TheAmishPirate

Breathless Dead

It would be an immature amatuer who laughed at a time like this. The Lupincas - immovable, invincible - cracked in two, split by the largest javelin ever thrown, guided true by technicolor waves of stardust, and she was to, what; throw back her head and cackle like a wild animal at the thrill of it all? Really now, she had more composure than that. Besides, Jas’o wasn’t even here to hear it.

Captain Vasilia doffed her hat, swept out her coattails, and dipped low in an immaculate bow. “Fare thee well, oh great king. A pity we could not provide an opponent of your caliber.” She straightened, and smirked, and...sniffed, catching the undeniable odor of an entire room burning.

Right. Yes. Not a good time to catch fire too. Best take care of that.

****************************************************

This wasn’t that different from the kitchens.

You see, that plasma fire? That was just like a flambe gone a little wrong. The screaming pressure valves, those were just like when you’re in the middle of chopping vegetables, and your water starts boiling, and your rolls only have seconds left in the oven. And the shaking deck, well, if you had to mop up a nasty spill, then sometimes that left the floor quite slippery, and you had to be careful where you stepped. Oh. The falling pipes. Those were...it didn’t happen often, but your rack of pots and pans could come loose, right as you were focused on your stew, and you had to get out of the way in a hurry. The giant gear that just sprang loose from its housing and nearly ran them all over, you see, that one…

He’d have to think about that one. But when he did, he was certain that it would be almost exactly like working in the kitchens. Thus, all he had to do here was what he did there when things got out of hand; run, vault, leap, swing, man the dials, fix the pipes, don’t linger anywhere, he’s forgotten his oven mitts, everything’s burning, don’t you dare lose your count, get to the oven on time, and eventually. Eventually! He’ll run out of fires to put out!

“Attention, crew!” Vasilia called out from the pipes, and what was that hissing noise in the background? Was that a hose? “I am so very pleased to report that the Veterosk has been completely disabled, and Jas’o’s forces scattered. Once you’ve put yourselves back together, report to the hangar; we still have a Princess to save.”

A frazzled bleat escaped his lips. Eventually...

[Rolling to Overcome with Daring Devils: 6 + 3 + 1 = 10.]

Breathless Dead

That’s...disappointing.

For all the Hermetician was dedicated to their work, for all the skill they showed, they didn’t look like they were enjoying themselves much. Much the opposite, they just looked angry and upset all the time. This was just like that time with the Azura, only there he’d been able to help matters with a carefully-timed stew. Hermeticians weren’t known for their conventional appetites. If they still ate at all anymore.

Still, that did explain the bullet holes and he was helping. (Was Vasilia alright? She sounded unhurt on the pipes. He would have to check on her when he got back to the bridge.) Dolce dutifully followed the shouted directions, taking great care not to repeat any mistakes.

****************************************************

She did not feel the ship move.

This was not the ruthless jerk of a Boarpedo, nor the dizzying dance of a Plover. The debris around them simply started floating backwards, as if caught in a gentle breeze. The retreating star before them stopped shrinking as Jas’o himself fought against the headwind. But it was useless. Only the Plousios was still. Only the Plousios was immune. The breeze became a gust, the gust became a squall, the squall became a gale, the wreckage of World-Eater’s fall scattered and dashed itself on their prow, and the light! The light! The light of the Vesterok drew ever-closer, filling every viewport, brighter and brighter until the star shields cried out in searing agony.

And she was unmoved.

“Ladies and gentlemen; do brace for impact.”

Plosuios, faithful Plosuios, carried her to the star’s heart.

[Rolling to Finish a gosh-danged warship: 3 + 4 + 1 = 8]

Breathless Dead

Vasilia worked the crank on the viewport’s star shield. Dim panels of crystalized shadow lowered with each turn, slowly cutting the light from the bridge. It was dull, drab drudgery so easy that she couldn’t remotely work up a sweat, with a device so carefully worked that it was impossible to go any faster than ‘painfully slow.’

Dolce called it good thinking work, and she hated how often it helped.

When she could survey the scene without getting blinded, her mind set to work while her hand ran on autopilot. This was quite the mess, wasn’t it? Redana’s stunt hadn’t bought them time so much as it had exchanged one impossible problem for another. Now instead of fighting outnumbered 150-to-1, they had to outmaneuver a fully-staffed warship, get to Redana first, and then fight outnumbered 150-to-1. Oh, and find a way to shatter the Lupincas while they were at it. To be frank, she hadn’t even gotten as to escaping. Perhaps if they made it that far, the Armada would take it as an omen and leave.

