quicksmart | Log: A Brief History of the Silverbergs

Hu-Huh? Wha..?

[ Caesar's head springs up, a document stuck on his face from sleeping at his workdesk. He quickly peels it off and shuffles it in a messy drawer. ]

..Oh, yeah. I am now. Please come in.

[ She rolls her eyes before opening the door with one hand, precariously balancing her tray on the other! As she steps in, she peers around. ]

How does this place continue to accumulate mess just by your simple presence in here?

[ Honestly he doesn't know the answer himself. It just happens! ]

Can you imagine what it would be like if I didn't have a housekeeper?

[ She moves to his desk, holding the tray above the mess of papers on the desk, simply frowning now. ]

If I had to, I imagine you'd have drowned in your own mess. It's really quite disturbing.

You say that like you've been cleaning after me my whole life...

[ With one swipe, he slides all his books and notes to the floor, making room for the tray to be placed. ]

I am competent, you know. Please, sit down.

[ At that one simple motion, she looks absolutely horrified. She quickly sets down -- or rather, drops -- the tray onto the desk and hurriedly bends down to pick up the books and notes. ]

You have to be more careful! And where exactly am I meant to sit when you just throw things around like this!?

[ She attempts to straighten a page that got bent, but it's futile. ]

[ Didn't expect her to go into insta-housekeeping mode, he thought he was being helpful. ]

Don't worry about cleaning that, I'm still using those documents.

[ He nonchalantly touches the teapot to see if it's hot -- yep, he winces and pulls back ~~but pretends it didn't happen la la la~~ ]

..Would you prefer to sit there on the floor?

[ She would make a comment about how much of a gentleman he is from that suggestion, but she refrains, not too offended at the moment -- she's more concerned about the documents. Speaking of which, she waves the bent one at him. ]

How are you supposed to use it if it's in this shape -- oh, are you quite alright?

It's not broken, is it? And I'm just fine!

[ He takes a cookie from the tray and moves down to sit on the floor with Agnes and the documents, then grabs the one off her hand and starts reading it again. ]

Hmmm....

[ Munching on his cookie, he doesn't care at all that crumbs are dropping on the document. SORRY AGNES, GENIUSES ARE DIFFICULT. ]

[ She vaguely wants to scream. So that's why she always has so much to clean up! She quickly leans up to grab a plate from the desk, thrusting it under his cookie while she scoops away the crumbs from the document, not caring if he's reading it! She totally should not have gotten him any snacks. ]

Y-you're going to get ants! Stop that, please!

[ She looks fairly stressed out. ]

[ A little bothered by the reading interruption, but doesn't want to show it because he's grateful for the delicious cookies in the first place! Instead he just sighs and lets Agnes do her thing for now. ]

Ants are the least of my concern. You know... you're not on duty right now, you don't have to... --please, have some tea.

But I'm always on duty.

[ She sounds incredulous, but stands up anyway and begins pouring the both of them tea. When she's done, she kneels back down, holding one cup in her hand and offering one to him. She peers at the document. ]

What are you reading?

[ He accepts the cup more cautiously this time, but sets it aside for the time being. ]

It's... nothing. Just a trade proposal with a guild. It's really boring!

[ Remembers why he fell asleep in the first place. ]

[ She looks at his cup, and then back at hers, shrugging slightly and taking a sip. Ouch. It's hot! ]

It's important though, isn't it? Tell me about it, maybe I can aid you in taking care of it?

[ He smiles at the kind offer, or perhaps at her reaction to the hot tea -- he's not sure either. ]

That doesn't sound like a housekeeper's duty.

We both know why you're here, Agnes. You are here to learn -- and not about how to temporarily manage a friend's castle.

A friend?

[ She doesn't deign to comment on that, instead continuing to speak. ]

But that is also learning, isn't it? Although I won't insist. ... I admit it's not very interesting.

What is our lesson today?

I meant my friend. Sir Thomas, actual Lord of Budehuc Castle!

Actually, I have to admit... I consider myself still a student when it comes to the art of war. Perhaps.. this won't be as easy we think... heheh.

Oh.

[ Slightly disappointed... maybe. ]

Still a student? But you said you were already a strategist. That would mean you've already been in battle, correct? As opposed to fancying yourself a strategist, I mean.

It's true while I've held the title of strategist officially, I know deep down that I still have a long way to go. I... wasn't satisfied with how we won, let's put it that way.

