un: a lifetime ago

[aprescoup]

( The transmission seems to come from an inside quarter battered by Anurr's howling winds outside. Somehow, the speaker seems unbothered. )

Is this wo — I'm never good at this. One, two, three. One, two, three. Hello? That's... that sounds right.

Hello, everyone! I'm Matthias. Awful weather, isn't it? Can barely hear myself think. ( As he finishes his sentence, voice increasingly chilled, the winds quiet. )

There! There we are. Much better, isn't it? You've been well? I don't know what you make of the place, but if you're hungry, there's... try old man Thrael's, down Gentian street. Best buns you've ever seen! And his food's not bad either, haha. Do try it! Kamala, have you tried it? I think there were... more nice little family shops with cookery, I just... don't remember. Don't exactly remember.

( An awkward pause. ) ...right. A little bird tells me your group has something of mine. Very... very literally. Some parts of mine, as it were. A heart here, a tongue there, a hand... small inconveniences. I think that was all of them? I don't quite recall. I was hoping to unburden you of them. If I may? It's just... very strange. Feeling part of yourself across a city. I'm, of course, open to barter. I know you've come a long way, I suppose you're expecting something for your trouble! A... finder's fee?

And... you haven't seen her yet, have you? My Cose — ...no. Of course. You've only just started. I'm sorry. Let's not speak of it! This is us: not speaking of it.

Comments

un: witchful thinking

[nochnaya]

Shall we speak instead of entertainment? I recently watched a puppet show in the bazaar—the day you bid us there, in fact. It was an affecting performance.

[aprescoup]

...really? Would you look at that. What about?

[nochnaya]

A daughter quarrels with her father over his frequent absences, then flees into the woods in her upset, but the father refuses to go after her. There she is killed by wild animals and her father grieves, but it is too late to save her.

It was a tragic story.

[aprescoup]

That sounds... very terrible. Dreadful, even. What an ugly thing.

Parents shouldn't neglect their children. All sorts of wickedry happens when they're not attentive.

[nochnaya]

Do you speak from experience?

[aprescoup]

You might say. I couldn't possibly deny.