No, no, not good enough. That simply wouldn’t do. Not the escaping bit, that was a separate bit of unacceptable, but the situation. It truly was impossible. There was nothing she or any of them could do.

So. If that fight was unwinnable, which one could they win?

More importantly, what was winning, really? The Lupincas must break, that was for certain, or else Poseidon would never permit them to leave. They had to reach Redana, yes, but more importantly, if they could prevent Jas’o from reaching her, that was just as good. Better, even. If they crippled his ability to mount a coordinated chase, then they also crippled his ability to bring his forces to bear on them. They could scoop Redana back up and be gone with ease. If that was all they were after, then…

A devilish smile grew on her lips.

Then do we really need to outmaneuver him?

“Everyone: I want maximum power to the engines, as fast as you can give it to me.” She commanded through the pipes. “Stand by on steering. Our adjustments will be slight, and our heading vital.”

She eyeballed the line between their prow and Jas’o’s burning engines.

“We’re only going to get one shot at this, and we need to make it count.”

****************************************************

Waiting.

Waiting was...very good. Helpful for all sorts of things.

Waiting let him come to terms with the fact that not only had he not been gobbled up by an unspeakable vent monstrosity, he was (probably) not about to be gobbled up by an unspeakable vent monstrosity. Waiting told him that he ought not to call the creature tearing through their ship an unspeakable vent monstrosity, though it didn’t tell him what he ought to call them instead. (It was a Hermetician, yes? There were a few of those with the Privateers.) Waiting showed him it was actually tearing the ship apart so that it could put it back together again a little better. Waiting gave his ears blessed time to stop ringing, which was very nice for listening for Vasilia’s signal.

Waiting very often did not let him down, and this time was no different.

He gingerly lifted himself upright, a tangle of cables tumbling down his front. “It was Hades’ ship before he lent it to us. It would have been rude to ask.” Idly, he started sorting out the piles of scrap wire and parts they were casting aside, even catching a few bulbs before they shattered. Maybe it would help. It’d be easier to clean later, too. “Could I ask you to speak quieter, please? I can hear you well, and I’m listening for - oh!”

He perked up, listening to his Vasilia’s commands.

“Excuse me, I must help get the engines running. If you could focus your work there, I would be glad to lend a hand.”

[Using Heroes of the People to automatically Speak Softly:
-What can they tell us about getting our ship moving?
-What do they want, and how could we help them get it?
-What should I be wary of when dealing with them?]

Breathless Dead

“Ha ha ha, you know, why don’t we sort out the particulars later?” Vasilia twirled her pistol away from her crewmate’s head and tucked it casually in her jacket, where it would no longer be pointed directly at her crewmate’s head. Had she mentioned how strange it would be to shoot her crewmate in the head? She’d thought she wouldn’t have had to bring up the topic, but neither had she thought she’d have to deal with an entire Grand Armada when she woke up this morning, so perhaps it was just a day for unpleasant surprises. The skittering in the vents sure supported that theory.

“Everyone!” She turned on a dime and addressed her rag-tag crew. “We have a Princess to catch, and the only advantage to our name is that no one expects us to move, much less succeed. I want all of you on engines and steering. Alexa, show them the way. Dolce ought to meet you there.”

****************************************************

It was not the harmless creaking of an old ship. That was for certain.

It was difficult to say, but if Dolce had to guess, the banging was metal on metal; many small limbs against something large, probably the vents or one of the piping systems. On average, interval of less than a half-second...no, a third of a second between them. The echoes were changing tone, but not swiftly, so probably something with a great many small limbs instead of a few small limbs moving fast. The rumblings and - oh! And screeching. Screeching too. The rumbling and screeching were independent of the other noises, independent of its movement.

Like he said, it was difficult to say. Too many bad things it could be.

Do you know what he could say? They’d be moving soon. Vasilia would need him and the rest of the crew to man the ship’s systems. If they could man the ship’s systems, she could chase after the Princess. And if she could chase after the Princess, then they would get the Princess back. So...so no matter what sort of noises were coming from the ceiling, the floor, and several of the walls, the best thing to do was to stay right here, at his post, and listen very hard for the orders he knew were coming.

Yes. Nothing he could do at all but wait.

Wait...and listen.

Breathless Dead

Vasilia was still. The cannon was not.

