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IoriVeteran Member- November COTM 2011 :
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Re: Vegas died and so did my heart(Thara)
Sun Jan 17, 2021 11:00 pm
SCIONESS OF AVARICE
THARA
Gaining a proper grasp of this man of ivory was incredibly difficult for someone the Danava of Avarice. He was not entirely wrong in his musings or the way he spoke. He was hardly wrong, to be exact. Thara listened to his words intently as he replied, questioning her admiration of humans and how she had brought this man along to deceive him. To be certain, there was no falsity in that claim.
She had no plans of extending their night beyond this casino and from the outset, the man had formed this thought of how he could win her over with the glamorous lights of a dull casino that hardly matched the majesty of Las Vegas. He was hardly the type of man Thara admired, for if she were to reveal herself to him, he would throw her away in lieu of another gorgeous woman who caught his eye. That was how men of his ilk were.
"He's the type of man, that even if I told him the truth about who I was, he'd throw me away and find another piece of eye candy to wrap around his arm. That was how this really started. There is no particular case of deceit here, although I am well aware of the dangers he would face if others knew I was a demon. In cases such as those, I usually wipe their memory so no harm will come to them."
Thara's inability to read him made her feel as though she were a novice, a fish on dry land struggling to breathe. She had hardly expected to explain herself to a stranger and yet, here she was, doing just that. Worse yet, she bet one of her most prized possessions in order to prove a point.
Who was he?
As he touched her book, she couldn't help but pout quietly as she gazed at the pale stranger. She had no idea what the man could offer of equal value. He had posed a deep-seated question she could hardly answer. There was no price tag on her book. It meant so much to her, it filled her days with wonder when all she felt was the unrelenting sting of isolation.
As the conversation continued, the man of palest ivory questioned her paradoxical train of thought. Indeed, to obsess over the minority - instead of expanding her influence outwardly to the populace - was odd for a demon who represented greed. Any other Danava would easily consider her a walking contradiction.
Even so, was it wrong to be stingy? To symbolize that form of greed, to hold those who truly ignited their spirit close to their heart? Let it be so. Thara would never be ashamed of who she was as a person.
Her composure had hardly wavered as she continued to listen to the mysterious man's words. Of course, her expression quickly transitioned into one of quizzical disbelief. In a single moment, his calming voice which had hardly raised in volume from the outset, now seemed to resonate throughout the entire building. Thara would liken the sequence of events to time slowing to a halt.
How would you like to see Las Vegas, just once, before you go?
Everything came to a screeching halt. He smoothly pushed the deck towards her. Vegas? What? It had been destroyed...
"What...? There's no way you could show me. Of course, I'd love to see it but unless I was deceived---vegas was destroyed not long ago..."
More than that - how did he know she was fond of the City of Lights? This entire night grew all the more bizarre as time moved on.
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Re: Vegas died and so did my heart(Thara)
Sun Jan 17, 2021 11:25 pm
"And the Library of Alexandria burned down, yes. You of all creatures should understand that there is such a thing as life after death, no? That merely destroying a place so full of life is more of a symbolic gesture than a literal one. If one could ever think of a city that were alive, then you'd hardly do better than Las Vegas. Filled with avarice and lust, delight and mystery. The place of countless opportunities, and endless delights. Don't you think, if such a place -were- to be killed, in a single swift motion, it would leave behind...a very angry specter?"
He drew another card from the deck, setting it next to his own, and then sucking at his lower lip, as he knocked a hand on the table, seemingly drawing her attention back towards the table, and the game itself being played. He rolled his eyes, and then gestured towards her own cards, seeming mildly irritated, or perhaps perturbed, for a moment, as he rose his brows...as if asking her to check her cards.
"The house will hit. That means it is now entirely up to you whether you will remain content with the cards you have, or take another one. The wager has been made, and unless you have some umbrage against the wager made, this game is still in effect. That means that any attempt on your part to unduly prolong the game will be considered forfeiture. Should you want to know how it is that I can offer such a prize as the lingering remnants of the world's greatest hovel of depravity, that too can be wagered if the right compensation were offered. Until then, play the damn game."
His voice faded towards weariness near the end, hand once more pushing down at his sunglasses, and his gaze seeming almost to pin her to the ground, as he bared his teeth in an impatient gesture. His mood whiplash had seemed to come on almost instantly, once she had become so flabbergasted; perhaps something about her giving away her interest so easily, or simply the fact that she had turned out to have such a simple, basic interest? It was hard to tell why exactly, but it was easy to see that much of his good humor and constant smugness had faded.