I don't know how teaching you is going to work out, but you display the same desire to learn as I did when I met my mentor.

Wasn't satisfied? Casualties, perhaps...?

[ This definitely sparks her interest, though. ]

Who was your mentor, and why are you not with them anymore? Did they... also pass away?

[ She is in full-on question mode, sorry about all the question marks! ]

[ Avoids answering her first question for now, deciding to focus on the positives! ]

Well-- hmm. Mentor is a funny word. She was also my assistant! The truth is, she was simply writing an autobiography of her own mentors, whom I've come to laud! It was her who made me take interest in all of this.

Anyway~! She's not dead. She simply went back home to teach... but left me with something.

A mentor assistant? That makes no sense. But... I'm glad she is still alive, anyway. Perhaps I could meet her one day?

[ She takes another sip of tea, now that it's cooling down a little! ]

What did she leave you with?

Hah! You two are like peas in a pod, but Apple is more motherly!

[ While still on the floor, he reaches for the bottom drawer of his desk. There is only one item in there and amazingly well-kept compared to his other books. He pulls out a thick book and holds it up in front of her, the title: "The Autobiography of Mathiu Silverberg, written by Apple". ]

...First copy edition! I suppose Mathiu can be considered my true mentor, but Apple introduced and guided me to his philosophies.

Edited 2014-02-17 13:33 (UTC)

[ She puts down her cup of tea, and hesitantly takes hold of the book, obviously afraid of damaging it in any way with her hands. ]

Autobiography of... Mathiu Silverberg? Is that your father? Did you never know him?

[ omg she's getting so excited just at the mention of the Silverberg family again. Agnes, you never learn! ]

No, no, Mathiu was my grandfather's nephew! Why would I need a copy of my dad's history?

Mathiu died practically around the time I was born. He taught Apple and Shu... and Shu is the most accomplished strategist who isn't related to me! Isn't he great?

I... I suppose? ... Wait, what has he done?

[ Not really sure how to respond to his excitement except to keep asking questions, but he's getting too excited and jumping through too many names that are unfamiliar to her! ]

M-maybe slow down a little! I don't know any of the feats accomplished by the people you are describing, let alone their connections to you. I've never seen you quite this animated...

[ He quietly takes his book back from her hands. IT'S TOO PRECIOUS. ]

Ah, forgive me, it seems you still have a lot to catch up on. What I'm trying to say, is... I don't know how much you will learn from me, but I am glad to be the one, in this time anyway. There are many strategists with different philosophies out there, I would hate to see someone like you, with such passion, be led astray by their false ideas of success.

[ He finally takes a sip of his tea, if only to mask his face of pure disappointment in his morally bankrupt brother. ]

[ She frowns at him, unsure what he's getting at here. It occurs to her that, this whole time she's known him, he's always cautioned her against being too... well, in love with the Silverberg legacy. She decides to voice this! ]

You seem to be herding me away from the Silverberg name constantly... is there a reason?

That's not true, after all Mathiu carried the Silverberg name too. It's all fine and well to admire the legacy, but what are your philosophies? Where do you expect to be at the end of your path?

At the end of my path...?

[ That question causes her a lot of honest grief. She doesn't know where to begin! ]

Well... I really don't know...

[ She pauses, and then hides her face behind her tea for a couple of seconds. Then she sets the tea down and takes a deep breath. ]

Sir Caesar, what do you think is the nature of our time travel? Did we get plucked from all our respective times and disappear, or do you think there's another me out there that continued to live on in the Scarlet Moon Empire until death?

[ He takes note of her concern, wondering if he caused it himself. ]

Well, it's hard for me to say... I have zero experience in time travel, but the loose concept of it doesn't escape me. I don't think another "you" could have continued to exist... because what would that make you now? Some clone? Now that's creepy.

You seem burdened. Did you find yourself mentioned in any records of history after your supposed disappearance?

You said there were two Vikis, did you not?

[ She almost -- almost! -- looks on the verge of tears, because this is a huge deal to her, but then she blinks it away and keeps a straight face. ]

That is the problem I've been facing since I began reading through all these books. I can't find any mention of my existence anywhere following the Island Liberation war.

It's true, but that could only be possible if one of them came from the future, assuming that they even are the same person. I imagine the same would happen if you were to go back in time to five minutes ago, don't you think?

