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Good afternoon, Mr. Aurion. Or do you prefer Kratos? My name is Cheym. I work in the fields with other kedan outside the city most of the time. Your name has been making quite the rounds, what with that bit of coin you left with one of the families here.
[Kratos is emphatically blank-faced at this unsolicited call.]
Have you a point?
Have you a point?
[Dry chuckle.]
Very direct; I like that. Not many Foreigners pay us much attention unless something goes wrong, and even something as small as your way of saying thank you is unusual, and very appreciated. Thank you, I suppose, is largely my point.
Very direct; I like that. Not many Foreigners pay us much attention unless something goes wrong, and even something as small as your way of saying thank you is unusual, and very appreciated. Thank you, I suppose, is largely my point.
They already offered their gratitude. Why follow this up now?
[Kratos may have seen this woman at the Healers' Guild. She's smiling pleasantly.]
You're the one Professor Sage browbeat into helping out regularly, aren't you?
Is it something you're inclined to do even without her authority?
[Genuine curiosity, not making a point.]
You're the one Professor Sage browbeat into helping out regularly, aren't you?
Is it something you're inclined to do even without her authority?
[Genuine curiosity, not making a point.]
[This is the second unsolicited call he's had from a kedan on an apparently random topic. Hmh.]
Perhaps. Why?
[His expression, in contrast, is impassively flat.]
Perhaps. Why?
[His expression, in contrast, is impassively flat.]
[Suhiet tilts her head a little; the iridescent scales along her jaw, nearly flesh-tone, shimmer in the light.]
Even the Foreigners with the longest sojourns here eventually return to their homes. It would be a shame to lose your talents only because Professor Sage was taken back.
Would you be amenable to formalizing something more long-term?
Even the Foreigners with the longest sojourns here eventually return to their homes. It would be a shame to lose your talents only because Professor Sage was taken back.
Would you be amenable to formalizing something more long-term?
You want me to enter into a contract?
[This isn't something he expected.]
[This isn't something he expected.]
Consider it an official duty. I'm speaking with a number of Foreigners and it seemed prudent to start a conversation with something a little less random than 'hello, my name is Cheym and I like long walks through the fields and the smell of spring rains on warm soil'.
[He doesn't do beaches or pina coladas.]
I believe in building bridges, first and foremost. Apologies if I started out on the wrong foundation.
[He doesn't do beaches or pina coladas.]
I believe in building bridges, first and foremost. Apologies if I started out on the wrong foundation.
Official, hm. Speak plainly, then. What do you want?
[Since 'direct' is apparently appreciated, and that apology sounds awfully insincere.]
[Since 'direct' is apparently appreciated, and that apology sounds awfully insincere.]
Something like that.
[It isn't necessarily what she would have called it, but the term more or less works.]
Essentially, your help is too valuable to risk losing for anything but your own departure.
[It isn't necessarily what she would have called it, but the term more or less works.]
Essentially, your help is too valuable to risk losing for anything but your own departure.
I don't intend to enter into anything binding.
[Nothing that's held by someone else, at any rate. He's had a few too many experiences with pacts and promises.]
Professor Sage's presence doesn't determine whether I help those in need.
[Nothing that's held by someone else, at any rate. He's had a few too many experiences with pacts and promises.]
Professor Sage's presence doesn't determine whether I help those in need.
[...that's a little strange, but hardly the oddest foible she's seen a Foreigner have.]
That's all I wanted to be sure of. Thank you.
[A brief pause.]
Are you... content?
That's all I wanted to be sure of. Thank you.
[A brief pause.]
Are you... content?
[He pauses. Narrows his eyes.]
Why are you asking me this?
Why are you asking me this?
[The level of suspicion in some of the Foreigners is fascinating.]
Little more than to keep us in mind. Should you find yourself needing something we might be able to provide, let me know.
Little more than to keep us in mind. Should you find yourself needing something we might be able to provide, let me know.
And if I already know to whom I should be going for help, should I still let you know?
[Faint emphasis on the 'you'. Kratos is still trying to figure out whether this man is trying to create a monopoly through his own hands, or is some sort of elected representative.]
[Faint emphasis on the 'you'. Kratos is still trying to figure out whether this man is trying to create a monopoly through his own hands, or is some sort of elected representative.]
[Everyone thinks she's so shady. She's blaming Tu Yunxu, frankly. He's left a reputation a mile wide.]
Are you unaccustomed to co-workers inquiring after your well-being?
I have a vested interest in keeping the people of the Healers' Guild happy. So does Professor Sage.
Are you unaccustomed to co-workers inquiring after your well-being?
I have a vested interest in keeping the people of the Healers' Guild happy. So does Professor Sage.
Yes.
[He has to sigh, at that last.]
Do not make me meet you for tea every week.
[He has to sigh, at that last.]
Do not make me meet you for tea every week.
There'd be no need in that case; I only say let me know because I'm one of the handful of kedan that travel from the fields to the city regularly specifically for the purposes of being a liaison, that's all.
[That is somewhat reassuring. Somewhat. There's a moment of silence while Kratos considers Cheym.]
You said you believe in building bridges. Yet it took you a month to contact me, after the fact. Why so long?
You said you believe in building bridges. Yet it took you a month to contact me, after the fact. Why so long?
I can't say I think much of where you've worked before, then.
[Wherever that was. Whatever a man such as this did in his world.]
[With something like humor:]
Shall I limit it to every month?
[Wherever that was. Whatever a man such as this did in his world.]
[With something like humor:]
Shall I limit it to every month?
We've all been rather busy trying to keep the city from starving. My interpersonal skills come secondary to my agricultural ones, without question.
[Wryly:] Plus, you're rather hard to find, Kratos.
[Wryly:] Plus, you're rather hard to find, Kratos.
[She has no idea, and Kratos has no intention of enlightening her.]
Preferably not. Is there anything else you expect from me?
Preferably not. Is there anything else you expect from me?
[Ah. Of course. Kratos has kept some of those vital functions turned off, at least in part due to the limited resources; but that does make it easy to forget that others don't have that luxury.]
I'm frequently at the Guild.
[Hm. The explanation seems earnest enough, and it sounds as though Kratos isn't the only one Cheym is contacting. Perhaps Kratos just isn't used to being asked for things.]
Is there anything else you need?
I'm frequently at the Guild.
[Hm. The explanation seems earnest enough, and it sounds as though Kratos isn't the only one Cheym is contacting. Perhaps Kratos just isn't used to being asked for things.]
Is there anything else you need?
[That's fine. She's not currently his healer, after all. Let Raine handle the man.]
I... believe that's all.
Do take care of yourself.
I... believe that's all.
Do take care of yourself.
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