Nefret

[7/11/2014 3:16:28 PM] Canto: Fortunada:  Are you sure about this, then? As I said, I can assist you in this regard. But I do hope that your confrontation with Mr. Steveson isn't spurring you on.

[7/11/2014 3:18:24 PM] Josie: I'm sure.

[7/11/2014 3:18:38 PM] Josie: I hate being slow and stupid.

[7/11/2014 3:19:04 PM] Canto: Fortunada:  Hardly the words I would use to describe you.

[7/11/2014 3:19:27 PM] Josie: Compared to everyone else here!

[7/11/2014 3:20:12 PM] Canto: Fortunada:  Mmm. Very well. I can see where that would be a concern.

[7/11/2014 3:21:25 PM] Josie: If I enjoyed being ignorant I wouldn't've gotten a doctorate or learned Latin.

[7/11/2014 3:22:50 PM] Canto: Fortunada stands up and comes around his desk, sticking his head outo f the door to tell his assistant not to disturb him for the next little bit.

[7/11/2014 3:27:55 PM] Canto: He closes the door. "Have a seat and try to relax a bit, doctor."

[7/11/2014 3:28:14 PM] Canto: Fortunada:  Do you want some tea? Some coffee?

[7/11/2014 3:29:07 PM] Josie: Josie sits.

[7/11/2014 3:29:11 PM] Josie: Tea might be nice.

[7/11/2014 3:29:17 PM] Josie: I love coffee, but there's something very soothing about tea.

[7/11/2014 3:30:22 PM] Canto: Fortunada asks his secretary to bring in some tea!

[7/11/2014 3:31:38 PM] Josie: Josie thanks him or her.

[7/11/2014 3:32:50 PM] Canto: Her! Fortunada pours out a cup for you and himself. He doesn't drink it, but holds it under his nose.

[7/11/2014 3:33:11 PM] Josie: ... how much do you miss eating and drinking ordinary food?

[7/11/2014 3:33:53 PM] Canto: Fortunada:  At the beginning, very much. After a couple hundred years, it's less of an issue. I've learned to enjoy smells more.

[7/11/2014 3:34:43 PM] Josie: They do say taste is mostly smell anyway.

[7/11/2014 3:34:45 PM] Josie: Josie sips her tea.

[7/11/2014 3:41:40 PM] Canto: Fortunada:  I can't imagine anything tasting as good as blood, anyway.

[7/11/2014 3:42:01 PM] Josie: ... I'd get tired of eating nothing but chocolate, though.

[7/11/2014 3:43:08 PM] Canto: Fortunada:  You learn nuances. Blood can vary wildly in taste.

[7/11/2014 3:43:28 PM] Josie: ... I'm going to need to read some books on vampires.

[7/11/2014 3:43:33 PM] Josie: Recommendations?

[7/11/2014 3:46:36 PM] Canto: Fortunada:  Van Helsing's Bestiary is probably the best place to start. It wasn't really written by a fictional character, of course, but was the author's cheeky little joke. It's an expansive work, though. She did a lot of research on both current and extinct bloodlines, and there is an impressive bibliography as well.

[7/11/2014 3:57:17 PM] Josie: ((Back.))

[7/11/2014 3:57:27 PM] Canto: ((k.))

[7/11/2014 3:57:31 PM] Josie: ... that sounds like a good start.

[7/11/2014 4:00:38 PM] Josie: All right. Past lives.

[7/11/2014 4:06:06 PM] Canto: Fortunada:  Yes. It is generally considered the source of your power. I will send you back there, to that life. You will live through it. Usually we have a yeti do this, but I have been trained to do so as well, and there are no yetis in the chapterhouse at the moment.

[7/11/2014 4:06:52 PM] Josie: ... are there ambulatory mummmies as well?

[7/11/2014 4:07:41 PM] Canto: Fortunada:  Yes. Many of them are very fine chaps. Others are a bit more... monstrous.

[7/11/2014 4:11:27 PM] Josie: ... that's terribly silly.

[7/11/2014 4:11:38 PM] Josie: Well. What should I do?

[7/11/2014 4:12:59 PM] Canto: Fortunada:  I'm going to hypnotize you. In a trance, we will cast your mind back and you will become who you were. It will be very disorienting -- you will be you and not you at the same time.

[7/11/2014 4:14:09 PM] Josie: ... interesting.

[7/11/2014 4:14:12 PM] Josie: All right.

[7/11/2014 4:14:17 PM] Josie: Josie sets her tea down.

[7/11/2014 4:18:19 PM] Canto: Fortunada:  You are ready, then? Very well.

[7/11/2014 4:18:23 PM] Josie: Yes.

[7/11/2014 4:18:48 PM] Canto: He catches your eyes. "It is very important that you don't resist the process, as well."

[7/11/2014 4:20:43 PM] Josie: ... I've never heard *that* from a man before.

[7/11/2014 4:20:46 PM] Josie: Josie smiles thinly.

[7/11/2014 4:22:44 PM] Canto: Fortunada chuckles lightly, but you can tell he is very purposefully remaining professional about the situation.

[7/11/2014 4:25:57 PM] Josie: ... go ahead. I trust you.

[7/11/2014 4:26:57 PM] Canto: He nods, and gestures to you. You feel this wave of lassitude come over you as he hypnotizes you.

[7/11/2014 4:28:51 PM] Josie: Josie leans back in her chair and tries to relax a little bit.

[7/11/2014 4:34:29 PM] Canto: His eyes get black and fathomless! "Now then.  Do you remember your most recent dream?  Not your normal dreams -- the dream where you are someone else, but still you."

[7/11/2014 4:40:07 PM] Josie: I was in Egypt.

[7/11/2014 4:42:25 PM] Canto: Fortunada:  Who were you?

[7/11/2014 4:43:25 PM] Josie: I was .. a priestess. I kept my temple safe and clean.

[7/11/2014 4:45:17 PM] Canto: Fortunada:   Tell me about her. Everything you can remember.

[7/11/2014 4:45:23 PM] Canto: ((Feel free to make it up.))

[7/11/2014 4:46:47 PM] Josie: She... I. I can read. And write. It's part of my magic. My slaves are always afraid of me at first.

[7/11/2014 4:48:49 PM] Josie: But they learn. The rumors aren't true.

[7/11/2014 4:49:25 PM] Canto: Fortunada:  What rumors?

[7/11/2014 4:50:02 PM] Josie: I sacrifice the ones who displease me.

[7/11/2014 4:50:16 PM] Josie: ... I don't.

[7/11/2014 4:51:53 PM] Canto: Fortunada:   What is your name?

[7/11/2014 4:52:09 PM] Josie: Nefret.

[7/11/2014 4:53:03 PM] Josie: ... which is a lie. I am not beautiful.

[7/11/2014 4:58:45 PM] Josie: Strong, and I have influence.

[7/11/2014 5:00:39 PM] Canto: Fortunada:  I would like you to go deeper, now. Let the world fall away around you. The office, the city, the world. The year 1936. Let yourself become unstuck in time. Do not fear, my voice will remain a link for the world you leave as you cast yourself back. Become Nefret. Settle into her life. her station. Her power.

[7/11/2014 5:02:45 PM] Josie: ... yes.

[7/11/2014 5:03:20 PM] Canto: Fortunada:  Where are you?

[7/11/2014 5:04:02 PM] Josie: In the temple. The slaves have cleaned it physically; I need to clean it ritually.

[7/11/2014 5:05:15 PM] Josie: Josie says something in Egyptian.

[7/11/2014 5:06:51 PM] Canto: There's a new slave in the temple, a young man. Handsome, but he's new, and afraid of you. The other slaves have moved on from the room, but he remains, being extra fastidious, scrubbing one particular section of the stone floor.

[7/11/2014 5:08:00 PM] Josie: ... why are you doing that?

[7/11/2014 5:08:59 PM] Canto: Slave:  I'm sorry. There's...

[7/11/2014 5:09:22 PM] Canto: He points to a scuff in the tan stone. "It... it won't come clean, I'm sorry..."

[7/11/2014 5:09:38 PM] Josie: It's been there for a hundred years. Move on.

[7/11/2014 5:10:27 PM] Canto: The slave flushes furiously. "I'm sorry." He leaves!

[7/11/2014 5:10:41 PM] Josie: I'm not going to feed you to the cats.

[7/11/2014 5:12:44 PM] Josie: Josie decides to disembowel whoever thought of that particular rumor, and shoos a cat out of the way, gently.

[7/11/2014 5:13:01 PM] Josie: I have to start, and you're not going to like the smell.

[7/11/2014 5:13:30 PM] Canto: Cat:  Mew.

[7/11/2014 5:14:52 PM] Josie: You wouldn't eat that one anyway. You have better taste.

[7/11/2014 5:15:38 PM] Josie: Josie starts a purification ritual, which involves burning various kinds of incense and using a broom to sweep metaphorical entities out. The cats get in the way, and she mostly works around them, nudging one aside on occasion.

[7/11/2014 5:16:07 PM] Canto: What god does she follow?

[7/11/2014 5:16:27 PM] Josie: Josie follows Bast.

[7/11/2014 5:20:29 PM] Canto: The Temple is a powerful site, the only thing of note in what is, otherwise a rather unremarkable village. As the priestess, Nefret knows that underneath the temple, in a natural chamber known only to the priestess and whoever succeeds her, is a well of natural power. It is the source of her power and the power of this temple.

[7/11/2014 5:23:07 PM] Josie: Josie finishes the ritual, and then scoops up one of the friendlier temple cats for a cuddle.

[7/11/2014 5:24:53 PM] Josie: You are getting very fat.

[7/11/2014 5:25:15 PM] Josie: We're going to have to begin calling you something that isn't Little One.

[7/11/2014 5:25:29 PM] Canto: Cat:  Mew!

[7/11/2014 5:26:04 PM] Josie: We're very lucky, we all have enough to eat. Perhaps I can get rid of the new slave.

[7/11/2014 5:28:25 PM] Canto: The small village does pretty well, largely thanks to you. The crops are always plentiful, the fishing is always fruitful, and the herds are always healthy. The village always has enough tribute to send on, and enough to keep and survive and thrive, so you avoid attracting attention.

[7/11/2014 5:28:42 PM] Canto: Cat:  Meeeew.

[7/11/2014 5:29:12 PM] Josie: I know he's handsome.

[7/11/2014 5:29:25 PM] Josie: But that isn't everything, you know.

[7/11/2014 5:30:34 PM] Canto: Cat:  Mew?

[7/11/2014 5:31:39 PM] Josie: I was promised he'd be very clever.

[7/11/2014 5:32:11 PM] Josie: He's a foreigner, of course. Or we would have paid more.

[7/11/2014 5:32:45 PM] Canto: Cat:  Mrow?

[7/11/2014 5:33:01 PM] Josie: *Yes.* It doesn't have to be a woman.

[7/11/2014 5:34:26 PM] Canto: Cat:  Mrrrrr.

[7/11/2014 5:35:51 PM] Josie: Now what do you mean by that? Of course it's my own fault, but we have to do it. This is not to be the only temple of Bast in the world.

[7/11/2014 5:35:53 PM] Josie: Selfish creature.

[7/11/2014 5:36:34 PM] Josie: I buy them, train them, send them on to other places.

[7/11/2014 5:36:51 PM] Josie: You miss Ti, that is all.

[7/11/2014 5:37:26 PM] Canto: Cat:  Mew!

[7/11/2014 5:37:53 PM] Josie: I do too, but *I* am not here to enjoy myself. She is better used doing Bast's work elsewhere.

[7/11/2014 5:42:01 PM] Canto: Cat:  Mh*ew*.

[7/11/2014 5:42:21 PM] Josie: If this new one doesn't learn we'll get rid of him! All right?

[7/11/2014 5:42:29 PM] Josie: ((Please tell me he heard that. Poor bastard.))

[7/11/2014 5:43:31 PM] Canto: You hear whimpering and the gentle scraping of bare feet on stone steps as he retreats somewhere!

[7/11/2014 5:44:21 PM] Josie: ... bother. Now he's heard me.

[7/11/2014 5:44:29 PM] Josie: Josie eyes the cat. "This is all your fault."

[7/11/2014 5:44:36 PM] Josie: Josie lets her down and chases after her slave.

[7/11/2014 5:46:30 PM] Canto: He's not hard to find! He's in one of the outbuildings pretending to look busy.

[7/11/2014 5:46:46 PM] Josie: What did you hear.

[7/11/2014 5:48:06 PM] Canto: Slave:  Nothing! Nothing.

[7/11/2014 5:48:16 PM] Josie: Josie rolls her eyes.

[7/11/2014 5:48:26 PM] Josie: I'm plain, not stupid.

[7/11/2014 5:50:27 PM] Canto: Slave:  Just... that I wasn't living up to expectations.

[7/11/2014 5:50:59 PM] Josie: I chose you because your owner said you were clever.

[7/11/2014 5:51:58 PM] Canto: Slave:  I'm... really not.

[7/11/2014 5:53:46 PM] Josie: ... bother.

[7/11/2014 5:53:58 PM] Josie: I don't feed people to cats.

[7/11/2014 5:54:03 PM] Josie: ... it would not be good for the cats.

[7/11/2014 5:54:26 PM] Canto: Slave:  ... I... hadn't heard that.

[7/11/2014 5:55:41 PM] Josie: No? I think the bones would disagree with them.

[7/11/2014 5:56:00 PM] Canto: Slave:  That you feed slaves to cats, I mean.

[7/11/2014 5:56:45 PM] Josie: ... oh. What *did* you hear?

[7/11/2014 5:58:11 PM] Canto: Slave:  Just... that you kill people for displeasing you. Sacrificing them for power.

