viii ❧ video;

[k0kka]

[She's out at the ruins, sitting in a beam of sun, long legs stretched out in front of her. There's a box of chocolates next to her, lid off, none of the treats missing. The vine and the mirror have formed just slightly behind her.]

Pretty sure I'm too old for most of you girls.

[She presses a fingertip into one of the chocolates, it's a bit

Comments

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[brands]

Come on, you can't be too old for all of us.

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[k0kka]

Usually got at least a couple centuries on 'em.

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[brands]

Yeah? Guess we're in the same boat. Spent most of that time asleep, mind, but it's all the same.

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[k0kka]

That's a long time to nap.

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[brands]

Tell me about it. [She sighs.] You wake up and everything's changed, except for the things you wanted to change. [A lazy shrug.]

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[k0kka]

[She smiles a little, she wouldn't exactly know, but she got the idea.]

There's a lot of leeway for repeating mistakes.

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[brands]

No room for it this time. I've gotta get it right, or it's game over. [She grins though, takes the edge off the gravity of her statement.]

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[k0kka]

It gets that way, the older you are.

[Even if you didn't die, you got to remember and if remembering the mistakes didn't hurt, you weren't doing it right; you weren't learning.]

It's not part of the mortals' deal to get that though.

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[brands]

Guess so.

[She's quiet for a moment. "Not part of the mortals' deal," indeed. Someone should've told the fal'Cie that.] What's your name, anyway?

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[k0kka]

[She gives a lackluster little wave.]

I'm Paderau.

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[brands]

[She waves in return, and grins, sharp.] The name's Fang. Chin up now, Paderau.

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[k0kka]

Fang. I like it.

[She manages a little more energy.]

And I'm getting there. Just don't want any repeat performances on the monster business. Don't like people gettin' hurt on my watch.

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[brands]

Always thought it suited me.

Monsters? 'Fraid I missed that, unless you're talking about the killer roses. If the Queen's trying to wine and dine us, she's doing a shoddy job of it.

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[k0kka]

Nah, came before the plantbeasts. Somebody pissed of an ancient brood-bitch, so she cursed the whole damn gardens to take the likeness of her dead monster babies. I got a dose full in the face.

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[brands]

You serious? This damn place...talk about false advertisement. Did everyone make it out all right?