"Perhaps it would help if we frame the question, then? What, precisely, -is- Las Vegas? The place where the King makes his eternal debut? The place where a great many casinos were created? The place of neon lights and empty promises? Hollywood could be called many of these things and more, and yet...it is not Las Vegas."
He drew another card from the deck, setting it next to his own, and then sucking at his lower lip, as he knocked a hand on the table, seemingly drawing her attention back towards the table, and the game itself being played. He rolled his eyes, and then gestured towards her own cards, seeming mildly irritated, or perhaps perturbed, for a moment, as he rose his brows...as if asking her to check her cards.
"The house will hit. That means it is now entirely up to you whether you will remain content with the cards you have, or take another one. The wager has been made, and unless you have some umbrage against the wager made, this game is still in effect. That means that any attempt on your part to unduly prolong the game will be considered forfeiture. Should you want to know how it is that I can offer such a prize as the lingering remnants of the world's greatest hovel of depravity, that too can be wagered if the right compensation were offered. Until then, play the damn game."
His voice faded towards weariness near the end, hand once more pushing down at his sunglasses, and his gaze seeming almost to pin her to the ground, as he bared his teeth in an impatient gesture. His mood whiplash had seemed to come on almost instantly, once she had become so flabbergasted; perhaps something about her giving away her interest so easily, or simply the fact that she had turned out to have such a simple, basic interest? It was hard to tell why exactly, but it was easy to see that much of his good humor and constant smugness had faded.
"Perhaps it would help if we frame the question, then? What, precisely, -is- Las Vegas? The place where the King makes his eternal debut? The place where a great many casinos were created? The place of neon lights and empty promises? Hollywood could be called many of these things and more, and yet...it is not Las Vegas."
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Re: Vegas died and so did my heart(Thara)
Mon Jan 18, 2021 11:58 am
SCIONESS OF AVARICE
THARA
Thara was particularly suspicious about the man of ivory mentioning Vegas. Could he read her or mind? No, perhaps it was a highly accurate guess based on Thara's theme of avarice. This line of thinking made more sense than him being able to read her mind, although she didn't deny his perceptive mind and the composed manner in which he conducted himself.
Gazing at him, even if she couldn't properly discern his countenance - to say nothing of actual expression - his cadence, his vocabulary and his tone seemed to belong to one who was wholly in control of himself. He was observant and poised, a lion ready to seize its prey at any unsuspecting moment.
No doubt, there were times where he alternated between his moods, with actions that made Thara all the more confused... but perhaps that was a strategy in of itself. It certainly worked against her, as she still failed to read him as an individual. She hadn't even gotten his name.
As he spoke about resuming the game, doubt had set in about whether or not she should proceed. For one, he had already concluded that she was a Danava. What if she was luring herself into a trap and he was forcing her hand? She couldn't exactly back out now, especially a precious item on hand. With a slight click of her tongue, she had decided she would draw another card.
"I'll draw. That said, why would I wager something higher than the book? You are remarkably perceptive, a man who like a veteran gambler attuned with his skill, can bluff and then strike like a lion when the time is ripe. Far be it from me to act as if I fear the thought of a dangerous game, but... for all I know, it could very well be a trap..."
She would tap at her chin as she continued; "And yet, there is no falsity in what you say. Even if something is destroyed, the spirit still lives on. Hollywood was once a place where it was inspiring actors ticket to fame. A place where fame could be gained just as easily as it could be lost. The camera is always on you and your privacy hardly matters to those who observe you or force their way into your daily life."
She would lean in her chair as she consumed another mouthful of her drink.
"Of course, it could never be Vegas. A legendary city worthy of its name. I only got to experience it out of curiosity and my own nature as a demon of greed compelling me to seek it out. And yet, those few nights of debauchery, delight, and decadence will never leave my memory."
Gazing at him intently, with a raised eyebrow, she posed a question.
"Oh, how I would love to experience it for a second but at what cost, my ivory dealer? Something of such value would seem as though it begets something equal. The law of equivalent exchange is not one to play with so easily For all I know, you could command something far greater than I could offer. Ah, but then that's the fun of gambling, isn't it..."
