House of Masks 005d

[3/7/2013 7:29:51 PM] Caspar: Hee. [3/7/2013 7:39:31 PM] Caspar: .... they'll find out eventually, you know. I think right now they believe you to be involved in rough sexplay with Ulisse. [3/7/2013 7:40:01 PM] Josie: Illa stops, obviously shocked. "*What*?" [3/7/2013 7:40:30 PM] Caspar: They lack any other theories. [3/7/2013 7:40:57 PM] Caspar: that will not stop them from trying to figure it out, though. [3/7/2013 7:41:19 PM] Josie: Illa: "But I'm *not*. I *didn't*. I wouldn't ever... ugh!" [3/7/2013 7:41:40 PM] Caspar: I know. [3/7/2013 7:42:23 PM] Josie: Illa: And I don't think he would either. He never... ugh. [3/7/2013 7:43:12 PM] Caspar: I know. [3/7/2013 7:50:13 PM] Josie: Illa: *You* didn't think that, did you? [3/7/2013 7:52:21 PM] Caspar: No. [3/7/2013 7:52:32 PM] Caspar: But I haven't dealt with Ulisse as much as the rest of them. [3/7/2013 7:53:40 PM] Josie: Illa: ... you should speak with him. He's kind. [3/7/2013 7:54:36 PM] Caspar: Illa:  I did smack him in the face with the flat of my blade. That's like talking. [3/7/2013 7:55:45 PM] Josie: Illa: That *doesn't* count. [3/7/2013 7:56:00 PM] Caspar: Oh, well, then I probably should. [3/7/2013 7:56:20 PM] Josie: Illa smiles and kisses Caspar on the cheek. [3/7/2013 7:56:50 PM] Caspar: ... was that your wolfsbane you drank back there? [3/7/2013 7:58:09 PM] Josie: Illa: Yes. [3/7/2013 7:58:34 PM] Josie: Illa: ... I can control it during the day, you know. I'm not going to... hurt anyone. [3/7/2013 7:59:23 PM] Caspar: Caspar nods. "I'm not worried.  But you need rest.  You did just drink poison." [3/7/2013 7:59:50 PM] Josie: Illa nods, and slips her little slippers off, and slides into bed with a sigh. [3/7/2013 7:59:58 PM] Josie: Illa: I feel like I'm always in bed. [3/7/2013 8:01:40 PM] Caspar: Caspar kisses her on the forehead. [3/7/2013 8:02:01 PM] Josie: She tries a tentative smile, and then seems to fall asleep again. [3/7/2013 8:02:14 PM] Caspar: Caspar heads back to the sitting room!

[3/7/2013 11:12:02 PM] Josie: On the way to the kitchen, Caspar literally runs into Bellamy, as she's coming around a corner. She slips and falls to one knee. [3/7/2013 11:12:40 PM] Caspar: Oh, I'm sorry. [3/7/2013 11:14:24 PM] Caspar: Caspar holds out a hand to help her up. [3/7/2013 11:14:33 PM] Josie: Bellamy takes his hand. "... are you all right?" [3/7/2013 11:14:50 PM] Caspar: I feel off a ceiling onto the floor. [3/7/2013 11:16:10 PM] Josie: Bellamy: That sounds painful. [3/7/2013 11:16:37 PM] Josie: Bellamy: Here. [3/7/2013 11:16:37 PM] Caspar: It was. [3/7/2013 11:16:54 PM] Josie: She touches his hand, and pumps a couple of cure spells into him. All better! [3/7/2013 11:17:13 PM] Caspar: Ow. Thank you. [3/7/2013 11:17:59 PM] Caspar: That's a lot better. [3/7/2013 11:19:31 PM] Josie: Bellamy nods. "I live to serve." [3/7/2013 11:19:36 PM] Josie: *Total* lack of irony. [3/7/2013 11:19:59 PM] Caspar: I don't think I ever caught your name. I'm Caspar. [3/7/2013 11:21:12 PM] Josie: Bellamy: I'm Bellamy. [3/7/2013 11:21:17 PM] Josie: She curtseys, deeply and formally. [3/7/2013 11:22:57 PM] Caspar: You're a medium, right? [3/7/2013 11:24:00 PM] Josie: Bellamy: Yes. [3/7/2013 11:25:05 PM] Caspar: How does that work? If you don't mind me asking. I'm interested. [3/7/2013 11:25:44 PM] Josie: Bellamy: I'm