crystals | step one cut a hole in a box

[dissolving]

FORM: Crystals
SENDER: Cedric
RECIPIENT: Friends, Romans, countrymen
NOTES: Complaintiment box

Hey – 's Cedric.

Heard we used to have a box for, uh. Feedback. Set up a new one outside the Mediation office.

If there's aught been bugging you, can put it in there. Won't promise you the moons, but reckon we can at least talk it out. And if there's something gone good, or you seen someone really putting in the work, 's a fine place to say that too. I'll let folks know.

Won't read it for a bit. So if you got a pressing problem, talk to me direct.

Ah. Yeah. That’s all, thanks.

[ muffled: ]

How d'you even say Pizzicagnolo –

Comments

[aberratic]

I can't imagine that anything you do— [ hang on, the stars in her eyes are too audible. hold back. ]

That whatever you do, you'll do any less than your best, or that your best could be insufficient. You'll find your purpose when this is over.

[ it's her turn to hesitate, chewing a little on her bottom lip over whether she should just leave it there. ]

I hope that you can find that purpose away from a fight, though. I think you deserve to see what kind of person you are without a sword in your hand. I hope that's alright to say.

[dissolving]

Thank you,

[ means it. shouldn't lean into that, hold those words in his head and roll them about for the echo. but there are a lot of things he shouldn't do. this one's – harmless. ]

'S why I joined diplomacy. [ admission: ] Hasn't always looked like this, it don't have to.

[ wasn't everyone on fieldwork, in the old days. plenty knights hadn't killed. stood watch, and ran drills, and taught the kids; had a day in town, maybe a life. she's due one too. community, safety. something that'll last. ]

There's better out there than all this. Reckon coming in here first, 's got to blot out the sun, but there are good places. Good things. Maybe you'll get to see them. Maybe we can try and make 'em better.

[aberratic]

[ we thrills through her, breathless. she's no fool, she knows he doesn't mean—and yet there's still no way she can't sound exactly as besotted as she is. ]

I would like that.

[ the tender longing of that lingers only for a moment before she shakes herself out of it, murmurs a hasty ] Thank you for talking with me, Cedric. Good luck. [ and turns off her crystal.

time to go bury her face in three different books at once. ]