powersthatbe | Conversation Space I.

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!conversation space

Conversation Space I.

The room is small, intimate. You are alone. There is no sign of a way in or out. Ping-pong balls crunch underfoot, and empty giftboxes, meticulously wrapped and ribboned, are lined up against one wall, while a humming wall of server blades are racked on the opposite wall. A high-backed, gilt chair with red velvet cushions faces an ornate, full-length mirror, and beside the chair is a mug of steaming hot chocolate on a tiny side table, steaming invitingly from beneath a layer of fifteen half-melted marshmallows.

What do you do?

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"So a social call," Ambrose says and finally settles on the throne, resting right ankle on left knee and leaning back. "Wonder if I'll be allowed to ask more than one question, or if you have any for me."

"No-one has set limits on what you may do here," the Don says. "As for myself, I am curious, and curiously uninformed."

No limits? All right then.

"Have you heard the saying about curiosity killing cats? I'm gonna rely on my more bird-like tendencies." And with a gesture he opens his control panel to see what can be discerned. "And your... where is your dog? How do you and SAGE get along, by the way?"

"My dog is nowhere - at the moment. As for the one you call SAGE... we were once opposed to one another. Now, One who stands between us unites our purposes."

"Huh." Well, that's reassuring. Ish. "Where's nowhere?"

"Out of ambit. A mortal might say... 'not available at the circulation desk.'" He pauses, frowns. "At least, I believe that is the phrase."

"That makes sense, yeah. Or maybe... lost, stolen, destroyed?"

"Hmmm." He coughs, a dry sound. "No, I would not use those words."

"Hmmm."

Ambrose regards the mirror, and sighs. "All right. So what happens now? I imagine you're looking for more recruits to your... cause."

"And do you look for your hands, when you wish for them?"

"...I ask stupid questions, don't I."

"If you do, do you believe that is likely to make me value you less?" The wry tone becomes a cough, and the paper wrappings shiver.

“I suppose you do appreciate a certain degree of naive-ness.”

Generally Ambrose tries to maintain an ambivalence toward the Arcana as a whole, but it’s against his nature to respond to suffering with anything but compassion. “Would you like some water? Or… well, there’s cocoa. And I’ve always got a caramel candy.”

"Perhaps later," the Don demures. "Right now... there is not enough of me to enjoy the experience."

"...of course, sorry."

He tried. Manners and all, but now he's thinking and he's pretty sure his success in carrying forth Don Orlea's agenda will help the Arcanum, but... "What are my rewards if I work for your desires, and what are my penalties if I act against your nature?"

"I will send you all back to where you began," Don says, nodding. "As for penalties... if you oppose me, you oppose advancement, openness, and new beginnings. I do not think you oppose these things. Do you?"

"...no, I can't say I do."

He glances to the ceiling with a frown.

"Where I began... Traveling? Or further back?"

"The moment you were taken from your world."

He tries to remember what that was. His last memory was... a town in Gillikin and all it's shades of purple, a half-finished report for the Queen to go back to Central via courier. Letters for Cain and DG and Helene to go by post. A comfortable inn but he'd been restless, debating going back downstairs to the bar for stew and a night cap.

A turn on a landing, a lazy misstep, and Liminal Space.

"And this journey will be...gone? For nothing?"

"All for nothing," Don intones with solemn satisfaction. "All its troubles left behind. A fresh start."

For a moment or so Ambrose sits and breathes silently, but then he clambers to his feet.

"Melted like lemon drops, right? All the troubles. and all the good things too? I'm going to forget Daneel, and Nigel and Asa and Alcuin and Mia and Lila and the truth I've learned about Elphaba, right? Just... go traipsing on down the road all oblivious. That's what you want."

"Forget?" the Don rasps, surprised. "Did I speak of forgetfulness? No. The journey is everything. I will set you back on le road, but what you carry with you - that will change, indeed."

Edited (punnilicious typo edit) 2017-01-22 23:31 (UTC)

Oh gods what.

"What will change about what I carry with me?"

"Who can say? Putting you in the place you began, with the knowledge you gained on your journey - how will that change the future you would have had?"

...what.

"I can't even begin to imagine. With what I've learned, what I can do... I could be a new Wizard, a-and not a charlatan."

(no subject)

powersthatare - 2017-02-08 22:51 (UTC) - Expand

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