chained. I allow a spirit in, and it takes over my body. [3/7/2013 11:26:43 PM] Caspar: Chained? As in, you're bound? [3/7/2013 11:27:29 PM] Josie: Bellamy nods. [3/7/2013 11:27:41 PM] Josie: Bellamy: Thoroughly, with good locks. [3/7/2013 11:27:47 PM] Josie: Bellamy: It's not worth the risk, otherwise. [3/7/2013 11:28:41 PM] Caspar: Do you often channel dangerous spirits? [3/7/2013 11:30:12 PM] Josie: Bellamy: I have, yes. [3/7/2013 11:31:58 PM] Caspar: How do you... get rid of them? [3/7/2013 11:32:29 PM] Josie: Bellamy: A battle of wills. And a spell failsafe. [3/7/2013 11:33:17 PM] Caspar: Caspar nods. "Like a contingiency." [3/7/2013 11:33:46 PM] Josie: Bellamy: Yes. [3/7/2013 11:33:58 PM] Josie: Bellamy: I don't often need it. [3/7/2013 11:35:28 PM] Caspar: I imagine it's a traumatic experience. [3/7/2013 11:36:31 PM] Josie: Bellamy shrugs. "I've had a number of experiences that have been unpleasant. And some that have been quite pleasant." [3/7/2013 11:37:01 PM] Caspar: I mean, when you get a malevolent spirit. [3/7/2013 11:38:19 PM] Josie: Bellamy: Sometimes. [3/7/2013 11:39:05 PM] Caspar: Caspar pours some coffee. "Do you remember anything afterward?" [3/7/2013 11:40:33 PM] Josie: Bellamy: Sometimes; other times not at all. It really depends. [3/7/2013 11:40:47 PM] Caspar: Depends on what? [3/7/2013 11:42:31 PM] Josie: Bellamy: I don't know. [3/7/2013 11:43:05 PM] Caspar: So, you have a gift that, while impressive, you don't have much control over. [3/7/2013 11:43:25 PM] Josie: Bellamy: I have many gifts; your assessment of that one is correct. [3/7/2013 11:43:56 PM] Caspar: I didn't mean it as an insult. [3/7/2013 11:44:30 PM] Josie: She smiles. "Of course not." [3/7/2013 11:47:53 PM] Caspar: Caspar offers her a cup of coffee. [3/7/2013 11:48:46 PM] Josie: She takes it. "Thank you." [3/7/2013 11:48:55 PM] Josie: Bellamy: Are you religious? [3/7/2013 11:49:57 PM] Caspar: I'm not, really. [3/7/2013 11:51:50 PM] Josie: Bellamy: Alas. [3/7/2013 11:53:38 PM] Caspar: Caspar gives a little shrug. "I'm interested in what people believe, though." [3/7/2013 11:54:16 PM] Josie: She shakes her head. "Celibacy is almost blasphemous. The priest is mad." [3/7/2013 11:55:03 PM] Caspar: Caspar nods. "He's an odd one.  How is celibacy blasphemous?" [3/7/2013 11:55:45 PM] Josie: Bellamy: Unnatural. And... wrong. We have few enough children as it is. ... perhaps it is different for humans. [3/7/2013 11:56:15 PM] Caspar: I believe it is. [3/7/2013 11:58:44 PM] Josie: Bellamy: Children are a blessing. [3/7/2013 11:59:47 PM] Caspar: My parents always seemed to think so. Even when I put a hole in the side of the house. [12:01:03 AM] Josie: She laughs. [12:03:00 AM] Josie: Bellamy: Do you have any yourself? [12:03:17 AM] Caspar: Children? I do not. [12:03:57 AM] Josie: Bellamy: Why not? [12:05:14 AM] Caspar: He shrugs. "Haven't met the right person.  Or people." [12:07:12 AM] Josie: She smiles. "And what are those qualifications?" [12:07:21 AM] Josie: ((No SMs, huh?)) [12:07:51 AM] Caspar: And I don't know yet that I can have children. [12:08:07 AM] Caspar: ((23 SM!)) [12:08:50 AM] Josie: ((ULTERIOR MOTIVES.)) [12:09:12 AM] Caspar: ((Eep!)) [12:09:44 AM] Josie: Bellamy: Oh? why not? [12:10:09 AM] Caspar: Caspar shrugs. "My situation is unusual, let's just say." [12:12:07 AM] Josie: Bellamy: Hm. It sounds interesting, but I won't pry. [12:14:41 AM] Caspar: Caspar smiles. "Thank you.  