Dictated

[lightbranded]

 Sometimes, I think it is too quiet here.

[The opening of the art gallery had gotten Will to start thinking about his brother Max, who was away at art school. And from there Will had started to think about his other siblings. Stephen, away in the Merchant Marines. The twins, Robin and Paul. Barbara and Gwen and Mary. James, only a year older than Will.

He missed them all desperately.]

Comments

[theabjectauthor]

The world is quiet here ... [Lemony's happy to admit it, of course, what with that being the Secret VFD Motto ... but his voice is subdued, today. losing Violet was a hard blow]

[lightbranded]

Even with so many people living here, it feels so quiet and empty sometimes.

[theabjectauthor]

It does, yes ... though there are many ways to make silence seem less ominous and imposing. Would you care for company, Will? I've a deck of cards - we could perhaps play cribbage?

[lightbranded]

I would, yes.

[Some happiness is coming back into his voice,]

It has been a long time since I've played cribbage.

[theabjectauthor]

Then I shall bring my cards and board. [there's a little smile in his voice, as well - companionship and friendly competition are always a balm to loneliness, no matter how deep the wound may run] Where would you like to meet?

[lightbranded]

In the lobby, perhaps? [Will didn't think his roommate would appreciate his calling visitors in with no notice.]

[theabjectauthor]

That sounds an ideal place to meet - we'll be close to the kitchen, should we decide we require refreshments. I'll be there shortly.

[Action?]

[lightbranded]

[It doesn't take Will long to arrive at the lobby. He claims a chair by one of the tables and waits.]

of course!

[theabjectauthor]

[he isn't waiting very long before Lemony arrives, on his way down from Gaudium tower, carrying a fine-tooled wooden cribbage board and a pack of cards in a silver case]

Hello, Will. [he pulls a chair out of his own and sits] Thank you for joining me ... It's been a while since I last played cribbage in polite company, and not under duress.

[good luck getting him to explain that one. or, at least, good luck making sense of it in the near future]

Re: of course!

[lightbranded]

[Will considers this puzzling statement with mild interest before setting it aside.]

Don't think I've played cribbage since I before I arrived here.

[theabjectauthor]

Nor have I, but I would guess you have been here considerably longer. [he sets up the board, then takes the cards out of their case and begins to shuffle]

Would you care to play the white or red pegs?

[lightbranded]

Ah, more than a year all together.

[Will watches him as he shuffles.]

White, I think.

[theabjectauthor]

That is indeed quite a while. .... Tell me... [he starts to deal] What is the strangest thong you've experienced...?

[lightbranded]

The strangest?

[ Will considers the question.]

Suppose it must be the magics of other worlds.

oh god phone no why bad phone

[theabjectauthor]

Other worlds.... Do you mean, as opposed to your own?

[he pauses in his dealing] And do you need to be reminded of the rules at all?

Re: oh god phone no why bad phone

[lightbranded]

Ah, something like that. It seems that my world is not very much like any of the other worlds I have heard of.

[He smiles.]

I think I can remember.

[theabjectauthor]

[he slides Will his cards and looks through his own hand, trying to decide which two cards to put in the crib]

Would it be too forward of me to ask what it is that makes your home so singular?

[lightbranded]

The way magic exists in my world seems to me to be very different from what I have heard of other worlds.

[Will picks up his cards and looks through them.]

[theabjectauthor]

[carefully, Lemony sets aside his two cards. he's still unsure if he made the best possible choice, but his poker face is somewhat decent ... even when being used for something as relatively uncomplicated as cribbage]

I have heard it said that the use and practice of magic varies from world to world, as well as the definition. Are you, perhaps, familiar with Chimera?

[lightbranded]

I have been to a few meetings.

[Will placidly plucks out his own two cards and sets them aside.]

[theabjectauthor]

No wonder you're aware of the differences, then. .... Does that bother you, terribly, or hinder your ability to share knowledge with your fellow magicians?

[he turns over the top card of the deck to begin the round: a six of hearts]

apologies if I mess up on play. Its been years since I've played cribbage

[lightbranded]

[Will sets down his first card. A two of spades.]

I find it hard to explain, sometimes. Much of what I can do, I can do simply because of what I am.

It's ok, we can handwave details!

[theabjectauthor]

What you are? That sounds like there is a rather interesting story behind it. [and a seven of spades. Lemony pegs himself two points on the board for fifteen. either a pair, or 31 will net the next score]

oh good!

[lightbranded]

An Old One of the Light. It is not something that anyone here is failiar with, I am thinking.

[ Will sets down another card. The three of diamonds. He pegs his points.]

[theabjectauthor]

[honestly, it sounds to Lemony like something out of a horror story, but thankfully, he has known Will long enough now to be able to curb any snap judgements about that sort of thing]

I'm certainly not familiar with the term. ... Is it something you are allowed to talk about, or must you keep the details of it secret?