I'll be certain to make inquiries of him. Though I'll hazard a guess that there are likely others among our more attractive LIERs.
[ Likely he can hear her rolling her eyes. She wouldn't be surprised if Ignacio had also seduced an official or two, but she'll keep that to herself. ]
Well, it was worth it just to have the nice reprieve, too. I've missed using my magic in combat. Still, I'm very happy for you that you'll have the opportunity. Mind that they don't then put stipulations on it or take it away, or leave your license in limbo. They've offered you the ability but not necessarily for the prize.
I'm to go to the nearest government medical center in the Up to pick up the appropriate papers tomorrow night. We shall see if they attempt to act in some underhanded manner. I'm slightly more inclined to trust Duplicity's government over LIEs. Though, the separation between them seems little more than a sheet of paper at times.
Agreed. It's too fine a line to put a point on at times. Let me know how it works out. I know I need to get back to studying for the exam, myself, but that's taken a back seat to a great deal of other work I've been meaning to do. Only so many hours in a day, etc. etc.
Well, I have my dog back. Which has been an interesting development in the Surana-Valbanise household.
[ She knows Ereuvir has no issues with Valen but she could swear he wilts a little when she's so free with her tenderness on the hound. It's sparked some more overt displays of affection than she's been used to giving. ]
I've also received notes and possible lists to work on a cure for the Taint.
I have my license, officially. I'll need to sit for a few exams to prove competence in my specialty areas and perform a practical exam for surgery. I've set dates for those already. I'd like to post my credentials in the reception area, if that would be all right with you? I think it only sensible to have some evidence that we have officially licensed physicians. It can only add to our legitimacy.
[And stick poker in the eye of everyone who might be annoyed that said credentials are being given to a Submissive. Jonathan will just privately gloat about that.]
I'm glad you have your dog. I do hope Ereuvir's taken to it. But the Taint! Neria, when were you going to tell me? I'll be available to assist every evening, as you need it. Any evening.
[ It's through paper but Jonathan's exuberance is heartwarming. She smiles while she writes part of her response. ]
Of course you can. Make certain that whatever's holding it is quite resistant and that it's hung up in a way that it's difficult to tear down. I'd hate for anyone to try to take it. It's proof of your hard work and your legitimacy. I'm glad you've received it.
[ The rest is...harder to write. It takes a little longer for her to write back. ]
If you'll believe it, I think Ereuvir is jealous, likely because I spoil that hound as if he were my own child. So I've needed to be more attentive to him and no, that's not innuendo. He knows how I feel towards him but it never hurts to remind him. It's muddled and it probably makes no sense, but that's where we're at.
I haven't talked much about it. There's been a great deal going on. Many of the things it requires don't exist in Duplicity, to my understanding, so...it's likely I will need substitutes. That's another issue.
[There's no written response to her first comment, but the next day when she comes to Haven, she'll find his medical license in a frame, all but cemented to the wall behind the reception desk. The glass looks to be quite thick.
He might have used what remained on the credit card he'd received at the festival for that item.]
He shape-shifts, does he not? You could tell him to be a dog for a time.
[He's teasing. Mostly.]
If you'd like to provide me with an ingredients list and their properties for your cure, I should be happy to aid in the investigation.
Oh, no, I can't do something like that. You don't understand. He's made jokes about being my hound before, Jonathan, and it's a been more charged than you think it might be.
[ Jonathan likely doesn't understand that part of her relationship with Ereuvir. If she asked, he'd hunt for her. She suspects...no, she knows he would kill for her. The amount of power she has with Ereuvir is a terrifying and dangerous thing. Their entire experience together at the Fort only makes that clearer to her. Ereuvir is a god, one who has now made it clear in no uncertain terms that he will never, ever let her go.
Not that she wants him to, nor has she asked or considered it.
But the hound comment would likely make him laugh, even if it might never be literal. She can be a wolf for him, too, could sink her teeth in anyone he might ask her to. Him and Jonathan both. Ereuvir knows but Jonathan cannot begin to fathom the lengths she'd go to for either of them. Or maybe he knows but can't properly qualify it.
She hopes he doesn't have to find out the hard way. ]
I'd like to go over it first, please, and work on a list and see what might be needed. I received notes and would like to revise what I have before I proceed.
[ Yep, that's Neria obviously stalling and trying to nudge all help out of the picture. Again. ]
[Jonathan has an inkling. That business during the trial had not been entirely without use. That first trial, when he'd been shaken, shying, uncertain. And Neria? He's really not certain if Neria's behavior was so much less her... or more. Certainly, he doesn't think she'd ever act in such a manner naturally, but she hadn't acted entirely unlike herself, either, if she were to simply give herself license to take what she wanted.
