The Joys of Mud

[Grayell]

An ally hm? I don't see how that will work miss if I stand against Margrett and her grand delusions.

He laughed and flicked mud at her then.

Yeah, that won't work at all. You said it yourself, you're signed up for the long haul. You'd have to consider me... well an adversary were any of this to happen. Which it won't.

[Celephai]

Celephai clicked her tongue, looking wounded.

"Grayell, do you doubt my powers and plans so easily? I'm hurt..."

She stirred a small portion of the liquefied soil with an index finger.

"I'm somewhat surprised you're against her as well, seeing as it was YOU who wanted to bring order and law to this place. Surely you're not regretting doing 'these innocents' a favor by granting them security in their lives?"

[Grayell]

Oh joy. Here with go with the getting in my head huh Jasmine?

Grayell smiled as he sat up but gave her a stern look then... an entirely false stern look of course.

You tell me what law and order has to do with changing the town hm? Is there any more law and order in an overbuilt, overpopulated, polluting mess of a town?

[Celephai]

Cel chuckled. She liked trying to get into people's heads, sometimes literally, but not always with her fists. She reclined slightly, visibly relaxing.

"If the people are assured their security, they will raise their children here, bring a greater market economy into the town, thusly demanding more security, and edging out your legalized criminal element. This will be interpreted as a betrayal on your part, or, alternatively, permit still further growth, creating a large gap between the nobles and the peasantry. This gap will breed hatred, and the nobles will either be forced to institute military action and basically create slaves of the underprivileged or the nobles will die in a revolution..."

"Of course, law and order exists in any massive city. Citizens forgo personal freedoms to obtain security, and those who defy it and are caught are immediately struck down and removed. Often, it's the corrupt governments whom set the laws, but such is the nature of the beast: Only the prosperous can judge what is sane, even if only the insane are prosperous... of course, that's just what I learned on a visit to Ilarnak, but it seems as good an example as any compared to Wistvale."

[Grayell]

Then call it balance. Somewhere between your chaos and her law...

You'll find me.

He grinned then. But his eyes were on her now, completely unblinking.

[Celephai]

Cel instinctively grinned back, but her's began to recede almost immediately, slowly replaced with a thoughtful, pensive frown. She furrowed her brow, cocking her head to one side.

"...What's going on in that head of yours? Are you having dirty thoughts to compliment your now-dirty body?"

She made a derisive snort, followed by a chuckle.

"Or maybe you're thinking of making a sly comment to make me place doubt on my plans?"

[Grayell]

Grayell chuckled then and looked past her, to nothing in particular.

No. Dirty thoughts nonsense. You're only naked and writhing in the mud, why would I be turned on hm?

He shook his head and looked down then, smiling in a somewhat suspicious way.

And I don't need sly comments Cel. I know you too well.

[Celephai]

She merely shook her head. Maybe he did know her too well for such contrite things as sly remarks.

"You're definitely not stupid, Grayell, no matter what I say about you. Speaking of comprehending the strange and irrational, have you succeeded in your unending quest to find a companion that won't try to kill you or make you miserable?"

Cel was taunting him playfully, and it showed in her voice, but there was some underlying concern in there as well.

[Margrett]

(Your lack of confidence in me is disturbing, Gray.)

[Grayell]

Grayell slowly lifted his head with a very sly smile and stared at her a moment. The smile then grew, became warm and much like a pleased child upon eating something delicious.

Yes. In fact I have.

[Celephai]

Celephai laughed heartily at his affirmative.

"Really? She hasn't tried to kill you or anything like that? Doesn't seem like a woman you'd be interested in, then."

Gray had an adventurous streak a mile long, she knew that. Often it seemed like he wanted his women to be like that as well, which generally meant they were either unstable, violent, or otherwise generally displeasing.

[Grayell]

No. No she hasn't.

He smiled serenely, sighed as he just fell back into the mud.

Nope, nothing like that. She's far more dangerous than that.

[Celephai]

Celephai sighed contentedly.

"Well, tell me about her. As a former fling, I have a right to know if she's good enough for you..."

[Grayell]

Grayell sat there and looked at the mud for a moment and then laughed, just a quick huff of air that accompanied his smile.

Well, she's unlike anyone you'll ever meet Cel. She's....

.....

.....

..... she's just perfect. In every way. I can't seem to... just imagine her and I not together now. Wow.

Grayell took a deep breath and coughed, straightened up.

Yeah. Can't say I saw it coming.

[Celephai]

Cel burst into a fit of laughter. She didn't see it coming either, but for the mighty Grayell to be so enraptured by a woman...

"My, how the mighty have fallen. You did tell me once that women would be the death of you, and now I believe it. Well, whatever she might be to you, remember to be your own person: You belong to no one. That individuality is what makes you valuable, and it's not a tool I'd like to see you lose in the future..."

She plucked a bug from the mud, flicking it over her shoulder with a content look on her face.

"It's good to speak with you, Grayell. I often fear the pressures of government will break you of your wild nature... or if you are replaced by someone more stable."