She could not help but smile at the humor of it all. This stranger and the unexpected turn of events. Hollywood was not Las Vegas but - this would definitely be a night to remember.
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Re: Vegas died and so did my heart(Thara)
Mon Jan 18, 2021 1:26 pm
"Ah. I knew I felt it upon you, the moment you walked into this place. That...aura of longing. Of sadness. The innate knowledge, deep in your bones. Like a salmon that wishes to swim upstream, but has found itself captured in a maelstrom that demands it ignore all biological imperatives. The soul-rending knowledge that...home is a place you are no longer welcome. That the one place you want to be, you can never go. We call that hiraeth. You cannot stay in Hell because you never belonged there, and you cannot stay in this plane because they would never let you belong. Curious, isn't it? That home is an agreement between individual and environment. We all like to think ourselves islands, or gods. But we're really not that special in the end."
He examined his own cards without a word, and then plucked one more from the deck, placing it down next to the others without a second of hesitation. He met her gaze, blinking just once, slowly, and then speaking in a tone far warmer, more pleasant. It almost brought to mind a father speaking to a child when she was on the verge of a meltdown, or a therapist speaking to their patient. There was a patience and kindness in his voice that had been completely missing a moment ago, but seemed to fit the circumstances perfectly.
"I've never really felt like I belonged, either. Perhaps that, then, is what makes Las Vegas such a...special place? It is where those down on their luck invariably find themselves. The home of wayward souls, with nowhere else they can feel content. Who was it that once said 'home is wherever I rest my head'? I cannot for the life of me remember, but he may well have been speaking of Las Vegas when he did say that. There was something...intoxicating about that place, a draw that made it clear that here, if nowhere else, one could be...welcomed."
He rose his free hand, gesturing to take in the shining, golden interior of the place she had decided to take as her replacement home. His gaze turned wistful, sad, almost pained as he turned to take it all in, seeming to have lost all interest in the card game for now. Or perhaps he simply considered the game a pretense to talk? It was hard to say, given how quickly he'd begun to peel away the layers of her person upon her approaching.
"But this...place. These casinos. They can never be home. You liken them to a black hole, but that is not quite correct. A black hole is something you can not see, only...feel. The influence of its presence is much like ripples on a lake. None will remember what caused the internal disturbance, only the...aftermath. No, a casino is far too bold, too ostentatious, to warrant such a designation. It is more akin to a dragon. A clumsy, unwieldy beast that advertises itself with every passing moment, that loudly proclaims 'I am great. Why am I great? Because you have made me great.' And people come from across the world to see the dragon's treasure. The hoard of gold, gems, and jewelry that it has swiped...and to pay their tribute for the opportunity to peek upon greatness for a moment."
"A casino is, ultimately, all style and no substance. While a black hole is all substance, and no style. This place is where people go to become poor, and to talk to one another how amazing it was to be in the presence of the rich for even a single moment. While true wealth is not...gaudy, or flamboyant. The truly rich are generous, frugal, cautious, and quite prize their privacy. I'm sure you don't believe me...or don't understand. Should you win, you will have the opportunity to find out."
"...Ah, yes. The house will hit. Pardon me, it's been too long since I could wax philosophical, I almost forgot that we were here to pay tribute to the great beast, and become grist in the mill."
He examined his own cards without a word, and then plucked one more from the deck, placing it down next to the others without a second of hesitation. He met her gaze, blinking just once, slowly, and then speaking in a tone far warmer, more pleasant. It almost brought to mind a father speaking to a child when she was on the verge of a meltdown, or a therapist speaking to their patient. There was a patience and kindness in his voice that had been completely missing a moment ago, but seemed to fit the circumstances perfectly.
"I've never really felt like I belonged, either. Perhaps that, then, is what makes Las Vegas such a...special place? It is where those down on their luck invariably find themselves. The home of wayward souls, with nowhere else they can feel content. Who was it that once said 'home is wherever I rest my head'? I cannot for the life of me remember, but he may well have been speaking of Las Vegas when he did say that. There was something...intoxicating about that place, a draw that made it clear that here, if nowhere else, one could be...welcomed."
He rose his free hand, gesturing to take in the shining, golden interior of the place she had decided to take as her replacement home. His gaze turned wistful, sad, almost pained as he turned to take it all in, seeming to have lost all interest in the card game for now. Or perhaps he simply considered the game a pretense to talk? It was hard to say, given how quickly he'd begun to peel away the layers of her person upon her approaching.