It was a large thing. Worthy of the name. Half as big as her, covered in whirring gears, leaking some hideous green concoction that ate into the deck. It hardly seemed the spindly limb - straining and twitching - could lift it, and yet here it was, and here she was, and they may well have kept at it until Alexa stepped between them.

The cannon drew off of her. And it was all the opening she needed.

Vasilia stomped the worn deck with her heavy boots, and flipped a loose panel skyward as the cannon wheeled back and took the shot. A dripping cloud of vitriolic toxin ate the metal instead of her, melting it clean in half. With a sweep of her hand she snatched one of the falling chunks of metal and hurled it at Iskator, center of mass. They swayed, under and around, arms twitching and waving wildly but never once losing balance. The spent cannon whirled away. The flicker-flame took its place, and-

*BANG*

Sparks flew from the arm’s joint, and it fell limp. But then came the caustic perforator, and-

*BANG*

And it too fell useless. The cannon, by now reloaded, took the fore and-

*BANG*

Vasilia shot true. Step. Shoot. Step. Shoot. Limb after limb spun to her, and each one fell before they could strike.

With a hideous, grating shriek, Iskarot took aim once more. All of its eyes watched the flicker-flame swing by on a broken arm.

*BANG*

And finally - finally - Vasilia had a clean shot at a leg. The remaining two legs scrabbled furiously for purchase, but to no avail. Down went the arsenal. Down went the bundle of rags. All in a great, deadly heap on the floor.

Captain Vasilia knelt by the wreck, turning her pistol over idly in her hand. Grimacing, as she saw the barrel already choking on its own fumes. She had not broken stride once.

“Counter-offer: You work alongside our engineer to repair and maintain this ship. We make a stop at the first Hermetician outpost or ship that we pass, and no manipulating our course. You will be allowed to go and work as you please, but must heed the orders of your ranking officers.” A tilt of the head to her crewmate. “Her name is Alexa. You will treat her as you would any member of the crew. Your study of her may only continue with her direct, willing, and uncoerced permission. And…” Her voice turned to ice. “...you never do this again.”

She flashed him a perfectly bright, perfectly cheerful smile to the newest member of her crew, that was in no way connected to the loaded firearm in her hand. “Do give your answers to Artemis, won’t you?”

[Rolling to Overcome: 5 + 1 + 1 = 7, paying 1 Ammo to get the 10+ result.]

Fellowship: The Heart

the world is q u i e t

all is
still

she
can

r
e
s
t

Breathless Dead

When There Were Two

Captain Vasilia
Marked by Zeus and Artemis
Seeking Peace

AND

Chef Mate Dolce
Marked by Hera and Artemis
Seeking Adventure

THE PAIR
Vasilia’s Agenda: Viva La Revoluction
Dolce’s Agenda: All For One And One For All

STATS

Vasilia
Blood: +1
Courage: +1
Grace: +1
Sense: +1
Wisdom: -1

Dolce
Blood: -1
Courage: +0
Grace: +1
Sense: +1
Wisdom: +1

Combined (Always with Hope)
Blood: +0
Courage: +1
Grace: +2
Sense: +2
Wisdom: +0

Paired Core

Birds Of A Feather: You play as two characters. The Pair can split up or stay together as they
like, allowing you to be in two places at once. They each have a separate Look, separate Stats, and a separate personal Agenda.

The Pair has separate bonds for each of them. Each of the Pair can only have one Bond with someone else, and others can only have one Bond with each member of the Pair.

When they Fill Their Belly, the Pair only spends 1 Food, but they each heal one damage.

Working Alone: When The Pair is separated, they make rolls with their separated stats and get the Spotlight separately.

-When one of the Pair is acting to rescue, protect, or rush to the side of the other, they roll with Hope.

-Working Alone is dangerous, as you rely on your teamwork. When you take damage while Working Alone, you must also pay a price.

Working Together: When The Pair is together, they act as a single unit in perfect harmony. They combine their stats when making a move, and they share the Spotlight together. If either of you has Hope or Despair, you both do.

-When you Keep Them Busy together, only one of you needs to stay to Keep Them Busy. The other may disengage and begin Working Alone.

-When you Get Away or Look Closely together, you may split up. If you do, each of you may choose different options from that move's list, and you are now Working Alone.

-When one of you takes damage while Working Together, the other takes damage to the same stat, if it is undamaged.

