[ Another smirk. He lifts up the glass in cheers and takes a sip. Truthfully, he's not interested in dulling himself too much, but the luxury of it is appreciated. ]
The point was that you wouldn't understand it. We got nowhere last week with Shiv's murder.
[ He was banking on the same. ]
But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't irritated that I was caught on such limp evidence. You may have caught your killer, but you didn't earn it. None of you.
[ As for the question... His head tips from side to side. ]
It was a little funny, watching all those wheels spinning and getting nowhere for hours. Everyone is so quick to trust.
[ Every false theory, every red herring... No one questioned him on any of it. ]
( Cheers! Hwylryn doesn't intend to drink as much either, so he's in all right company. )
It was the desperate grasp of someone drowning. I think if we'd have had ten, twenty minutes longer... If Ish hadn't spoiled it for you - I'm sure it would have been discarded as a little too weak.
( Because it was. That it happened to be right felt more like a coin flip, for Hwylryn. )
Ish did spoil it for me. He's made an enemy he can't yet comprehend the likes of.
[ There's real agitation in his voice. He'd been so close, but Ish cheated. He changed the rules, and that's the only reason Hickey is locked up in here, waiting for his execution.
But he chuckles at the question. ]
You know, I hadn't quite made up my mind yet. To get out of the jam I was in back home, sure, but I would hate to waste a wish on something so simple as survival... No, not after what I've seen here. You've opened my imagination.
[ He gives Hwy a nod. He's speaking generally, but also of Hwy specifically. A dragon. Now that's something he never thought he'd see. ]
He does seem pleased at the - can one call it praise? Pleased to be inspiration, let's say. He is impressive, and for all he twirls about, he's quite prideful in the thing he is. )
Is this a plan so secret you can't have conspirators?
( He does presume that whatever Hickey intends to gamble on, it's with the intent of saving his own life in the process - he had wondered whether how at ease he seemed was simply his demeanor, or for some other reason. )
( Hwylryn pauses at that - something about his gesture and expression for a moment less a man and more a creature wearing its shape; an animal that has seen something unfamiliar, and in that moment it is cautious. )
( However, he seems to settle into the final sentiment. Hwylryn is protective of his people - and he is not necessarily happy to know that Hickey's health might affect Junior in some way he doesn't know of.
He would have fought harder for Hickey if he'd known. )
... I will. I'll see that he's happy, no matter what.
( He studies Hickey for a moment. )
... Does your plan involve Ish's death, somehow? Or a dealing?
( Something about Hwylryn seems to relax, though it's hard to put a finger on how or why, or whence the sense that he wasn't relaxed came from - like only recognizing a rattlesnake had been coiled only after it'd begun to slither away. )
Then, let's say we're drinking to your ambiguous devices, and I'll be patient 'til the curtain rises. I'll look forward to it.
( Hwylryn does like being surprised, so he's happy to see whatever Hickey and his imagination will wow them all with.
(The truth is, he will enjoy the utter insanity of Hickey's display - he'll just be disappointed it didn't manufacture a particularly theatrical outcome, but that disappointment will be tempered by his eventual poor attitude toward Hickey. Imagine getting a Sims (--) not actually for the deranged thing you did but for something totally minor and random in comparison,)
He swirls his glass, taking a little sippy. )
Did you want to try a little more luck to your hand? I don't know if it'll work, but . . .
( It's been something he's been curious about, since the thought happened upon him. )
[ Oh, Hwylryn. There's another version of this story where he and Hickey are able to see eye to eye on the matter of Junior—and their unique brands of insanity.
But this is not that version. Hickey grins, curious. ]
I'll take whatever luck I can get. What did you have in mind?
( He smiles in a particular way. It's a little sharper than his usual, but not unfriendly. )
Do you have tales about sea creatures, where you're from? Mermaids, dragons, selkies . . . things about how taking in their flesh grants immortal life?
( thinks about what he's wearing. probably a loose night robe over a long slip, as usual.
He brings his palm up to his neck and drags the robe further open, better exposing the flesh. There are safer places to present, but Hwylryn isn't exactly a coward. )
Did you want to try it?
( "Try," he says, as if he were offering him some unusual delicacy - not that he isn't, he supposes. )
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
spotsalone) wrote2025-03-16 08:54 pm
no subject
The point was that you wouldn't understand it. We got nowhere last week with Shiv's murder.