[7/11/2014 5:59:23 PM] Josie: One person! *One*! And they never let you forget it!

[7/11/2014 6:00:17 PM] Canto: Slave:  ... that is one person more than my previous owner.

[7/11/2014 6:00:58 PM] Josie: Well do not lay violent hands upon  my person *in the temple* in the sight of the *goddess*, then!

[7/11/2014 6:01:10 PM] Josie: Josie scowls at him.

[7/11/2014 6:01:31 PM] Canto: He blanches a little!

[7/11/2014 6:01:48 PM] Josie: Surely that is not too much to ask.

[7/11/2014 6:03:19 PM] Canto: Slave:  Of course not! Who would dare lay hands on you?

[7/11/2014 6:04:28 PM] Josie: Currently? A small pile of bones in the desert.

[7/11/2014 6:05:37 PM] Josie: If you're clever and show aptitude, I can teach you; if you aren't and don't I can *either* sell you back, or keep you here to wait on me and keep the temple tidy. There are so *many* cats.

[7/11/2014 6:05:52 PM] Canto: Slave:  I... uh, noticed that.

[7/11/2014 6:06:39 PM] Josie: What kind of slave were you before?

[7/11/2014 6:07:38 PM] Canto: Slave:  I helped keep horses.

[7/11/2014 6:07:54 PM] Josie: Really.

[7/11/2014 6:07:57 PM] Josie: Josie *eyes* him.

[7/11/2014 6:08:08 PM] Canto: He nods.

[7/11/2014 6:08:25 PM] Josie: ... that's all? You look like that and they had you in the stable? I find that hard to believe.

[7/11/2014 6:13:41 PM] Canto: Slave:  ...look like what?

[7/11/2014 6:14:03 PM] Josie: Josie *eyes* him skeptically.

[7/11/2014 6:15:00 PM] Canto: He blinks! Still avoiding eye contact, though.

[7/11/2014 6:16:48 PM] Josie: ... you don't *know*?

[7/11/2014 6:19:43 PM] Canto: Slave:  ... that I look like this? Of course I know. But I was good with horses.

[7/11/2014 6:21:24 PM] Josie: Yes, they did tell me that.

[7/11/2014 6:21:37 PM] Josie: I had to outbid *three* women and a man who wanted you for a bed slave.

[7/11/2014 6:23:21 PM] Canto: Slave:  ... I am grateful.

[7/11/2014 6:23:58 PM] Josie: Not to your taste?

[7/11/2014 6:24:12 PM] Canto: Slave:  ...no, not really.

[7/11/2014 6:25:25 PM] Josie: I will keep that in mind for myself, then.

[7/11/2014 6:28:46 PM] Canto: He nods, nervously!

[7/11/2014 6:30:02 PM] Josie: ... that would make it harder to sell you again. To find a place. But I could do it.

[7/11/2014 6:30:54 PM] Josie: So. I'm not going to feed you to the sacred cats. I'm not going to force you to bed me and I'm not going to sell you to someone who will either. So you can stop being frightened of me at any time.

[7/11/2014 6:30:56 PM] Josie: Josie glowers at him.

[7/11/2014 6:31:44 PM] Canto: Slave: ... all right. I will try.

[7/11/2014 6:34:29 PM] Josie: I don't even like to *beat* my slaves.

[7/11/2014 6:35:20 PM] Canto: Slave:  ... I will do my best.

[7/11/2014 6:37:53 PM] Josie: Good. Now stop looking at me as if I were going to set you on fire. Do you have any questions?

[7/11/2014 6:38:37 PM] Canto: He shakes his head. "No."

[7/11/2014 6:39:31 PM] Josie: *None*?

[7/11/2014 6:40:55 PM] Canto: Slave:  ...none that occur at the moment. .... can you really do magic?

[7/11/2014 6:41:04 PM] Josie: Yes.

[7/11/2014 6:41:22 PM] Josie: I will teach you to do magic as well. If you have the aptitude.

[7/11/2014 6:41:45 PM] Canto: Slave:  ... me?

[7/11/2014 6:42:09 PM] Josie: No, the pretty man standing behind you. Yes, you.

[7/11/2014 6:42:53 PM] Canto: Slave:  ... I never... Is that possible?

[7/11/2014 6:43:07 PM] Josie: Not for everyone.

[7/11/2014 6:43:58 PM] Josie: For some.

[7/11/2014 6:45:05 PM] Canto: Slave:  How do you learn if you can?

[7/11/2014 6:46:26 PM] Josie: I'll test you. Do you want to learn?

[7/11/2014 6:46:47 PM] Canto: Slave:  ...yes, I think I would.

[7/11/2014 6:47:53 PM] Josie: I would teach you, then, and you would become an acolyte, and someday a priest. If you have the aptitude.

[7/11/2014 6:51:39 PM] Canto: He nods.

[7/11/2014 6:51:58 PM | Edited 6:52:05 PM] Canto: Slave:  ... what do I do?

[7/11/2014 6:52:36 PM] Josie: ... if not, perhaps I will teach you to read and write. That has its own magic and you would be worth more as a scribe than a bed slave.

[7/11/2014 6:52:49 PM] Josie: Give me your hand.

[7/11/2014 6:54:38 PM] Canto: He gives you his hand!

[7/11/2014 6:55:12 PM] Josie: Josie pokes it with a dagger before he can object, and smears the blood on it a bit.

[7/11/2014 6:58:20 PM] Canto: Slave:  Ow!

[7/11/2014 6:58:45 PM] Josie: Sorry. Come on.

[7/11/2014 6:59:10 PM] Josie: Josie takes his other hand and yoinks him back into the temple, where she nudges some cats out of the way and lights some incense.

[7/11/2014 7:00:28 PM] Canto: He gets yanked along! Curiousity seeming to overpower the fear.

[7/11/2014 7:01:25 PM] Josie: Josie burns some herbs and kneels at the altar to pray for a bit.

[7/11/2014 7:01:29 PM] Josie: ((So, is he or isn't he?))

[7/11/2014 7:03:00 PM] Canto: He has potential!

[7/11/2014 7:03:44 PM] Josie: Josie holds the dagger in the flame for a moment, and then stands up, brushing off her kilt.

[7/11/2014 7:03:59 PM] Josie: You can learn.

[7/11/2014 7:04:12 PM] Canto: Slave:  I can learn magic?

[7/11/2014 7:04:26 PM] Josie: Yes.

[7/11/2014 7:04:39 PM] Josie: *If* you work hard and *if* you listen well.

[7/11/2014 7:05:28 PM] Canto: Slave:  I can!

[7/11/2014 7:06:10 PM] Josie: Good.

[7/11/2014 7:09:11 PM] Josie: What was your name again?

[7/11/2014 7:10:00 PM] Canto: Slave:  Alit.

[7/11/2014 7:10:46 PM] Josie: Alit. I suppose that is acceptable. How did you come to be a slave, or were you born such?

[7/11/2014 7:11:14 PM] Canto: Alit:  My parents were slaves.

[7/11/2014 7:12:43 PM] Josie: Josie nods.

[7/11/2014 7:13:26 PM] Josie: For now you may help me clean up after the sacred cats.

[7/11/2014 7:13:37 PM] Josie: There are a great many of them, which pleaseth Bast and annoyeth me.

[7/11/2014 7:14:27 PM] Canto: Alit:  ... cats. I'm okay with cats. Do they bite?

[7/11/2014 7:14:35 PM] Josie: Some of them bite.

[7/11/2014 7:14:57 PM] Josie: Most do not.

[7/11/2014 7:15:06 PM] Josie: Most of them will scratch you if you startle them.

[7/11/2014 7:15:17 PM] Josie: ... a few will scratch you because they enjoy it.

[7/11/2014 7:16:31 PM] Canto: Alit:  ... I've never seen one so close up.

[7/11/2014 7:17:20 PM] Josie: Truly?

[7/11/2014 7:17:42 PM] Josie: Josie looks for one of the less homicidal cats and scoops her up, cuddling her a bit.

[7/11/2014 7:18:23 PM] Canto: Alit:  No. Just the horses.

[7/11/2014 7:20:06 PM] Josie: This is Aya. She's friendly enough. Hold your hands out.

[7/11/2014 7:20:31 PM] Canto: He does so!

[7/11/2014 7:20:40 PM] Josie: Josie hands him the cat.

[7/11/2014 7:21:12 PM] Josie: This one likes to have her ears rubbed. And she doesn't talk much.

[7/11/2014 7:21:48 PM] Canto: He takes the cat. "Meow,"  the cat said to him.

[7/11/2014 7:22:12 PM] Josie: ... she likes you.

[7/11/2014 7:22:33 PM] Josie: Go ahead and rub her ears.

[7/11/2014 7:22:57 PM] Canto: He does that! She seems pretty comfortable with him.

[7/11/2014 7:24:11 PM] Josie: Now, some of them hate to have their ears rubbed.

[7/11/2014 7:24:38 PM] Josie: And very nearly all will try to kill you if you pull on their tails or step on them.

[7/11/2014 7:25:02 PM] Josie: *Most* of them like to be scratched on the head.

[7/11/2014 7:25:27 PM] Josie: And many of them will squirm when they want to be put down. A few will simply turn and scratch you.

[7/11/2014 7:25:43 PM] Josie: Josie shows him some of the scars on her lower arms. "See?"

[7/11/2014 7:26:26 PM] Canto: He nods, and puts the cat down just as she's starting to squirm. He seems to have a talent with animals.

[7/11/2014 7:27:18 PM] Josie: Exactly!

[7/11/2014 7:27:40 PM] Josie: Sometimes they can be very disagreeable. I am a little like a cat myself, I think.

[7/11/2014 7:28:49 PM] Canto: Alit nods. "That is fitting, I think?"

[7/11/2014 7:29:45 PM] Josie: I think so. I do prefer them to horses--mad, stomping things.

[7/11/2014 7:30:40 PM] Canto: Alit:  They are not mad. They do stomp, though, if you're not careful. They are I think more ... predictable than cats?

[7/11/2014 7:31:07 PM] Josie: Perhaps, if you know them.

[7/11/2014 7:31:48 PM] Josie: These are all different from each other.

[7/11/2014 7:33:04 PM] Josie: That one there, the white one? She was the only survivor of her litter. Little One, she's called, though she's gotten quite fat. *She* is the true ruler of this temple.

[7/11/2014 7:33:59 PM] Josie: Bast may speak through her, or perhaps she's simply as smart as a human. But she understands when I talk to her.

[7/11/2014 7:34:02 PM] Canto: Little One:  Mew.

[7/11/2014 7:34:35 PM] Josie: Yes. Tell the others to be nice to him, he hasn't met cats before.

[7/11/2014 7:34:44 PM] Canto: Little One:  Mew?

[7/11/2014 7:35:08 PM] Josie: Of course.

[7/11/2014 7:35:26 PM] Josie: And I'm sure he won't.

[7/11/2014 7:39:30 PM] Canto: Alit:  ...what... did she say?

[7/11/2014 7:39:52 PM] Josie: She asked if she was still allowed to scratch you if you pinch or pull or kick or throw rocks.

[7/11/2014 7:40:46 PM | Removed 7:41:15 PM] Canto: This message has been removed.

[7/11/2014 7:41:02 PM | Removed 7:41:23 PM] Canto: This message has been removed.

[7/11/2014 7:41:34 PM] Canto: Alit:  ... I wouldn't do that.

[7/11/2014 7:41:41 PM] Josie: That is what I told her.

[7/11/2014 7:41:43 PM] Josie: Josie eyes him.

[7/11/2014 7:41:50 PM] Josie: You are *very* handsome.

[7/11/2014 7:41:54 PM] Josie: Josie says this in a very disapproving tone.

[7/11/2014 7:42:10 PM] Canto: Alit:  ... sorry?

[7/11/2014 7:44:46 PM] Josie: It can't be helped. I suppose it doesn't matter.

[7/11/2014 7:45:01 PM] Canto: Alit:  ... why would it?

[7/11/2014 7:45:50 PM] Josie: It is a potential distraction.

[7/11/2014 7:46:15 PM] Canto: Alit:  Oh.

[7/11/2014 7:46:26 PM] Josie: And an irritating reminder.

[7/11/2014 7:54:47 PM] Canto: Alit:  ... of what?

[7/11/2014 7:55:26 PM] Josie: That I'm ugly. I do *know* it.

[7/11/2014 7:57:03 PM] Josie: Josie isn't hideous, per se, but she *is* pretty bony and plain, with an enormous nose and bushy eyebrows that she doesn't shave off.

[7/11/2014 7:57:21 PM] Canto: Alit shrugs.

[7/11/2014 7:57:46 PM] Canto: But you can tell he's kind of getting nervous again!

[7/11/2014 7:58:41 PM] Josie: ... now what?

[7/11/2014 7:59:15 PM | Edited 7:59:23 PM] Canto: Alit:  I do not know how to respond.

[7/11/2014 7:59:35 PM] Josie: Be truthful. I know when people lie.

[7/11/2014 8:00:56 PM] Josie: ... and don't worry, I'm not bringing you to bed with me unless you decide you want to be there. Now go and fetch the pot, we're going to clean up the cats' breakfast.

[7/11/2014 8:04:04 PM] Canto: He nods! fast forward a bit. It turns out that Alit *is* clever. He learns quickly. He's just a bit timid and a tad cowardly.

[7/11/2014 8:05:12 PM] Canto: He's much more comfortable around animals than other people.

[7/11/2014 8:05:12 PM] Josie: Josie works hard on training that out of him, and keeps him learning.

[7/11/2014 8:10:33 PM] Canto: One day the village is abuzz! There are visitors from a foreign land to the North! Dignitaries, touring with some of the Pharoah's men.

