Audience: Harrowhark Nonagesimus

[probe]

Comments

[probe]

You know, like nya! [they lift their hand and go through the hand motions. you know the ones.] It's the sound a cute little kitty cat makes. Nyaaa.

[bonetiddies]

Why. . . do you make cute kitty cat sounds?

[probe]

[they're half-tempted to respond with another nya, but....harrow's cool....and they want harrow to like them....so hm. dilemma.]

Doesn't everybody like cats? It's just a part of me.

[bonetiddies]

[Is she cool. Is she.]

I. . . haven't ever seen one. I suppose they seem fine?

[probe]

[let lust believe.]

...you've never seen a cat before? What about a dog?

[bonetiddies]

I'm afraid not. We don't have many animals, where I'm from.

[probe]

...[this is a tragedy and for a moment they go quiet.]

Stay here, I'll be right back. [and before harrow can blink lust is dashing out of the room. like. very quickly, in a blur.

about thirty seconds later, they come back as casual as can be cradling a black cat in their arms.]

Cat. [they hold up the cat like simba. the cat accepts their fate for now.]

[bonetiddies]

Oh. Um.

[She has no idea what to do with cat? She reaches out really gingerly and pats it on the head?]

Hello.

[probe]

[the cat is a mischievous little bean which means it reaches up to gently boop harrow in the nose. a pat for a pat.]

I guess I could've just shown you a picture or something, but this seemed way easier.

[bonetiddies]

It's. Very nice.

[She has no idea how to compliment a cat. She flinches when it boops her like it was trying to scratch her. It's so sad.]

[probe]

[harrow...lust will sit down with the cat in their lap, and next to harrow, and holding their pancakes, and also their boba. it's a balancing act.]

...don't worry, it's not gonna hurt you. They're actually pretty mellow. I don't think I've met someone who's never seen one before.

[it's absolutely not important but it's fascinating.]

[bonetiddies]

[Okay. She'll, um, gently reach out and pet the cat on the head.]

The planets we live on are dead. It's difficult to sustain life on them, and most organisms gradually become sterile.

It's not unheard of for the wealthier houses to keep pets, but it isn't common, and we lead a more austere life on the Ninth.

[probe]

[the cat bats again, but it seems to be more interested in playing and nuzzling into her hand while lust takes another sip of their boba.]

Has it always been like that? Is there a way to make things better?

[bonetiddies]

It has been that way for a myriad. It won't improve, but the non-necromantic population can move to other planets, colonies. For necromancers, a dead planet is preferable. Our power is strongest there.

[probe]

I guess that makes sense. Dead planet for cool death powers. [they finally stop to eat a large bite of their pancakes.] Is power the thing that's most important to you?

[bonetiddies]

[. . .]

How much do you know about my background? You were all able to access information about me - can you learn anything you want?

[probe]

[they lift a hand (somehow) to wave in a so-so sort of motion.]

Yes and no? We know a lot, but not a lot at the same time. Like...it's a brief history, but it's like someone else told us about your life instead. So even knowing what I know, I like hearing it from people directly. It feels more personal that way when you hear it from the narrator themselves.

[bonetiddies]

Yes, I understand. I'm simply - used to needing to keep the truth hidden.

[But if Lust already knows, or could know if they wanted to, it doesn't matter.]

I exist to be powerful. The sacrifices that were made to bring about my birth . . . those sacrifices were made intending that I be the greatest necromancer my House has ever seen, and thus I am.

What is important to me has no consequence. I am a promise to be fulfilled.

[probe]

...it's a lot of pressure, isn't it? To be told your birth was orchestrated for something bigger and dedicating your life to saving your House. Even if you're a promise to be fulfilled, aren't you still a person? I think you can still have opinions and wants just like anybody else, even if you don't think it matters so much.

[bonetiddies]

[She's feeling a little vulnerable, and it's an uncomfortable, unfamiliar feeling. She swallows a lump in her throat, and instead reaches hesitantly to scratch the cat behind its ears.]

It isn't possible to continue to live a life merely to atone for something which I know can never be atoned for. [So, she agrees, but - ] It isn't so easy to change. I've molded myself to live only for duty. I'm not sure I know what to replace that with.

[probe]

[cat therapy is valid and lust allows it.]

Maybe it's not so much that you have to know right away, but just knowing that maybe it's possible is enough. There's a whole world out there and all kinds of people and things to learn about. I'm sure there's something out there that's just right for you.

But I understand how important duty is, too. I just think...y'know. Your duty isn't the thing that matters most here, so a place like this is a good chance to try new things out. If you wanted. The people here don't know everything about you, so they can get to know you for who you are instead of how you were born.

[bonetiddies]

[It's hard to think of it that way; she isn't sure who she even is, so it's hard to imagine what others will even be getting to know.]

I would like that, I think. But. . . can we really trust one another, here?

[probe]

[it's possible lust is just saying shit, but no, there's definitely a conviction in their tone that they really believe what they're selling.]

I don't know. [but they won't lie to her either.] I think that's something you guys have to decide yourself. It'd be nice if you could trust each other, but everyone wants the same thing. An ideal approach would be helping each other out with your indulging to reach your goals, but some people here are a little less open than others.

[bonetiddies]

Mm. I don't dislike anyone, but I'm coming to believe our goals won't always be aligned. Isn't caution called for?

[probe]

Probably. [they sound almost flippant about that.] I think there's a line between being cautious and being too cautious. You don't want to open yourself up to get hurt, but at the same time you don't want to close yourself off from opportunities to get ahead either.