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And I would caution you to do the same.
Your kind has already stolen enough from me. See to it that you don't follow in their footsteps.
[His fingers slide across the strings in a motion that would be more befitting of a different stringed instrument entirely - but he keeps them firm on the strings nevertheless, keeping them still, keeping them silent.]
...What did take her, in the end? You already know, don't you?
Your kind has already stolen enough from me. See to it that you don't follow in their footsteps.
[His fingers slide across the strings in a motion that would be more befitting of a different stringed instrument entirely - but he keeps them firm on the strings nevertheless, keeping them still, keeping them silent.]
...What did take her, in the end? You already know, don't you?
I've given you enough, I believe.
[Crueler than he intends, behind its softness.]
And I'm not about to owe you any favors.
[He has so little to shape what's missing from himself. A sense of purpose. A time locked up. He can't narrow it down enough. He can't give Lilia any more.]
[Crueler than he intends, behind its softness.]
And I'm not about to owe you any favors.
[He has so little to shape what's missing from himself. A sense of purpose. A time locked up. He can't narrow it down enough. He can't give Lilia any more.]
[Typical human.]
So negotiations have failed, hmm? ...Some things never change.
[That much, he remembers, even now. Raverne, who cared for humans, enough to learn their language and teach a lowly servant like Lilia. Raverne, who decided their first act would not be a declaration of war, but of diplomacy, heading out to meet with the very humans who threatened their home.
Raverne, who would never return, never nurture his child to hatching, never be known...]
So negotiations have failed, hmm? ...Some things never change.
[That much, he remembers, even now. Raverne, who cared for humans, enough to learn their language and teach a lowly servant like Lilia. Raverne, who decided their first act would not be a declaration of war, but of diplomacy, heading out to meet with the very humans who threatened their home.
Raverne, who would never return, never nurture his child to hatching, never be known...]
[...He tastes iron in his mouth.]
Then I suppose there's nothing else to be said.
[Abruptly, he stands to leave, the zither abandoned in his place. It will sort itself out once he's gone; there's no need to waste any particular care on it.]
Then I suppose there's nothing else to be said.
[Abruptly, he stands to leave, the zither abandoned in his place. It will sort itself out once he's gone; there's no need to waste any particular care on it.]
[He can certainly try! Lilia doesn't appear all that guarded at the moment.]
Then go on.
Walk.
Then go on.
Walk.
[His eyes dart to the theatre. The urge to make chase rises, like prey under a predator's eyes.
But he turns, instead, back to the stairwell. Hands still up in mock surrender, though the gesture grows weaker the longer he holds it.]
Don't get any ideas.
But he turns, instead, back to the stairwell. Hands still up in mock surrender, though the gesture grows weaker the longer he holds it.]
Don't get any ideas.
As long as you keep moving, there won't be any need to.
[Because naturally he's following closely behind all the while.]
For someone so insistent I survive, you don't seem to be interested in taking care of yourself. Should I take that to mean you have no intention of safeguarding my memory?
[Because naturally he's following closely behind all the while.]
For someone so insistent I survive, you don't seem to be interested in taking care of yourself. Should I take that to mean you have no intention of safeguarding my memory?
Because of the magic of this place, or because you don't want to?
They didn't tell me why they attacked me, is what I mean.
Called me all sorts of things, yes. Insisted I was playing dumb. But they'd made up their mind on exactly what they wanted of me, so nothing I said would have mattered.
...
It's hardly the first time I've had stones thrown. I'll survive.
Called me all sorts of things, yes. Insisted I was playing dumb. But they'd made up their mind on exactly what they wanted of me, so nothing I said would have mattered.
...
It's hardly the first time I've had stones thrown. I'll survive.
...
That's all?
[He almost feels let down...]
That's all?
[He almost feels let down...]
Am I going to have to start personally guarding you to keep you in tact?
[Can you feel his gaze burning into your back, Solomon? Can you?]
You could've fooled me. If someone dislikes you enough to leave you in such a state, I can't help but be concerned once the need for murder is on the table once more.
You could've fooled me. If someone dislikes you enough to leave you in such a state, I can't help but be concerned once the need for murder is on the table once more.
[Hm. Let's test that!
Lilia is going to aim a kick at his back - just enough to throw the man off balance. If he can't manage to keep it, he'll scruff Solomon so he doesn't actually fall, but we're just checking reaction speed right now.]
Lilia is going to aim a kick at his back - just enough to throw the man off balance. If he can't manage to keep it, he'll scruff Solomon so he doesn't actually fall, but we're just checking reaction speed right now.]
...
If you're able to protect yourself, then why didn't you?
If you're able to protect yourself, then why didn't you?
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