"But this...place. These casinos. They can never be home. You liken them to a black hole, but that is not quite correct. A black hole is something you can not see, only...feel. The influence of its presence is much like ripples on a lake. None will remember what caused the internal disturbance, only the...aftermath. No, a casino is far too bold, too ostentatious, to warrant such a designation. It is more akin to a dragon. A clumsy, unwieldy beast that advertises itself with every passing moment, that loudly proclaims 'I am great. Why am I great? Because you have made me great.' And people come from across the world to see the dragon's treasure. The hoard of gold, gems, and jewelry that it has swiped...and to pay their tribute for the opportunity to peek upon greatness for a moment."
"A casino is, ultimately, all style and no substance. While a black hole is all substance, and no style. This place is where people go to become poor, and to talk to one another how amazing it was to be in the presence of the rich for even a single moment. While true wealth is not...gaudy, or flamboyant. The truly rich are generous, frugal, cautious, and quite prize their privacy. I'm sure you don't believe me...or don't understand. Should you win, you will have the opportunity to find out."
"...Ah, yes. The house will hit. Pardon me, it's been too long since I could wax philosophical, I almost forgot that we were here to pay tribute to the great beast, and become grist in the mill."
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Re: Vegas died and so did my heart(Thara)
Wed Jan 20, 2021 12:24 pm
SCIONESS OF AVARICE
THARA
It truly amazed Thara how perceptive of thought this mysterious man was. From the outset, there had not been a single conjecture that seemed incredulous. It was as if he was legitimately reading her like a book, flipping through each page as he continued to peel away at her layers in a way she had yet to experience. Hiraeth? She had never heard the term but... he was undoubtedly correct.
Due to being abandoned in demon world and the growing hostility towards demons in the modern era, there was indeed no place she could truly call home, no one who could legitimately protect her or guide her on a better path.
Thus, Thara was no different from a troubled child who had to fend for her own and by nature, accumulate as her heart desired. She had lost count of how many years it had even taken her to feel comfortable to visit earth again.
Finding them relatable, Thara found herself enthralled by the philosphical content of his words. The sense of belonging and seemingly feeling so out of place with the world was overwhelmingly relatable. He continued, reflecting on her earlier comparison of a casino being akin to a black hole and how incorrect that comparison was. A hoarding dragon? There was merit to the comparison. It was frighteningly correct in many ways. A stingy beast that deceived you with its riches.
The truly rich? Thara raised an eyebrow as she ruminated on his words. It stood in defiance of Thara's own perception of riches. Flamboyance and extravagance were the name of the game in her eyes and yet - he described a fairly different school of thought on what it meant to be rich. In some ways, she could listen to him for days but they were still in a game. She was ready to see if her hand had been a gracious one.
"There is no need to apologize, sir. I've quited enjoyed this conversation.It's such an odd feeling - being read, analyzed, and having a person understand more about you... than yourself. It's remarkably humorous, no? You've hit the nail on the head. I've never really felt there was a place I could call home."
Thara leaned back in her chair and decided to pose one more question before he revealed the cards.
"If you describe the rich in such a way, do you feel as if there's hope for someone like me? A spirit of avarice that only finds satisfaction in consumption?"
She realized that she might lose the book if that hand was anything less than 21. But then, this talk had been one she would reflect on for years.
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Re: Vegas died and so did my heart(Thara)
Wed Jan 20, 2021 2:24 pm
"My sweet summer child, you haven't been listening all that well, have you? Of course there is a place for you in this world. It was once called Las Vegas, but death is hardly the end of a thing, or even a place. It is merely a doorway. There are those who scorn Danava, just as there are those who scorn science, or scorn mercy. Humans are a scornful race, and always believe they alone hold the key to humanity. A greed all on its own, you could say. And one that corrupts and eats away at them steadily, like a worm eating an apple from the inside. A gilded surface, and absolutely hollow underneath."
He turned towards her once more, rapping his knuckles on the counter without even looking at her or the cards, simply clearing his throat and then circling around the table, to sit on its edge, legs crossing. They seemed to move with a queer, fluid grace that no human body could normally manage, splaying themselves high in the air while he leaned back, looking up at the lights of the casino now.