Heroic Association: The Pair Commands Lore about an organization, instead of a society. You come from a company of mercenaries, bounty hunters, heroes, or some other such group. You Command Lore about who they are, what they want, their place in the world, their culture, their rivals, their enemies, and their laws, just as everyone else does.

Daring Devils:
-When you need a cool prop appropriate to your environment, like a chandelier to drop, a window to leap out of, or a vine to swing from, it’s there.
-When you use the terrain to protect you, you may Overcome using +Grace instead of +Blood. Leaping off of tall places to escape danger always counts as using the terrain to protect you.

Who Are the Pair?

Fated Pair: The two of you are inseparable, a perfect combination. When you are Working Together, you roll with Hope.

The Pair Custom

Heroes of the People: You do not need to roll to Speak Softly with common folk, friends, or coworkers - simply ask, and they will answer.

Taste my Blade!: When you engage in swordplay with an enemy, you may Keep Them Busy with +Grace. On a 7-9, after their retaliation, you may insult them or make a quip to Keep Them Busy again, as if you'd rolled another 7-9 result.

Mismatched Pair: Each member of the Pair takes a Custom move from a different playbook. Keep track of who took which move. Each of them may only use their chosen move while Working Alone.

Vasilia: Listen Here You Little Punk: When you Talk Sense by telling them what will happen to them if they do not do as you ask, Talk Sense with +Blood, and on a 7-9, they cannot ask their favor of you until after they have done what you asked of them.

Dolce: I've Got A Bad Feeling About This: When you're certain something's wrong here, you may ask the Overlord to tell you the safest way out, and also the quickest way out. They will answer truthfully

Vasilia’s Gear
-An elegant sabre, the twin of Dolce’s (Melee)
-A grav-rail glaive with its own independent gravity field (Melee, Clumsy, Dangerous)
-An elegant, long-barreled SP rifle (Ranged, Reload, Piercing)
-An brace of pistols, blessed by Zeus (Ranged, Piercing, Dangerous, Recharge)
-An Anathame. A knife with her name on it. (Protection against a Location stat, will betray her at any opportunity. Damage a stat to destroy permanently.)

Dolce’s Gear
-An elegant sabre, the twin of Vasilia’s (Melee)
-A tasteful variety of well-preserved foodstuffs (Food, 3 Uses [X][][])
-Household odds and ends, turned to creatively underhanded purpose (Useful, 2 Uses [X][])
-A travel-sized cocktail kit, amply supplied (Slow, Vigor, 2 Uses [][])

Vasilia’s Bonds
-If it’s a night for drinking, I’m with Alexa. No one else.
-Iskarot and I have a professional respect for each other. And, personally, his straightforwardness is refreshing.
-Bella carried me to her room. Shared of her private stock of wine. And for a moment, we might’ve trusted each other.

Dolce’s Bonds
-Redana and I have spent hours together on the observation deck, watching Poseidon’s wonders.
-I am convinced that Alexa can taste, she just hasn’t found a meal she could taste yet.

Advancements:
-Paired Custom: Taste my Blade!
-Paired Custom: Mismatched Pair
-Stat increase: Vasilia takes +1 Sense
-LEVEL UP NEEDED

DOLCE, THE SQUIRE
Marked by Mars and Artemis? Aphrodite?

STATS

Blood: -1
Courage: +0
Grace: +1
Sense: +2
Wisdom: +3

AGENDAS
-Be Brave, Take Risks
-Tell Us Of Your People
-Improve The World Around You
-Friendship Is Magic

WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE - Remembered By History

You want to be a hero so bad, even if the only way to do it is to tag along with the real heroes.

Whenever anyone near you goes anywhere, you can always choose to tag along with them, even if doing so should be impossible.

SQUIRE CORE

Fast Friends: When you spend a scene by someone's side or Speak Softly with them, you may gain a Bond with them immediately.

You can have an unlimited number of Bonds with anybody. People who you have Bonds with do not become Companions. You do not have enough pull with the fellowship to just recruit people. Those you have Bonds with will think well of you and will try not to harm you if they can help it, regardless of their feelings for the rest of the fellowship.

You can Command Lore about anyone you have any Bonds with, except for your Bonds with other players. You can Command Lore about Companions, friends, and minions of the Overlord who you have Bonds with, but you cannot Command Lore about the other heroes of the fellowship or about the Overlord.

This move cannot be Shared.

Please, Just Listen: When you Talk Sense to someone, you may erase a Bond with them instead of owing them a favor.

When you Speak Softly with someone, you may erase a Bond with them to make them answer a question they refuse to answer.

