Heart of Dorkness

Bane Twenty - Chat

Bane Twenty - Chat

Bane Twenty - Chat

So, howd it go? Felix asked.

She was at the door to Sempers apartments in the castle. The castle complex was so huge that even giving an entire floor to Semper didnt really do much to reduce the amount of free space left. Felix wasnt great at math and such, but she was pretty sure there were enough rooms in the castle to let every family in Santafaria have a space for themselves.

The library alone could definitely fit the Yellow Palace in its centre with room to spare, at least, if they moved all the shelves and pillars out of the way.

The Goddess Semper, god of contempt and librariums sighed wistfully. She was seated on a plush divan (a word that Esme taught Felix recently) with an open text on her lap. She is still as clueless as ever, Felix dear. Come on in, close the door.

Felix grinned and half-turned to close the door behind her.

If Esme knew that she was having these little clandestine meetings with her goddess, well, shed probably freak out a little, then be really envious. Not that Esme couldnt have meetings like this too. Semper literally lived two floors up. But Esme was way too proper and polite to come knocking, and besides, Esme would die if she knew what they talked about.

Semper closed her text and set it on an end table, then she gestured to a smaller seat across from hers. The only other seat in the room.

Weird chair, Felix said as she climbed onto the poof and sat cross-legged atop it.

Mmh? Oh, yes, its meant to be uncomfortable, sorry.

Its fine. But... why?

Semper giggled. Why, so when Luciana visits I can insist that she sit upon my couch with me, of course. Now, this is a lounging divan, so obviously we will have no choice but to lay together.

Felix laughed. Did that even work?

Twice, so far. To absolutely no avail.

Felix shook her head, a smile still tugging at her lips. Shes really dense.

I know,: Semper replied, less amused. What about you? Any progress?

So! Felix interrupted after the rant had gone on for long enough and Sempers face was quite the glowing shade of red. Um, whats your next plan?

Hm? Oh. I am very much uncertain. You girls being here has afforded me the ability to linger at the castle for much longer than usual. Sometimes I go half a year or more without seeing Luci. I was hoping that the date would inspire a few things but... alas, no. She did enjoy it, and Im certain I could talk her into doing something similar in the future, but Im not sure shed ever connect going on multiple dates with being enamoured with someone.

Felix tapped her chin. Maybe I can ask Luciana about how to confess to someone?

Oh? Semper asked.

Yeah! Itll get her in that kind of mindset.

Semper considered it. Yes, that might work. But go on.

Well, Felix said, shed been thinking of this plan for a little while. See, I go to Luciana, right? Then I ask her how to confess my feelings for someone. I tell her how I feel, and maybe ask her if she feels the same way about someone? Anyway, then I reveal that Im actually asking how to confess to Esme.

Semper cackled. Oh, I like it, she said. Yes, thatll send her on a spin, and perhaps lead her to a tiny amount of introspection.

Im not sure thats possible, Felix said.

Nonsense. Luciana is incredibly introspective. She is, in many ways, a genius. She wields great and fearsome powers with the ease of an ancient master and few are her equal when it comes to knowledge of the arcane. She cultivated herself to godhood in a time when most were still striking rocks together to light the first fires, and her wit and intelligence has never ceased to grow. We might take it for granted now, but that woman is the pinnacle of individual strength. Most gods dont fear her for the endless tides of monsters she has at her command. They fear the day she steps out of her castle prepared for battle.

Felix nodded politely. This was also something she had learned to deal with when talking to Semper. As it turned out, Semper was a bit of a fangirl when it came to Luciana. All of the Dark Goddesses faults (except her continued density with regards to her personal romantic life) were forgiven, and all of her virtues were set upon platinum pedestals.

She listened, patiently, while Semper went on for a while. Mostly, Felix was just happy to have someone to talk to about all of this stuff. A lot of the problems that plagued her had annoyed Semper for much, much longer than Felix had been alive, so she knew the sympathy she received was genuine.

You know what you need, Semper said after a bit. The goddess nodded to herself. You need a nice life-or-death situation. Almost dying really gets the blood pumping to all the right places, and being close to someone when that happens tends to endear you to them a lot. Happens all the time with my Archivists. One will save the others life, and then bam, next thing you know theyre happily married for the next fifty years.

Im not sure. Putting my friends lives at risk for that kind of thing seems wrong, Felix said.

Your friends lives? Why, Felix dear, you have your own life you can risk! Whats the worst that could happen?

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