Private entry to Murdoc Donoghue

[grandhighwizard]

so
SATISFY AN OLD MAN'S CURIOSITY.
have you actually slept with Strider yet?
OR IS HE JUST WISHING YOU HAD?

Comments

[wwistful]

Go awa

I think most people find 'Good evening' or other such terms to be pleasant conversation starters.

[grandhighwizard]

my dear lad
YOU ARE CONTINUALLY SUSPICIOUS
of any sort of normal or courteous behavior i engage in
TOWARD YOU.
i thought i'd get to the point quickly this time.

[wwistful]

Goodness, I'd hate for you to feel as if I'm closing my doors to your relentless prying.
Is there anything else you'd like to hear or are you only interested in a specific answer.

[grandhighwizard]

it's been a slow evening.
I'D SAY HE WAS A BIT YOUNG FOR YOU,
but then i'm continually forgetting that you're both the same age,
AREN'T YOU?

[wwistful]

You're a bit old to be looking for fun. Shouldn't you be asleep in bed where you can't possible bother everyone around you?

I'm engaged, Rhydderch.

[grandhighwizard]

yes, i know.
IT'S WHY I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT IT.
that was something i respected about you, that
DEDICATION TO MISS MATTERIS.
and i suppose the whole thing might be one-sided,
WHICH WAS ANOTHER REASON TO ASK.

[wwistful]

I wouldn't know a thing about it. You're asking the wrong person.

That is, of course, not an invitation for you to harrass Strider because you've nothing better to do.

[grandhighwizard]

ah
YOU'RE FRIENDS
then?

[And obviously Murdoc knows something about this, or he'd be more curious/alarmed at finding out Strider has a thing for him. Hmmmm.]

[wwistful]

We're companions, I suppose.

[He's either too emotional or forcing himself to be stoic, he's really bad at this.]

[grandhighwizard]

INTERESTING WAY TO PUT IT.
does miss matteris know about this?

[wwistful]

I don't have friends, I have companions, acquaintances and people I loathe with every fiber of my being.

I don't think she particularly cares about my relationships within the staff here to such a degree.

[grandhighwizard]

your view of the world
IS DELIGHTFULLY INTRIGUING
when you're not being overly predictable.
I QUITE LIKE IT.
but that is a curious thing,
SINCE YOU'RE TO BE MARRIED
apparently quite soon.
I ADMIT I HAVE NO PERSONAL EXPERIENCE,
but isn't that the sort of thing married couples usually care about?

[wwistful]

I don't care what you like.

Perhaps, but there's nothing usual about Sybille. We're quite beyond idle chatter about our fellow staff.

[grandhighwizard]

mhm.
ONE WOULDN'T NORMALLY
refer to one's companions as idle chatter.
BUT I DO HOPE YOU REMAIN TRUE TO HER.
she is an unusual woman,
AND I HAD BEEN GRATIFIED TO SEE
that things seemed to have been working out for you both.

[wwistful]

As I said, nothing about her or even our relationship is what I would call usual.

Why you care so much is beyond me.

[grandhighwizard]

CERTAIN EMOTIONS
are pure, donoghue.
THEY ARE TO BE VALUED ABOVE ALL ELSE.
perhaps you'll understand better when you're
A BIT OLDER.

[wwistful]

Just because you're incapable of them does not mean you may pry into my life.

[grandhighwizard]

the insults
COMPLETELY UNFOUNDED ON ANY ACTUAL OBSERVATION OR KNOWLEDGE
do get a bit predictable.
BUT YOU'RE CORRECT.
i don't actually need permission to 'pry' into your life or
EVEN ASK A QUESTION, HOWEVER.

[wwistful]

There isn't a pure emotion in that head of yours and you know it.
Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should.

[grandhighwizard]

so cynical, so young, donoghue.

[Rhys could argue, and almost does, because for once the younger man has actually annoyed him, with his assumptions and arrogance. But it wouldn't do at all to let Murdoc know he's affected the older man, so he just moves past it.]

AND OF COURSE IT DOESN'T.
i should for entirely different reasons.

[wwistful]

Rational. It's called being rational.

Why is it that you feel entitled to ask me these sorts of questions? What deep, powerful lesson do you hope to bestow upon me through your prying?

[grandhighwizard]

NO LESSON.
i am merely attempting to ascertain your character.
WHAT KIND OF MAN ARE YOU?

[wwistful]

You know that's a stupidly open question, don't you?
I can hardly define myself as a certain type of man when I have no idea what types you are referring to.
Perhaps the easier question is, What kind of man do you think I am? If you were to make an incorrect assumption, I could correct you.

[grandhighwizard]

YES.
that was why the question was rhetorical, my lad.
IT'S NOT AS THOUGH YOU WOULD TELL ME THE TRUTH.

[wwistful]

I'm not obligated to tell you the truth. This whole conversation is horribly invasive, but I'm sure you know that.

[grandhighwizard]

i do love
HOW INCREDIBLY PERSONALLY
you take certain observational statements.

[wwistful]

Observational or not, my life is none of your business. Nor is Sybille's or Striders.
So would you kindly uninsert yourself from this situation and stop putting your nose where it doesn't belong?

[grandhighwizard]

CERTAINLY NOT.
you've chosen to make all of this public, donoghue.
ALL OF MY OBSERVATIONS
are based on public words and actions.
I'M NOT GOING TO WILLFULLY BLIND MYSELF.
you should choose more discreet lovers, my lad.

[wwistful]

I've made the bare minimum public. If you want to make assumptions you are more than welcome to, just don't expect me to indulge your curiousity.

I only have ONE lover, and I could control her as well as one could control the ocean. It doesn't work like that.

[grandhighwizard]

AS YOU SAY.

[wwistful]

Yes. It is.