...I haven't. In a place like this, one never knows what ears might be listening.
[But if they can do this, just take his memories and throw them up onto a projection screen at any moment, then the point of secrecy is really rather moot, isn't it?
He thinks a minute, pondering where to begin.]
I showed you the tarot cards, as you recall? And mentioned they belonged to someone else. The one who sought to shield me as I attacked, they belong to him. That's Urianger. We're old friends — all the way back to the days when I was earning my Archon marks. We often travel — traveled — together, as well. 'Tis a...comfortable comradeship, between us.
I thought the last thing you wanted was to hear me kiss and tell? Urianger and I suit each other well enough. Though I wouldn't say either of us is in much hurry to go about putting labels on our friendship. Though he does keep startlingly close track of my drunken conquests — too close for my liking, personally.
[also you named your mutual daughter after a word in a language he taught you but go off thancred i guess
Regardless, when she asks about the marks, he tilts his head to one side and tugs down his coat collar, exposing it a little more readily.]
They're what I would've offered to you, if you'd said that what you wanted was merely some way of belonging, without specifics of how you obtained it. They're awarded in recognition of exceptional contributions to, and mastery of, some particular field of expertise, by the scholarly enclave where he and I both spent our younger years.
There are scholars, and then there are Archons. One glance at them and anyone in Sharlayan would instantly recognize you as someone uniquely special.
All the more reason to induct you. Finally, I won't be the stupidest one in the ranks.
[He pauses a moment, sobering a bit as he reflects.]
I was a wharf rat as a child, Nav. No mother and certainly no father. I made acquaintances with a guild of rogues and earned my keep thieving, when I wasn't running one sordid errand or another for one black marketeer of ill repute or another. Affluence and advantage didn't earn me the right to wear these marks. Hard work and something to prove by it did.
Rynlan's seen me exercise my unique area of expertise — by some definitions of "seen", that is. Mayhap once we're out of this hole, I'll give you a demonstration as well.
but. she listens, and tilts her head back as she thinks about it.]
I'm an orphan too. I don't know if I ever told you that. [she does kind of like the idea of getting a mark that proves... well, that by some standards she isn't a waste of space. that sounds nice.]
You did. But you were also drunk, so I wouldn't fault you for not remembering it.
[MOVING RIGHT ALONG and pointedly not answering the surprise question —]
Two others of that group are Archons as well. The redhead, G'raha Tia, is one. And my lovely lady of wanton explosions, the avatar of destruction herself, is the other. Y'shtola Rhul. Her mind and tongue alike are as sharp as the blades she'd use to slit my throat, if she knew I were talking of her like that.
The twins, Alphinaud and Alisaie. He was in blue, she in red — not that it's difficult to tell them apart from the moment either of them opens their mouths. The man who took me to Sharlayan was their grandfather. They're well on their way to following in his footsteps, the both of them — though each in their own way.
The one in armor with the lance is Estinien Wyrmblood, the former Azure Dragoon. And before you ask — yes, I would, and no, I haven't. He's smitten with the Lord Speaker of his homeland, not that he'd ever admit to it. The newest member of our ranks, but in many ways our staunchest ally.
[it's always the dragging Estinien power hour bell in Thancred's book]
...And the last.
[He laughs softly under his breath.]
The last is G'raha Tia's true love and the hero of just about everywhere on our star and a few shards besides, by now. The Warrior of Light and Darkness.
[the bit about estinien makes her laugh again, with her equivalent of jesus christ under her breath. something like necrolord prime or in that vein. this is all stuff she's committing to memory, though, from the twins to each rank. she likes hearing about families.]
Ooh, a title. [she says, with a little grin.] Fancy.
... That was the one that got you all out of there? With the button.
That's right. And then she fought that monster alone.
[Zenos does not get credit for anything whatsoever because then she had to turn right around and fight Zenos so frankly he has lost existence privileges for the rest of forever.]
...I've a certain fondness for her. Heroics notwithstanding, I was the one who found her and first brought her into our group. Rather brilliant of me, if I do say so myself.
Really? Huh. If you think about it, that means you're responsible for defeating despair. [this is like half a joke.] She sounds like someone I'd like to talk to.
I get called worse than an idiot at least three times before breakfast. I think I could handle it.
[she says, amused at the first part. but.
... yeah. they went to the end of the universe, but not here. gideon wonders the same - wonders every time they find a new island if she'll find some trace of palamedes, or magnus, or abigail. god forbid she finds trace of the fourth, she's not sure what she'd do.]
Nah. I wouldn't believe that for a second. [she says, shoving her hands in her pockets.] Not with the way you all jumped to protect each other.
Didn't you say you already went through one weird time thing? Out of step, you said. Time might be passing faster here than it is where they are.
Ugh. Well, now I don't want them, if I have to work for it. [but there's something in her expression that he might catch - she is interested. the idea of having something like that makes her feel a little warm on the inside.
anyway. she wants out of this hole, actually. how... how do they get out.]
Do you think we just... climb out? The screen hasn't turned back on. [she gazes suspiciously at it.]
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[But if they can do this, just take his memories and throw them up onto a projection screen at any moment, then the point of secrecy is really rather moot, isn't it?
He thinks a minute, pondering where to begin.]