"The house will stay. You are free to draw once more if you wish, or to reveal the hands. I would caution you, Thara, Danava of Avarice, that blackjack is truly a game where less is more. What benefit is there to having five, or six, or seven cards? There lies a deck of 52 potentialities, and yet having more than three or four at any given time ends up being merely...baggage. Perhaps that analogy better helps express my stance? One who invests in expensive jewelry weighs themselves down, and invites pickpockets or those with nimble fingers to pluck it from them. One who invests in the company or affection of pretty women all too often finds their health failing them, their spirits crushed, and everything that made them pretty simply...fading. You feel the purpose of wealth is to shout it from every rooftop, but all this does is invite others to heap scorn upon you. Greed goes hand in hand with envy, after all. And you wouldn't want one of your brothers or sisters to hear about what fun you're having here, now would you?"
He turned towards her once more, rapping his knuckles on the counter without even looking at her or the cards, simply clearing his throat and then circling around the table, to sit on its edge, legs crossing. They seemed to move with a queer, fluid grace that no human body could normally manage, splaying themselves high in the air while he leaned back, looking up at the lights of the casino now.
"The house will stay. You are free to draw once more if you wish, or to reveal the hands. I would caution you, Thara, Danava of Avarice, that blackjack is truly a game where less is more. What benefit is there to having five, or six, or seven cards? There lies a deck of 52 potentialities, and yet having more than three or four at any given time ends up being merely...baggage. Perhaps that analogy better helps express my stance? One who invests in expensive jewelry weighs themselves down, and invites pickpockets or those with nimble fingers to pluck it from them. One who invests in the company or affection of pretty women all too often finds their health failing them, their spirits crushed, and everything that made them pretty simply...fading. You feel the purpose of wealth is to shout it from every rooftop, but all this does is invite others to heap scorn upon you. Greed goes hand in hand with envy, after all. And you wouldn't want one of your brothers or sisters to hear about what fun you're having here, now would you?"
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Re: Vegas died and so did my heart(Thara)
Thu Jan 21, 2021 9:04 pm
SCIONESS OF AVARICE
THARA
Thara could not help but smile at being called "sweet summer child". Although the man of ivory may have not thought much of it, Thara was somewhat childish at heart and so being comforted about her place in the world was more meaningful than anything else he might well imagine. He had a pronounced wisdom that was beyond anything her mind could grasp and so she listened to his wisdom with the mind of a student eager to soak in as much knowledge as possible. Humans were indeed scornful, that much was true.
There were also humans with a heart of gold and a compassion for those with a compassionate heart. Thara would much prefer to meet the latter and yet - in this modern day - after so much destruction that had been wrought by the Queen of Demons, she was met with nothing but hostility.
She could no longer introduce herself with flare or grace and now it seemed as if she almost had to conduct her trips to earth at night, away from the watchful eyes of those who could strike her down for simply "existing." Within the City of Lights, she experienced no such thing back then. She was admired, worshipped, and welcomed as if she were family. To even taste such a sensation again, she would gladly offer something of equal value. Equivalent exchange could not easily be played with but it had its merits, no?
He offered her a chance to contemplate her decision, divulging the strategy of blackjack. Indeed, it was a game where the number of cards didn't always guarantee one would reach the designated number of 21. She knew the basics and had mastered the game well enough but the man of ivory had broke it down in such an insightful way.
"Greed invites envy, huh? Well, I wouldn't deny that. There is no falsities in that statement. If you flaunt your riches or speak of how grand your possessions are, there are those who will strike you down and rob you of all that you own. That said, I don't have any brothers and sisters that would care much about me. Every last one abandoned me..."
Her gaze would trail off as she sighed, recalling how her family were nothing but brutes who valued superior strength over familial affection. They were all fools and deserved to be damned, wherever they were.
Shaking her head softly, her gaze returned to the cards and tapped at her chin. Was it time to draw? Or did she wish to reveal her hand? The thought of Vegas weighed heavily on her mind. And yet, this conversation had truly illuminated so many things that she herself had been unaware of. The stranger had proved to be a welcomed conversation. Even if she lost the book, she would gladly visit again if the cards fell in her favor.
In any case...
