I ask you something?

[private]

[hearrrtofgold]

Yeah, but you gave me some perspective.

Sure. [He gives a slightly sad, self-deprecating smile.] I can't guarantee I'll answer, but you can ask.

[private]

[mercurialize]

[Shrug. He doesn't see how but he's not going to argue over a simple thanks either.]

That's fair. It's not really my business to ask this.

But, why are you helping these people? They can't be the only ones suffering in your world, and it sounds like there are others that would be just as willing to do what you're doing now. You're obviously involved with it all to give me names, but they were only names. Like a patient that comes in with an illness. You aren't attached to them, but you want to help them. But not everyone with good intentions can do that. So, what made you decide to help them?

[private]

[hearrrtofgold]

They're not the only ones suffering, but they're -- I was born in Haven. I have roots there, I don't want to see those people go through this. And sure, other people might be willing to do this, but no one else is.

I'm attached. Audrey's probably my best friend. Nathan's a huge pain in the ass but I've known him for a long time. Bill, too, and my friend Vanessa, she died of a Trouble -- and even me. I have a Trouble too.

People shouldn't have to live with these things.

[private]

[mercurialize]

[That made more sense. A lot more sense. He nods slowly.]

Thanks for the answer. And the chat.

I didn't mean to take up your time like that.

[private]

[hearrrtofgold]

Not at all. It was good to talk. [He brushes his hair off his face.] It's funny, I haven't talked about Evi before.

[private]

[mercurialize]

Why not? Just no one's asked?

[private]

[hearrrtofgold]

It never came up.

What's Elene like, if you don't mind me asking?

[private]

[mercurialize]

You mean besides being good natured? I don't mind, it's just... We've known each other since we were kids. It's hard to put all of it into words, I guess. Never really had to before.

[He's always had to keep his infatuation and contact with her secret back home. Most don't know they're even connected, it's something Kylar's made painstaking efforts to make sure of.]

[private]

[hearrrtofgold]

That's sweet, though. Not many couples have known each other that long.

[At least Kylar's reasons were noble. Duke kept his marriage to Evi on the down-low due for professional reasons (it was easier to run cons together if people didn't know they were partners), but partly for personal reasons -- he and Evi were fascinated with each other, head over heels, but they just couldn't live easily together and had been separated for a long time.]