[7/11/2014 8:12:00 PM] Josie: Josie gets Alit to help her get the place all purified (ritually) and cleaned up--well, as clean as it ever gets with this many cats. She's about ready to turn him loose, actually--he's doing really well. Though she's a bit attached, too.

[7/11/2014 8:16:41 PM] Canto: They come to the temple! There are three of the men from the north with their weird clothes and lighter skin. They're accompanied by a couple of guards and hangers on, servants and slaves. The Pharoah's man is there as well, making the introductions, and he has a couple of guards as well.

[7/11/2014 8:17:15 PM] Josie: Josie has a very hard time not staring at them. They look like undercooked dough.

[7/11/2014 8:18:14 PM] Canto: Yep!

[7/11/2014 8:19:37 PM] Canto: The one in the back, though, you feel something from. He might be a magician. He's fair-skinned and dark haired like the rest of the northerners, though.

[7/11/2014 8:19:50 PM] Canto: Rather unremarkable looking.

[7/11/2014 8:20:07 PM] Josie: Josie asks Alit if he's noticed.

[7/11/2014 8:23:23 PM] Canto: he has not!

[7/11/2014 8:23:56 PM] Josie: ... just be careful. They're dangerous.

[7/11/2014 8:29:10 PM] Canto: Alit:  ... they are? How?

[7/11/2014 8:29:37 PM] Josie: I don't know how, I just know they are. ... if anything happens, run.

[7/11/2014 8:30:25 PM] Josie: Now go away, and keep out of that one's sight.

[7/11/2014 8:30:57 PM] Canto: he does so!

[7/11/2014 8:31:22 PM] Josie: Josie is polite to the visitors and greets them politely. But with pride. She has a damn good temple!

[7/11/2014 8:34:11 PM] Canto: They seem pretty uninterested,except for the odd one, who is introduced as Darius. He almost misses your introduction because he's looking at the place, inspecting the corners, using his hands to measure the dimensions of the place.

[7/11/2014 8:34:43 PM] Josie: ... what are you doing?

[7/11/2014 8:36:35 PM] Canto: Darius:  Hmm? I'm sorry, am I being intrusive again?

[7/11/2014 8:37:34 PM] Josie: ... no, I just want to know what you're doing.

[7/11/2014 8:37:48 PM] Josie: Josie watches how the cats are reacting to him.

[7/11/2014 8:37:51 PM] Canto: The other Northerners are talking to the Pharoah's man. "Measuring."

[7/11/2014 8:38:17 PM] Josie: Why?

[7/11/2014 8:38:28 PM] Josie: Josie *especially* watches Little One's reaction.

[7/11/2014 8:39:26 PM] Canto: They're eying him! Little One is interested in him while trying to look compltely uninterested, but you can tell, as she's craning her neck and sniffing at him.

[7/11/2014 8:39:55 PM] Josie: What do you think?

[7/11/2014 8:40:07 PM] Josie: Josie is, in fact, asking the cat, but it probably sounds like she's asking the other mage.

[7/11/2014 8:41:28 PM] Canto: Darius:  It's a good temple. Amplification could be slightly more efficient, but only slightly. Use of space vs power ratios are better than most temples I've seen.

[7/11/2014 8:41:36 PM] Canto: He is, for the record, speaking perfect Egyptian.

[7/11/2014 8:41:49 PM] Canto: Little One:  Mew?

[7/11/2014 8:42:17 PM | Edited 8:42:36 PM] Josie: I was talking to the cat. Yes, of him. I don't care what he's got in his pouches.

[7/11/2014 8:43:19 PM] Canto: He doesn't respond, continuing to hold up his hands like a movie director and measure, mumbling to himself in his own language and occasionally ticking off his fingers like he's counting.

[7/11/2014 8:43:27 PM] Canto: Little One:  Mew.

[7/11/2014 8:43:53 PM] Josie: Josie relaxes a little bit.

[7/11/2014 8:43:54 PM] Josie: Are you *sure*?

[7/11/2014 8:44:13 PM] Canto: Little One eyes you! "Mew."

[7/11/2014 8:44:36 PM] Josie: Good. Now I've frightened Alit for nothing.

[7/11/2014 8:45:08 PM] Josie: And my temple is the *best* temple.

[7/11/2014 8:45:19 PM] Canto: Little One:  Meeeeeeeew.

[7/11/2014 8:49:09 PM] Josie: Josie eyes the cat. Is she rubbing up against the other mage or keeping away?

[7/11/2014 8:49:28 PM] Canto: She's getting close.

[7/11/2014 8:49:55 PM] Josie: What god do you follow?

[7/11/2014 8:50:34 PM] Canto: Darius:  It's a very good temple. If this column were here and that column were there, there'd be better amplification. You might want to move this statue as well.

[7/11/2014 8:50:54 PM] Canto: Darius:  God? My family pays tribute to many gods but I don't have a particular patron.

[7/11/2014 8:51:28 PM] Josie: Josie eyes the statue.

[7/11/2014 8:51:36 PM] Josie: ... it's heavy. Why would I move it, and to where?

[7/11/2014 8:54:21 PM] Canto: He looks around, and moves to a spot about seven feet away near one of the columns. He stops right on the spot that Little One sleeps in later in the day catch sunbeams. He indicates a place right beside that spot. "Here."

[7/11/2014 8:54:26 PM] Canto: Little One:  Mew.

[7/11/2014 8:55:05 PM] Josie: ... I'll have to get the slaves to do it, it's too heavy for me to lift.

[7/11/2014 8:55:11 PM] Josie: Josie eyes the cat. "Traitor."

[7/11/2014 8:56:24 PM] Canto: Darius:  Hmm?

[7/11/2014 8:56:35 PM] Canto: Little One looks innocent. "Mew?"

[7/11/2014 8:56:49 PM] Josie: She agrees.

[7/11/2014 8:57:02 PM] Josie: And I'm not strong enough to move it myself.

[7/11/2014 9:01:12 PM] Josie: Why are you so pale?

[7/11/2014 9:01:59 PM] Canto: Darius:  Because the sun isn't as bright where I come from.

[7/11/2014 9:02:57 PM] Josie: You are certain you're not ill?

[7/11/2014 9:03:35 PM] Canto: Darius:  I am as healthy as a horse.

[7/11/2014 9:03:44 PM] Josie: I hate horses.

[7/11/2014 9:05:28 PM] Josie: ... why are you here? And who are these others?

[7/11/2014 9:08:58 PM] Canto: Darius:  A goodwill tour, I think they called it? Or something? I don't keep track of the politics.

[7/11/2014 9:09:23 PM] Josie: I hate politics.

[7/11/2014 9:09:27 PM] Josie: You're a caster.

[7/11/2014 9:09:45 PM] Canto: Darius:  Yes.

[7/11/2014 9:10:05 PM] Josie: I am too.

[7/11/2014 9:10:17 PM] Canto: Darius:  I know.

[7/11/2014 9:10:48 PM] Josie: If you aren't here for political reasons, why are you here?

[7/11/2014 9:14:24 PM] Josie: Josie picks up Little One, cuddling her a bit.

[7/11/2014 9:15:07 PM] Canto: Darius:  To look around. I've never been here before.

[7/11/2014 9:15:51 PM] Josie: ... here.

[7/11/2014 9:15:54 PM] Josie: Josie hands him the cat.

[7/11/2014 9:16:24 PM] Canto: He takes the cat.

[7/11/2014 9:16:29 PM] Canto: Little One:  Mew.

[7/11/2014 9:17:06 PM | Edited 9:17:13 PM] Josie: She likes you. ... that is very significant.

[7/11/2014 9:17:34 PM] Canto: He raises an eyebrow. "How?

[7/11/2014 9:18:31 PM] Josie: She is the guardian of the temple.

[7/11/2014 9:18:48 PM] Josie: And usually a very good judge of character.

[7/11/2014 9:21:39 PM] Josie: ... though sometimes susceptible to the lure of fish.

[7/11/2014 9:22:33 PM] Canto: Darius:  I have no fish.

[7/11/2014 9:22:43 PM] Canto: Little One:  Mew.

[7/11/2014 9:23:58 PM] Josie: You did yesterday, she says.

[7/11/2014 9:24:22 PM] Canto: Darius:  Well, yes.

[7/11/2014 9:24:35 PM] Josie: May I touch you?

[7/11/2014 9:26:49 PM] Canto: Darius:  If you want. As long as you don't punch me.

[7/11/2014 9:26:56 PM] Josie: ... why would I strike you?

[7/11/2014 9:28:05 PM] Canto: Darius shrugs. "I don't know.  I just don't like being punched."

[7/11/2014 9:28:47 PM] Josie: Few do.

[7/11/2014 9:28:56 PM] Josie: Josie touches his arm, very lightly at first and then with normal pressure.

[7/11/2014 9:29:00 PM] Josie: ... it feels like ordinary skin.

[7/11/2014 9:30:14 PM] Canto: Darius:  Why wouldn't it?

[7/11/2014 9:31:15 PM] Josie: Because it looks like uncooked dough.

[7/11/2014 9:31:18 PM] Josie: You look ill.

[7/11/2014 9:31:30 PM] Canto: Darius:  I'm not.

[7/11/2014 9:33:39 PM] Josie: Agreed. Your temperature is normal.

[7/11/2014 9:33:51 PM] Josie: Would you care for some wine?

[7/11/2014 9:35:04 PM] Canto: Darius:  Very much!

[7/11/2014 9:35:36 PM] Josie: Come with me.

[7/11/2014 9:36:25 PM] Josie: Josie takes him next door to the little building where everyone stays, nudging cats out of the way, and looks for the second-best wine. She thinks better of it, and looks for the best.

[7/11/2014 9:37:16 PM] Canto: He looks around! He's still holding Little One, who is half-asleep.

[7/11/2014 9:37:56 PM] Josie: ... likely it is not what you're used to, but we live simply here.

[7/11/2014 9:38:30 PM] Josie: Josie finds the wine and pours it out -- in actual goblets. She was planning to hock those at some point but hasn't gotten around to it, so they're rather fancy.

[7/11/2014 9:46:28 PM] Canto: Darius shrugs. "It's fine.  You and the cats?"

[7/11/2014 9:47:06 PM] Josie: And a few slaves. And my acolyte.

[7/11/2014 9:47:56 PM] Canto: Darius nods.

[7/11/2014 9:48:16 PM] Josie: Normally we don't allow people in here.

[7/11/2014 9:48:35 PM] Canto: Darius:  Thank you for the invitation, then.

[7/11/2014 9:51:02 PM] Josie: What sort of magic do you do?

[7/11/2014 9:53:25 PM] Canto: Darius:   Everything in the world can be expressed by matematical formulae, and by manipulating that formula, you can manipulate the world. It's a kind of sympathetic magic.

[7/11/2014 9:54:17 PM] Josie: ... show me.

[7/11/2014 9:54:19 PM] Josie: Josie sips her own wine.

[7/11/2014 9:55:15 PM] Canto: Darius looks around for a subject!

[7/11/2014 9:56:22 PM] Josie: Josie has herself, lots of cats, some dishes, a small bed, and not much else.

[7/11/2014 9:57:20 PM] Canto: Darius:  What should I use?

[7/11/2014 9:57:32 PM] Canto: Darius:  This is your home, you choose.

[7/11/2014 9:57:55 PM] Josie: Me.

[7/11/2014 9:58:45 PM] Canto: Darius raises an eyebrow. "That shows an awful lot of trust.  What kind of magic should I work on you?"

[7/11/2014 10:00:07 PM] Josie: Little One likes you.

[7/11/2014 10:00:22 PM] Josie: Perhaps you could fix my nose.

[7/11/2014 10:00:28 PM] Josie: Josie is being very sarcastic.

[7/11/2014 10:00:41 PM] Canto: Darius:  What's wrong with it?

[7/11/2014 10:00:52 PM] Josie: It is much too large.

[7/11/2014 10:03:11 PM] Josie: ... obviously.

[7/11/2014 10:04:05 PM] Canto: Darius:  Is it? I like it. Why haven't you magicked it if you don't?

[7/11/2014 10:04:41 PM] Josie: ... you *are* foreign, I suppose you don't know any better.

[7/11/2014 10:05:05 PM] Josie: And that would be a selfish use of my power.

[7/11/2014 10:05:44 PM] Canto: Darius:  Oh. Well. What should I do, then?

[7/11/2014 10:06:20 PM] Josie: ... fill the cats' water trough with cold water.

[7/11/2014 10:08:43 PM] Canto: Darius nods and looks at the trough in question, sipping from his goblet. He looks thoughtful, mumbling something very quickly under his breath. He holds up a finger and seems to be writing something in mid air, though you're not sure what.

[7/11/2014 10:09:02 PM] Canto: After a few moments. "There.  Should be cold water in there, now, check."

[7/11/2014 10:09:30 PM] Josie: Josie stands up and dips a hand in it.

[7/11/2014 10:09:36 PM] Josie: ... you know how to write.

[7/11/2014 10:12:08 PM] Canto: It's cold water!

[7/11/2014 10:12:17 PM] Canto: Darius nods. "Yes."

[7/11/2014 10:12:42 PM] Josie: Josie smiles, and, in a *rare* moment of mischievousness, takes a couple of drops and flicks them at him.

[7/11/2014 10:13:09 PM] Canto: He smiles a little. "I hope that your friends approve."

[7/11/2014 10:14:05 PM] Josie: Of course they will, they prefer fresh water when they can get it.

[7/11/2014 10:14:23 PM] Josie: And the river is a long walk from here.

[7/11/2014 10:14:57 PM] Canto: He nods. "I didn't make water, I just changed the water that was in there, made it fresh and cold."

[7/11/2014 10:15:23 PM] Josie: I make it sometimes.

