#earthrunes

"Mmm I leave it to your expertise. If possible, which ever, even if it is both hands, might actually be naturally in hiding within the stump, then, for flaire, they slither out of what looked like a dismembered limb. Like a kraken of myth rising from it's lair"

"Switchblade squid hands... I bet you'd get the better of some in fights just from their shock." This amuses him greatly.

"I'm no fighter, but I bet you'd like to get a chance at the one who did this to you, with a blade back in your own hands - or limbs, as it may be."

"And I'd like to see the look on their face."

"AH, well, if all goes well I shall be doing far more than retribution for myself" A sly smile "Mister Lee... I think I do know one way to repay you for your interest. And given your history, I doubt you'll be sharing it with a Varich. I am hoping to use a Countess' pennon to claim a hold... .in the same way the sidhe have claimed ours"

His eyes widen a bit. "Then I'll be glad if I can help you do so. Turn the bloody oak into someplace slugs can live freely."

"With luck, it may yet go to we sluagh" he says "But there are chances some noble might claim it who is a sidhe. Even then, they'll be indebted to me.. and, I suppose to you." For a second he almost fumbles his tea but it doesn't spill "Pardon"

A small wrinkle of his nose. "As long as it's not a Sun banner, I suppose."

"I suppose ,though... " A confused look, "It turns out one Varich did try to help us. I am..baffled still. Perhaps she fell on her head during her dream dance but she seems think we must move beyond our old conflict, and her House is foolish to keep the hate alive"

An uncomfortable fidget. "I have met one other who did not consider us... outright vermin to be exterminated. The prejudice is still there, but - tempered, perhaps. They say the Varich are supposed to be masters in patterns. It's not completely outlandish to think that a small handful might have been able to see a bigger picture by now."

"Yes, but the odds of winning a lottery are much higher I suspect. Do be careful even around the 'good ones', Mister Lee. I've seen what their 'average' members will do to us. In some ways, I'm luckier than others. There's a childling who , well, her scars of of the heart and mind."

A deep frown. "I heard a rumor about that. Disgusting. Even sluagh have morals where it matters, for all that we are elsewise."

"just so. but there are good people out there. it is my hope that Pernicious finds someone to watch over her. To guide her. To help her grow to find out who she is beyond her trauma" he looks distant, as if staring past a fourth wall "Perhaps someone who is not afraid of a challenge" and then his eyes turn back to his tea "This really is quite nice, thank you, Mister Lee."

"Yes, the more I think about it, the more I like your idea about my replacement hands. Some nockers will be dissapointed but they'll always have others to try such on"

"It might not work. And.. if you're keeping the stumps, or the appearance thereof? Why not try out a few prosthesis too? Be a man of many options, and surprises." He suggests.

"Hedge my bets? You won't be insulted ?"

"Nah. I'm a realist." He pauses, and clarifies, "No, sir." A touch more politely, remembering his host has rank.

"If you prefer Mister Florin, that's fine too, Mister Lee. I'm hardly a traditionaist"