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]

[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.]

[private]

[mercurialize]

I guess. I haven't really thought of it like that.

[private]

[hearrrtofgold]

Do you know where she is?

[private]

[mercurialize]

Right now? Yeah, think so. Why do you ask?

[private]

[hearrrtofgold]

Nothing. Well, okay, something, but it's personal. Just wondering if she'll be there for you when you go back home.

[private]

[mercurialize]

I don't see how that's personal to anyone but me.

[Truthfully, he doesn't want to answer.]

[private]

[hearrrtofgold]

Yes, that's what I said. It's personal to you, not my business. I just hope you get to see her again.

[private]

[mercurialize]

[It tugs at him a little. He doesn't know where Elene is, not really. He isn't sure how much longer she'll be with him, even if she forgave him for everything. He just knows he needs to be with her as soon as he can, and maybe he can protect her from whatever's to come. It all bundles into a defensive anger though, and a poorly misfired one.]

Do you think there's a reason I wouldn't?

[private]

[hearrrtofgold]

[This isn't the type of anger Duke's known, and he holds up a hand in a gesture of surrender.]

Not you specifically. Some people aren't close to their partners. [What follows is a moment of awkward silence.] People like me and Evi.

[private]

[mercurialize]

[He calms as easily as his anger was stirred. Maybe he misunderstood.]

I had to leave suddenly and it's been a while. Even before I came here it had been a couple months. So, no. I'm not certain.

[private]

[hearrrtofgold]

I hope you find her.

[private]

[mercurialize]

I will.