Her polite refusal troubles him. He knows she'd batted away his help after he'd admitted to her that their connection made her ever more enticing. But this feels different. It's not even learning anything about her, but the Taint itself. He doesn't think that would do anything. There are small taps at the side of the page to signify his thinking before he responds to her.]
I will be available immediately upon your request, Neria. I'll check in with you about this next Monday.
[He's setting a firm deadline on her stalling. Maybe it's rude, but he's not going to let her permanently put him off.]
[ It...irritates her, frankly. In fact, it nettles at her for the days following, that Jonathan has put a deadline on her decision to allow him to aid her. It's not his work; it's not his to decide on any more than it is Ivy's, who is also pushing her to relent and to allow her support. She shouldn't be so frustrated; she should let them help. She knows that. She does know that.
The truth is that she isn't afraid of Jonathan finding her blood more alluring. She isn't afraid he'll lose control if he knows more. Maybe what truly troubles her is the thought that without the corruption, she will have no more excuses, no more veils to cover what is truly monstrous within her. It was never about what she was physically becoming; it had always been about the darkness, the selfishness, within her own heart. And if she finds a cure, then they'll have to realize that she'd never had any intention of taking it.
There is no justice in a simple cure, not for someone who has done so much wrong.
So she spends her time looking over the notes on her own, looking through the list of potential ingredients. She doesn't sabotage her work but she also certainly doesn't leap at the chance to expose everything: the long nights she's stayed after to work on things, or the blood she's taken from herself. The things she's had to do to isolate the Taint. She's kept Jonathan at arms' length with this work and only recently allowed Ivy to help. Until now, it's really just been her project.
It feels like she's hollowing herself out, being too vulnerable, to allow either of them - or anyone - so close. But she makes her decision before the deadline, several days later, writing back: ]
We can begin when you and Ivy are ready. If we succeed, everything will change, so much more than you can know or understand right now. But you - neither of you - will not stop me from doing what is necessary, no matter the cost.
If you do, I will take my work elsewhere, and neither of you will touch it again.
[Doing what is necessary? That sounds rather ominous when it comes to the development of a cure. Unless she's thinking of what happened with Ivy and her efforts to find a cure for her own situation.]
When have I ever stood against you, Neria? We are partners. I will help you do what is necessary. And Ivy and I will be ready to manage things if something should go awry.
Change is not necessarily a bad thing. Jester's god favors it, you know? Perhaps this will count for my weekly mischief.
[It's an effort to lighten the tone of the conversation to an extent.]
[ She supposes one of them needs to be the hopeful party here. Jonathan either is being deliberately obtuse or he's being naive, and if it's the latter, then she doesn't have the heart to tell him how he's very, very wrong in some respects. While they stand a suitably large chance to cure the Taint and prevent her Calling, and Anders', it doesn't mean that there isn't a suitable risk that she might simply speed up the process.
Or make it worse. ]
No, it's not necessarily a bad thing. But this is complicated.
[ It means putting more of herself out there on the table. It means showing her notes and being honest with what she's been doing to herself. And it means that Jonathan is just as likely to stop her from her more direct paths of experimentation. ]
I know you've never stood against me. [ That doesn't mean he won't. ] I'm glad we're partners, Jonathan. And I appreciate all that you're willing to do to help me.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2019-06-25 05:29 am (UTC)From:[ Likely he can hear her rolling her eyes. She wouldn't be surprised if Ignacio had also seduced an official or two, but she'll keep that to herself. ]
Well, it was worth it just to have the nice reprieve, too. I've missed using my magic in combat. Still, I'm very happy for you that you'll have the opportunity. Mind that they don't then put stipulations on it or take it away, or leave your license in limbo. They've offered you the ability but not necessarily for the prize.
no subject
Date: 2019-06-29 04:50 am (UTC)From:What did you receive for our troubles?
no subject
Date: 2019-06-29 04:56 am (UTC)From:Well, I have my dog back. Which has been an interesting development in the Surana-Valbanise household.
[ She knows Ereuvir has no issues with Valen but she could swear he wilts a little when she's so free with her tenderness on the hound. It's sparked some more overt displays of affection than she's been used to giving. ]
I've also received notes and possible lists to work on a cure for the Taint.
[ She writes it a little like an afterthought. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-07-05 10:20 pm (UTC)From:[And stick poker in the eye of everyone who might be annoyed that said credentials are being given to a Submissive. Jonathan will just privately gloat about that.]
I'm glad you have your dog. I do hope Ereuvir's taken to it. But the Taint! Neria, when were you going to tell me? I'll be available to assist every evening, as you need it. Any evening.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-05 10:34 pm (UTC)From:Of course you can. Make certain that whatever's holding it is quite resistant and that it's hung up in a way that it's difficult to tear down. I'd hate for anyone to try to take it. It's proof of your hard work and your legitimacy. I'm glad you've received it.
