Audience: Harrowhark Nonagesimus

[probe]

Comments

[probe]

Shhh. [a little sharply.] You didn't see anything. Okay? They didn't see anything.

[bonetiddies]

Understood. Silence.

[Crossing her arms, silent, giving her a second to calm down.]

[probe]

[her hair pops and snaps, but the second that she's given makes her realize that she's probably being too aggro. a beat, as she takes a deep breath.] ... Right. Right. Be careful. Okay?

[bonetiddies]

Yes.

[It's okay, she doesn't look intimidated, just. Trying to project calm.]

Allow me to ask several questions now, about general topics? They will not concern anything in particular.

[probe]

Oh, uh. Sure. Yeah, several questions about very general topics are totally fine and good. [her ear flicks.]

[bonetiddies]

If there are certain topics I have been warned to be wary of bringing up, is that for your safety? Mine? Or both?

[probe]

Both.

[bonetiddies]

I see. And is it also dangerous to discuss these topics among ourselves?

[probe]

... No, probably not. [she looks away, up at the ceiling, and then back.]

[bonetiddies]

[She looks up at the ceiling, too.]

It's rather rude, when you eavesdrop on our conversations.

[probe]

[there's nothing there! that gets her to blink, looking confused and slightly hurt, for a split second.] What? [...wait.] Oh. Yeah. It sure is. Never know when we're going to do it, either.

[bonetiddies]

I suppose it would be unfortunate, if you were to do so at an inopportune time?

[probe]

Yeah. [she makes a face.] Who knows what I'd overhear. Probably something super gross!

[bonetiddies]

Hmm. I'll try to be conscientious - make it clear when a conversation will be excessively personal.

[. . .]

I've been told by some of you there are things we ought to look into, and by others that it would be best to ignore these same things.

[probe]

[she looks almost... nauseated, by that question. she folds her arms across her chest, but - it looks a little more like she's wrapping her arms around herself and trying to be subtle about it.] There are some things I think you guys probably would be better off not knowing about.

[bonetiddies]

Hmm.

[She watches, with not a little concern.]

If you say so. I prefer knowing.

[probe]

[she nods.] I know you do. That's not a bad thing, Harrow.

[bonetiddies]

It may not be a good thing, either. But it is what it is.

[But she thinks about this for a moment, trying to get her mind around a way to say what she feels she needs to without saying it.]

. . . I suppose, in the abstract, it would depend. If something terrible can be changed, improved, countered in some way, it would be important to know about. If there is nothing to be done, I suppose there would be little harm in leaving it to lie.

[probe]

I don't know if anything can be done, but that uh. That doesn't mean that's a hundred percent guarantee, you know?

[bonetiddies]

I think I would tend to see it that way, whether or not it was a hundred percent guarantee, if it was some terrible thing that was endangering those dear to me.

Which has me. . . calling into question, now, many times that I have been told by one of you that something is not worth the effort to look into.

[probe]

It's not that it's not worth the effort, for this. I just don't want you or anybody to get punished, Harrowhark.

[bonetiddies]

I'm willing to take that risk. I don't want to cause anyone else to be punished, but I do not fear it myself.

[probe]

Yeah, I know you don't. [... sigh.] I think that's all I can say about general topics, boo.

[bonetiddies]

Very well.

[She'll accept that, even though she doesn't believe Lup is taking her declarations very seriously, and it's the second time in a week. Almost like they think she's a reckless teenager or something?]

I shall see what I can learn on my own.

[probe]

I know you're stubborn and smart enough to figure out what you want to. ... Did you need anything else?