IC/Overflow Post

[noreasonneeded]

Random messages and thread continuations welcome here!

Comments

[noreasonneeded]

See? I keep my promise, I told you I’d keep you in the loop on it.

For a limited time, yeah. It’s not just a love story, she’s rebelling against her family. Against her father, at least. She and her mother get protection if she turns on him, and enough of his fortune that she and loverboy can go start over where they want. It's far more than his gang is offering her, and his loyalties these days to them are lost the moment he looks at her.

[callmeles]

Never doubted you for a minute.

That's... actually kind of sweet? Good for them. I am definitely in. I enjoy a good fuck you to family - or a family member.

[noreasonneeded]

I find it rash and emotional on their part, but it benefits me and screws over someone I don't like, so I'll hardly complain about it.

[callmeles]

Absolutely but you are set to make a profit and fuck over another person so,
it sounds like a win-win for you.

One day, if it does become A Bad Decision, they'll figure it out and who knows, maybe you'll be consulted again for other reasons.

[noreasonneeded]

The only kind of deal to make.

Oh, like getting paid to defame or murder one or the other? I’d hear them out at least. Although I'm not really in the business of using the Dregs as hired assassins. I don't mind deaths happening on a job, but being hired for that is usually more mess than it's worth when it's political or too personal to make it really relevant to anyone outside of the personal grudge.

[callmeles]

Exactly.

Yeah, I can see that. I assume there are assassins for hire in Ketterdam though?

[noreasonneeded]

Oh, there most definitely are, yes. I’ve had them sent after myself and my people.

[callmeles]

Seems like the prime place for assassins to hang out.

[noreasonneeded]

Corrupt clergy, politicians, and police. Financial capital of the world who claims to stay indifferent to the world’s affairs while pulling the strings from behind. A mysterious council of Grisha to mirror the Merchant Council. I can’t fathom what gave you that idea.

[Ketterdam is a festering hole of greed, lawlessness, cruelty, and ambition. It’s certainly where so many assassinations take place, both in the embassies and well outside of them.]

[callmeles]

[ She laughs. ]

All of that but the Church of Barter really put the nail in the coffin. For some reason, it screamed 'Assassins assemble here' to me.

[noreasonneeded]

Religion here is bought and paid for, so some have used it for political assassinations. Most of the clergy are content to sit on their fat asses and collect contributions so the merchers can claim spiritual superiority, but every now and then someone gets a tad ambitious beyond that.

[callmeles]

Yeah, I can see it. I feel like people have been doing the same thing everywhere since the dawn of time. Glad to know the sentiments are still alive and well in certain parts of the world.

[noreasonneeded]

People don’t change, as a general rule. Not in their lifetimes, or over millennia. There might be a rare exception, but it is rare rather than a rule.

[callmeles]

It's true. It's interesting because I assume the general person on the street would think that someone from a thousand years ago was as different from them as night and day. But, ultimately? I would expect there to be a lot more similarities than they realize.

[noreasonneeded]

Being terrible seems to be endemic to humanity. Most today simply can evade having to show the depth of their selfishness because society's comforts are easier at hand. If presented with any slight challenge though, just about everyone without fail will choose themselves at the expense of another.

[callmeles]

Think that started in the caveman days? When people needed to fight for survival?

[noreasonneeded]

Probably. People nowadays just won't admit to it still existing. And it's not just survival. People will do anything to get ahead.

Most people.

[callmeles]

Most people, agreed.

Can't say I've been any different in the past. I rather people just own up to their selfishness than hide behind some placid facade.

[noreasonneeded]

I don't fleece children and I don't trade in humans, but otherwise, I'm fine saying it's all fair game. I've never needed to pretend I'm a good person by standards that only suit a select few.

[callmeles]

I doubt we'd be having this conversation if you did either one.

Though, there was a time when I tried to play by the rules and be a "good" person or a "good" witch. It never felt true to me, at the end of the day.

[noreasonneeded]

I saw what the world does to the few good people that exist. It grinds them into nothing.

I chose to be something instead.

[callmeles]

It does and after Jordan's death, I stopped playing by anyone else's rules of how I should be or not be.

Like you, I chose to be something.

[noreasonneeded]

Was Jordan a rule follower?

It suits you. I've enjoyed seeing what you've done.

[callmeles]

It depended on the rule and if she felt like it. She did have a strong moral compass though and was always thinking about the innocents.

I appreciate that, Kaz. I can’t say I enjoyed it initially, I enjoy finding out who I am now. I have learned a lot over the last several years.

[noreasonneeded]

Yeah. I know someone like that.

I mean, I'm not saying there isn't room for improvement...

[He has to give her some shit.]