"I think It's time that I reveal my hand, my ivory dealer. No matter the result... I'd like to thank you... for this conversation. It has truly been an enjoyable evening in ways I did not expect. "
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Re: Vegas died and so did my heart(Thara)
Fri Jan 22, 2021 7:27 pm
"The way you speak, it's like we're about to part, never to meet again. You're not so lucky, I'm afraid; once I've got my eyes on you, I don't let my vision blur or my attention wander. In that, I'm perhaps greedier even than you. For I like to surround myself with people of the highest value, and invest in their futures. Certainly, when you're the new queen of Hell, I can be called the richest man in the world for having your ear."
He flipped his cards over, one by one, his gaze never turning away from her, expression never changing. One by one, the pieces that spelled Thara's doom were revealed; an eight, a four, a four, and a five. Adding up to 21 exactly, dashing any hopes of victory for the danava, and guaranteeing one of the most precious things in her life was gone, as quickly as if it had been cast into a fire. The man reached a hand over the book, letting it hover for a moment, before pausing, his expression temporarily turning pensive, curious, almost smug.
"I don't suppose you're familiar with the human custom of double or nothing? To be entirely honest, the book means very little to me, but I know what it means to -you-. And I would feel terrible parting you two just because of a simple game of cards. This said, if the condition is anything to judge by, it certainly seems like you know them all by heart at this point. Wouldn't it be in better hands, enriching someone else's life? Or does the Danava of Avarice not understand the merit in making those around her richer, that she may shine all the brighter by comparison?"
His eyes glinted, filled with a wickedly sinful light, something that looked positively addictive, and filled with a vivaciousness that seemed almost completely at odds with his otherwise philosophical demeanor. He simply watched her reaction quietly for several moments, lips curling. There was something so nakedly thrilling about investing in the future of others, perhaps as some form of gambling in and of itself; all Thara had to do was nothing and he'd end up losing everything he'd wagered. But ultimately, he was wagering on her wanting to become stronger, and greater. That was a bet he rarely found it foolhardy to invest in. The question now became, what -else- did she feel prepared to part with, after coming this far?
"You needn't answer right away. I'd prefer if you thought on it for a minute or two. And as you do, perhaps think on this as well. What difference is there, between a house and a home?"
He flipped his cards over, one by one, his gaze never turning away from her, expression never changing. One by one, the pieces that spelled Thara's doom were revealed; an eight, a four, a four, and a five. Adding up to 21 exactly, dashing any hopes of victory for the danava, and guaranteeing one of the most precious things in her life was gone, as quickly as if it had been cast into a fire. The man reached a hand over the book, letting it hover for a moment, before pausing, his expression temporarily turning pensive, curious, almost smug.
"I don't suppose you're familiar with the human custom of double or nothing? To be entirely honest, the book means very little to me, but I know what it means to -you-. And I would feel terrible parting you two just because of a simple game of cards. This said, if the condition is anything to judge by, it certainly seems like you know them all by heart at this point. Wouldn't it be in better hands, enriching someone else's life? Or does the Danava of Avarice not understand the merit in making those around her richer, that she may shine all the brighter by comparison?"
His eyes glinted, filled with a wickedly sinful light, something that looked positively addictive, and filled with a vivaciousness that seemed almost completely at odds with his otherwise philosophical demeanor. He simply watched her reaction quietly for several moments, lips curling. There was something so nakedly thrilling about investing in the future of others, perhaps as some form of gambling in and of itself; all Thara had to do was nothing and he'd end up losing everything he'd wagered. But ultimately, he was wagering on her wanting to become stronger, and greater. That was a bet he rarely found it foolhardy to invest in. The question now became, what -else- did she feel prepared to part with, after coming this far?
"You needn't answer right away. I'd prefer if you thought on it for a minute or two. And as you do, perhaps think on this as well. What difference is there, between a house and a home?"
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Re: Vegas died and so did my heart(Thara)
Mon Jan 25, 2021 1:34 pm
SCIONESS OF AVARICE
THARA
Queen of hell? Surely, it must have been a jest. Thara was but as covetous demon who cowered before those with a semblance of strength higher than her own. She hardly welcomed conflict but did this man truly believe she had that type of potential? She was flattered but hardly a fool. Or was he... genuine? Thara's confusion only heightened as she gazed at him with a incredulous stare.
She would not be given time to let that sink in as the ivory dealer revealed each of the cards, each dooming her to a loss. He reached over and placed a hand on her book while Thara stared off to the side, a defeated expression clear in her countenance. Should she have asked for another card, she wondered? Better yet, was she willing to part with the book as adamantly as she claimed? That was the more pertinent question. The allure of the City of Lights still hung over her head. She was compelled to continue but what else did she have to offer?
