(no subject)

[mordredeschain]

 *Mordred was getting used to having his own home. He was even used to the rather odd people who lived nearby, the Door to nowhere that he could open to anywhere if he tried and the rather odd geography of the area.

*Other people, however, would probably not enjoy walking in on him. If only because of the spiderwebs, the fact that his home was a cave in a rock spire and the unlikely canyon right outside.*

Comments

[wordsofwater]

"I was just thinking about gunslingers, oh right yes of course." It still takes some getting used to the fact that he can pick unspoken thoughts right out of her head.

"Well that's a good thing. I've no wish to shot at."

[mordredeschain]

Bein' shot at is never fun, I agree. *He shudders. There are memories there, it seems.*

[wordsofwater]

She looks at him with surprise. "Someone shot at you? At you?"

[mordredeschain]

Hume-mother an' hume-father both have shot me, aye. *He rubs at a long-healed scar along his hip.* My family be . . . not a good one, human or demon.

[wordsofwater]

"Why that's, that's awful." Her brow creases with consternation. and I thought my family was messed up

[mordredeschain]

I be the son o' the Crimson King, awful's ta be expected.

*As if in answer to the comment, an elderly taheen man with a bird's head lacking half the feathers walks up to them curiously.* "L-little king? L-little Red K-king? Is that you, sir?"

Yes, it's me. *He sighs.* I'm not the kind o' god as heals, ya ken. Certainly not when the disease be time.

"O-oh, I don't expect that. But the Little Red King must be fed, say true, an' I'm so very tired . . ."

*Mordred attempts to make his smile reassuring. It's not perfect, but better than nothing.* Ah, I see. Sit with us a while, then, old-timer.

[wordsofwater]

It takes her a little while to cotton on to what is happening. But when she does she finds that it doesn't sit well. She says nothing for a moment, mulling over the implication, before asking the bird man's name.

[mordredeschain]

"I'm Pimlo Rassi, miss. Don't worry about me; my children are gone, my grandchildren grown an' I have lived too long."

*Mordred lays a soft hand on his shoulder, feeling the brittle feathers down the neck.* Time is a face upon the water indeed in these late days. How would you wish to end?

"However you would like me. Everything aches, a bit more pain is worth it now."

I'd not add to thy pain, old one. You'll not have to endure the venom.

[wordsofwater]

hey mordred, can you hear me? I don't want to break up your party but.... does this kind of thing happen often.

She's now starting to worry that the weasel mayor is going to present her with a talking fish headed man for her lunch.

[mordredeschain]

(They know what I like, that's all. They also know that humans generally don't like it, never fear.)

In All-World it can be terribly easy to see one's grandchildren die of old age. Time be broken indeed.

[wordsofwater]

oh good because I don't think I could cope with having a conversation with my meal, or having it talk back to me. Even if it did seem to be bizarely up for it.

[mordredeschain]

If you don't want to see him die, you don't have to. I was thinking of sending him to the kitchens anyway, they're good at making death painless.

[wordsofwater]

She nods. He's right, she doesn't want to see it. This is not like the hunters who deserved it. She feels sorry for the old man. And a little bit horrified.

"Sorru. You think I'm pathetically weak for being squeamish don't you."

[mordredeschain]

*It's the old man who shakes his head.* "You're just a girl. Can't help bein' young an' innocent, nor would we want thee ta do so."

Come along, old-timer. No more cruel life for thee; we shall give ya the peace o' the Clearing.

[wordsofwater]

She doesn't ask what the clearing is, although it is clear that she understands the inference. She watches the old man being led away.

"I feel younger than ever here. There is so much i dont know and more still I am yet to encounter. The rules aren't just different here, they seem... broken. like any minute up could become down."

[mordredeschain]

*He laughs.* Well it hasn't so far, but you never know.

[wordsofwater]

"How do you cope, in a world where even the laws of gravity can't be relied on to behave themselves?"

[mordredeschain]

Not very well, sai. I'm just lucky enough ta be more powerful than most. *For a moment he looks very solemn.* I could rip worlds apart iffen I chose, this one an' all connected to it, but fixin' things be much more difficult. It takes a lot o' effort ta hold it all together, so most folken live along what Beams remain.

[wordsofwater]

And there I was thinking the most challenging thing would be the lack of water. She looks around and sees the folk scurrying about their daily lives.

"The remaining beams, are they stable?"

[mordredeschain]

Now that the Breakers be gone an' most o' their keepers be here? Aye, 'tis safe enough. I've barely even seen the worlds yet, I have no wish ta Break 'em. *He sighs.* I ken well that Red Daddy was mad.

They will be bringing your food before long. Think ya that you'll dare ta look at mine?

[wordsofwater]

"I think I'll be okay if it's presented on a platter all cut up, and not talking to you." She thinks some more, imagining it. "Probably."

[mordredeschain]

Ah, the fishermen be back! Time ta eat.

If it be too much for ya just tell me.

[wordsofwater]

" thanks that's more than considerate of you."

She purposely does not look in the direction of the returning fishermen, just in case it encourages them to introduce her to their catch.

[mordredeschain]

*Thankfully, the fish is just a fish. Perfectly normal goes-'blub'-occasionally trout-ish sort of fish, although what a trout was doing in an oasis God only knows. Maybe someone dumped some caviar in there?*

[wordsofwater]

The mayor arrives, and immediately begins fawning all over mordred. "We have prepared the dining table for you and your guest- um- er." he looks momentarily stricken having realised that he didn't even ask her name.

"Its Coventina," she says helpfully