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[ Her nose scrunches in determined thought, and yes, she does, but not like that. Oblivious to his thoughts of her, to much of her self in that moment as she gestures far too animatedly for - well, as he said, a topic about dirt. The glass in one hand that she takes another far too generous mouthful - all honeyed on the way down, as she keeps going. ]
I do not have strong opinions about the dirt. [ A pause, hovering, with the bite in her tongue. ] I have opinions about how things grow in the dirt, that is completely different.
I do not have strong opinions about the dirt. [ A pause, hovering, with the bite in her tongue. ] I have opinions about how things grow in the dirt, that is completely different.
[ He might just be leading her on, setting her up to tease her more - but as it is, that anyone would listen to her is plenty enough. ]
We behave like this is still the time of isolation. Like there isn't better technology available to us now, better understandings. And yet, people are still using the same crops, the same way as we have done for hundred of years - like we are unable to understand how one crop might affect the ones afterwards. Which it does. The earth must be balanced, so that we can produce more, feed those in our care more, and better quality so that they may become stronger.
[ Radical, perhaps, a hundred years ago. That they should think of turning that food inward, rather than just selling it. But, still. ] Yet, the same old rich idiots that think making do is the same as succeeding, insist that the same things should always be planted because that's how it has always been done. [ She makes a noise, wretch with disgust over having to listen to far too many people insist about it. ] And they will not use proper fertilisers, either to supplement a tired field. The Betans optimise such productions, why can't we?
We behave like this is still the time of isolation. Like there isn't better technology available to us now, better understandings. And yet, people are still using the same crops, the same way as we have done for hundred of years - like we are unable to understand how one crop might affect the ones afterwards. Which it does. The earth must be balanced, so that we can produce more, feed those in our care more, and better quality so that they may become stronger.
[ Radical, perhaps, a hundred years ago. That they should think of turning that food inward, rather than just selling it. But, still. ] Yet, the same old rich idiots that think making do is the same as succeeding, insist that the same things should always be planted because that's how it has always been done. [ She makes a noise, wretch with disgust over having to listen to far too many people insist about it. ] And they will not use proper fertilisers, either to supplement a tired field. The Betans optimise such productions, why can't we?
[ -- Damn. Her eyes lower, not forlorn, but rather leans into that determination. ]
Not to make the same mistake again, I assure you. But my daughter deserves to meet her father at least once.
Not to make the same mistake again, I assure you. But my daughter deserves to meet her father at least once.
[ She sighs, heavily. Affects the tone of - well, a half dozen Vor Lords, he could pick any one of them. ]
'Leave that for us to worry about, Chhabili, don't you have other matters to see too? Why don't you see to your sewing?'
[ A familiar grouch. Her father might respect her - raise her differently to most - but that was an exception, and never the rule. ]
'Leave that for us to worry about, Chhabili, don't you have other matters to see too? Why don't you see to your sewing?'
[ A familiar grouch. Her father might respect her - raise her differently to most - but that was an exception, and never the rule. ]
[ She goes to take another sip - how far was he? Further than her? She couldn't tell. Had -
to make sure she didn't fall behind. ]
You have heard I am sure my family is only a little better than merchants?
to make sure she didn't fall behind. ]
You have heard I am sure my family is only a little better than merchants?
[ She nods, swallowing down before she speaks again. ]
They are right. [ It's cheerfully admitted. ] But we are very good ones. Part of that is the land we own - it was some how missed by the Cetagandan's destruction. For a long time, I was the only heir apparent to them. So I took their cultivation seriously. Once I began to realise - how they were being worked, who was working them, through my father's authority where no one else would listen to me - [ Nana was stubborn and set, and Tatya scrapped to his wishes. ] - we began to implement them.
[ And she grins, reckless with the laughter that bubbles up. ] Now, I have a brother. [ If she is bitter, that she should be passed over for his birth - it is out weighed by how much she loves him. ] And enough money even your family does not care, and you are marrying me instead. All I am left with is 'strong opinions about dirt.'
[ In her best impression of him that she could muster. ]
They are right. [ It's cheerfully admitted. ] But we are very good ones. Part of that is the land we own - it was some how missed by the Cetagandan's destruction. For a long time, I was the only heir apparent to them. So I took their cultivation seriously. Once I began to realise - how they were being worked, who was working them, through my father's authority where no one else would listen to me - [ Nana was stubborn and set, and Tatya scrapped to his wishes. ] - we began to implement them.
[ And she grins, reckless with the laughter that bubbles up. ] Now, I have a brother. [ If she is bitter, that she should be passed over for his birth - it is out weighed by how much she loves him. ] And enough money even your family does not care, and you are marrying me instead. All I am left with is 'strong opinions about dirt.'
