[ dutch's brows draw together for a moment, though there's nothing wrong with the question as such. she just never had childhood friends. for a long time, she'd refused to even think of people as her friends, with the exception of johnny who'd jumped straight into family. ]
An old lover. [ dutch finally settles on, though that doesn't nearly capture all that alvis is. ]
I knew too much about a powerful man. I could have revealed him as a fraud instead of the almighty, all-seeing prophet he did so love to play at. He decided it was easier simply to kill me instead of worrying if I'd betray him or not.
[As simple as that. Rosalind leans forward, reaching into the water again, avoiding Dutch's eye as she does.]
And while he wouldn't have the same social standing here, I can't imagine he still wouldn't feel the same regardless.
[ dutch notes the way rosalind looks away. clearly not unaffected by the thought of it. dutch thinks back to the way she used to feel about khlyen. not comparable at all, but it's still where her mind goes.
(she wanted to be free of him. now, she wants him back, even though a part of her still hates him.) ]
Oh, he was charming, all right. Charismatic and loving, a father to all the city. No one was trusted more, and heaven forbid you question him in any way.
[She turns. One foot still lingers in the water, but the other tucks beneath her, ignoring the way it makes her skirt go damp and cling to her thighs.]
Were they born on Qresh? Still pretty good. Born on Leith? Probably a nice house and some property, making money off the backs of others. Born on Westerley? Well, you're shit out of luck, then.
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originallutece) wrote2017-09-22 05:41 pm
Dutch;
[But that's imprecise. She shakes her head, dismissing the question, and instead clarifies:]
Was he a childhood friend, or--?
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An old lover. [ dutch finally settles on, though that doesn't nearly capture all that alvis is. ]
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[She says it lightly, but there's an edge to her faint smile that hints at more.]
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[ dutch hated it while she was the only one awake. ]
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[ the same is true for dutch. if aneela ever wakes up -- well. dutch was ready to die before. she'll be ready again. ]
Why do people want you dead?
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[As simple as that. Rosalind leans forward, reaching into the water again, avoiding Dutch's eye as she does.]
And while he wouldn't have the same social standing here, I can't imagine he still wouldn't feel the same regardless.
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[ dutch notes the way rosalind looks away. clearly not unaffected by the thought of it. dutch thinks back to the way she used to feel about khlyen. not comparable at all, but it's still where her mind goes.
(she wanted to be free of him. now, she wants him back, even though a part of her still hates him.) ]
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[ the word that comes to mind is "politician" and "rich". in dutch's universe, that pretty much means "nobility". ]
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[She glances over at her.]
A specific example, or simply in general?
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The entire ruling class of the Quad. Called the Nines.
Not that anyone trusts them, really, but they pretend.
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Why the Nines?
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Nine families.
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And for those who weren't in one of those families? What was their fate?
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Were they born on Qresh? Still pretty good. Born on Leith? Probably a nice house and some property, making money off the backs of others. Born on Westerley? Well, you're shit out of luck, then.