It’s Dangerous to Go Alone: When you watch someone's back and keep your eyes peeled, you can roll to Overcome any harm against them with +Sense instead of +Blood

SQUIRE CUSTOM

I’ve Got a Bad Feeling About This: When you're certain something's wrong here, you may ask the Overlord to tell you the safest way out, and also the quickest way out. They will answer truthfully.

Voice of Reason: You alone are the voice of reason in this insane world. When you offer advice to another player and they ignore it, you are filled with Hope during any attempts to bail them out of whatever mess they got themselves into. Basically, if you could say "I told you so" after your action, you have Hope to do it.

We’ll Make It: Your Bonds have the Healing tag, and you can Use them by erasing them. Your Bonds can only be used to heal the person listed in them, and only while you are by their side. This move cannot be Shared.

BONDS

-I know the fear that grips the heart of the Royal Architect. I may be the only person alive who knows it.
-Inexplicably, I've caught the eye of the Crystal Knight, and I would do well to steer clear of her impish smile.
-20022 was the first of my kind that looked at me as anything more than an outlier.
-Vasilia taught me how to make sense of the world when it all seems too much for me.
-I feel nervous and lost about how to show affection to Vasilia, but she's clever and quick-witted and we always figure something out.
-When I feel lost, and like there's nothing I can do, I know Mosaic will find us a way through.
-I trust Ember never to bite or bark at me.
-The Ancient Craftsman takes me under his wing, and I could listen to his stories and lessons for hours.
-[Bond with Assassin]

ADVANCEMENTS
-Squire Custom (Voice of Reason)
-Increase Courage or Wisdom by 1 (Wisdom +1)
-????

Breathless Dead

There. One more advantage they had that this king did not: She’d been standing on the bridge, waiting and watching for the launch she knew was coming. She saw the Plover’s trail. She saw where it headed. She could - roughly - guess which of the wrecks it might’ve taken refuge in.

They had a shot. A long shot, but a shot nonetheless.

Vasilia dropped her hand. “Go. See that she’s well, we’ll need all the hands we can get if we’re to get to Redana first. The new crew too, they’ll need to know where engines and steering are.”

Dolce nodded once, and was off like a wooly shot. If she hadn’t been listening keenly, she might’ve missed his little footfalls. Might’ve lost track of him before he’d left the bridge. Not today. Not now.

“One more thing?”

He stopped, one foot out the door. Outside, the void tore itself asunder, and the Armada loomed large, and Dolce, precious Dolce, looked only to her.

Her heart ached treacherously.

“Return to me soon, darling. Whole, and well.” She wore her warmest smile. For him. “That’s an order.”

The salute he threw was impeccable. The earnest bleating was a blessed bonus.

[The Pair are now Working Alone.]

Breathless Dead

Vasilia!

"In a heartbeat," said Jas'o, and you realize you've miscalculated.

@Thanqol

Oh?

And when was that, exactly?

Word to the wise; don't ask a question if you're not prepared for the answer[1].

"Let me be extremely clear: you are negotiating with the voice of Imperium. Compliance will be rewarded on a scale grander than you can imagine. Defiance, however, will be punished in similar scope. Defy the Admiral and she will find your homeworld. She will shatter it with a single blow. She will find the survivors and work them to death mining the shattered ruins of their planet. She will make a wasteland of the entire sector of space you originated from as a warning to others of your pathetic kind. Everything that you can imagine as valuable is but dust and starlight before the whims of Admiral Odoacer and the Armada."

There was a long, cold pause.

"So, what do you say? Let's put those silly threats behind us and work together! Everyone will be happy that way - even the Princess! We're just taking her home, after all!"

Alexa!

You are thrown in an unceremonious heap before the feet of King Jas'o right as he finishes his speech. "What's this?" he said. "Some sort of statue?"

"Deadly, sir," said one hoplite.
"Right fearsome," confirmed another.
"Mm. Looks valuable," he said, looking Alexa over. His men exchange glances like the bloodstains and rents in their shields should be telling a more sombre story, but the King is treating this as lightly as a feather. "I think I'll take it as my prize for capturing this vessel."
"My lord, I -"
"Up-up-up-up. I'll make sure you're rewarded for bringing it to me, don't worry, Galnius," said Jas'o. "But don't you think it'd look fine in my foyer?"
"I - as you say, lord," said Galnius with a sigh.
"Get the Hermetician in here," said the king. "Bring it to compliance - and then move on. The princess couldn't have gotten far."

