At What Price Respect

[brave_heart_verity]

Verity in the forum? Not a strange sight. Verity without coffee? Rather less common. Verity slumping, exhausted, into a couch? Unusual. Verity covered in scrapes, bruises, and dust? Definitely strange.

"Help isn't if it's forced on someone. This is true. Someone not in possession of all of the facts cannot give fully informed consent. This is also true. But nobody can be forced to listen." Of course Verity has things on her mind. Who here doesn't? "How do you reconcile that? Is ignorance truly bliss? Or do you do what's needed to save someone despite their choices?"

((A note before you come to play with Verity: she's got a magic spell stuck in her that lets her always know when someone is lying to her. This includes sarcasm and knowing when someone believes something to be true when it isn't. This doesn't include lies of omission. She can also see through illusions. Please respect this; if your character is trying to lie to her, please make that known so she can react appropriately. [I completely understand this isn't going to be everyone's idea of fun.] Thanks.))

Comments

[brave_heart_verity]

"I really doubt it. He'd probably find that offensive. And I don't have anything he'd want."

[ixis]

"What about threatened?" He says this like it's a perfectly normal option that perfectly normal people will consider. "Blackmail? It's frustrating that a clear link to your godfriend is right here before you, but his so-called valour prevents him from assisting you."

[brave_heart_verity]

"If I threaten him, I'm going to end up in the hospital. Or worse." That's just fact.

As for blackmail, she briefly considers the idea. "I'm not sure what I'd blackmail him about. He's already lost Mjolnir. There's not much more embarrassing for him than that."

[ixis]

"Lie that you have it?" Then he stops. His ears do a few twitches, thinking. Then he rubs his eyes wearily with his one hand.

"...What am I saying. Telling you to lie."

[brave_heart_verity]

Seeing him tired makes her pause. "Yeah, not exactly my best skill. It's okay, Naugus. Thank you for trying to help. I'll figure it out from here."

[ixis]

"Well...Do let me know how it progresses, if nothing else. Will I see you back this evening or will you be back in your world, tending to your affairs?"

[brave_heart_verity]

"I will. And I'll be home to make your dinner, don't worry. I'll talk to my mom tomorrow." She's in no mood for it right now.

[ixis]

"Hah, very good. Though I wasn't asking just about the dinner, it's still appreciated." He's suspecting now too that the original question isn't about Loki, now that Mom has come up, but he's going to leave it alone. She doesn't want to talk to her at the moment, so she doesn't have to talk about her either.

[brave_heart_verity]

Not having to talk about her mom or her Loki further is a relief.

"I know, I was teasing." She wonders if this is how Loki felt when he spent so long teaching her how to be a friend. It's not unpleasant, but she never expected to be on this side of the equation. "About your motivation, not the dinner."

[ixis]

"Oh, I was about to be crushed! Another evening of just fruits and cheese on bread! I'm going to end up spoiled by having you around for the time being. Spoiled or fat."

[brave_heart_verity]

"Or both." Which is, ironically, the thinking that leads to either. "I have to earn my keep somehow."

[ixis]

"Well, you're earning it well. I do appreciate you making things and just leaving them for whenever I emerge from my study." Since she's not allowed to take it up there and all. Maybe someday she'll get the tour of the third floor, but for now, off limits like the West Wing.

[brave_heart_verity]

"You're welcome. But you know you can ask if you want something hot and I'm home, right?"

She's super curious about the secret magic stuff, but she's smart enough to not poke around. She'll have to be patient.

[ixis]

"That seems...rude. Or like I'm dependent on you." And we can't have that, can we!?

[brave_heart_verity]

Certainly not. "Oh, no, not at all. I like cooking, and a lot of the things I make are better warm, so it'd be nice for me if I got to make it for you and serve it the way it's supposed to be."

Soothing a divine ego has given her some interesting life skills.

[ixis]

"Well, if you put it like that, I'll keep it in mind. And if you like it so much, may I put in a request for biscuits or muffins? They seem to be a good constant to have around. Quick and easy to snatch and eat, or do so during work."

Aw, the evil wizard likes muffins. But who doesn't?

[brave_heart_verity]

"Happily." See? She's cheered up already. She might not be able to save her world or find her friend or talk to her mom, but she can damn well bake muffins.