“Hmm? Reason for…?”
“For not wanting to be a part of your talks. I do not want to be a part because of this time manipulation business. I remember how it felt to be one of the lost. I remember experiencing centuries or mere seconds in that endless place of no time. I remember wondering if I would die out there after a hundred years had passed by, and I also remember only a few minutes going by before Debarre showed up.”
“Wait, he was the one who got you out? I would’ve thought some clinic technician or something.”
-“Of course, my dear. Why do you think we are so close to each other? Even after all that business in the early days, we are still close.” It grinned. “Please do not tell him this, but I have always been a little in love with him since then. Our tastes in partners differ, so none of the clade have never acted on it, just as Michelle never acted on it.”
+“Of course, my dear. Why do you think we are so close to each other? Even after all that business in the early days, we are still close.” It grinned sheepishly. “Please do not tell him this, but I have always been a little in love with him since then. Our tastes in partners differ, so few of the clade have ever acted on it, just as Michelle never acted on it. I believe End Waking is the only one who has.”
+“Ioan seems fond of him.”
+“Of course ey does,” Dear said primly. “He is much like me if I was in any way serious.”
+Codrin grinned. “Crazy, then?”
+“A different kind of mad, perhaps. He is highly principled, though, and that along with the seriousness is a draw to Debarre, I think.” After a few more steps, the fox added, “But yes, as mad as any of us. None of us will be comfortable with such an eternity.”
Ey nodded, thinking back to the conversation they had shared so long ago, back when ey was newly Codrin. Trauma, if trauma this is, forges bonds, it had said.
“Not keen on more trauma, then?”
It shoved em playfully. “You are a brat. I was just about to say that.”
Ey laughed.
“I will not go, though,” the fox repeated. “I will await your stories, but I will not go.”
“I’ll bring back some good ones, then.”
-“I know you will. It will be an experience that I am sure many will want to know about. I know that, should you choose to write about it, the three Systems will look forward to it.”
+“I know you will. It will be an experience that I am sure many will want to hear about. I know that, should you choose to write about it, the three Systems will look forward to it.”
Ey nodded. The idea of a project such as this lingered in eir gut like a weight, and the fact that dread tinged the excitement ey had about it only added to eir anxiety. Ey kept these thoughts to emself.
“But, my dear, do be watchful. There will be two Odists on that mission, and they will share in some of my trepidation.” It took eir hand in its paw and gave the back of it an affectionate lick. The gesture seemed to be one designed to minimize the anxiety in the statement, but eirs or Dears, ey could not tell. “They share that same trauma. Be watchful and remember what I said: even True Name has emotions, even she will be affected.”