6. In the stables

[lady_maz]

[You'll find Marian in the stables today. Grooming slowly is calming and good when there's a lot to think about. Going for a ride will be refreshing. (Or, as TV trope says: all girls love ponies.)]

Comments

dictated

[moleculars]

[ Piper grins at Marian's message. She has to give the woman points for being annoyingly (in a loving way) persistent to get her out more. ] Where are you?

Marian

[moleculars]

To a point. Then they find a gap in our armour and they manage to take over. [ Pause ] That's why Cole pursued the case. He didn't want these people to claim 'loss' and get away with it. [ And Piper feels so incredibly frustrated that it's been made possible for people that fit this description to be so easily believed for crying 'loss'. ] This Peace Patrol is a strong force, right?

Piper

[lady_maz]

He was right to do it. But... good will prevail, Piper.

[She's adamant on both of those statements. It's just that her upbringing and experience has taught her that people, even herself, to an extent will and must be sacrificed for the sake of a greater good. Meadieval views and all that. She won't mention that now, however.[]

The Peace Patrol seems to be all about serious business, yes.

Marian

[moleculars]

For how long?

Well, hopefully they'll do their jobs right. I'm not too thrilled about the idea of people getting away with the crap that they usually do back home. But make sure they're upfront with you. [ Piper may or may not be thinking of the Elders as she says this. ]

Piper

[lady_maz]

It's an ongoing struggle for the souls. The more I learn about magic, the more certain I become. There is always a strife. But we can have peace here, I'm sure of it. And I will demand frankness, I can be rather frank myself.

How many years did you have to fight back home?

Marian

[moleculars]

Peace will only last so long. I think that the back and forth we tend to experience is the more dominant force here. [ Not bitter at all about magic interfering with her life. Not at all. :| ] Good. I don't know what these people are like, but it's one of the few things that stopped me from signing up - going in blind to only find out that was their plan afterall.

[ Piper is silent for a few minutes ] Three. But I'm sure that it was more than that. I've just spent the past three years being an active participant in it.

Piper

[lady_maz]

The balance here is relying on the fact that the castle has kidnapped a lot of skilled people. The castle has no interest in destroying itself, only see us play for its amusement and survival.

[Her voice sound a bit cynical here.]

I spent six active years; five on secret night patrol, helping the poor and spying, the last in castle arrest, still spying. There was a fair bit of fighting now and then. I'm sure the fight goes on while I'm here. It needs to.

[Cynism mixed with anxiousness, but also a slight resignation.]

Marian

[moleculars]

[ She makes a face ] Yeah, kind of hoping we're not expected to break out the swords and slay each other.

The fight goes on regardless of whether we are participating in it or not. Considering how it's still a dominant force from your time to mine, that's got to say something. Six years is a long time. I'm hoping to have this end in less than ten - but if Grams has her way, we'll be living this fight until we die. [ Major do not want. ] I don't think I'd have the strength to keep fighting for so long. It's hard enough now.

Piper

[lady_maz]

While many here in Paradisa have sought danger out, you have been forced into it. It was the same with me, in a way, though I admit I grabbed the chance when it came. It was my chance to make a difference and not just be a bored noblewoman.

But I do hope there's a chance to draw back from it too, for both of us. I... can see how magic abilities brands you, whether you want it or not.

Who was Grams?

Marian

[moleculars]

A noblewoman, huh? [ She smiles at that ] I could never picture you as a noblewoman. I guess you were a bit ahead of your time?

My grandmother. She, uh, raised us after my mother died. You can almost say she's the one that got us into this mess. [ Sort of. But stripping their powers and leaving them with only the Book? Piper can point fingers at her. She wishes Grams had left them an instruction manual, a how to for dummies book. ]

Piper

[lady_maz]

[A quick, surprised smile.] Didn't I tell you that? Ahh, you should have seen me at court. Though it was always a lot more fun in Acquitaine and Poitou. Queen Eleanor had her court in Poitiers, such people, such entertainment! My mother's family lived there, women were a lot more free there than in England... But I ramble. I'd never be able to be who I am today if I hadn't been so privileged.

Your grandmother brought this on you, Piper? I'm so sorry to hear that. First losing your mother and then getting into something you didn't choose... My mother died early as well.

Marian

[moleculars]

[ a tad whimsical ] Being privileged. I wish I knew what that was like. [ pause ] I'm not quite sure I'd fit in well with your world. Rules - they were kind of made to be broken. [ Like going on strike or ignoring the Elders - or just plain not listening to Leo's advice. Those were her rule-breaking actions, and she can't say she isn't damn proud of them. ]

No, my great, great, great, great, great something or rather grandmother did. Grams just ... tried to prevent this from happening, and in a way, we were a little under-prepared.

I'm sorry to hear about your mother.