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Half a day's wage.
[ this is an opening bid ]
[ this is an opening bid ]
A quarter. It shouldn't take longer than an hour, that's more than generous.
[ A quarter's fine. But it's the principle of the thing: ]
Third, and I'll sock the next guy does it.
Third, and I'll sock the next guy does it.
[ that touches something. maybe a funny little sense of pride. sure, it’s practical: anyone in the gallows sold them out, he'd be a quick knock. still. ]
Know you got plans for something bigger.
[ heat’s dead useful, but enough gold already buys it. ]
Know you got plans for something bigger.
[ heat’s dead useful, but enough gold already buys it. ]
Ain't checked out of inns.
[ imagine how pricy that'd get, always asking for a single room. they don't get paid like that. but faint bafflement gives way to consideration: ]
It that kinda sharing?
[ wouldn't mind, astrid's pretty. only seems a bit pissing where you eat. ]
[ imagine how pricy that'd get, always asking for a single room. they don't get paid like that. but faint bafflement gives way to consideration: ]
It that kinda sharing?
[ wouldn't mind, astrid's pretty. only seems a bit pissing where you eat. ]
What, no— [ unless…? ] I mean— could be, but seems like that’d get real messy, like—
[ Her brain is furiously spinning. There’s a brief pause, Astrid doing some rapid calculations, because wait he never clarified that original question, ]
But really though, aren’t you married?
[ Her brain is furiously spinning. There’s a brief pause, Astrid doing some rapid calculations, because wait he never clarified that original question, ]
But really though, aren’t you married?
Yeah, three years on.
[ why he needs the extra work so bad. anniversary’s coming. ]
Light of my life.
[ why he needs the extra work so bad. anniversary’s coming. ]
Light of my life.
Mate, they were divine. Literally, you ever seen those picture plates of th'new one? Same shape under all them robes —
Only once or twice, passin’ through a town. There was a resemblance, now you mention it—
[ Astrid’s easily distracted, almost meanders down that tangent and loses her original thought. She hauls her attention span back. ]
Right, but. So you’re still married but still getting your dick wet on the side? What’s the point of the binding then?
[ Astrid’s easily distracted, almost meanders down that tangent and loses her original thought. She hauls her attention span back. ]
Right, but. So you’re still married but still getting your dick wet on the side? What’s the point of the binding then?
[ what is the point? he is... also distracted. right: ]
Agreement, ain't it? What's mine is hers, hers is mine. [ and maybe sometimes sybelle disagrees about how much is his ] Business, sure, but the rest too. Made a decision on who to put first. Said whatever shakes out, it's gonna be her and me.
But she's not here to give a damn, and can't think she's not railing half Val Royeaux —
Agreement, ain't it? What's mine is hers, hers is mine. [ and maybe sometimes sybelle disagrees about how much is his ] Business, sure, but the rest too. Made a decision on who to put first. Said whatever shakes out, it's gonna be her and me.
But she's not here to give a damn, and can't think she's not railing half Val Royeaux —
But if she’s away cos she needs some space, [ because Astrid does remember how he’d phrased it, the first time he ever mentioned his wife to her, ] why don’t y’get divorced like normal people and then just get hitched again if you wind up together again?
[ Lowlanders are weird. ]
Back home you set a number of years on the marriage. And then if it’s still working at the end of that and you’d like to continue, you tie the knot again if you like; or let it dissolve. No use having the oath if you’re not gonna stick to it.
[ Lowlanders are weird. ]
Back home you set a number of years on the marriage. And then if it’s still working at the end of that and you’d like to continue, you tie the knot again if you like; or let it dissolve. No use having the oath if you’re not gonna stick to it.
[Always, on scales both figurative and literal. Smaller things, too, easily overlooked. A smear of blood here or there for tighter precision, a brighter flame. Interlocking pyramids, a triangle enclosed in a ring—]
Well... there is the airship, of course.
Well... there is the airship, of course.
Of course. [Maybe.] I believe the designs are sound... and we'll be able to work out any kinks on the trial model before moving on to the full scale iteration.
[Which should be in better progress than it is. They have supplies... the engine, the skiff, the silks...
(The terribly empty spaces where certain people ought to be...)]
[Which should be in better progress than it is. They have supplies... the engine, the skiff, the silks...
(The terribly empty spaces where certain people ought to be...)]
Yeah, working out kinks can help.
[ it stay up ]
What d'you need to move ahead?
[ it stay up ]
What d'you need to move ahead?
'Cause we're still together. Take all the space she wants, still my best girl. And anyway, that's a lotta contract shite to sit through. Family's like the Nocen. Fulla sharks.
[ short ones. shorks. ]
What happens if you don't stick to your oaths?
[ short ones. shorks. ]
What happens if you don't stick to your oaths?
[ Neatly: ] Chop off your dick.
Nah, just kidding. It’s not like… I mean, it’s not like you get jailtime or banishment or whatever so I guess there’s no real punishment, really. But it’s just… holds are so small, y’know? Everyone knows everyone and most everyone’s related or connected in some way. Word’ll get around and they’ll find out that your word’s not worth shit and you’ll lose standing in the community, like. People don’t like to trade with an oathbreaker. If you won’t stick to one of the most important promises possible, then who’s to say you won’t screw someone over when trading for food.
[ Lazar probably would screw someone over in a trade, but still. ]
It’s not a complicated contract, anyway, ‘cos nothing lasts forever. You just tie some knots into a long rope and then your partner tries to untie them and that says how many years you’ll be married.
Nah, just kidding. It’s not like… I mean, it’s not like you get jailtime or banishment or whatever so I guess there’s no real punishment, really. But it’s just… holds are so small, y’know? Everyone knows everyone and most everyone’s related or connected in some way. Word’ll get around and they’ll find out that your word’s not worth shit and you’ll lose standing in the community, like. People don’t like to trade with an oathbreaker. If you won’t stick to one of the most important promises possible, then who’s to say you won’t screw someone over when trading for food.
[ Lazar probably would screw someone over in a trade, but still. ]
It’s not a complicated contract, anyway, ‘cos nothing lasts forever. You just tie some knots into a long rope and then your partner tries to untie them and that says how many years you’ll be married.
'Course they do, it's a fucking war. But if the tower collapses tomorrow, it's not gonna be you stacking bricks, so come on. Let's get going.
Try not to make it a Tuesday. Banging this Antivan broad, got tits like the Divine.
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