[7/11/2014 10:16:04 PM] Josie: They like it better when Alit brings it, even when it's not as cold.

[7/11/2014 10:18:34 PM] Canto: Darius:  That's your Acolyte?

[7/11/2014 10:18:56 PM] Josie: Yes.

[7/11/2014 10:18:59 PM] Josie: Animals love him.

[7/11/2014 10:20:47 PM] Canto: Darius nods, and sits back.

[7/11/2014 10:21:12 PM] Josie: It's his magic.

[7/11/2014 10:23:47 PM] Canto: Darius:  How long have you been at this temple?

[7/11/2014 10:24:01 PM] Josie: Since I was 10.

[7/11/2014 10:24:34 PM] Josie: The priestess chose me as her successor.

[7/11/2014 10:24:46 PM] Josie: ... or the cats did. I'm not sure.

[7/11/2014 10:25:38 PM] Canto: Darius nods. "Where did you come from originally?"

[7/11/2014 10:26:17 PM] Josie: A village  not far from here.

[7/11/2014 10:26:48 PM] Josie: Josie picks up one of the kittens and starts playing with him, letting him gnaw on her fingers a bit.

[7/11/2014 10:29:16 PM] Canto: Darius:  I also live in a temple back home. It's a place of power.

[7/11/2014 10:29:36 PM] Josie: I thought you said you didn't have a patron.

[7/11/2014 10:30:18 PM] Canto: Darius:  I don't. The temple hasn't been used for some time. It was a temple of Poseidon a long time ago.

[7/11/2014 10:30:44 PM] Josie: ... Poseidon?

[7/11/2014 10:30:52 PM] Josie: Josie stumbles a bit over the name, it's obviously unfamiliar.

[7/11/2014 10:31:51 PM] Canto: Darius:  God of the seas and the depths.

[7/11/2014 10:32:24 PM] Josie: Have you seen the seas and the depths?

[7/11/2014 10:34:53 PM] Canto: Darius:  Not the depths. But I've traveled the sea before.

[7/11/2014 10:35:15 PM] Josie: Someone told me it looks like the desert but moves like the river.

[7/11/2014 10:35:31 PM] Canto: Darius:  That's a good description.

[7/11/2014 10:36:40 PM] Josie: I would like to see it. But my duties keep me here.

[7/11/2014 10:39:03 PM] Canto: Darius:  Close your eyes.

[7/11/2014 10:39:31 PM] Josie: Josie closes her eyes.

[7/11/2014 10:40:34 PM] Canto: You hear him mumbling again, and the creak of his chair as he pantomimes writing in the air again. "Open your eyes now."

[7/11/2014 10:41:02 PM] Josie: Josie opens her eyes.

[7/11/2014 10:41:46 PM] Canto: You're on the deck of a boat, crossing the mediterranean!

[7/11/2014 10:41:53 PM] Josie: Josie gasps.

[7/11/2014 10:42:18 PM] Josie: It's... it's *huge*! Where is ... where is *anything*?

[7/11/2014 10:42:35 PM] Josie: Josie gapes a bit and stares out at the water.

[7/11/2014 10:43:24 PM] Canto: He stands beside you, and points! "There is land, my home." He points to a landmass!

[7/11/2014 10:43:41 PM] Canto: Darius:  Your home is that way.

[7/11/2014 10:43:45 PM] Canto: He points again!

[7/11/2014 10:44:26 PM] Josie: It's so *big.*

[7/11/2014 10:44:37 PM] Josie: And everything is moving!

[7/11/2014 10:44:52 PM | Edited 10:49:55 PM] Josie: Josie actually sounds happy about this; she's immune to seasickness it seems.

[7/11/2014 10:52:47 PM] Canto: Darius nods. "This was the trip over to your kingdom.  We had calm seas."

[7/11/2014 10:53:03 PM] Josie: ... it's beautiful.

[7/11/2014 10:53:11 PM] Josie: Show me something else. ... in a moment.

[7/11/2014 10:56:07 PM] Josie: ... show me where you come from.

[7/11/2014 10:57:51 PM] Canto: Darius:  Close your eyes again.

[7/11/2014 10:58:17 PM] Josie: Josie closes her eyes.

[7/11/2014 10:58:57 PM] Canto: AFter a few moments:  Okay, open them now.

[7/11/2014 10:59:07 PM] Josie: Josie opens them again.

[7/11/2014 11:01:38 PM] Canto: You're in a building made of marble! Set in the floor is a mosaic depicting a large man coming out of the sea! there are many stairs and columns. It is most tranquil.

[7/11/2014 11:02:27 PM] Josie: ... your temple.

[7/11/2014 11:02:29 PM] Josie: It's so quiet.

[7/11/2014 11:03:20 PM] Canto: Darius:  I don't have any cats. And the slaves don't come into the sanctuary.

[7/11/2014 11:03:33 PM] Josie: ... aren't you lonely?

[7/11/2014 11:04:08 PM] Canto: Darius:  I have my books and my magics.

[7/11/2014 11:04:27 PM] Josie: ... that's not an answer.

[7/11/2014 11:05:01 PM] Canto: Darius:  Sometimes. Aren't you? People like us are lonely. It's one of the prices we say.

[7/11/2014 11:05:27 PM] Josie: ... a little, but I have Alit and the cats to talk to.

[7/11/2014 11:09:15 PM] Josie: Josie looks at him.

[7/11/2014 11:09:52 PM] Canto: He looks back!

[7/11/2014 11:10:44 PM] Josie: Josie takes his hand and squeezes it.

[7/11/2014 11:12:18 PM] Canto: He smiles a little!

[7/11/2014 11:12:49 PM] Josie: Josie thinks: He would be handsome if his skin wasn't the color of a dead fish belly.

[7/11/2014 11:13:22 PM] Josie: ... show me your city. Please.

[7/11/2014 11:15:51 PM] Canto: He nods. "I will.  Close your eyes."

[7/11/2014 11:16:05 PM] Josie: Josie closes her eyes. And keeps his hand.

[7/11/2014 11:19:44 PM] Canto: Darius:  Okay. Open them again.

[7/11/2014 11:20:03 PM] Canto: You find yourself in the middle of a bustling grecian marketplace!

[7/11/2014 11:20:40 PM] Josie: ... how many people *live* here?!

[7/11/2014 11:21:51 PM] Canto: Darius:  Many. Thousands.

[7/11/2014 11:23:39 PM] Josie: *Thousands.* How do you care for them all?

[7/11/2014 11:23:46 PM] Josie: ... even the skinned knees alone...

[7/11/2014 11:24:43 PM | Edited 11:25:43 PM] Canto: Darius:  We have doctors and healers. Healing is not one of my gifts. I do what I can for the community.

[7/11/2014 11:25:30 PM] Josie: Oh! ... it isn't one of my talents either, but I do my best.

[7/11/2014 11:30:46 PM] Canto: Darius:  How many people in your community?

[7/11/2014 11:31:55 PM] Josie: Two hundred thirty-seven.

[7/11/2014 11:32:38 PM] Canto: Darius:  Many people here are afraid of me.

[7/11/2014 11:34:11 PM] Josie: ... you do not seem very fearsome to me.

[7/11/2014 11:34:26 PM] Josie: I was worried at first. Casters are like cats; we don't always get along.

[7/11/2014 11:34:42 PM] Canto: Darius:  Very true.

[7/11/2014 11:35:21 PM] Josie: And your appearance is somewhat... strange.

[7/11/2014 11:37:30 PM | Edited 11:37:42 PM] Canto: Darius:  I don't find it strange.

[7/11/2014 11:39:42 PM] Josie: Here, only the ill are that color.

[7/11/2014 11:40:14 PM] Josie: And I have heard stories of those who wear a pale skin and drink the blood of humans.

[7/11/2014 11:42:10 PM] Canto: Darius:  Yes... from far to the north.

[7/11/2014 11:42:27 PM] Canto: He smiles and waves a hand before your eyes, and you're back in your small house.

[7/11/2014 11:43:35 PM] Josie: North is north.

[7/11/2014 11:43:51 PM] Josie: Josie shrugs.

[7/11/2014 11:43:57 PM] Josie: What is the name of your home?

[7/11/2014 11:44:08 PM] Canto: ((I don't know. -_-))

[7/11/2014 11:45:48 PM] Canto: Darius:  Athens.

[7/11/2014 11:46:46 PM] Josie: Athens.

[7/11/2014 11:47:04 PM] Josie: Are you thought very handsome there?

[7/11/2014 11:47:33 PM] Canto: Darius:  No.

[7/11/2014 11:48:41 PM] Josie: You would be here, if you were not so very pale.

[7/11/2014 11:48:47 PM] Josie: Though one can get used to that.

[7/11/2014 11:51:29 PM] Josie: Josie touches his forehead, checking the temperature again.

[7/11/2014 11:52:26 PM] Canto: He is not ill!

[7/11/2014 11:57:22 PM] Canto: Darius:  Besides. Even if I were, people would be afraid of me. They all think I'll cast a spell on them.

[7/11/2014 11:59:41 PM] Josie: ... you have cast several on me. I have no objection.

[7/12/2014 12:00:43 AM] Canto: Darius:  You're also not afraid of me.

[7/12/2014 12:01:12 AM] Josie: *I* am not afraid of anyone.

[7/12/2014 12:11:15 AM] Canto: Darius:  Clearly.

[7/12/2014 12:15:54 AM] Josie: Josie frowns.

[7/12/2014 12:16:31 AM] Canto: Darius:  What?

[7/12/2014 12:17:48 AM] Josie: ... I have just realized I don't know how this works.

[7/12/2014 12:20:39 AM] Canto: Darius:  How what works?

[7/12/2014 12:23:47 AM] Josie: Ah, I see.

[7/12/2014 12:23:56 AM] Josie: I'm reading you incorrectly.

[7/12/2014 12:24:05 AM] Josie: ... sorry.

[7/12/2014 12:24:36 AM] Canto: Darius blinks. Then he kisses her!

[7/12/2014 12:25:10 AM] Josie: ... or not.

[7/12/2014 12:25:19 AM] Josie: Josie kisses him back like a starving person.

[7/12/2014 12:30:12 AM] Canto: Curtain?

[7/12/2014 12:30:34 AM | Edited 12:33:33 AM] Josie: ((Yep, definitely, very much so.))

[7/12/2014 12:33:20 AM] Josie: ((She's going to be so embarassed when she finds out she slept with Theo when she was a cranky autocratic Egyptian priestess.))

[7/12/2014 12:34:22 AM] Canto: ((Hee!))

[7/12/2014 12:34:40 AM] Canto: ((Might not be him!))

[7/12/2014 12:34:52 AM] Josie: ((Fits, though.))

[7/12/2014 12:35:34 AM] Canto: ((Maaaaybe. Maybe it's someone else!))

[7/12/2014 12:37:25 AM] Josie: ((Even worse!))

[7/12/2014 12:37:39 AM] Josie: ((And now her boss knows she was a total skank in a former life.))

[7/12/2014 12:38:21 AM] Josie: ((Only not really, because Bast absorbed some of Hathor's portfolio there and she got all childbirthy. Nefret would like some kittens of her own.))

[7/12/2014 12:39:00 AM] Canto: ((I don't think he's judging. ))

[7/12/2014 12:42:42 AM] Canto: ((Actually, he's not really aware what she's experiencing while she's under, she's not actually narrating all this stuff out loud.))

[7/12/2014 12:44:40 AM] Josie: ((Thank goodness!))

[7/12/2014 12:48:05 AM] Josie: ((Keep goin'?))

[7/12/2014 12:49:06 AM] Canto: ((Yep! Just needed a drink.))

[7/12/2014 12:52:51 AM] Josie: Josie may have hurt him a little bit, largely out of enthusiasm. Like her cats she has some claws.

[7/12/2014 12:56:57 AM] Josie: ((His back may be a *leetle* scratched up is what I'm saying.))

[7/12/2014 12:59:11 AM] Canto: He doesn't seem to mind. It's all in all very pleasant! Gets mildly awkward when Little One sticks herself right between you two afterwards.

[7/12/2014 12:59:38 AM] Josie: ... you are a terrible cat.

[7/12/2014 1:00:30 AM] Canto: Darius:  Pretty sure that's what cats do.

[7/12/2014 1:01:55 AM] Josie: Be in the least convenient position at any given time? Yes.

[7/12/2014 1:02:17 AM] Josie: Josie nudges the cat a bit so she can snuggle both of them at a time.

[7/12/2014 1:03:57 AM | Edited 1:06:19 AM] Canto: Little One:  Mew.

[7/12/2014 1:05:03 AM] Josie: ((Attribution correct or no?))

[7/12/2014 1:06:06 AM] Canto: ((Oh, no.  Man, I'm out of it tonight.))

[7/12/2014 1:06:29 AM] Josie: ... how long are you staying?

[7/12/2014 1:09:52 AM] Canto: Darius:  I'm not sure. A few days, at least while the ambassadors range out a bit from the village.

[7/12/2014 1:11:03 AM] Josie: That is not very long.

[7/12/2014 1:12:07 AM] Canto: Darius:  ... no. I have my own temple I need to return to before too long.

[7/12/2014 1:12:49 AM] Josie: Yes. Responsibilities.

[7/12/2014 1:14:20 AM] Canto: Darius:  ...but I'm here until then, at least. Depends on how long they take.

[7/12/2014 1:15:39 AM] Josie: If you wish you may spend as much of it as you like here, with me.

[7/12/2014 1:16:00 AM] Josie: But there is not much to see here. Nothing like your ocean and the places beyond.

[7/12/2014 1:19:36 AM] Canto: Darius:  Oh, I don't know. I like it here. Though it is warmer than I'm used to.