[ He doesn't read her poker face this time, thinking Agnes is dealing with this better than how she actually is. ]

Then I would take that as confirmation that you simply ceased to exist for a long time. However, if that theory is true, it spells even worse news for you..

...

[ He seems hesitant to continue now, imagining Apple scolding him for not being tactful when dealing with hard issues. ]

Worse news? ... Go on...

[ She isn't quite sure where he is going with this, probably because she's expending much of her concentration on maintaining her composure rather than thinking through what he's saying. She clenches her fists imperceptibly. ]

It's just... something I've been thinking about. The others don't seem to have figured it out, yet.

...

Given that your current goal is to find a way back to your time, and there seems to be no mention of you in history records, it's... very likely that you and your friends never found a way to return. At least not to that specific time. It would have taken a giant miracle to begin with.

[ She gasps, quickly moving her hand to cover her mouth, her other fist clenching harder around her skirt. Agnes goes quiet for a long moment, eyes unfocused as she runs through the scenario. Yes, with his logic, that would appear to make sense, but... ]

You... you don't know that that's how it works, though! Maybe I go back and things here change. Maybe we all go back and this never happens.

[ She looks at him almost imploringly, testing her theory out. ]

Would that be possible?

Who knows?

If you go back and change this future, the one you're in now, the one that would somehow allow you to go back, then what future could you have come from when you are in your time? I believe that would be called a "time paradox".

It's funny... My grandfather believes that Silverbergs have the power to change the course of history, but if you could do that... if you could find a way to go back in time, that alone would make you more powerful than his legacy. ...Wouldn't that be interesting?

[ He takes another bite into his cookie, amused at the image of every Silverberg collectively groaning at Agnes for messing with history! ]

[ She definitely does not find this as amusing as he does, a look of distress still on her face. This situation was worse than she thought. She especially hates that this is something that can't be thought around or beaten through strategic thinking. ]

This... this is all too confusing.

We shouldn't jump to any conclusions so fast when we don't know how this works. We... we need to find Viki to make any sound theories.

Hehe, you asked, I'm just being honest! ~~[..And stubborn about his logic! ]~~

I'm sorry our first lesson took an unexpected turn into the occult.

[ He stands up, quickly dusting himself off any crumbs and offers her a hand. ]

Our next meeting will involve more tactics and an extensive history on the glorious Silverberg family. Really!

... Right. Yes, okay.

[ She takes his hand numbly and pulls herself up, straightening her skirt when she's upright. Oh Caesar, you have no idea how troubled she is now because of you! A bit of it shows through on her usually distant face. She forces a smile, though, leaning down to pick up the tea cups and plate. ]

... How were the cookies and tea? If you liked them, I will make more for next time.

Agnes...

[ He wishes he had the right words of comfort to offer, but can only hope that being a pain in the ass will snap Agnes out of her funk. This isn't the strong-willed housekeeper that he knows. ]

Scalding hot tea aside, the cookies could have been a bit more plump.

[ She's busy putting down the stuff back onto the tray when she hears his remark, which forces a little smile out of her. ]

More plump? Are you looking to become more plump yourself? You already don't get very much exercise.

[ Nevertheless, she picks up a napkin from the tray, putting the rest of the cookies onto it and placing it on Caesar's ~~super-messy~~ desk. ]

Didn't you know? Silverbergs burn calories purely with their big incandescent brains!

[ Visibly happy to see the cookies not be confiscated, even if half of them will end up being used as bookmarks BECUZ LAZY. ]

[ SHE'S GOING TO BE SO SAD WHEN SHE HAS TO CLEAN THAT UP. She speaks mildly, brushing her hands of any crumbs into the tray and picking the tray up. ]

I'm surprised you're not dead then, given how big your head is.

[ She turns to him and manages a curtsy with the tray in one hand. ]

Thank you for making time for me, Sir Caesar. I'm looking forward to our next session.

[ BUT HE WILL STILL EAT THEM EVENTUALLY. ]

You seem to think of my demise quite often. How morbid...

Of course, Agnes! It was a deal, and I never go back on my word.

[ She smiles -- for real now! -- at the prospect of having another session and learning more cool new stuff! She has a mental note to go read everything she can about Mathiu Silverberg now, and this Shu fellow, and Apple! She makes her way to the door, and then turns around one last time. ]

Very well, then. Take care, and please be at least a little neat. I will come and clean your room again tomorrow morning.

Log: A Brief History of the Silverbergs

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