Thirty-First Question

[i_am_ptolemy]

I am no longer dripping blood, and the stains seem to have disappeared from my bed and manuscripts...but they remain, now dried, on my person and clothing.

I will need to bathe before the 'picnic' today. I may also, perhaps, need to go without any sort of head covering, since that is thoroughly matted with blood.However, this curse seems an ideal

Comments

[adrastus]

o ne : a d r a s t u s

tWo : yEs

t Hr eE : cOuld noT s eek sHad y corNEr

fOur : y es

fi ve : mOre of a j ob d e tri mEnt re All y

[i_am_ptolemy]

I see. Thank you, Adrastus.

It is curious that you are affected by such a curse; I was under the impression that you were affiliated with the City itself? Is it possible for the deities as well to find themselves under the influence of these whims?

[adrastus]

a d r a s t u s

dOe s

i T fOr f un

[i_am_ptolemy]

You have a choice in the matter, of being affected or unaffected?

Interesting...

[adrastus]

yo u tO o

if You stoPpe d

b eaT ing

[i_am_ptolemy]

I would have to know exactly what sort of beating I would need to stop before I could do so, unfortunately. And I am not entirely sure what you mean.

It has been suggested that you refer to a heartbeat...but mine stopped two thousand years past. The beating of a drum, of another person, of footfalls on the ground...these would not make sense in this case, I do not think. ...It occurs to me that perhaps the idea of attempting to 'beat' the City and the deities, to triumph over them, could be what you mean? I cannot think of anything other logical option at the moment.

I find myself very interested in the sense you mean for us to take from the word 'beat'.