[7/12/2014 1:20:46 AM] Josie: ... it has been unseasonably cool this month.

[7/12/2014 1:21:59 AM] Canto: Darius:  This is cool?

[7/12/2014 1:22:18 AM] Josie: ... perhaps your skin feels the temperature differently.

[7/12/2014 1:23:31 AM] Canto: Darius:  It could be.

[7/12/2014 1:26:49 AM] Josie: If we had no responsibilities, I would ask to go with you when you leave. To see the ocean. There are other places, too. I have seen pictures of places where there are nothing but trees, as far as the eye can see.

[7/12/2014 1:28:39 AM] Canto: Darius:  You mean a forest? Yes... and there are places where there's ice everywhere, all over the ground...

[7/12/2014 1:29:00 AM] Josie: What is ice?

[7/12/2014 1:33:20 AM] Canto: Darius:  Water that is so cold that it becomes solid.

[7/12/2014 1:33:45 AM] Josie: .... impossible, surely?

[7/12/2014 1:34:36 AM] Canto: Darius shakes his head. "I've seen it happen."

[7/12/2014 1:34:55 AM] Josie: Show me. ... please.

[7/12/2014 1:36:19 AM] Canto: Darius sits up and begins casting a spell in his strange manner.

[7/12/2014 1:37:37 AM] Josie: Josie curls up around him a bit while he does.

[7/12/2014 1:40:02 AM] Canto: Soon, he has a small shard of what looks like a white-clear rock in his hand! He puts it against your skin.

[7/12/2014 1:40:14 AM] Josie: Ai! It burns!

[7/12/2014 1:40:54 AM] Canto: He shakes his head, and you see that it it leaves a trail of water as he moves it! "It's just very cold."

[7/12/2014 1:41:57 AM] Josie: ... so cold it *burns.* That is entirely mad.

[7/12/2014 1:42:41 AM] Josie: Josie takes it from him, or tries to--it slips out of her hands.

[7/12/2014 1:42:45 AM] Josie: Josie laughs.

[7/12/2014 1:43:23 AM] Canto: Little one sniffs at it and starts licking it.

[7/12/2014 1:43:45 AM] Josie: Ah, she likes it! You must show me how to make it. Please.

[7/12/2014 1:44:16 AM] Canto: He nods. "I can do that.  It is a simple spell.  It's just very cold water, after all."

[7/12/2014 1:45:06 AM] Josie: How di... wait.

[7/12/2014 1:45:18 AM] Josie: You said there are places where that's all over the ground?

[7/12/2014 1:45:34 AM] Josie: ... it must burn their feet like the desert sands at midday.

[7/12/2014 1:46:42 AM] Josie: They must always have sandals to go outside.

[7/12/2014 1:47:20 AM] Josie: ... it's getting smaller.

[7/12/2014 1:48:57 AM] Canto: Darius:  It's melting and becoming normal water again.

[7/12/2014 1:49:40 AM] Josie: And that can cover the ground?

[7/12/2014 1:51:25 AM] Canto: Darius:  If it's very cold outside, yes.

[7/12/2014 1:51:55 AM] Josie: ... you've seen so many things.

[7/12/2014 1:52:13 AM] Canto: Darius:  I've only read about snow.

[7/12/2014 1:52:36 AM] Josie: Snow. Another Athens word?

[7/12/2014 1:53:08 AM] Canto: Darius nods. "It's like sand, but it's made of frozen water.  It's softer, though.

[7/12/2014 1:54:20 AM] Josie: ... can you make that as well? If you haven't seen it.

[7/12/2014 1:55:15 AM] Canto: Darius shakes his head. "No, I've never been able to."

[7/12/2014 5:10:06 PM] Canto: So, Darius was showing her the wonders of ice after their liason! Real-world Josie might be blushing at remembering!

[7/12/2014 5:10:54 PM] Josie: Josie doesn't remember! She *is* Nefret at this point.

[7/12/2014 5:11:07 PM] Canto: Very trues.

[7/12/2014 5:11:33 PM] Josie: I could show you the village. If you want to see it.

[7/12/2014 5:12:13 PM] Canto: Darius:  I would like that. What was here first, the temple or the village?

[7/12/2014 5:13:43 PM] Josie: The temple.

[7/12/2014 5:14:56 PM] Canto: Darius:  That makes sense.

[7/12/2014 5:15:18 PM] Josie: Why?

[7/12/2014 5:16:38 PM] Canto: Darius:  The well of power was first. Then the temple. Then the community was formed around the temple.

[7/12/2014 5:17:18 PM] Josie: ... it would be difficult to keep the temple *without* a village.

[7/12/2014 5:18:48 PM] Canto: Darius:  It's symbiotic. The temple helps the village, the village helps the temple.

[7/12/2014 5:19:46 PM] Josie: I have been able to assist with the weather, and the health of animals.

[7/12/2014 5:21:04 PM] Canto: Darius nods. "Probably the very first priest or priestess came here and built the earliest temple.  They brough their family, or their servants, and that was the start of the village.  And from there, they continued building each other.

[7/12/2014 5:21:57 PM] Josie: ... we have been prospering.

[7/12/2014 5:22:28 PM] Josie: Josie kisses him, and puts her dress back on. She also pulls out a pair of sandals and puts those on as well.

[7/12/2014 5:23:02 PM] Canto: He pulls his odd foreign robes on!

[7/12/2014 5:23:33 PM] Josie: You would be more comfortable in lighter colors.

[7/12/2014 5:24:54 PM] Josie: ... although that blue is very striking.

[7/12/2014 5:25:11 PM] Canto: Darius smiles. "Well, you can help me with that."

[7/12/2014 5:25:36 PM] Josie: Does the dye run much when you wash it?

[7/12/2014 5:27:13 PM] Canto: Darius:  I don't believe so. I don't wash it myself. But the color doesn't fade.

[7/12/2014 5:28:54 PM] Josie: Like a king.

[7/12/2014 5:29:15 PM] Josie: They wear blue and purple. Rare dyes.

[7/12/2014 5:29:37 PM] Josie: Josie runs her fingers along the hem of the robe.

[7/12/2014 5:31:14 PM] Canto: Darius:  Well. I'm not a king.

[7/12/2014 5:32:30 PM] Canto: Darius: I am wealthy, though. I have land and slaves. My counsel is appreciated.

[7/12/2014 5:33:44 PM] Josie: Land? What do you grow on it?

[7/12/2014 5:36:02 PM] Canto: Darius:  Barley, mostly.

[7/12/2014 5:36:22 PM] Josie: Hmm.

[7/12/2014 5:36:34 PM] Josie: Josie kisses him a little bit.

[7/12/2014 5:38:27 PM] Canto: Darius kisses her and finishes straigtening out his robes. "Shall we go?"

[7/12/2014 5:38:33 PM] Josie: Yes.

[7/12/2014 5:39:18 PM] Josie: Josie picks up one of the kittens and brings him with her on the way out, and starts walking along the path to the village.

[7/12/2014 5:39:24 PM] Josie: It isn't a long walk.

[7/12/2014 5:40:05 PM] Canto: Darius:  I'm not as frail as I look.

[7/12/2014 5:40:55 PM] Josie: I don't think you look frail.

[7/12/2014 5:41:01 PM] Josie: ... I *know* you're not frail.

[7/12/2014 5:41:13 PM] Canto: Darius:  I mean, I just look ill.

[7/12/2014 5:41:16 PM] Canto: He smiles a little.

[7/12/2014 5:41:42 PM] Josie: I know.

[7/12/2014 5:42:21 PM] Josie: When the sun goes down it will be better. And the trees along the path help. ... my slaves water the ones nearest the temple and the townspeople water the ones near town.

[7/12/2014 5:44:44 PM] Canto: Darius nods. "I'm okay.  I can handle the heat."

[7/12/2014 5:45:53 PM] Canto: Darius:  How old are the trees?

[7/12/2014 5:46:20 PM] Josie: I don't know. ... they were small when I was young.

[7/12/2014 5:47:39 PM] Canto: Darius looks at the trees!

[7/12/2014 5:48:21 PM] Josie: ... they bear figs at the right season.

[7/12/2014 5:49:29 PM] Canto: Darius:  The power of the temple energizes them.

[7/12/2014 5:51:29 PM] Canto: Darius:  You can feel it.

[7/12/2014 5:51:42 PM] Canto: He puts his hand against one of the tree trunks!

[7/12/2014 5:51:58 PM] Canto: Darius:  The roots draw strength from the well underground.

[7/12/2014 5:55:23 PM] Canto: Darius:  Your villagers -- they are strong and healthy, yes?

[7/12/2014 6:02:51 PM] Josie: ... yes, of course.

[7/12/2014 6:03:15 PM] Josie: I keep them healthy as best I can. ... they don't seem to sicken often.

[7/12/2014 6:03:33 PM] Josie: But of course there are the usual complement of accidents and mishaps. Childbirths gone wrong and the like.

[7/12/2014 6:03:53 PM] Canto: Darius nods. "It's the soil.  The magic from the well is taken in by the plants."

[7/12/2014 6:04:05 PM] Josie: Truly?

[7/12/2014 6:04:24 PM] Josie: ... our trees do seem much larger than the ones in the next village over.

[7/12/2014 6:04:49 PM] Josie: I had always thought it was that we water more frequently and do not let the dry season overtake them.

[7/12/2014 6:05:18 PM] Canto: Darius nods. "It's all connected.  It's quite beautiful, really."

[7/12/2014 6:05:59 PM] Josie: Josie smiles.

[7/12/2014 6:06:30 PM] Josie: It is my home.

[7/12/2014 6:07:26 PM] Canto: Darius:  My temple is in the city. So there is not as much... interconnectedness.

[7/12/2014 6:07:49 PM] Josie: So many people.

[7/12/2014 6:07:51 PM] Josie: Josie shakes her head.

[7/12/2014 6:09:02 PM] Josie: See, now we're closer to the river. That farmhouse, there. I saved their goat from bleeding to death when one of her kids would not come out.

[7/12/2014 6:09:42 PM] Josie: It does not sound like much, and now they have many goats, but then they had only two, brought from the north.

[7/12/2014 6:09:56 PM] Canto: Darius nods. "I like goats."

[7/12/2014 6:10:18 PM] Canto: ((brb, need food.))

[7/12/2014 6:11:35 PM] Josie: They are usually very friendly. These days I send Alit for such things, he has greater talent than I for animals. Now, when it is a woman in childbirth I go, if I can.

[7/12/2014 6:16:04 PM] Josie: Or any dispute that requires a judgment.

[7/12/2014 6:22:01 PM] Canto: Darius nods. "What kind of judgements?"

[7/12/2014 6:24:13 PM] Josie: Whose land is whose, whose son is whose, whose cow is whose and who slighted who.

[7/12/2014 6:31:32 PM] Canto: Darius:  so you lead the village.

[7/12/2014 6:33:01 PM] Josie: No, I just make all the decisions nobody else wants to.

[7/12/2014 6:35:40 PM] Canto: Darius:  Mmm.

[7/12/2014 6:37:45 PM] Canto: Darius:  Do the people love you, or fear you?

[7/12/2014 6:38:03 PM] Josie: They are afraid of me.

[7/12/2014 6:38:13 PM] Josie: ... but they need me.

[7/12/2014 6:39:51 PM] Canto: Darius:  Why are they afraid of you?

[7/12/2014 6:40:41 PM] Josie: Josie mumblemumble one time.

[7/12/2014 6:41:19 PM] Canto: Darius:  I didn't quite catch that.

[7/12/2014 6:43:41 PM] Josie: I set someone on fire one time. ONE TIME.

[7/12/2014 6:43:49 PM] Josie: It isn't as if I make a habit of it!

[7/12/2014 6:43:59 PM] Canto: Darius:  Why did you do that?

[7/12/2014 6:44:40 PM] Josie: He laid violent hands on me in the temple. In *my* temple!

[7/12/2014 6:45:58 PM] Canto: Darius:  Who was he?

[7/12/2014 6:51:01 PM] Josie: A goldsmith.

[7/12/2014 6:54:31 PM] Canto: Darius:  Why did he lay hands on you?

[7/12/2014 6:55:21 PM] Josie: ... I said no. I didn't like his face.

[7/12/2014 6:57:00 PM] Canto: Darius:  That seems like a good reason.

[7/12/2014 6:58:06 PM] Josie: Sometimes people try to gain favor with me, while wishing to avoid the appearance of doing so. I find it... irksome.

[7/12/2014 6:59:44 PM] Canto: Darius:  ... why wouldn't they want to look like they're trying to gain favor with you?

[7/12/2014 7:00:04 PM] Josie: Because they want me to think they care about *me* and not what I can do for them.

[7/12/2014 7:01:57 PM] Canto: Darius:  Oh. I see.

[7/12/2014 7:03:33 PM] Josie: I don't like pretense.

[7/12/2014 7:05:11 PM] Canto: Darius:  Me neither. I find them overly complicated.

[7/12/2014 7:07:51 PM] Canto: Darius:  Probably why I'm terrible at politics.

[7/12/2014 7:08:56 PM] Josie: I can sort out problems effectively. I suppose that *is* politics.

[7/12/2014 7:11:14 PM] Josie: Ah, see that farmhouse? The woman fell picking dates and broke a leg. I was able to mend it, though she still limps.

[7/12/2014 7:11:36 PM] Canto: Darius nods. "Are your people mostly farmers?"

[7/12/2014 7:13:24 PM] Josie: No, we have smiths and coopers and potters and builders.

[7/12/2014 7:14:28 PM] Josie: Weavers, dyers, merchants and traders.

[7/12/2014 7:20:20 PM] Canto: Darius:  A very full community.