[ He was banking on the same. ]
But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't irritated that I was caught on such limp evidence. You may have caught your killer, but you didn't earn it. None of you.
[ As for the question... His head tips from side to side. ]
It was a little funny, watching all those wheels spinning and getting nowhere for hours. Everyone is so quick to trust.
[ Every false theory, every red herring... No one questioned him on any of it. ]
no subject
It was the desperate grasp of someone drowning. I think if we'd have had ten, twenty minutes longer... If Ish hadn't spoiled it for you - I'm sure it would have been discarded as a little too weak.
( Because it was. That it happened to be right felt more like a coin flip, for Hwylryn. )
What would you have wished for?
no subject
Ish did spoil it for me. He's made an enemy he can't yet comprehend the likes of.
[ There's real agitation in his voice. He'd been so close, but Ish cheated. He changed the rules, and that's the only reason Hickey is locked up in here, waiting for his execution.
But he chuckles at the question. ]
You know, I hadn't quite made up my mind yet. To get out of the jam I was in back home, sure, but I would hate to waste a wish on something so simple as survival... No, not after what I've seen here. You've opened my imagination.
[ He gives Hwy a nod. He's speaking generally, but also of Hwy specifically. A dragon. Now that's something he never thought he'd see. ]
no subject
He does seem pleased at the - can one call it praise? Pleased to be inspiration, let's say. He is impressive, and for all he twirls about, he's quite prideful in the thing he is. )
Do you have plans for Ish?
no subject
[ Sort of, anyway. He pauses for a drink. ]
It may even benefit the rest of you. Despite what the others may think, I'm not an animal. I'll let you out of his game, if I can.
[ If he can without risking his own skin, that is. ]
no subject
( In fact, he'd think few people wouldn't be. )
Is this a plan so secret you can't have conspirators?
( He does presume that whatever Hickey intends to gamble on, it's with the intent of saving his own life in the process - he had wondered whether how at ease he seemed was simply his demeanor, or for some other reason. )
no subject
There's nothing you can help with, not now. Perhaps after I escape the execution, though. Be ready, then. In case.
[ He swirls his drink in his glass, mulling something over. ]
You're close with Junior, aren't you?
no subject
( He leans back on a palm. )
Does he factor in?
no subject
Look after him, should things go poorly tomorrow.
/2
no subject
He would have fought harder for Hickey if he'd known. )
... I will. I'll see that he's happy, no matter what.
( He studies Hickey for a moment. )
... Does your plan involve Ish's death, somehow? Or a dealing?
no subject
No. Siffrin already proved that trying to kill Ish is a bootless plan. Beyond that... suffice to say I have things in hand.
[ In other words, his plan involves a lot of improv, but like hell he's going to admit that. Instead: ]
It's unwise to be so forthcoming when we don't know who may be listening.
no subject
Then, let's say we're drinking to your ambiguous devices, and I'll be patient 'til the curtain rises. I'll look forward to it.
( Hwylryn does like being surprised, so he's happy to see whatever Hickey and his imagination will wow them all with.
(The truth is, he will enjoy the utter insanity of Hickey's display - he'll just be disappointed it didn't manufacture a particularly theatrical outcome, but that disappointment will be tempered by his eventual poor attitude toward Hickey. Imagine getting a Sims (--) not actually for the deranged thing you did but for something totally minor and random in comparison,)
He swirls his glass, taking a little sippy. )
Did you want to try a little more luck to your hand? I don't know if it'll work, but . . .
( It's been something he's been curious about, since the thought happened upon him. )
no subject
But this is not that version. Hickey grins, curious. ]
I'll take whatever luck I can get. What did you have in mind?
no subject
Do you have tales about sea creatures, where you're from? Mermaids, dragons, selkies . . . things about how taking in their flesh grants immortal life?
no subject
Some, yes, though I'm not very familiar myself. What are you suggesting, exactly?
no subject
He brings his palm up to his neck and drags the robe further open, better exposing the flesh. There are safer places to present, but Hwylryn isn't exactly a coward. )
Did you want to try it?
( "Try," he says, as if he were offering him some unusual delicacy - not that he isn't, he supposes. )