wнen тнe мoυnтaιn тoυcнeѕ тнe valley. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
midvalley) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
pullmeoutalive2014-06-27 11:45 pm
midvalley) wrote in pullmeoutalive2014-06-27 11:45 pm
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[ He arches an eyebrow, some of his amusement fading. ]
Yes, and leaving that all behind me, only to still be thrown in with that lot some decades later -- that stirs a sense of joy I haven't felt in quite some time.
Thank you, Charlie.
Yes, and leaving that all behind me, only to still be thrown in with that lot some decades later -- that stirs a sense of joy I haven't felt in quite some time.
Thank you, Charlie.
[ Myriad falls silent, taking a moment to compose himself. At length, he lets out a breath, shaking his head. ]
I apologize. Clearly this is a sore subject for me. And for you as well, I would wager.
[ A pause, and he brushes away an imagined speck from his thigh. ]
I've tried very hard to forget our people. Our home. It's something of a shock to be confronted by it so suddenly, once again.
I apologize. Clearly this is a sore subject for me. And for you as well, I would wager.
[ A pause, and he brushes away an imagined speck from his thigh. ]
I've tried very hard to forget our people. Our home. It's something of a shock to be confronted by it so suddenly, once again.
[ He sighs. ]
Charlie, I would hate for you to think you must censor yourself around me. Quite the contrary, in fact: I would prefer you speak freely. I shall do my best to avoid taking offense.
Charlie, I would hate for you to think you must censor yourself around me. Quite the contrary, in fact: I would prefer you speak freely. I shall do my best to avoid taking offense.
[ He waves a hand. ]
Trust me, Charlie -- it would take far more than a careless word before I rescind back my offer.
Trust me, Charlie -- it would take far more than a careless word before I rescind back my offer.
[ For a second, Myriad is silent, but then he leans forward, ducking down to get into Charlie's line of sight. ]
There's no need for that. Be yourself -- you're already far removed from the men and women I knew when I was a young man. What little I know of you so far would have been a breath of fresh air, had we met back home.
There's no need for that. Be yourself -- you're already far removed from the men and women I knew when I was a young man. What little I know of you so far would have been a breath of fresh air, had we met back home.
[ He offers a small smile. ]
And there we are -- about the greatest compliment I could have ever received. Thank you.
And there we are -- about the greatest compliment I could have ever received. Thank you.
It pains me to say I'm unsurprised, but I am glad, at least, that I was able to intervene when I could.
[ He falls silent, watching Charlie carefully. ]
You really ought to be resting, you know.
[ He falls silent, watching Charlie carefully. ]
You really ought to be resting, you know.
I could tell you a bedtime story, if you like. I was always quite fond of the one they told us about the dutiful young man who sacrificed every shred of happiness for the good of his household.
Fun for the whole family.
Fun for the whole family.
Perhaps the one about the Princess of Riddles, or the one about the two brothers and the phoenix? There's no shortage of stories one might tell to renounce deception and celebrate modesty. The irony is an endless source of amusement for me.
I take it you're disillusioned by the absence of your own happy ending, thus far.
And I sincerely hope you've dismissed those absurd thoughts, now that you're older.
[ He sighs, as though relieved. ]
I'm glad. I made my career in breaking the law, not in reprogramming decades of conditioning.
I'm glad. I made my career in breaking the law, not in reprogramming decades of conditioning.
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