[ The rest is...harder to write. It takes a little longer for her to write back. ]
If you'll believe it, I think Ereuvir is jealous, likely because I spoil that hound as if he were my own child. So I've needed to be more attentive to him and no, that's not innuendo. He knows how I feel towards him but it never hurts to remind him. It's muddled and it probably makes no sense, but that's where we're at.
I haven't talked much about it. There's been a great deal going on. Many of the things it requires don't exist in Duplicity, to my understanding, so...it's likely I will need substitutes. That's another issue.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-06 11:20 pm (UTC)From:He might have used what remained on the credit card he'd received at the festival for that item.]
He shape-shifts, does he not? You could tell him to be a dog for a time.
[He's teasing. Mostly.]
If you'd like to provide me with an ingredients list and their properties for your cure, I should be happy to aid in the investigation.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-07 03:42 am (UTC)From:[ Jonathan likely doesn't understand that part of her relationship with Ereuvir. If she asked, he'd hunt for her. She suspects...no, she knows he would kill for her. The amount of power she has with Ereuvir is a terrifying and dangerous thing. Their entire experience together at the Fort only makes that clearer to her. Ereuvir is a god, one who has now made it clear in no uncertain terms that he will never, ever let her go.
Not that she wants him to, nor has she asked or considered it.
But the hound comment would likely make him laugh, even if it might never be literal. She can be a wolf for him, too, could sink her teeth in anyone he might ask her to. Him and Jonathan both. Ereuvir knows but Jonathan cannot begin to fathom the lengths she'd go to for either of them. Or maybe he knows but can't properly qualify it.
She hopes he doesn't have to find out the hard way. ]
I'd like to go over it first, please, and work on a list and see what might be needed. I received notes and would like to revise what I have before I proceed.
[ Yep, that's Neria obviously stalling and trying to nudge all help out of the picture. Again. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-07-09 03:55 am (UTC)From:Her polite refusal troubles him. He knows she'd batted away his help after he'd admitted to her that their connection made her ever more enticing. But this feels different. It's not even learning anything about her, but the Taint itself. He doesn't think that would do anything. There are small taps at the side of the page to signify his thinking before he responds to her.]
I will be available immediately upon your request, Neria. I'll check in with you about this next Monday.
[He's setting a firm deadline on her stalling. Maybe it's rude, but he's not going to let her permanently put him off.]
no subject
Date: 2019-07-09 04:22 am (UTC)From:The truth is that she isn't afraid of Jonathan finding her blood more alluring. She isn't afraid he'll lose control if he knows more. Maybe what truly troubles her is the thought that without the corruption, she will have no more excuses, no more veils to cover what is truly monstrous within her. It was never about what she was physically becoming; it had always been about the darkness, the selfishness, within her own heart. And if she finds a cure, then they'll have to realize that she'd never had any intention of taking it.
There is no justice in a simple cure, not for someone who has done so much wrong.
So she spends her time looking over the notes on her own, looking through the list of potential ingredients. She doesn't sabotage her work but she also certainly doesn't leap at the chance to expose everything: the long nights she's stayed after to work on things, or the blood she's taken from herself. The things she's had to do to isolate the Taint. She's kept Jonathan at arms' length with this work and only recently allowed Ivy to help. Until now, it's really just been her project.
It feels like she's hollowing herself out, being too vulnerable, to allow either of them - or anyone - so close. But she makes her decision before the deadline, several days later, writing back: ]
We can begin when you and Ivy are ready. If we succeed, everything will change, so much more than you can know or understand right now. But you - neither of you - will not stop me from doing what is necessary, no matter the cost.
If you do, I will take my work elsewhere, and neither of you will touch it again.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-14 02:10 am (UTC)From:When have I ever stood against you, Neria? We are partners. I will help you do what is necessary. And Ivy and I will be ready to manage things if something should go awry.
Change is not necessarily a bad thing. Jester's god favors it, you know? Perhaps this will count for my weekly mischief.
[It's an effort to lighten the tone of the conversation to an extent.]
no subject
Date: 2019-07-15 03:28 pm (UTC)From:Or make it worse. ]
No, it's not necessarily a bad thing. But this is complicated.
[ It means putting more of herself out there on the table. It means showing her notes and being honest with what she's been doing to herself. And it means that Jonathan is just as likely to stop her from her more direct paths of experimentation. ]
I know you've never stood against me. [ That doesn't mean he won't. ] I'm glad we're partners, Jonathan. And I appreciate all that you're willing to do to help me.
We'll start next week, if time allots.