PC: HARROW

[headmt]

Comments

[bonetiddies]

I see. I didn't realize you followed an old god of hot air of your own.

[Literally?]

Tell me . . . is what you do with the cards real? Outside of this place, is there some sort of power involved? Or is it all trickery?

[headmt]

Got to have something to believe in. At least a little.

[he reaches over to take the moon card back and shuffle it back into his deck, cutting and sorting without much aim.]

Something in between those two things. Be disrespectful to the cards to say it's all my wonderful words. They've got their own power, but it isn't exactly magic. I'm certainly not casting any spells on them. And it isn't all trickery either. Sometimes you just have to know what people are looking to hear.

[bonetiddies]

How is that not trickery. You're admitting you're telling falsehoods.

[headmt]

When did I say anything about falsehoods. If a man comes in coughing up a lung, I might suggest that the cards are saying to consider see a doctor. Just reading people.

[bonetiddies]

Just because it's useful advice does not make it not false.

[headmt]

Just because it's interprative doesn't mean I'm lying!

[A scoff, but. He doesn't seem that offended by this take either.]

Beau fucking hated me for it, I'll tell you that. Not a fan of the fortune telling. She didn't much care for me when I was alive most of the time, you know.

[bonetiddies]

Really? [That. Actually does come as pretty big surprise.] She was just. . . irritated with you? Or she actually disliked you?

[headmt]

I think she disliked most of the world.

[He taps the toes of his boots together.]

And my particular outlook was extremely irritating to her. We squabbled. Stupid shit, really.

[bonetiddies]

Isn't that what one is meant to do with one's friends? Squabble about unimportant things and so on?

[headmt]

Yes, I think so, anyway. Certainly, it was how we all got along.

[His nails tap against the table a bit.]

But as I'm sure you know, I'm rather arrogant about my particular philosophies, and she was looking for a fight with the whole world. But we watched each other's backs. One trash person for another. That was the deal.

... When I got to talk to her here, she had grown a lot.

[bonetiddies]

If you have personal philosophies, you may as well be arrogant about them, I think.

[She leans, resting her chin in her hand.]

She thought highly of you. At least, the version of her who was here did.

[headmt]

[he realizes he is just. being a sad sack right now. but also can't really stop.]

We all look a bit better in hindsight, no?

[bonetiddies]

[He's allowed to be? He's allowed to be. She has been a sad sack plenty. She reaches out to put her hand on his.]

But I don't have any hindsight of you. I only have what I know now. And you are worth thinking highly of.

[headmt]

... Thank you.

[turning his hand over to squeeze hers.]

Being a bit of a downer. Whole point is to bring her back and then she can get right back to being irritated at me for my endless bullshit.

[bonetiddies]

I don't mind it.

[Seriously. He can be a bit of a downer. Maybe she's saying kind things more easily because it's kindness week. That doesn't mean she doesn't want to be saying them. Sometimes it's nice, to have the things you want to say anyway come more easily to you.]

It isn't always better to avoid speaking of it. I'd always thought so, but. . . it isn't.

[headmt]

Probably true. So we're both learning, then.

[at least taking his feet off the table.]

Never told so many truths in my life before.

[bonetiddies]

Your life of two years?

[Harrow. It's kindness week, please.]

I'm fairly certain that of the two of us, I'm the more practiced liar.

[headmt]

Two very full years!

[and he laughs because. sure.]

Practiced, likely, but mine are much more fun.

[bonetiddies]

No, not much that I do is very "fun."

[. . . Hmm.]

When we've finished here, when you return home, what will you do? Is that a problematic question?

[headmt]

[Just shaking his head because he doesn't find it particularly problematic? Optimistic maybe, but. Why not a little optimism. He isn't going to rain on even the tiniest of parades that Harrow is willing to throw.]

Funny, I-- Hadn't really thought about it. Picked up where I left off is the plan. [He scratches a bit at his face.] Think ... the Nein might outclass me a bit now, but I can ... catch up, maybe. I was promised a month off in Nicodranas. And to get to meet Jester's very attractive mother. They call her The Ruby of the Sea you know. Very famous courtesan. Has a whole song and everything. So those two things I suppose to start with.

[bonetiddies]

Ah. I suppose I would have been surprised if there was a better plan than trying to flirt with your friend's mother.

[But it is literally all just fucking around.]

Some would say you ought to make the most of a second chance?

[headmt]

[she's real hot tho!!!!!!!!!]

I was already making the most of a second chance! It's exactly what I was already doing! I just want to get back to it. My life made me happy, I did things that brought me joy. I'd like to go back to being happy again. Don't have to have any grand plans to manage that.

[bonetiddies]

I said, "some would say." It wasn't a criticism of your personal philosophies.

[Her feelings about it are more like. Imagine being happy and having no notes, just vibes? Wild.

Like. She just kind of gets stuck on that phrasing. "I'd like to go back to being happy again." Haha. Wow.]

I think if I met you some other place and moment, I would also hate hearing you talk like this. I'd think existing only to make yourself happy was unbearably selfish. But you aren't selfish, and you are probably one of the only people hear would could say there isn't much they would change.

[headmt]

[mollymauk "joy can fill a lot in a person's life" tealeaf is definitely that obnoxious person you know who just seems genuinely happy and shit and you hate them for it a little.]

And you? Your grand plans?

[He's a little wary about this question, because. well. there's a lot going on with harrow. but. there's followups he has so it's fine.]

[bonetiddies]

. . . A slightly problematic question, because as you know, I don't know my own wish and what it might affect.

[Among other reasons it's problematic. Because she's just been realizing that little flaw. "I'd like to go back to being happy again." For most people, for most of her friends, being here is unbearably painful.

And here she is, dreading that it may soon come to an end.]

Putting that aside, I'll be returning to the Mithraeum. Studying under the tutelage of God until I can become a true Lyctor.