[ In her best impression of him that she could muster. ]
[ She frowns at him - offended so easily that he would even suggest it. But this time - small mercies - she does not slap him. Rather gives him a clumsy shove at his shoulder. ]
I learned about it because someone needed too. I thought, even if my lands just passed to my husband, that I would still have to look after them, the people on them. [ And she flushes, beaming with pride. ] They eat better now. All of them, because I did so. Every single one of them promised they would kill you in your sleep if you ever tried 'that Vorrutyer nonsense'.
I learned about it because someone needed too. I thought, even if my lands just passed to my husband, that I would still have to look after them, the people on them. [ And she flushes, beaming with pride. ] They eat better now. All of them, because I did so. Every single one of them promised they would kill you in your sleep if you ever tried 'that Vorrutyer nonsense'.
[ She starts laughing - good lord, the Emperor? ] Never. Then I could never walk away from anyone again no matter how they bored me.
[ She hums in the thought, leaning forward in a stretch, sheer indulgence. How a proper mad Empress should be, to her mind. They sprawled so well in those paintings. ]
I would need to be a Vorrutyer first. So you can teach me such things. Instead of yelling at them about dirt.
I would need to be a Vorrutyer first. So you can teach me such things. Instead of yelling at them about dirt.
[ She thinks about it, then thinks about it again. Looking at him in a certain kind of scrutiny before she leans back again. Getting lessons in madness, then, is it? Well, she did tell him all her opinions on crops for all things.
Well, if there's any promise to alcohol, it is that she will not remember much of it. To her lessons then. ]
I suppose you are very beautiful. [ She does her best with it, tugging at her skirts to arrange it as best she can. ]
Well, if there's any promise to alcohol, it is that she will not remember much of it. To her lessons then. ]
I suppose you are very beautiful. [ She does her best with it, tugging at her skirts to arrange it as best she can. ]
[ her hand cups over her mouth as she laughs again ]
Will I need to tell you every day?
Will I need to tell you every day?
[ She bites her lips, thinking a minute - no, no she doesn't, not her own at least. But she takes her step forward, a hovering hesitation - he wanted poetry, well she could give him something half the same as she rocks the rest of the way, leaning her face closer to his, taking in that small soft breath that is - recklessness, as reckless as yelling at him in a garden. ]
'I swear, since seeing Your face, the whole world is fraud and fantasy. The garden is bewildered as to what is leaf or blossom. The distracted birds can't distinguish the birdseed from the snare.'
[ Sounds out each word carefully, sincerely, all of the meaning she needs. Not her own words, no, but she thinks, she thinks it will make do. ]
'I swear, since seeing Your face, the whole world is fraud and fantasy. The garden is bewildered as to what is leaf or blossom. The distracted birds can't distinguish the birdseed from the snare.'
[ Sounds out each word carefully, sincerely, all of the meaning she needs. Not her own words, no, but she thinks, she thinks it will make do. ]
[ A flicker of surprise in his eyes gives way to a smile of genuine, unfeigned pleasure as he listens. A small nod, a tilt of his head. ]
High praise. I aim to confuse and befuddle.
[ A moment, and then he leans in and murmurs back at her: ]
Des humains suffrages,
Des communs élans
Là tu te dégages
Et voles selon.
Puisque de vous seules,
Braises de satin,
Le Devoir s’exhale
Sans qu’on dise: enfin.
Là pas d’espérance,
Nul orietur.
Science avec patience,
Le supplice est sûr.
Elle est retrouvée.
Quoi?—L’Eternité.
C’est la mer allée
Avec le soleil.
High praise. I aim to confuse and befuddle.
[ A moment, and then he leans in and murmurs back at her: ]
Des humains suffrages,
Des communs élans
Là tu te dégages
Et voles selon.
Puisque de vous seules,
Braises de satin,
Le Devoir s’exhale
Sans qu’on dise: enfin.
Là pas d’espérance,
Nul orietur.
Science avec patience,
Le supplice est sûr.
Elle est retrouvée.
Quoi?—L’Eternité.
C’est la mer allée
Avec le soleil.
[ His hair looks so soft, it is hardly fair. She wants so very much to brush against it. See if that is some kind of illusion that her drink fogged gaze has put together out of the moment and the warm words she feels said so close. As much as she hears them.
A temptation too easily given into, as she lifts her hand up, and brushes against it,
lightly with the curl of her knuckles to keep it as unpresuming as possible. ]
Do you see me as an eternity, then? [ Laughed, because she is full of it. ]
A temptation too easily given into, as she lifts her hand up, and brushes against it,
lightly with the curl of her knuckles to keep it as unpresuming as possible. ]
Do you see me as an eternity, then? [ Laughed, because she is full of it. ]
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