@Thanqol

Dolce appeared at her side, and at once she held up a hand to stay him. He froze to the spot, studiously not moving a muscle. Oh, but she felt the weight of his heart straining to push past her, as if to crawl down that pipe and rescue their Alexa single-handed. Patience, my love! Patience! You must only bear this pain a little longer. Trust your Captain.

So. It’s ‘fear the Admiral,’ then? Not ‘fear the Empress?’ Fascinating...that explains bringing the entire Armada. This was no hunt. This was a coup, with a hunt on the side, which, frankly, was an even deeper insult than before. But more importantly, when there’s a coup afoot, everything becomes chaos. The status quo is dead, and everyone - from the highest king to the lowliest hoplite - has only one thing on their minds: “How am I going to get out of this alive?”

And this fellow - whoever he was - had done her the service of letting slip some, shall we say, personal frictions among his staff?

Yes, quite a few valuable tidbits in that answer...

“You know, that sounds absolutely delightful, but you see, I’ve just remembered that Redana is a grown woman, and it would be so rude of me to speak for her. I’m afraid you’ll have to charm her yourself, and may the gods grant you luck in your endeavor.” The saddest part was his lack of charm meant he’d take that as a compliment. “I simply must thank you for your truly generous offer. Your holdings are vast and fruitful, no doubt, but to offer me your soldiers too? To gift me an army of such striking loyalty, who follow a lord who would cosign them to the void, give away their services to a total stranger, all to faithfully serve your noble mission?” Stunning. Absolutely stunning. A gift beyond price. Such a home they could have had here!”

And if...Galnius, was it? If Galnius has ears and a brain, she could hear the wink from here.

“Ah, what might have been. Still! You mustn't be too hard on yourself; better than you have tried.”

“It’s true. There was nothing more you have done.” Dolce agreed.

And before they could stall for more time - or needle this fellow’s pride further - the rumbling she’d been hearing from the Hangar’s pipe resolved into the roar of engines, and the game was well and truly up.

***

[1]: Well...unless you have a very good reason to. Or. Perhaps, a very selfish reason.

***

[Rolling to Talk Sense with Galnius, 5 + 4 + 1 = 10 Unsure if this was Sense or Grace, but it's a 10+ either way. In all the hubbub of the chase/retreat, I would like her to take Alexa and her unit to Vasilia, and defect to a side that'll actually value them.]

Fellowship: The Heart

No pressure, right?

It’s funny, though. There should be pressure here. Their journey, their quests, their lives, all of it’s riding on her, and a conversation with a god. But, in the moment? Right here and now? She’s just a fox, on a raft, floating in the middle of an abyss, having a talk with her reflection. No eyes on her. Nobody talking back. Just her. And her.

Jackdaw took a deep breath. She pictured...well, it’s a little silly to admit, but she pictured her stories. The ones she’d carried within her for years, ever since she first heard them. Tales of daring, clever heroes, enduring incredible trials, facing impossible odds, and never ever being at a loss for words. She thought about what one of them would say if they were here, right now.

And - in the company of herself - the voice of another spilled forth.

“I read about you, you know.” She whispered to the waters. “Back in town. I read of you. I read of your eyes for the lonely, and your arms for the loveless. I read of a love that never ran dry, and a heart that never let go. It was...it was beautiful. I haven’t been able to get it, to get you out of my mind since.” She clutched her chest. Oh, how it ached, even now. “I didn’t understand why, at first. But now? Now I think I see what I was missing.”

She reached a paw out over the water. Slowly, haltingly, willing herself to just keep the trembling to a minimum? For a moment, please?!

“Your body is not your own. You make it of the things that you’ve taken. And you take in everything you can, everything that stirs a feeling in your heart, but it’s never enough. You have to have more. It’s been this way for so long, you...you don’t ever think that the next one will satisfy you. You just know that it won’t. You are lonely. You are empty. And...

“...you are me.”

She rested her paw on the surface, rested it on her own reflection.

“If you take us, if you drown me, you won’t ever be able to speak with me again. But if you let us go...then we may speak a while, and when we next meet, we may speak again. And again. And again. A lifetime of happy meetings. That’s what I offer you.”

A pause. A silence. An uncomfortable silence, that reminded her she was less alone than she pretended.

“I...the only name I have is Jackdaw. What’s yours?”

[Rolling to Talk Sense with Wisdom: 1 + 6 - 1 = 6]