"I certainly did not intend on parting with one of my prized possessions but I am uncertain as to what else there is I could offer. Would you find it laughable that a demon of avarice founds herself frightened by losing something else of wonderful value? If I go in with double or nothing, is the offer of Las Vegas even on the table anymore?" Thara direct her gaze at the ivory stranger as she tapped her fingers against the table, as he listened to the man pose a question. The difference between a house and a home. She felt she understood that concept well enough, and so she answered it.
"There is no correct answer I could give you but... a house is simply something you live in, a place to eat, drink, go to the bathroom, and sleep. Home? It is more metaphysical than a house. As they often say "home is where the heart is." If you are centered in who you are as a man or woman, then home is wherever you may lay your head at. Home is the memories you share with others or the memories you can create when you travel the world. Home is something special and something that cannot ever properly be put into words."
Thara would blush softly as she hid her face.
"That was the only description I could give you, I'm sorry. I went on a bit of a tangent myself there. "
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Re: Vegas died and so did my heart(Thara)
Mon Jan 25, 2021 8:18 pm
"Don't apologize, Thara. It was a good answer. I'm quite satisfied by it. And you're right to ask or wonder that question. The rules of double or nothing are clear. If you win, you get back what you lost. And if you lose, you lose yet more. But I am not interested in more childish trinkets, or whimsical memories. I am interested in -you-, Thara. In case that wasn't clear enough by now."
Suddenly the entity before her seemed much taller, unfathomably tall, too tall for even this opulent castle to maintain his entire presence. He carried with him a sense of reality and solidity that made everything in the room fade into the background, and made it painfully obvious just how -real- he was compared to everything else there. It was like suddenly being drugged, simply being stifled by his spiritual pressure for a few moments, as he walked around the table, and tilted his head, as if looking at a prize racehorse, or chattel about to be sold.
"The wager this time is simple. A year in my employ if you lose. You will do as I ask of you, without questions or hesitation, and you will assist me in whatever endeavors I set into motion. For all intents and purposes you are to be an extension of my will, just like my own arms and legs. And if you win, you will have your book back, and you will be free to leave this place, and forget we ever met. You can find yourself a new home. One far away from the judgment of mortals or the madness of your family. You wager with your freedom now, Thara. You are no Danava of pride, so certainly you wouldn't consider the notion of subordination to another so noxious you'd sooner die?"
He laughed just a bit, taking a step back from her and folding his hands behind his back, speaking in a tone of faux-reproach and seriousness, as if a father were trying to chastise a child for something they genuinely thought was funny, but still knew they couldn't encourage. His eyes glinted with that same smug, knowing light. As if he were saying that he knew she'd play, and that she wouldn't even play to win at this point.
"And the game will be an old classic. Since you love your fairytales so much. Guess my name, Thara, and you win."
Suddenly the entity before her seemed much taller, unfathomably tall, too tall for even this opulent castle to maintain his entire presence. He carried with him a sense of reality and solidity that made everything in the room fade into the background, and made it painfully obvious just how -real- he was compared to everything else there. It was like suddenly being drugged, simply being stifled by his spiritual pressure for a few moments, as he walked around the table, and tilted his head, as if looking at a prize racehorse, or chattel about to be sold.
"The wager this time is simple. A year in my employ if you lose. You will do as I ask of you, without questions or hesitation, and you will assist me in whatever endeavors I set into motion. For all intents and purposes you are to be an extension of my will, just like my own arms and legs. And if you win, you will have your book back, and you will be free to leave this place, and forget we ever met. You can find yourself a new home. One far away from the judgment of mortals or the madness of your family. You wager with your freedom now, Thara. You are no Danava of pride, so certainly you wouldn't consider the notion of subordination to another so noxious you'd sooner die?"
He laughed just a bit, taking a step back from her and folding his hands behind his back, speaking in a tone of faux-reproach and seriousness, as if a father were trying to chastise a child for something they genuinely thought was funny, but still knew they couldn't encourage. His eyes glinted with that same smug, knowing light. As if he were saying that he knew she'd play, and that she wouldn't even play to win at this point.
"And the game will be an old classic. Since you love your fairytales so much. Guess my name, Thara, and you win."
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