ataraxion | 002

[ When the video flicks on, there's some really terrible shaky cam going down. Shots of the floor and ceiling interspersed with brief glimpses of Tyke's back, as Tommy tries to get a decent shot of the... Whatever it is. Like a stream of black sand moving through the air like smoke. ]

What the hell is that?

No fucking idea.

[ There's a dog barking at the black thing, shuffling fearfully on its paws but putting up a loud front. The camera jostles as Tommy shifts it to his other hand. ]

You're the one who's seen weird shit.

Yeah. Doesn't mean I've seen all the weird shit ever. [ She moves closer, crouching down next to the dog that's barking, putting a hand on its neck. It quiets down to growls. ] The dogs don't like it. I don't like it.

[ Tommy's response is just a grunt of affirmation. He's not sure he needed the dogs to figure that one out, but they're sure being clear about it. ]

Are you videoing? [ The camera catches Tyke glancing over her shoulder as she says it, noting that he is and nodding. Then the camera swings around, framing the lower left quarter of Tommy's face. ]

Anyone got something to add here?

[ ooc: Tommy, Taylor ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Bannerless, then, [ Alayne murmurs and it is not an insult nor anything near to one, just an absent observation. Banners had once meant something grand — a great oath sworn generation after generation, a fealty that could not be broken without the punishment of shame or even death. But with the War of Kings, many of the ancient pacts had been broken — even guest right had lost its profundity — and so promises made before gods and men lost much of their meaning to Alayne. ]

And which call do you answer to first: that of duty or that of coin?

[ A warrior without banners could still have honor, while a sellsword took orders from the opening and closing of a purse-string. Who this girl was was still a mystery to Alayne, but her obvious camaraderie with Tommy made the question fester. ]

[She isn't really bannerless, she thinks, and almost protests. She was a student of Cartazonos, trained for excellence, one of the best - but those were Pinset's words. Not hers. And she'd told Pinset to choke on them enough times, she wasn't going to cough them up now.]

Money doesn't matter.

[Taylor had never even handled money of her own before, only seven when the Academy had taken her. There was no money within those walls, and there was none on this ship. She knew about it in concept, but it had never been important to her.]

[ Alayne mulls over the words, then asks: ]

Does duty matter? Does goodness?

[ The world was filled with all manner of men and, in tandem, all manner of women as well. Some fought simply for the sake of fighting, spurned on by the clash of metal in their ears and tang of blood in their mouths. Perhaps this warrior women was among their rank. Perhaps not. (She would not know, lest she ask.) ]

[The words just don't make sense to her for a moment. Where did duty or goodness fall? Taylor did what she was ordered, and without orders, she did what she could to help. Was it duty and goodness with the Academy? Was it duty here? She frowns, and as the words continue to refuse to settle into anything she can work with, it turns into a scowl.]

You know, I was never any fucking good at philosophy.

[She shakes her head slightly, a tense, uncomfortable looking motion.]

What matters right now is figuring out what this thing is and making sure it doesn't hurt anyone. Does that answer your questions?

[ It would be weakness to find the girl's tone hurtful, to admit that it is frustrating to only wish a person well through caution and to see such advisement denied (even, perhaps, for good reason. ]

It does, [ Alayne says, her tone proper (no, prim; no, curt). It was obvious to her that Tommy and her companion were determined to whatever it is they meant to do. What does it matter to you? she asks herself and though she knows the answer care, Alayne swallows that down and provides a new answer (she always been good of convincing herself of whatever is necessary at the time).

It doesn't matter, she thinks. It doesn't matter at all. ]

Thank you, [ she says, though she's not thankful at all, and disconnects the feed. ]

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