[ Log ]

[quicksmart]

[ Agnes breathed a deep sigh of relief as she popped down a pile of books on her desk with a heavy thud. It had taken her an hour to re-organise her room, what with the copious amounts of dusty volumes lying around on the floor, and she was keen on getting out of there before Minen's imminent whirlwind arrival. All her stuff was now shifted to one side, either placed on or next to her desk or in her own personal chest. That would have to do for now, and if Minen had any complaints about the place, she would deal with it later.

It was still early in the day and the last thing she wanted to do was wait around for Minen, and so Agnes headed to Caesar's room, eager to escape her now-shared chambers. When she finally reached his door, she knocked in her usual rhythm, waiting patiently. ]

Comments

[quicksmart]

Not at all.

[ She sighs, leaning back on her hands against the mattress as she gazes up thoughtfully at the ceiling. ]

Will you be recruiting more guards, Caesar?

[aloof_savant]

Hmm? Why? Don't tell me you want to switch careers.

[quicksmart]

[ She shoots him a look. ]

Yes, thieves will be very afraid of me. [ And now she shakes her head. ] I was just wondering. I am worried about the two of them.

[aloof_savant]

In another lifetime, I'm sure they could have been great friends.

This is how some wars start, you know. Men imposing their views and cultures onto others without taking the time to understand each other.

[quicksmart]

Then we should be glad they are who they are, no?

I tried to speak to Sir Grenseal, but he is more intolerant than I expected. It was very frustrating.

[aloof_savant]

You do come off a little strong when you try to make a point... perhaps he was just being defensive by instinct.

[quicksmart]

I do...?

[ Intense thoughtful look. ]

But he was wrong. How would you make the point?

[aloof_savant]

Was he? He's not wrong to dislike pirates, but he's wrong to hate Hervey. Not that Hervey's fiery attitude makes this easy...

Enemies are relative to the times, Agnes. The pirates of today may not be as noble as the ones from your time.

[quicksmart]

We also had dishonest pirates. They are not mutually exclusive... There are bad people and there are good people.

[ She sits forward and crosses her arms. ]

All the people gathered here remind me of the war.

[aloof_savant]

I won't lie, I feel the same way. [ ...But he has fought with half of them not too long ago anyway. ]

Is there something troubling you about it?

[quicksmart]

It just reminds me of exactly that -- a war. A strategist does not believe in coincidence, no?

What do you think?

[aloof_savant]

This is the Firebringer HQ. It will always remind me of war.

But I wouldn't say we're at war right now. It isn't a conventional one, anyway. How does one plan a strategy against something so... unpredictable...

[quicksmart]

Unpredictable?

[aloof_savant]

The True Runes. They're reacting to one another and nobody knows why. They're supposed to have a will of their own, right? So what do they want?

Is there an end game, or are they just trying to tell us something?

[quicksmart]

[ She blinks, and shakes her head. ]

You're sure they are reacting to one another?

[aloof_savant]

Nash has given me reason to think so, among other experts I've spoken with. Most of all I trust my own intuition.

[quicksmart]

[ She looks completely bewildered, wanting to push him to find out who, but... figuring it best not to. ]

But... I have not heard of anything at all... How are they reacting?

[aloof_savant]

You've seen my burned hand, right? I don't think I need to paint a clearer picture.

I know you're trying to avoid your roommate, so... how do you feel about pulling an all-nighter?

[quicksmart]

That was--

[ Her eyes widen now, out of concern and fear as her mind races, imagining even worse disasters. It takes her a moment to hear his words. ]

What would you like to do?

[ Her voice is less mild and conversational, and more pressing and alert. ]

[aloof_savant]

The library is full of books about these kinds of things, perhaps someone missed a detail here and there. I think together we could go through most of those books overnight... and I'll tell you about Hugo and his rune, too. [ And other details she may have missed, such as his dealings with Zerase and Nash. ]

[quicksmart]

[ That sounds reasonable to her -- and challenging. She likes the idea of going through the volumes, combing out every single detail. And talking with Caesar will be a bonus. ]

Let us get started, then. Maybe I can share what little I know of True Runes, too, if it can be of any help.

[aloof_savant]

.....I was hoping you could bring some snacks along. [ Stomach grumbles very inconveniently. ]

[quicksmart]

[ She looks as though she's about to chastise him... but then she nods, a hint of a smile showing at the grumble. ]

I will go to the kitchens first, then. I will be back.

[aloof_savant]

[ ...w-waifu... ]

Sally forth, my dear Agnes!