I showed you the tarot cards, as you recall? And mentioned they belonged to someone else. The one who sought to shield me as I attacked, they belong to him. That's Urianger. We're old friends — all the way back to the days when I was earning my Archon marks. We often travel — traveled — together, as well. 'Tis a...comfortable comradeship, between us.
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and then something seems to occur to her, and she looks at him, and then at his neck, and then raises her eyebrows.
don't let her bully you like this, thancred]
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Yes, those marks. He has one as well; wears his on his cheek.
[THAT'S DEFINITELY WHAT SHE WAS REFERRING TO, RIGHT. RIGHT.]
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Uh huh. Into pointy ears, that's fine. Everybody's got a thing. What's an Archon mark?
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[also you named your mutual daughter after a word in a language he taught you but go off thancred i guess
Regardless, when she asks about the marks, he tilts his head to one side and tugs down his coat collar, exposing it a little more readily.]
They're what I would've offered to you, if you'd said that what you wanted was merely some way of belonging, without specifics of how you obtained it. They're awarded in recognition of exceptional contributions to, and mastery of, some particular field of expertise, by the scholarly enclave where he and I both spent our younger years.
There are scholars, and then there are Archons. One glance at them and anyone in Sharlayan would instantly recognize you as someone uniquely special.
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... For what, though, I haven't done anything that's notable. I'm sure as fuck not a scholar.
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And you think I am, do you?
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[He pauses a moment, sobering a bit as he reflects.]
I was a wharf rat as a child, Nav. No mother and certainly no father. I made acquaintances with a guild of rogues and earned my keep thieving, when I wasn't running one sordid errand or another for one black marketeer of ill repute or another. Affluence and advantage didn't earn me the right to wear these marks. Hard work and something to prove by it did.
Rynlan's seen me exercise my unique area of expertise — by some definitions of "seen", that is. Mayhap once we're out of this hole, I'll give you a demonstration as well.
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but. she listens, and tilts her head back as she thinks about it.]
I'm an orphan too. I don't know if I ever told you that. [she does kind of like the idea of getting a mark that proves... well, that by some standards she isn't a waste of space. that sounds nice.]
Is it a surprise? Love those. [this is sarcasm]
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[MOVING RIGHT ALONG and pointedly not answering the surprise question —]
Two others of that group are Archons as well. The redhead, G'raha Tia, is one. And my lovely lady of wanton explosions, the avatar of destruction herself, is the other. Y'shtola Rhul. Her mind and tongue alike are as sharp as the blades she'd use to slit my throat, if she knew I were talking of her like that.
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[poor g'raha gets no attention because gideon is unabashedly gay.]
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[alas poor g'raha but he's probably doing okay for himself regardless]
Before? One, I suspect she'd rather enjoy it. After? At least five dozen, because she'd think I put you up to it.
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Hot. [hmm, though.] Okay, so you've got Y'shtola, Urianger, G'raha. Clearly you're better friends with Y'shtola and Urianger - what about the others?
[i will tell you that she has a HELL of a time pronouncing urianger's name because she's fantasy australian.]
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The one in armor with the lance is Estinien Wyrmblood, the former Azure Dragoon. And before you ask — yes, I would, and no, I haven't. He's smitten with the Lord Speaker of his homeland, not that he'd ever admit to it. The newest member of our ranks, but in many ways our staunchest ally.
[it's always the dragging Estinien power
hourbell in Thancred's book]...And the last.
[He laughs softly under his breath.]
The last is G'raha Tia's true love and the hero of just about everywhere on our star and a few shards besides, by now. The Warrior of Light and Darkness.
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Ooh, a title. [she says, with a little grin.] Fancy.
... That was the one that got you all out of there? With the button.
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[Zenos does not get credit for anything whatsoever because then she had to turn right around and fight Zenos so frankly he has lost existence privileges for the rest of forever.]
...I've a certain fondness for her. Heroics notwithstanding, I was the one who found her and first brought her into our group. Rather brilliant of me, if I do say so myself.
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Really? Huh. If you think about it, that means you're responsible for defeating despair. [this is like half a joke.] She sounds like someone I'd like to talk to.
[...]
All of them seem like good people.
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[Thusly revealing which one it was, in an extended roundabout way.]
...'Tis strange, though, isn't it? That we could do that. And yet none of them have found their way here to save us all yet.
[He laughs again, under his breath. This time it's a little more humorless.]
One almost worries they're glad to be rid of me.
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[she says, amused at the first part. but.
... yeah. they went to the end of the universe, but not here. gideon wonders the same - wonders every time they find a new island if she'll find some trace of palamedes, or magnus, or abigail. god forbid she finds trace of the fourth, she's not sure what she'd do.]
Nah. I wouldn't believe that for a second. [she says, shoving her hands in her pockets.] Not with the way you all jumped to protect each other.
Didn't you say you already went through one weird time thing? Out of step, you said. Time might be passing faster here than it is where they are.
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And you claim you're not clever enough to be an Archon.
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Well, where's the fucking mark, then, hand it over.
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[He shrugs a little.]
But I will award them to you, if earning them is something you want for yourself. Have a think about it, once we're out of this hole.
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anyway. she wants out of this hole, actually. how... how do they get out.]
Do you think we just... climb out? The screen hasn't turned back on. [she gazes suspiciously at it.]
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