[7/12/2014 7:22:49 PM] Canto: Darius:  or... complete, at least.

[7/12/2014 7:23:19 PM] Josie: It is a small community, but yes, we have many things.

[7/12/2014 7:23:57 PM] Josie: Josie brings him into town and shows him around a little bit! While people don't actively run away or cross to the other side of the path when she turns up, they do move a little quicker to get where they're going.

[7/12/2014 7:26:07 PM] Canto: He looks around! He seems most interested in the plantlife, and the livestock.

[7/12/2014 7:26:57 PM] Josie: Josie tries to tell him about that, gesturing with the kitten in her hand, which doesn't seem to mind much.

[7/12/2014 7:27:33 PM] Canto: He asks a lot of questions!

[7/12/2014 7:30:29 PM] Josie: Josie doesn't mind answering them! She also tries to introduce him to the town's elders.

[7/12/2014 7:37:28 PM] Canto: He does! He's... well, kind of awkward. How does she introduce him?

[7/12/2014 7:38:12 PM] Josie: Josie introduces him as a very important visiting dignitary, accompanied by the pharaoh's staff.

[7/12/2014 7:40:07 PM] Josie: Josie is rather proud of him actually!

[7/12/2014 7:40:38 PM] Canto: He's very polite!

[7/12/2014 7:41:28 PM] Josie: Josie will probably shout at anyone who isn't polite, so that's for the best.

[7/12/2014 7:41:56 PM] Canto: They probably assume he's magic.

[7/12/2014 7:43:02 PM] Josie: Josie checks on the women in the village who are pregnant, while she's there, and also checks one of the men who's been ill.

[7/12/2014 7:49:56 PM] Josie: Josie asks Darius his opinion on each.

[7/12/2014 7:51:01 PM] Canto: He makes suggestions! But you seem to have more basic knowledge on health!

[7/12/2014 7:51:20 PM] Canto: You're sure he's never helped deliver a child, or a goat, or anything.

[7/12/2014 7:54:19 PM] Josie: Josie knows he has other mages for that where he's from, and just does what she probably would have done anyway, explaining it, ostensibly for the people but really for Darius.

[7/12/2014 7:55:41 PM | Edited 7:58:40 PM] Canto: He's actually continually curious, asking lots of questions.

[7/12/2014 7:58:09 PM] Josie: Josie answers everything she can!

[7/12/2014 8:03:35 PM] Canto: You can tell he's taking copious mental notes!

[7/12/2014 8:04:54 PM] Josie: Josie eventually, after sunset, starts walking with him back to the temple, having left the cat behind to watch over one of her families.

[7/12/2014 8:05:22 PM] Canto: Darius:  Why did you leave the kitten?

[7/12/2014 8:07:01 PM] Josie: They're greatly prized as hunters. And we have too many at the temple.

[7/12/2014 8:09:35 PM] Canto: Darius nods.

[7/12/2014 8:09:40 PM] Josie: And they remind people of Bast.

[7/12/2014 8:10:17 PM] Canto: Darius:  What does Bast stand for?

[7/12/2014 8:10:30 PM] Josie: Warfare.

[7/12/2014 8:10:35 PM] Josie: ... and childbirth and family.

[7/12/2014 8:13:20 PM] Canto: Darius:  Hmm. Athena is the patron goddess of Athens. Warfare and wisdom.

[7/12/2014 8:14:08 PM] Josie: Josie nods.

[7/12/2014 8:18:41 PM] Canto: You return to the temple! Alit watches you come up path!

[7/12/2014 8:18:55 PM] Josie: Josie waves at him and motions him over.

[7/12/2014 8:20:30 PM] Canto: He hesitates, and comes over.

[7/12/2014 8:20:52 PM] Josie: I was wrong.

[7/12/2014 8:21:00 PM] Josie: This is Darius, he is a caster also.

[7/12/2014 8:21:11 PM] Josie: Darius, this is Alit, my acolyte. The one who is good with animals.

[7/12/2014 8:21:51 PM] Canto: Darius nods and greets Alit! Alit looks at Darius warily.

[7/12/2014 8:23:52 PM] Josie: He's not sick. They all look white like that.

[7/12/2014 8:25:13 PM] Canto: Alit:  I know.

[7/12/2014 8:25:29 PM] Josie: I took him to the village with me.

[7/12/2014 8:26:26 PM] Canto: Alit nods. "Yes.  Do... you need anything done?"

[7/12/2014 8:28:01 PM] Josie: No. ... Everyone should keep out of my chambers for the next few days. I will clean them myself.

[7/12/2014 8:29:12 PM] Canto: Alit nods. "I see.  Very well."

[7/12/2014 8:30:45 PM] Josie: Josie waves him away, unless Darius stops him.

[7/12/2014 8:31:13 PM] Canto: He does not!

[7/12/2014 8:31:20 PM] Canto: Alit leaves.

[7/12/2014 8:31:26 PM] Canto: Darius:  he doesn't like me.

[7/12/2014 8:31:50 PM] Josie: I told him to be worried about you when you first arrived and now he is worried.

[7/12/2014 8:33:23 PM] Canto: Darius:  Probably wise. You didn't know me.

[7/12/2014 8:33:49 PM] Josie: I still don't. But we are trying, yes?

[7/12/2014 8:34:22 PM] Canto: Darius:  Well, yes. And I think you trust me more.

[7/12/2014 8:39:52 PM] Josie: Yes. A great deal more. Little One and the other cats rarely make mistakes.

[7/12/2014 8:41:46 PM] Canto: Darius:  Good. Have you ever met another magician?

[7/12/2014 8:42:07 PM] Josie: Yes, of course.

[7/12/2014 8:42:31 PM] Canto: Darius:  Who was it?

[7/12/2014 8:43:11 PM] Josie: Josie scowls.

[7/12/2014 8:43:41 PM] Josie: A priest of Osiris.

[7/12/2014 8:43:53 PM] Josie: He did not stay.

[7/12/2014 8:45:22 PM] Canto: Darius:  It didn't go well?

[7/12/2014 8:45:55 PM] Josie: No.

[7/12/2014 8:46:09 PM] Josie: I told him to go.

[7/12/2014 8:48:51 PM] Canto: Darius:  ... what happened?

[7/12/2014 8:49:34 PM] Josie: He tried to tell people what to do. In *my* village.

[7/12/2014 8:50:49 PM] Canto: Darius:  Is that common among priests of Osiris?

[7/12/2014 8:51:08 PM] Josie: No, but I hadn't met any others who were gifted before.

[7/12/2014 8:52:44 PM] Canto: Darius:  Expect the one who trained you?

[7/12/2014 8:55:55 PM] Josie: *She* was a priestess of Bast.

[7/12/2014 8:57:00 PM] Canto: Darius nods.

[7/12/2014 8:58:30 PM] Josie: Who taught you, without any gods to follow?

[7/12/2014 9:02:50 PM] Canto: Darius:  I learned from my predecessor as temple guardian.

[7/12/2014 9:03:43 PM] Josie: Josie nods.

[7/12/2014 9:03:56 PM] Josie: ... what is it like without any one to guide you?

[7/12/2014 9:04:25 PM] Canto: Darius:  You mean, without any gods?

[7/12/2014 9:04:42 PM] Josie: Well, without a patron.

[7/12/2014 9:06:01 PM] Canto: Darius:  It's just... how I was taught.

[7/12/2014 9:07:44 PM] Josie: ... do you have any children?

[7/12/2014 9:09:54 PM] Canto: Darius:  No.

[7/12/2014 9:10:35 PM] Josie: Perhaps you'll leave me one.

[7/12/2014 9:11:47 PM] Canto: Darius smiles. "A small sickly looking child?"

[7/12/2014 9:13:11 PM] Josie: I will have to remember that is its natural color.

[7/12/2014 9:13:27 PM] Josie: Like kittens born white.

[7/12/2014 9:16:18 PM] Canto: Darius:  Do you have many of those?

[7/12/2014 9:16:36 PM] Josie: Kittens, yes. Children, none.

[7/12/2014 9:21:40 PM] Canto: Darius takes her hand.

[7/12/2014 9:25:14 PM] Josie: Josie squeezes his hand.

[7/12/2014 9:35:19 PM] Josie: ... I would like that.

[7/12/2014 9:48:19 PM] Canto: Darius:  Well. I'll see what I can do.

[7/12/2014 9:48:44 PM] Josie: You've shown me so many things already. What can I show you?

[7/12/2014 9:51:01 PM] Canto: Darius:  You have, though. Your village. Your healing. How you interact with your village.

[7/12/2014 9:51:50 PM] Josie: I haven't taught you anything!

[7/12/2014 9:55:25 PM] Canto: Darius:  You have.

[7/12/2014 9:55:48 PM] Josie: Goat ailments.

[7/12/2014 9:55:49 PM] Josie: Josie snorts.

[7/12/2014 9:57:40 PM] Canto: Darius:  My old master always said 'always be learning'. And I have been.

[7/12/2014 9:58:00 PM] Josie: You ask many questions. What *have* you learned?

[7/12/2014 10:00:02 PM] Canto: Darius goes through a list of things he's apparently learned!

[7/12/2014 10:04:21 PM] Josie: Josie is duly impressed.

[7/12/2014 10:04:26 PM] Josie: I did not think you were listening so carefully.

[7/12/2014 10:08:41 PM] Canto: Darius:  I am very good at listening.

[7/12/2014 10:11:06 PM] Josie: You are very good at a number of things.

[7/12/2014 10:12:28 PM] Canto: Darius smiles. "Think so?"

[7/12/2014 10:14:39 PM] Josie: One suspects many years of extensive practice.

[7/12/2014 10:17:59 PM] Canto: Darius:  Is it the math?

[7/12/2014 10:18:53 PM] Josie: Josie tries to work out if he's joking!

[7/12/2014 10:21:47 PM] Canto: Darius is.

[7/12/2014 10:23:09 PM] Josie: Josie just laughs, in that case.

[7/12/2014 10:23:25 PM] Josie: I would like to learn that too, but there would not be time.

[7/12/2014 10:29:53 PM] Canto: He chuckles. "What can I teach you?"

[7/12/2014 10:30:59 PM] Josie: Something simple. About your way of casting.

[7/12/2014 10:53:51 PM] Canto: Darius nods. "I can teach you a kind of sympathetic magic."

[7/12/2014 10:56:02 PM] Josie: Show me.

[7/12/2014 11:18:41 PM] Josie: ((*poike?*))

[7/12/2014 11:19:14 PM] Canto: ((Oh, sorry, it didn't blink!))

[7/12/2014 11:19:25 PM] Canto: Darius nods. "Do you have some parchment?"

[7/12/2014 11:19:46 PM] Josie: A little.

[7/12/2014 11:20:05 PM] Josie: Josie brings him back to her little chamber and digs out some parchment, handing it to him.

[7/12/2014 11:22:23 PM] Canto: He nods and pulls out a piece of charcoal! "You know how magic it is to be able to write a thing."

[7/12/2014 11:23:04 PM] Josie: Yes. And how difficult to teach someone to do it. I write down all my spells.

[7/12/2014 11:25:41 PM] Canto: He nods. "Now... I need a simple item of some kind."

[7/12/2014 11:26:33 PM] Josie: Josie takes off her necklace and hands it to him; it's only a gem in a leather strap, but the gem looks to be a ruby.

[7/12/2014 11:28:44 PM] Canto: He nods. "Does it have a name?"

[7/12/2014 11:29:06 PM] Josie: No, it's just... mine. The priestess gave it to me the day I was chosen.

[7/12/2014 11:29:38 PM] Canto: Darius:  Then we'll name it.

[7/12/2014 11:30:21 PM] Josie: ... what will we name it?

[7/12/2014 11:32:40 PM] Canto: Darius:  I don't know. Choose a name that seems right.

[7/12/2014 11:32:57 PM] Josie: ... Heartfire.

[7/12/2014 11:34:58 PM] Canto: Darius smiles. "Okay.  Now, write that down on the parchment.

[7/12/2014 11:36:37 PM] Josie: Josie writes it down, with the charcoal, in Egyptian hieratic.

[7/12/2014 11:41:42 PM] Canto: Darius nods. "Now.  All writing is a little magic.  I want you to feel that magic, find that magic in the parchment."

[7/12/2014 11:43:35 PM] Josie: Ha. I have always thought so.

[7/12/2014 11:43:44 PM] Josie: It is a way of extending oneself past one's presence.

[7/12/2014 11:53:05 PM] Canto: Darius nods. "Yes.  It's persistant.  Can you feel that magic in the parchment?"

[7/12/2014 11:53:25 PM] Josie: Yes, of course.

[7/12/2014 11:55:36 PM] Canto: Darius:  Now we need to amplify that magic.

[7/12/2014 11:57:39 PM] Josie: Josie nods.

[7/12/2014 11:59:14 PM] Canto: Darius:  Just feed a small but steady stream of power into it.

[7/13/2014 12:01:09 AM] Josie: Josie puts her hand on the parchment and concentrates to do that.

[7/13/2014 12:02:03 AM] Canto: Darius:  Carefully now -- you don't want to incinerate the paper.

[7/13/2014 12:03:20 AM] Josie: No, it is expensive...

[7/13/2014 12:03:29 AM] Josie: Josie backs off a little bit, frowning.

[7/13/2014 12:04:15 AM] Canto: Darius:  Just be patient.

[7/13/2014 12:04:44 AM] Josie: Ha.

[7/13/2014 12:06:25 AM] Canto: Darius:  Really. It's not going anywhere.

[7/13/2014 12:08:37 AM] Josie: Josie takes a deep breath, tries to relax and tries again.

[7/13/2014 12:10:36 AM] Canto: Eventually, the word on the parchment begins to glow gently.

