update from sparkleup

writing/post-self/mitzvot/034.md

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ Doubtless Jonas knew of eir distaste, as well, and doubtless this had factored i
 
 Ey stopped by the bar to get a cider of some sort --- something sweet; ey didn't know the first thing about ciders --- and hunted down an empty booth. The backs of the benches were straight and high, reaching up to the ceiling, leading to a secluded, if not particularly comfortable, space. There, ey sat and sipped eir way slowly through eir cider, waiting for Jonas.
 
-Ey'd shown up half an hour early, and was half expecting Jonas to be late, sauntering in lazily at quarter past, just as some strange show of power, but he arrived right on time, picked up a drink from the bar, and hunted Ioan down. Ey began to stand to bow to Jonas, then froze. Zacharias stepped into the sim, as well, grinned widely at the sight of Ioan mid-bow and, before even making his way to the table, gave an exaggerated curtsey.
+Ey'd shown up, notebook in hand, half an hour early and was half expecting Jonas to be late, sauntering in lazily at quarter past, just as some strange show of power, but he arrived right on time, picked up a drink from the bar, and hunted Ioan down. Ey began to stand to bow to Jonas, then froze. Zacharias stepped into the sim, as well, grinned widely at the sight of Ioan mid-bow and, before even making his way to the table, gave an exaggerated curtsey.
 
 "Ioan, wonderful to see you again," Jonas said, grinning. "My most foppish lackey decided to tag along, I trust you won't mind."
 
@@ -52,8 +52,6 @@ There was a hint of a whine to her reply. *"I am sorry, Ioan, I did not realize
 
 *"Of course. We will return soon."*
 
-*"Goodnight, Ioan,"* True Name added, May having apparently passed on the news.
-
 It was nearly two hours until the skunks returned as promised. Two hours of tossing and turning in bed, fretting and fretting and fretting. Eventually, both of them wound up joining em, and despite the added rest that this usually brought True Name, none of them slept well.
 
 When there was no wink and smile from Jonas, ey let eir shoulders sag and nodded. "Tired, yeah. We're all tired. Just want this shit over with."
@@ -70,10 +68,30 @@ When there was no wink and smile from Jonas, ey let eir shoulders sag and nodded
 
 *I liked you better when Jonas was stomping on your toes,* ey thought.
 
-"And so why am I here?"
+"So you said," ey said aloud.
+
+"And how is May Then My Name?" Zacharias asked. "I know precious little about my down-tree instance, you know. I trust that she is well?"
+
+"She is also upset."
+
+The fox gasped, mock-effrontery filling his voice. "Not because of me!"
+
+"It has been a stressful few months. She doesn't want True Name coming to any harm, either."
+
+Zacharias scoffed.
+
+Ey put on eir best smile. "Though yes, she told me that she knew there were still old forks around, but that she'd left them to their own devices and knew nothing about them, so she's surprised to have met you."
+
+"How very diplomatic," he replied, grinning. "Well, I can assure you that the pleasure was all mine."
+
+"So why am I here?"
 
 Jonas shrugged. "You mean aside from the fact that I get to see your face when you talk about your skunks? It's fun dragging people round."
 
+Restraining the urge to bridle at 'your skunks', ey gave a hint of a bow. "And what can you tell me about this meeting? I imagine you've got some grand plans about surprising True Name with your ideas for the future, but if nothing else, it'd help me to know what I'm getting into before I get into it."
+
+"Oh, excellent question!"
+
 ((Ioan asks whyyyy))
 
 ((It's kind of as EW suspected, but in the sense that the culture of each System had already started to diverge; that's where he and TN differed. TN truly believed that they should just kinda keep being super gentle with each just to ensure continuity, but Jonas disagrees, thinks that he can see ways in which each System needs more or less active politics))