xxiii. dictated

[heloise]

Spike
He came home.

What terrible months we have seen, before even the dog days arrive!

I say we put an end to it, at once. The Castle drinks our joys as greedily as it feeds on our sorrows; we might show it that happiness is what we seek. Happiness beyond bound, which we would gladly offer as payment for our borrowed time, and no more tears.

Summer brings music and merriment to the streets of Rome, gypsies and pilgrims alike dancing together. We can do similarly here.

Comments

[workaphilic]

Sounds to me you give the castle too much credit.

[heloise]

It is more dangerous to underestimate.

[workaphilic]

And you think it'll listen to a plea for happiness?

[heloise]

Not a plea. But even the walls have ears.

[workaphilic]

What would you call it, then?

[heloise]

A message.

[workaphilic]

Messages get ignored more often than pleas do.

[heloise]

What is rarely ignored then?

[workaphilic]

Demands.

[heloise]

Not ignored perhaps but rarely obeyed.

[workaphilic]

If that's true, then it says more about the one doing the demanding than the one demanded from, doesn't it.

[heloise]

Can you think of another better suited to demand of the castle?

[workaphilic]

Demands are about leverage. Do you think any residents have leverage against Paradisa?

[That's an honest question.]

[heloise]

All of us do, a little each. Not enough.

[workaphilic]

Then put them together. Is that enough?

[heloise]

We can try.

[workaphilic]

Then it's bound to be an interesting party.

[heloise]

One dearly hopes so.

[workaphilic]

More so than the dozens of others we have every year, I'd hope.

[heloise]

I would ask you to judge for yourself.

[workaphilic]

Is that an invitation?

[heloise]

Would you take it as such?

[workaphilic]

Might come as a shock, but parties aren't really my scene.

[Well. Not these kinds of parties.]

[heloise]

We will have music.

[workaphilic]

That's only an incentive if the music is good, and I'm told I can be [what's a nicer word than the one John uses] critical.