‡6th Treasure‡ video;

[totallytrustworthy]

Hello again, Esilium. Long time no talk-- [Chloe's looking under the weather in terms of wear and tear only; her bright eyes actually bright today for a change. For the first time in months, as a matter of fact.] good god does it feel good to be free again. Never thought I'd be saying those words, but there you have it.

And don't worry, no more lectures on this end. No more daily mutineering announcements: I can catch up on what I missed in lock up by scrolling though the network on my own and I've got a more important issue that needs addressing first. [There's a brief pause before she adds, gently as possible:] Obviously anyone that wants to talk shop about what went down is welcome to, of course. Just-- you know. We're on the fast track to recovery around here from what it looks like, so I'm not about to force anything else down anyone's throats as long as that remains the case.

Thanks, by the way, for not unanimously voting for throwing us all out the airlock. [Nice to know not everyone wants them done in or worse.]


Right, though, to the point. I need someone willing and capable of doing tattoo work. Good tattoo work.

In this case I'm even willing to consider the magical sort so long as nothing additional goes along with it. Not really a fan of curses and poisoned apple nonsense.


Additional text addressed to Vanozza:

not sure if I should be thanking you for this or asking why you of all people are signing up to look after someone like me right now

Comments

[givetheslip]

[Well. She can't argue with that.]

You're likely to see some debate over what the better ones might be.

[totallytrustworthy]

Good thing I don't really care. [What a sly grin that prompts as well.]

Besides, it's such a fine line.

[givetheslip]

[Maria laughs.]

Well, you know my opinion, though I've never felt the need to mark my skin.

[totallytrustworthy]

Never? Not even for a badass dragon or a lopsided tiger?

C'mon, there's got to be something worth getting marked up for.

[givetheslip]

Such a thing hardly befits a lady.

[Why yes, there is a trace of sarcasm in her voice.]

And when I went off to war I had other matters to concern myself with.

[totallytrustworthy]

Oh, Lady Maria, is it? My god, where are my manners.

[Because that's the thing to focus on, Chloe.]

[givetheslip]

[That gets quite the laugh.]

Lady Hallaton once, but I've no desire to be so again. No titles are necessary.

[totallytrustworthy]

Important question: pinky out when you're sipping tea, yes or no?

[givetheslip]

[Blink.]

I beg your pardon?

[totallytrustworthy]

Etiquette. Pinky out. [She almost sounds disappointed about the confusion, though it's hardly anything but a bit of friendly teasing.] Not ringing any bells at all?

[givetheslip]

[She stares a moment longer, then chuckles.]

I'm afraid not. But then I was never very good at being noble.

[totallytrustworthy]

You and me both. Admittedly I've never tried but-- details.

Also fairly certain you can't get absolutely hammered when you're nobility. [There's a quick thumbs down shoved right up into the screen.] Bo-ring.

[givetheslip]

It's frowned upon. There's quite a bit more leeway as a soldier, though even then you have to choose your moments.

[totallytrustworthy]

Don't imagine it was an easy lifestyle adjustment, going from frivolity to the fray. Drinking privileges or not.

[givetheslip]

Not easy, no...but it was a relief. I wouldn't call my previous lifestyle frivolous, but I would say it was everything I didn't want.

[totallytrustworthy]

And this-- where we are right now-- this is everything that you don't want either, right.

[givetheslip]

[She sighs.]

I'm no stranger to war. I've risked my life in battle. But at least when I was a soldier, I believed my superiors knew what they were doing—and I had a hand in my own fate.

[totallytrustworthy]

Never had that, really. The whole soldier's perspective deal-- not until now, anyway.

I'm more accustomed to managing myself.

[givetheslip]

Shortly before I was taken, I'd begun to do just that. I actually wondered if it wasn't so bad—I had little idea of where I wanted to go, and less of what I wanted to do. This madness seemed as good an option as any. Then.

[totallytrustworthy]

Short term plans, long term goals. It's simple. Easy. Or it's supposed to be, anyway, though things rarely ever pan out the way we'd like. Case in point: [Chloe motions down towards the monitor.]

Most of it depends on the freedom to roam, though. Sort of an impossibility in this world.

[givetheslip]

Simpler for some, maybe.

[She'll allow that that's possible. But for herself, it's hard to imagine things ever being simple again.]

Is there a place you'd like to roam, if you could?

[totallytrustworthy]

Where wouldn't I like to be right now? [Still, she sits for a moment before adding, sincerely:] Paris, though. This time of year. Not much I wouldn't give to be out there in the heart of it.

[givetheslip]

Really? It must be very different in your time than mine. I can't think of a great deal special about it as I remember.

[totallytrustworthy]

What, nothing at all? Come on, the Notre Dame, the view of the Seine-- you can't tell me that didn't exist back then.

ty for making me look stuff up on Wikipedia

[givetheslip]

I've no idea what that first one is, and the Seine is just a river. Are people fond of the landscape in your time?