Is there something in your faith that makes procreation the biggest priority?" [12:15:38 AM] Josie: Bellamy: Not the biggest priority, but the land is connected to its people. One doesn't prevent crops from growing. [12:18:36 AM] Caspar: I see. What else does your faith believe? [12:19:20 AM] Josie: Bellamy: The connection is a gift; bodies are a gift; children are a gift. [12:19:51 AM] Caspar: What connection? [12:21:43 AM] Josie: Bellamy: Between the land and the people. [12:23:01 AM] Caspar: I'm sorry, I must seem very ignorant. I'm from Solitaire. [12:23:51 AM] Josie: Bellamy: Far to the south. And you have many different people there; I'm from a small town. [12:26:51 AM] Caspar: Caspar nods. "Yeah.  But no one religion really has a foothold in Solitaire." [12:29:25 AM] Josie: Bellamy: Probably a good thing. [12:30:28 AM] Caspar: Caspar raises an eyebrow. "Really?" [12:31:13 AM] Josie: Bellamy: I think so. People need different gods for different things, don't you think? [12:33:31 AM] Caspar: I suppose so. [12:34:13 AM] Caspar: ((I'm sorry, I'm getting spacey, for some reason. <3 )) [12:34:29 AM] Caspar: I don't know that people really need gods, though. [12:38:11 AM] Caspar: ((I need to sit up and not lay down.)) [12:39:16 AM] Josie: ((Poor thing.)) [12:39:34 AM] Josie: Bellamy: I believe they do. Gods can help. And often do. [12:39:48 AM] Josie: Bellamy: Though perhaps not in the ways we... expect. [12:40:03 AM] Caspar: What do you mean? [12:41:13 AM] Josie: Bellamy: Sometimes we get what we don't ask for. And sometimes we get what we do. [12:41:37 AM] Caspar: But you could say you get that without the gods, too. [12:43:15 AM] Josie: Bellamy: No. I couldn't. [12:43:44 AM] Caspar: Why not? [12:44:34 AM] Josie: Bellamy: I know where my power comes from. [12:45:36 AM] Caspar: Oh. Well, I suppose that's true. [12:46:51 AM] Josie: Bellamy: ... they do give. They take, as well, but they do give. [12:47:13 AM] Caspar: Do you revere more than one god? [12:47:48 AM] Josie: Bellamy: Yes, when it's appropriate to do so. I'm dedicated to one, of course. [12:49:30 AM] Caspar: Caspar sips at his coffee. "Which one?" [12:50:53 AM] Josie: Bellamy: Taelyss. [12:51:38 AM] Caspar: What does she represent? [12:52:49 AM] Josie: Bellamy: Fertility in land and body, growth and fullness. [12:55:31 AM] Caspar: Oh. I suppose that makes sense. I should have guessed. [12:57:04 AM] Caspar: How long have you been a medium? [12:58:35 AM] Josie: Bellamy: Always. [12:59:21 AM] Caspar: When did you enter the service of your faith? [1:00:04 AM] Josie: Bellamy: I was chosen as a child, and became a priestess as soon as I became an adult. [1:01:22 AM] Caspar: Are mediums common among those of your faith? [1:01:41 AM] Josie: Bellamy: Not that I'm aware of. Anyone can do it with a strong enough will and great enough control over the body. [1:06:38 AM] Caspar: I don't know that I'd like the idea of giving up agency like that. [1:07:31 AM] Josie: Bellamy: I can't say I do. [1:07:40 AM] Josie: Bellamy: But gifts are meant to be used. [1:07:53 AM] Caspar: Are you sure it's a gift? [1:08:23 AM] Josie: Bellamy: Yes. [1:09:10 AM] Caspar: How do you know, though? [1:10:33 AM] Josie: Bellamy: I know. [1:10:35 AM] Josie: She shrugs.\