[7/13/2014 12:10:45 AM] Canto: Darius:  There.

[7/13/2014 12:11:34 AM] Josie: And now what?

[7/13/2014 12:14:59 AM] Canto: Darius:  Now you've endowed the word with your own power, which means you can manipulate it. If you manipulate the word, you can change the item itself. Hearthfire, in this case. Try changing the color of the gem by manipulating the word. If you concentrate, you should be able to see how it's possible, you can see the threads of magic that connect the word and the necklace.

[7/13/2014 12:17:48 AM] Josie: Josie stares at the parchment, and then writes "Blue Heartfire" on it.

[7/13/2014 12:18:38 AM] Canto: After a moment, the ruby turns blue!

[7/13/2014 12:19:05 AM] Josie: ... I have become rather fond of blue of late.

[7/13/2014 12:19:20 AM] Canto: Darius smiles. "Why?"

[7/13/2014 12:20:03 AM] Josie: It is pleasant, and cool--and the color of your robes.

[7/13/2014 12:27:30 AM] Canto: Darius:  Well. You see the basics, yes?

[7/13/2014 12:27:43 AM] Josie: Yes.

[7/13/2014 12:27:53 AM] Josie: ... though you weren't using paper before.

[7/13/2014 12:28:32 AM] Canto: Darius:  Yes.... eventually you won't need it.

[7/13/2014 12:30:12 AM] Josie: Josie nods.

[7/13/2014 12:30:48 AM] Josie: ... I think I like you more than is entirely wise.

[7/13/2014 12:33:07 AM] Canto: Darius:  ... I feel the same.

[7/13/2014 12:34:10 AM] Josie: You are covering it up much better than I am.

[7/13/2014 12:34:16 AM] Josie: Josie pours him some wine and sits down.

[7/13/2014 12:37:08 AM] Canto: Darius:  I'm just not terribly expressive.

[7/13/2014 12:37:20 AM] Canto: He sips from his goblet.

[7/13/2014 12:37:27 AM] Josie: Josie pours herself some too.

[7/13/2014 12:37:37 AM] Josie: I show *everything.*

[7/13/2014 12:40:23 AM | Edited 12:41:19 AM] Canto: Darius:  That's good. We complement each other.

[7/13/2014 12:40:47 AM] Josie: ((Complement!))

[7/13/2014 12:41:13 AM] Canto: ((Oh yeah. Sorry. Bleeeeh.))

[7/13/2014 12:42:29 AM] Josie: It is *not* good.

[7/13/2014 12:42:31 AM] Josie: It is very bad.

[7/13/2014 12:42:55 AM] Canto: Darius:  Why? It's the way you are.

[7/13/2014 12:44:14 AM] Josie: That is the way I am.

[7/13/2014 12:44:19 AM] Josie: And you are the way you are.

[7/13/2014 12:44:29 AM] Josie: And you must go, and I must stay.

[7/13/2014 12:45:18 AM] Canto: Darius: ....yes.

[7/13/2014 12:46:27 AM] Josie: And I am far too old to feel things for near-strangers.

[7/13/2014 12:47:22 AM] Canto: Darius:  Do you really want to spend what time we have together on this line of thought?

[7/13/2014 12:48:22 AM] Josie: ... no. No, but do you write my tongue as well as you speak it?

[7/13/2014 12:49:04 AM] Canto: Darius:  Not as well as I'd like.

[7/13/2014 12:49:51 AM] Josie: ... if we could work out a way to Send writing to each other...

[7/13/2014 12:52:27 AM] Canto: Darius:  Ohh, I like that idea. Yes.

[7/13/2014 12:52:59 AM] Josie: ... I think hearing your voice would be worse or I would ask if we could manage that.

[7/13/2014 12:59:03 AM] Josie: ... Alit is going to think you have enchanted me.

[7/13/2014 1:00:59 AM] Canto: Darius:  ... I didn't think of that.

[7/13/2014 1:01:39 AM] Josie: Josie smiles.

[7/13/2014 1:01:42 AM] Josie: I am not enchanted.

[7/13/2014 1:03:14 AM] Josie: I would extremely object to being enchanted, and if I were enchanted I would not care. So. I am certainly not enchanted.

[7/13/2014 1:05:15 AM] Canto: Darius:  Your logic is impeccable.

[7/13/2014 1:05:43 AM] Josie: I am correct.

[7/13/2014 1:06:21 AM] Canto: Darius:  Of course.

[7/13/2014 1:08:04 AM] Josie: Josie takes his hand and starts to play with it a bit, tracing the lines.

[7/13/2014 1:10:01 AM] Josie: Ah, I see.

[7/13/2014 1:10:11 AM] Canto: He raises an eyebrow.

[7/13/2014 1:10:20 AM] Josie: You will meet a beautiful stranger and fall very much in love with her. See, it is right there on your palm.

[7/13/2014 1:12:46 AM] Canto: He looks at his palm. "I just see lines."

[7/13/2014 1:14:53 AM] Josie: Palmistry. I can see your future in your hand.

[7/13/2014 1:14:59 AM] Josie: ... or I could if I were good at palmistry.

[7/13/2014 1:15:23 AM] Canto: Darius:  Well. I think your prediction has already happened.

[7/13/2014 1:15:54 AM] Josie: Josie peers at his hand.

[7/13/2014 1:17:14 AM] Josie: I see happiness in the future. ... and sadness too. You don't... you don't live a long life, but it will be a worthwhile one. ... one child... no, two. Two of them. Boys are harder to see.

[7/13/2014 1:17:49 AM] Josie: ... it is not a *very* short life, so at least there is that.

[7/13/2014 1:18:10 AM] Canto: Darius:  Well, that's something at least.

[7/13/2014 1:19:11 AM] Josie: Mine is not long either.

[7/13/2014 1:19:31 AM] Josie: That is why I write down my spells, and why I have trained so many priests and priestesses. Alit may be my successor.

[7/13/2014 1:23:51 AM] Canto: Darius:  All the more reason not to dwell in the future. "Until the possible becomes actual, it is only a distraction."

[7/13/2014 1:24:33 AM] Josie: You would prefer to dwell in the present?

[7/13/2014 1:24:50 AM] Canto: Darius:  As a rule, yes.

[7/13/2014 1:28:09 AM] Josie: ... I always think I am so easy to read. Am I foreign to you? Do your women have pale skin like the stones of your temple? Do they wear pleated linen gowns and golden diadems?

[7/13/2014 1:34:58 AM] Canto: Darius:  You're not so foreign to me.

[7/13/2014 1:37:23 AM] Josie: No?

[7/13/2014 1:38:31 AM] Canto: Darius:  No. Well. No more than most people are.

[7/13/2014 1:39:13 AM] Josie: Most people?

[7/13/2014 1:40:20 AM] Canto: Darius:  I'm good with numbers and words, magic and language. Not with people.

[7/13/2014 1:41:54 AM] Josie: You are very good with me.

[7/13/2014 1:42:53 AM] Canto: Darius:  .... that is not a very common opinion.

[7/13/2014 1:43:39 AM] Josie: They brought you on a diplomatic expedition. Surely others see your worth in this regard?

[7/13/2014 1:47:59 AM] Canto: Darius:  ... they respect my word on arcane matters. not diplomatic ones.

[7/13/2014 1:49:03 AM] Josie: What arcane matters were you brought to judge?

[7/13/2014 1:49:45 AM] Canto: Darius:  Matters of arcane geometry regarding some of the tombs.

[7/13/2014 1:51:44 AM] Josie: But what can that matter to your...

[7/13/2014 1:51:52 AM] Josie: ... are you scouting for a *war*?

[7/13/2014 1:55:18 AM] Canto: Darius:  What? No. Well. Not that I was told. No, I was asked to examine the geometry  of the tombs for the sake of the architects back home.

[7/13/2014 1:57:24 AM] Josie: ... I did not think so. You are not so very good at deception.

[7/13/2014 2:02:11 AM] Josie: Though I must admit, there are times I cannot read your face as well as I would like.

[7/13/2014 2:03:53 AM] Canto: Darius:  At those times, you can just ask.

[7/13/2014 2:04:00 AM] Josie: Now?

[7/13/2014 2:04:21 AM] Canto: Darius nods.

[7/13/2014 2:04:48 AM] Josie: I am asking.

[7/13/2014 2:05:33 AM] Canto: Darius:  ... you will have to be more specific.

[7/13/2014 2:07:32 AM] Josie: What are you thinking *now.*

[7/13/2014 2:09:17 AM] Canto: Darius:  That I would like very much to make love to you again.

[7/13/2014 2:10:28 AM] Josie: Oh, good, that is what I thought.

[7/13/2014 2:11:30 AM] Canto: Darius nods.

[7/13/2014 2:13:33 AM] Josie: Josie sets her goblet down, carefully. "Then come here."

[7/13/2014 2:14:30 AM] Canto: Darius goes!

[7/13/2014 2:15:20 AM] Josie: Josie embraces him a bit more deliberately this time, trying very hard to memorize everything about him.

[7/13/2014 2:18:19 AM] Canto: Aww.

[7/13/2014 2:25:07 AM] Josie: She's never had a ... well, whatever Darius is to her.

[7/13/2014 2:25:22 AM] Josie: Her lovers have all been slaves. Slaves that liked her, but still.

[7/13/2014 2:33:37 AM] Canto: Afterwards, again, Little One plops herself between the two of you.

[7/13/2014 2:33:58 AM] Josie: It is too late.

[7/13/2014 2:34:02 AM] Josie: Stupid cat.

[7/13/2014 2:34:15 AM] Josie: Josie kisses her on the forehead anyway.

[7/13/2014 2:35:01 AM] Canto: Little One:  Mew.

[7/13/2014 2:36:07 AM] Josie: What do you want us to do about it?

[7/13/2014 2:37:15 AM] Canto: Little One:  *Mew.*

[7/13/2014 2:37:30 AM] Josie: ... *what*?

[7/13/2014 2:37:41 AM] Josie: Josie eyes Darius. "Did you hear that?"

[7/13/2014 2:38:03 AM] Josie: ((What on earth did she say?))

[7/13/2014 2:41:01 AM] Canto: ((I dunno! I was thinking she was saying something about liking the warmth and body heat. But maybe it was something more important, maybe something about Alit.))

[7/13/2014 2:41:31 AM] Josie: What *about* Alit?

[7/13/2014 2:47:58 AM] Canto: Little One:  Mew. ((He's outside the door. He's jealous.))

[7/13/2014 2:48:23 AM] Josie: *What*?

[7/13/2014 2:48:31 AM] Josie: ... I believe my cat has gone insane.

[7/13/2014 2:51:53 AM] Josie: Josie grumps, and stands up and gets her dress on, though she skips the shoes for now.

[7/13/2014 2:52:04 AM] Josie: Josie *eyes* Darius. "You stay there."

[7/13/2014 2:52:13 AM] Josie: Josie steps outside to check for her acolyte!

[7/13/2014 2:53:00 AM] Canto: He

[7/13/2014 2:53:24 AM] Canto: He's not there! But you hear his departing fooftalls.

[7/13/2014 2:53:44 AM] Josie: Josie chases after him.

[7/13/2014 2:54:03 AM] Josie: Alit!

[7/13/2014 2:56:04 AM] Canto: He stops! "Yes?" He's playing it cool.

[7/13/2014 2:56:22 AM] Josie: Josie *eyes* him in the dark! It's very dark out by this point.

[7/13/2014 2:56:34 AM] Josie: What are you doing! Is my cat insane? ... what are you *doing*?

[7/13/2014 2:56:43 AM] Josie: Josie is annoyed, then worried.

[7/13/2014 2:58:19 AM] Canto: Alit:  ... nothing! Just... out for a walk.

[7/13/2014 2:59:08 AM] Josie: You are *lying.*

[7/13/2014 2:59:28 AM] Josie: Josie looks for a cat, to help shield herself with! And fails to find one because hey, cats.

[7/13/2014 2:59:53 AM | Edited 3:00:05 AM] Josie: ... tell me the truth or I will *scrape it out of your brain.*

[7/13/2014 3:00:48 AM] Canto: Alit:  ... You told me to be wary of him.

[7/13/2014 3:02:43 AM] Josie: Yes.

[7/13/2014 3:02:59 AM] Josie: You should always be wary of other casters. *Always.*

[7/13/2014 3:03:48 AM] Josie: But I feel very.... drawn, to this one.

[7/13/2014 3:06:03 AM] Canto: Alit:  ... You are enspelled.

[7/13/2014 3:06:11 AM] Josie: Josie stomps her foot.

[7/13/2014 3:06:14 AM] Josie: No, I am not.

[7/13/2014 3:06:31 AM] Josie: If I were enspelled I would feel that I would not object to being enspelled.

[7/13/2014 3:06:50 AM] Josie: And I would very *much* object to being enspelled. So clearly I am not enspelled.

[7/13/2014 3:07:23 AM] Josie: Are you *jealous*?

[7/13/2014 3:10:19 AM] Canto: Alit:  We do not know how his foreign magics work. Maybe you are under a spell and do not know it!

[7/13/2014 3:10:52 AM] Josie: ANSWER ME!

[7/13/2014 3:12:18 AM] Canto: Alit:   ... what if I am? That does not change the fact that I am being wary of him, just as you told me to be. If I must be wary on both our behalfs, so be it.

[7/13/2014 3:12:37 AM] Josie: It matters to ME!

[7/13/2014 3:14:37 AM] Josie: You *cannot* be jealous! It makes no *sense.*

[7/13/2014 3:16:01 AM] Canto: Alit:  ... you taught me to be much more than I thought I could be. You taught me to read and write, and that I could be *important*.

[7/13/2014 3:16:19 AM] Josie: You *are* important!

