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Entry tags:
Dreambucks Dating Sim(?!): Limited Edition
Who: Emet-Selch, Mei Lee, and a Bevy of Beautiful Boys (maybe)
Which: OPEN to friends and acquaintances (and innocent bystanders should you prefer it!)
Where: Dreambucks, five days later at high noon (backdated to ~August 10th or thereabouts)
What: In a half-hearted effort to help Mei overcome her unusual "ailment", Emet-Selch has agreed to take tea with her at Dreambucks and to invite a few of his more objectively attractive acquaintances. (Worry not, he's only here as a chaperone.)
Warnings: Cringe, regret, and secondhand embarrassment.
[The day is young; the wind is high. A small change of plans to begin what is certain to be a rather... unique experience, all told, has ushered Emet-Selch and his party indoors. Emet-Selch sits at a cafe table not terribly far from the entrance, positively bored as he pores over preliminary scheduling notes for his grand talent scouting venture whilst waiting for their guest of honor. The shadows beneath his eyes are more prominent than ever today, and he seems considerably older than his "forty-two" years. In other words, he's managing to look his age for once.]
[How this all came about, he still isn't completely certain. Perhaps at the time he was exceedingly exhausted and low on sleep (such as now), searching for anything at all to keep him focused and awake. Or perhaps in a lapse of judgment he saw this endeavor as a source of inspiration for an upcoming production - something whimsical about the struggles of life; a sentimental comedy. Or... perhaps a small, very small perfectionist-driven part of himself wished to help put an end to a young girl's peculiar affliction once and for all. "Stage fright" in the presence of others, broken focus, a tripped tongue. To have one's mind clouded is a tragedy, particularly when it would prevent one from reaching their full potential. And as it happens, Emet-Selch knows well how important it is to be able to make oneself understood when in the company of others - yet this is hardly the time for an origin story.]
[Emet-Selch lets out an exaggerated sigh and his hard gaze pins itself to the first person who is unfortunate enough to make eye contact.]
I do hope the child does not overdress for the occasion. This is a common social gathering, not a wedding reception. I reiterated the fact several times, yet I'd be foolish to think she heard a word of it. She was too busy shouting about her "first grand step into the exciting world of adulthood".
[A sideways glance at the doorway.]
Which: OPEN to friends and acquaintances (and innocent bystanders should you prefer it!)
Where: Dreambucks, five days later at high noon (backdated to ~August 10th or thereabouts)
What: In a half-hearted effort to help Mei overcome her unusual "ailment", Emet-Selch has agreed to take tea with her at Dreambucks and to invite a few of his more objectively attractive acquaintances. (Worry not, he's only here as a chaperone.)
Warnings: Cringe, regret, and secondhand embarrassment.
[The day is young; the wind is high. A small change of plans to begin what is certain to be a rather... unique experience, all told, has ushered Emet-Selch and his party indoors. Emet-Selch sits at a cafe table not terribly far from the entrance, positively bored as he pores over preliminary scheduling notes for his grand talent scouting venture whilst waiting for their guest of honor. The shadows beneath his eyes are more prominent than ever today, and he seems considerably older than his "forty-two" years. In other words, he's managing to look his age for once.]
[How this all came about, he still isn't completely certain. Perhaps at the time he was exceedingly exhausted and low on sleep (such as now), searching for anything at all to keep him focused and awake. Or perhaps in a lapse of judgment he saw this endeavor as a source of inspiration for an upcoming production - something whimsical about the struggles of life; a sentimental comedy. Or... perhaps a small, very small perfectionist-driven part of himself wished to help put an end to a young girl's peculiar affliction once and for all. "Stage fright" in the presence of others, broken focus, a tripped tongue. To have one's mind clouded is a tragedy, particularly when it would prevent one from reaching their full potential. And as it happens, Emet-Selch knows well how important it is to be able to make oneself understood when in the company of others - yet this is hardly the time for an origin story.]
[Emet-Selch lets out an exaggerated sigh and his hard gaze pins itself to the first person who is unfortunate enough to make eye contact.]
I do hope the child does not overdress for the occasion. This is a common social gathering, not a wedding reception. I reiterated the fact several times, yet I'd be foolish to think she heard a word of it. She was too busy shouting about her "first grand step into the exciting world of adulthood".
