jane@fsdcupt.csd.mot.COM (Jane Beckman x2637) (01/20/90)
Sir Bruce Sterling approaches Jilara's table and bows. >"I know not what the full extent of your quest is. But I can tell you >some of mine. I am a paladin of life, liberty, happiness, and truth. >I seek and defend the following: 1. Truth 2. Friendship 3. Honesty 4. Love 5. Freedom 6. Nobility 7. People >"These are just the major elements of my life; specifics are more difficult >to explain fully. I believe that this is harmonious with some aspects of >your quest as well. An odd light comes into Jilara's eyes. She laughs softly. "An interesting place, this one. I have encountered more idealism herein than any place in the outside world. Rather like a place where paladins come for R&R. I sum up my quest with the inscription I wrote for my own tombstone, years ago: "Her quest was Truth, Her weapon Love." And I intend to buy my own tombstone, set it on the family plot, so that I may indeed have it, and let others wonder over the meaning of those words. I was inspired by one I found years ago, in San Luis Obispo: "Unhampered by religion or creed, he tried to do what was Right." Isn't it interesting what words we write as our Exit Lines?" >"Jilara the Exile, I, Sir Bruce Sterling, ask thee to join my quest. She nods to him, and looks thoughtful. "I suspect that we already are on the same quest. Different roads, with a meeting place here, where roads meet and cross, mayhap." >"If you are agreeable, we could announce this venture to all of callahans. >The choice is yours. All I ask of you is a chance." She looks at him oddly, as if there is some thought not quite ready to be voiced. Shakes her head as if some strange voice has just whispered in her ear. Her voice has an odd quaver when she speaks. "Odd things happpen in this place, friend. Share a glass of subliminal scotch, discuss the things that bind your heart and your path in a corner with some friends, and suddenly, there is an entire group of questors travelling down the road together. And sometimes you meet people you didn't believe existed." She looks over at a table where a former regular, now a misty shadow of his former self, is having a quiet conversation with Taldin. Feeling her gaze, he looks up, looks over at her, and smiles. For just a moment, gazes lock, and a look of ---understanding? ---empathy? ---a shared vision? passes between them. She looks down at her glass and her finger circles its rim, somehow producing a small sighing, singing sound. "A company has formed, a venture decided, somewhat. And Quests discussed here seem to be going on down the road, outside. For me, for several friends, companions, whatever... The Place seems to link with several dimensions. A small group, this white company, and good of heart. Things bound us in the early days, when not so many people were here... And we have the feeling we may be riding away from the Place, fairly soon, because---well---we're questors. Places outside call us. Yet, we walk out the door, and into another dimension, and find the road calls to us there, as a unit, on that Quest. We are seekers of the Dream, spinners of our own reality, and..." Her voice trails off, as if she can't quite find words to suit what she would say. "Life has gotten awfully complex, somehow, somewhere along the corridors between Worlds..." she says in a quiet voice. "This place is a Nexus. Have care what you say and do here, for there are many meetings, and things said and vows made affect many more worlds than this small corner of time and space." She looks oddly at the mist-figure at the next table. "By a knight of ghosts and shadows I am summoned forth to tourney, Nine leagues beyond the wide world's end... Methinks it is no journey..." Her voice trails off, like the tail of a comet fading into the starry void... >"Fair Lady, would you perchance like to dance? I`m sure Fast Eddy could >whip up something appropriate....." She smiles, still an odd look in her eyes. "That, my kind Sir Sterling, is always one of my supreme pleasures, a weakness of the worst sort. I wonder if Fast Eddie knows the Queen of All Argyll? It's always been one of my songs... I would be honored." (Jilara requests permission to post this, as I think it says some things that need saying on the floor. But I always reply to email via email, until I get the mailer's feelings on the discourse.)
jane@fsdcupt.csd.mot.COM (Jane Beckman x2637) (01/20/90)
Sir Bruce Sterling approaches Jilara's table and bows. >"I know not what the full extent of your quest is. But I can tell you >some of mine. I am a paladin of life, liberty, happiness, and truth. >I seek and defend the following: 1. Truth 2. Friendship 3. Honesty 4. Love 5. Freedom 6. Nobility 7. People >"These are just the major elements of my life; specifics are more difficult >to explain fully. I believe that this is harmonious with some aspects of >your quest as well. An odd light comes into Jilara's eyes. She laughs softly. "An interesting place, this one. I have encountered more idealism herein than any place in the outside world. Rather like a place where paladins come for R&R. I sum up my quest with the inscription I wrote for my own tombstone, years ago: "Her quest was Truth, Her weapon Love." And I intend to buy my own tombstone, set it on the family plot, so that I may indeed have it, and let others wonder over the meaning of those words. I was inspired by one I found years ago, in San Luis Obispo: "Unhampered by religion or creed, he tried to do what was Right." Isn't it interesting what words we write as our Exit Lines?" >"Jilara the Exile, I, Sir Bruce Sterling, ask thee to join my quest. She nods to him, and looks thoughtful. "I suspect that we already are on the same quest. Different roads, with a meeting place here, where roads meet and cross, mayhap." >"If you are agreeable, we could announce this venture to all of callahans. >The choice is yours. All I ask of you is a chance." She looks at him oddly, as if there is some thought not quite ready to be voiced. Shakes her head as if some strange voice has just whispered in her ear. Her voice has an odd quaver when she speaks. "Odd things happpen in this place, friend. Share a glass of subliminal scotch, discuss the things that bind your heart and your path in a corner with some friends, and suddenly, there is an entire group of questors travelling down the road together. And sometimes you meet people you didn't believe existed." She looks over at a table where a former regular, now a misty shadow of his former self, is having a quiet conversation with Taldin. Feeling her gaze, he looks up, looks over at her, and smiles. For just a moment, gazes lock, and a look of ---understanding? ---empathy? ---a shared vision? passes between them. She looks down at her glass and her finger circles its rim, somehow producing a small sighing, singing sound. "A company has formed, a venture decided, somewhat. And Quests discussed here seem to be going on down the road, outside. For me, for several friends, companions, whatever... The Place seems to link with several dimensions. A small group, this white company, and good of heart. Things bound us in the early days, when not so many people were here... And we have the feeling we may be riding away from the Place, fairly soon, because---well---we're questors. Places outside call us. Yet, we walk out the door, and into another dimension, and find the road calls to us there, as a unit, on that Quest. We are seekers of the Dream, spinners of our own reality, and..." Her voice trails off, as if she can't quite find words to suit what she would say. "Life has gotten awfully complex, somehow, somewhere along the corridors between Worlds..." she says in a quiet voice. "This place is a Nexus. Have care what you say and do here, for there are many meetings, and things said and vows made affect many more worlds than this small corner of time and space." She looks oddly at the mist-figure at the next table. "By a knight of ghosts and shadows I am summoned forth to tourney, Nine leagues beyond the wide world's end... Methinks it is no journey..." Her voice trails off, like the tail of a comet fading into the starry void... >"Fair Lady, would you perchance like to dance? I`m sure Fast Eddy could >whip up something appropriate....." She smiles, still an odd look in her eyes. "That, my kind Sir Sterling, is always one of my supreme pleasures, a weakness of the worst sort. I wonder if Fast Eddie knows the Queen of All Argyll? It's always been one of my songs... I would be honored."