Monday, February 15, 2016

What do we say to the god of death?

As Silk hopped off the caravan she pushed open the door to her quiet abode. Finally. Alone. The trade weekend seemed endless, Bravo was nothing like what she was used to and Vegasia was a world away. People were so different here, she closed the door behind her and immediately sank to the ground, head in her hands. Would she ever get the hang of it? In Vegas City she knew exactly what was expected of her, she had a title, a name, and people to take care of and who took care of her. There was no worrying about whether someone "cared" or "liked" one another, frankly, it was tiring.

She had come here with a hardened exterior, no friends, no family, and goals in mind, but these "Braves" as they called themselves were clouding her judgement. She found herself developing.... friendships? Was that friendship? In Vegas city all the people she had counted as friends were her slaves, courtesans of her family, or otherwise in her employ, there were a few she knew from school or that were Family, but her family was different, and nothing like she had seen in Bravo.

In this crazed place, people developed caring for one another, and it confused her downright, and after Rue saved her at the beginning of the meet, she had a conversation with Lil and Xero about the value of friendship. People had value, she was sure of that. But friends? Friends were people that you liked simply because, and that is...unknown. But Rue was kind, and held similar values, in fact, most of the Valkyries were quite amusing, and that cook they had found was fun as well.

So...friends are people you care about all the time, and not just when they are in front of you, and not just when they are doing something for you. Silk thinks she understands but isn't quite sure. Lil made a point of telling her that it was a poor example to say she cared about people not directly in front of her because she had sent Gideon to fetch her lunch, and thus she couldn't see him, and he had done so.

Feelings were messy, and Silk did not do messy well. She pulled herself up and started a fire for hot water. A bath would make her feel better. A memory of home, the scented hot waters would cleanse the filth of Bravo from her.

Ugh, filth. They kept calling her a whore, which, as she was learning to understand was not an insult in these parts. But where she was from she simply understood that all transactions had a price. Apparently, as she was told "whorin is a protected right". Which... seemed vulgar but fine, if she was going to be a whore she would be the finest courtesan they had seen. She was not some low born vegasian and her pride would take hold long before she allowed herself to be brought low by anyone.

She had nearly died this trade meet, a call far too close for her comfort, the reaper had nearly killed her, and if it hadn't been for Doc Creed, she would have met the Gravemind. Unnaceptable. She had come to Bravo for a new start, and if she had wanted to meet the Gravemind she would have stayed in Vegasia. Besides, she was far too pretty to die. She would have a date with death eventually, no doubt, and when her time came, perhaps she might finally have a burning question answered. But not today. Never today.

She needed time to mull over this in her head. This trade meet was full of interesting exchanges. She slid into her now hot bath and let the scented waters waft over her head.

"Those braves smell funny. They could use a bath."

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