[A sideways glance at the doorway.]
no subject
[Alas, Emet, he doesn't believe you in the slightest, even if he believes Emet thinks he believes that.]
Well. I shall humbly defer to my elders on this matter.
[The smugness. It's terminal.]
no subject
[That much is plain, even overlooking the playful jab about his age.]
[Emet-Selch may think he believes it, yet his biases cannot be understated. There is a strict separation between how he speaks with his fellow ancients and the character he plays before others. Hythlodaeus is trusted. His suggestions are considered; his teasing tolerated and even occasionally welcomed. Themis's questions are met with answers which reveal a tentative honesty he has not uncovered in centuries. All of this is to say nothing of the respect with which he used to address his fellow members of the Convocation, nor of the clear (if occasionally harsh) sense of duty he held towards child, adult, and errant soul alike.]
How then would you suggest resolving the issue? Seeing as you think my perspective too far removed from my starry-eyed youth.
no subject
The theory behind it, on the other hand, needs some work.
[He pauses and takes a moment to sip his latte]
After all, though we as a society do our best to create a culture of equality for all men of Etheirys, there shall always remain some level of of personal bias and varying levels of respect towards those we meet.
no subject
[...]
A negligible amount of bias, one could argue. After all, Amaurotine society as we know it is the labor of generations. Of course we would strive to value the whole over the self, to focus on our commonalities rather than our differences. Any deviation from that is simply because there are certain natural laws which even we cannot bend.
Unless we one day arise as a single consciousness, there will always be marks of individuality, and there will always be circumstance - how two people are first introduced, for example - personal interests, variation in one's appearance and aptitude, one's line of work. That does not, however, mean that we must change our approach when interacting with one another.
[Clearly Emet-Selch is trying very hard to spin these truths in a different direction, but even a cursory listen will prove that he is more-or-less agreeing with what Hythlodaeus has just said, even if he would labor to believe otherwise...]
no subject
Exactly my point. Until that day comes--and I, for one, certainly hope it doesn't--circumstance, bias, and individual taste shall ever remain. Why, I daresay even the Emissary himself is like to have had a few cases he's dreaded taking on solely due to the individuals involved, and we both know how dedicated he is to his duty.
no subject
Even if such a thing were the case, I labor to believe that the Emissary of all people would allow personal feelings to interfere with his judgment in any way. Perhaps you've never seen it, but I have - the way his focus shifts immediately whenever some new matter arises which requires his attention. In that moment, he is not himself, but an adjudicator; a mediator.
And I daresay the only one of us who has reason to dread is me.
no subject
Ah. My apologies. My intent was never to question his abilities. Quite the opposite, really.
no subject
[His stern expression lifts slightly. He is not truly angry nor offended, merely reacting in defense - as perhaps anyone would when they truly believe their society perfect and prove unwilling to condemn its flaws. ...As anyone might when a key component of their very salvation is questioned, no matter how innocently or unknowingly.]
[Yet he does understand.]
Rather, you would posit that our differences have a direct and discernible impact on our relations with others, and that because of these immutable variables, no amount of effort can overturn the simple truth that no two meetings, no two conversations, no two encounters can be approached in exactly the same manner.
What I dread is how insufferable you will be once we return home should you feel your hypothesis has been supported by this little experiment of mine.
no subject
Perish the thought. I may be pleased, but insufferable is another matter entirely. If it were possible to submit said proven hypothesis and experiment in the waking world and have it accepted on the other hand...
[He leans forward and grins.]
And you'd be credited, of course. I can hardly take all the accolades for myself.
no subject
[A sigh follows, bordering on exasperation, as Emet-Selch averts his gaze away from that grin.]
Besides, what use have I for accolades? You may keep them all with my blessing.
no subject
Are you sure? I assure you, I've improved exponentially at thesis writing since our school days.
And perhaps you deserve an accolade or two from time to time.
no subject
[...nor has he forgotten their first collaborative effort. A far cry from their later achievements.]
...of that I have no doubt.
And I assure you I deserve nothing of the sort. Why, I've already more medals than I know what to do with. Surely you didn't think they were simply there for decoration?