[7/13/2014 3:17:05 AM] Josie: You are important to *me*!

[7/13/2014 3:17:18 AM] Josie: And to this temple, and to the village!

[7/13/2014 3:18:29 AM] Canto: Alit:  I know. Because of you. And as I said, if I must be wary on both our behalfs, I will.

[7/13/2014 3:19:15 AM] Josie: Josie rubs her eyes.

[7/13/2014 3:19:24 AM] Josie: How are you jealous? How?

[7/13/2014 3:22:55 AM] Josie: Is it my time? My heart? My...

[7/13/2014 3:23:06 AM] Josie: Josie looks down at her angular, bony self.

[7/13/2014 3:23:29 AM] Josie: ... is it my time or my heart? Or something *else*?

[7/13/2014 3:23:32 AM] Josie: What do you WANT?

[7/13/2014 3:25:15 AM] Canto: Alit:  It's *you*. All of you.

[7/13/2014 3:25:57 AM] Josie: Josie *stares* at him.

[7/13/2014 3:26:25 AM] Josie: *You* are the one who is enspelled! Are you *mad*?

[7/13/2014 3:27:45 AM] Canto: Alit:   No.

[7/13/2014 3:29:26 AM] Josie: ... what are you going to do, dismember me and keep the parts in jars? You do *not mean* what I *think* you mean. You do *not.*

[7/13/2014 3:31:07 AM] Canto: Alit:  Why is it so hard to accept?

[7/13/2014 3:34:47 AM] Josie: Because you are you and I am me and I am TEN YEARS OLDER than you and I am a DRIED UP OLD HAG and I TOLD YOU WHEN YOU CAME HERE I WASN'T GOING TO FORCE YOU INTO ANYTHING!

[7/13/2014 3:43:11 AM] Josie: ((*poike*))

[7/13/2014 3:45:52 AM] Canto: ((Sorry. Fallin' asleep.))

[7/13/2014 3:46:20 AM] Canto: Alit:  ... I do not know what to say. I only know how I feel.

[7/13/2014 3:47:39 AM] Josie: You didn't *say* anything! Nothing!

[7/13/2014 3:48:55 AM] Canto: Alit:  ... it didn't seem right.

[7/13/2014 3:49:39 AM] Josie: ... I *chose* you.

[7/13/2014 3:51:21 AM] Canto: Alit:  As a slave and servant.

[7/13/2014 3:51:37 AM] Josie: Don't be stupid!

[7/13/2014 3:51:48 AM] Josie: As a *successor.*

[7/13/2014 8:43:12 PM] Canto: Alit is standing there looking *incredibly* uncomfortable.

[7/13/2014 8:44:06 PM] Josie: Josie holds out her hand to him. "Look!"

[7/13/2014 8:45:04 PM] Canto: Alit:  ... I am not good at palmistry.

[7/13/2014 8:45:47 PM] Josie: That is because I am not. But. This is the lifeline, here.

[7/13/2014 8:45:53 PM] Josie: Josie points.

[7/13/2014 8:46:56 PM] Canto: Alit:  It looks like a line.

[7/13/2014 8:47:14 PM] Josie: It IS a line!

[7/13/2014 8:47:18 PM] Josie: ... it is a short line.

[7/13/2014 8:48:26 PM] Canto: Alit holds up his own hand and compares them. "So?"

[7/13/2014 8:49:01 PM] Josie: It means I am going to die. Soon. Probably five years. Perhaps ten if I am extremely lucky.

[7/13/2014 8:50:10 PM] Canto: Alit:  ... so?

[7/13/2014 8:50:33 PM] Josie: So THIS TEMPLE WILL BE YOURS.

[7/13/2014 8:50:39 PM] Canto: Alit:  ...oh.

[7/13/2014 8:51:33 PM] Josie: ... it is not usual for a man to be in charge, but the cats like you. And Bast does not care about such things.

[7/13/2014 8:52:10 PM] Canto: Alit:  ... are you going to leave with your foreign lover?

[7/13/2014 8:52:39 PM] Josie: I AM NOT LEAVING. I AM GOING TO DIE!

[7/13/2014 8:52:47 PM] Josie: Josie punches him in the shoulder.

[7/13/2014 8:59:25 PM] Canto: He winces.

[7/13/2014 8:59:44 PM] Canto: Alit:  Not for five years, you said.

[7/13/2014 8:59:52 PM] Josie: YES.

[7/13/2014 8:59:59 PM] Josie: And he has to leave, and I have to stay here.

[7/13/2014 9:00:59 PM] Canto: Alit frowns.

[7/13/2014 9:01:24 PM] Josie: And in a few days, he will be gone and I will still be here!

[7/13/2014 9:04:08 PM] Canto: Alit:  ... maybe he didn't put a spell on you, then.

[7/13/2014 9:04:23 PM] Josie: That is what I have been TRYING to tell you!

[7/13/2014 9:04:31 PM] Josie: And what are you going to do when he's gone?

[7/13/2014 9:07:21 PM] Canto: Alit:  ... I don't know. Find somewhere to hide and die.

[7/13/2014 9:08:21 PM] Josie: I need you here.

[7/13/2014 9:17:42 PM] Josie: ((*poike?*))

[7/13/2014 9:19:24 PM] Canto: ((Sorry.))

[7/13/2014 9:19:43 PM] Canto: Alit looks down at your feet again.

[7/13/2014 9:20:06 PM] Josie: Will you stay or not?

[7/13/2014 9:20:16 PM] Canto: Alit:  I... will.

[7/13/2014 9:20:21 PM] Canto: Alit:  I still do not like him.

[7/13/2014 9:21:07 PM] Josie: I do not care if you like him, he will be gone in a few days! He is not *staying.*

[7/13/2014 9:22:43 PM] Canto: Alit:  ... he still might cast a spell on you.

[7/13/2014 9:23:20 PM] Josie: HE WON'T DO ANYTHING I DON'T ASK HIM TO DO.

[7/13/2014 9:23:36 PM] Josie: What are *you* going to do?

[7/13/2014 9:23:50 PM] Canto: Alit:  I will continue to do my duties.

[7/13/2014 9:24:32 PM] Josie: ... will you still *want* me after he leaves? Or is it only that you do not want *him* to have me?

[7/13/2014 9:26:03 PM] Canto: Alit desperately tries to make himself teleport outside of this awkward situation!

[7/13/2014 9:26:12 PM] Canto: He is unsuccessful.

[7/13/2014 9:26:29 PM] Josie: Answer me!

[7/13/2014 9:27:44 PM] Canto: Alit:  ... yes.

[7/13/2014 9:27:52 PM] Josie: WHICH?

[7/13/2014 9:34:10 PM] Canto: Alit:  ... Both. I do not want you to be with him anymore. I want you to be with me.

[7/13/2014 9:36:36 PM] Josie: And if I were to grant only *one* of your requests, which would it be?

[7/13/2014 9:39:29 PM] Josie: ((There is a right answer to this! ... at least one! Let's see if he gets it!))

[7/13/2014 9:43:36 PM] Canto: Alit stands there for a moment clenching his fists before kissing you.

[7/13/2014 9:43:59 PM] Josie: Josie punches him in the face!

[7/13/2014 9:44:45 PM] Josie: ANSWER MY QUESTION.

[7/13/2014 9:49:48 PM] Canto: Alit rubs his nose. "... I thought... "

[7/13/2014 9:50:22 PM] Josie: ... I am extremely glad you are standing up to me. But all the same I would simply prefer an *answer.*

[7/13/2014 9:52:05 PM] Josie: Please, Alit! If I did not care I would not insist.

[7/13/2014 9:57:34 PM] Canto: Alit:  ... I would rather be with you.

[7/13/2014 9:59:20 PM] Josie: .... then why are you making such a fuss? He will be gone in a few days, all you must do is be *patient.*

[7/13/2014 9:59:37 PM] Canto: Alit:  ... I do not trust him.

[7/13/2014 10:01:42 PM] Josie: You did not see *me* carrying on when *you* carried on with Pyhia.

[7/13/2014 10:02:24 PM] Josie: Or Menhet.

[7/13/2014 10:02:40 PM] Josie: Or Kiya.

[7/13/2014 10:03:38 PM] Canto: Alit:  They are not you.

[7/13/2014 10:04:37 PM] Josie: Obviously!

[7/13/2014 10:04:49 PM] Josie: But you did all the same. I *noticed.*

[7/13/2014 10:08:40 PM] Canto: Alit:  I do not *love* them though. You *love* him.

[7/13/2014 10:09:29 PM] Josie: That is preposterous.

[7/13/2014 10:10:59 PM] Canto: Alit:  You *do*. I am not blind.

[7/13/2014 10:11:18 PM] Josie: And *I* am not a child.

[7/13/2014 10:11:31 PM] Josie: I am infatuated, that is all.

[7/13/2014 10:11:34 PM] Josie: Love takes years.

[7/13/2014 10:11:46 PM] Josie: ... perhaps months, for some.

[7/13/2014 10:12:38 PM] Canto: Alit:  ... infatuated.

[7/13/2014 10:13:31 PM] Josie: You are *too old* to not know the difference.

[7/13/2014 10:14:49 PM] Canto: Alit:  ... exactly.

[7/13/2014 10:14:57 PM] Canto: Alit:  ... I must see to my duties.

[7/13/2014 10:15:25 PM] Josie: ... please stay.

[7/13/2014 10:15:48 PM] Canto: Alit:  Why? He is waiting for you.

[7/13/2014 10:18:11 PM] Josie: And you would not?

[7/13/2014 10:19:28 PM] Canto: Alit:  I won't leave the temple.

[7/13/2014 10:20:19 PM] Josie: That was *not* the question I asked.

[7/13/2014 10:22:16 PM] Canto: Alit:  I will wait.

[7/13/2014 10:24:32 PM] Josie: ... truly?

[7/13/2014 10:27:03 PM] Canto: Alit:  ...yes.

[7/13/2014 10:29:30 PM] Josie: ... you have permission.

[7/13/2014 10:30:19 PM] Josie: To kiss me. If you wish.

[7/13/2014 10:30:28 PM] Josie: ... I will not strike you again. Or set you on fire.

[7/13/2014 10:31:05 PM] Canto: He kisses you again.

[7/13/2014 10:33:52 PM] Josie: Josie kisses him back, and tries to gauge his mood a bit while she's at it.

[7/13/2014 10:37:08 PM] Canto: Unsure!

[7/13/2014 10:37:41 PM] Josie: Josie pauses.

[7/13/2014 10:37:46 PM] Josie: ... what is wrong?

[7/13/2014 10:40:08 PM] Canto: Alit:  Nothing. I was never expecting to have this conversation.

[7/13/2014 10:42:12 PM] Josie: Have you ... changed your mind?

[7/13/2014 10:42:38 PM] Canto: Alit shakes his head. "No."

[7/13/2014 10:44:46 PM] Josie: ... you see, when he leaves... it will be difficult. If you wish to hurt me most, *that* is when you will reject me.

[7/13/2014 10:45:16 PM] Canto: Alit:  ... I have not changed my mind.

[7/13/2014 10:49:01 PM] Josie: ... then do not be so jealous, Alit. *You* have been here years.

[7/13/2014 10:50:52 PM] Canto: Alit:  ... I don't trust him.

[7/13/2014 10:51:58 PM] Josie: You have said so several times.

[7/13/2014 10:52:07 PM] Josie: Do not force me to choose. I do not *like* being forced. Into anything.

[7/13/2014 10:52:31 PM] Canto: Alit:  Who would you choose?

[7/13/2014 10:52:42 PM] Canto: Alit:  It it could be just one of us.

[7/13/2014 10:53:25 PM] Josie: Do not be a fool, Alit. I would choose Bast and send you both away. I do not belong to any man.

[7/13/2014 10:59:09 PM] Canto: He flushes a bit. "I have... duties.  I must go."

[7/13/2014 10:59:40 PM] Josie: *What* duties?

[7/13/2014 10:59:47 PM] Josie: It is the middle of the *night*.

[7/13/2014 11:00:10 PM] Canto: Alit:  Cleansing.

[7/13/2014 11:00:21 PM] Josie: Cleansing *what*?

[7/13/2014 11:00:45 PM] Canto: Alit:  The temple. I've been doing it twice a day since he arrived.

[7/13/2014 11:01:29 PM] Josie: It cannot hurt.

[7/13/2014 11:01:37 PM] Josie: ... but it can wait a few minutes, surely.

[7/13/2014 11:02:40 PM] Canto: Alit:  for what?

[7/13/2014 11:03:14 PM] Josie: Josie hugs him, and stays there, snuggling into him a bit.

[7/13/2014 11:11:05 PM] Canto: He stands there, awkwardly putting his arms around her.

[7/13/2014 11:11:18 PM] Josie: I want to see how it feels.

[7/13/2014 11:11:25 PM] Josie: Relax.

[7/13/2014 11:11:32 PM] Canto: He tries to.

[7/13/2014 11:13:50 PM] Josie: ... please.

[7/13/2014 11:14:53 PM] Canto: He manages to.

[7/13/2014 11:15:18 PM] Josie: There. This is what it would be like.

[7/13/2014 11:15:58 PM] Josie: ... I will not become young and pretty and fat like you like, you know.

[7/13/2014 11:16:18 PM] Canto: He shrugs.

[7/13/2014 11:17:57 PM] Josie: You are very handsome, Alit.

[7/13/2014 11:18:18 PM] Canto: Alit:  ... I know.

[7/13/2014 11:19:04 PM] Josie: I know you know.

[7/13/2014 11:19:15 PM] Josie: But today I don't mind.

[7/13/2014 11:27:48 PM] Canto: Alit:  ... good.