1231/Polite Bickering

Polite Bickering
Date of Scene:	30 December 2014
Location:	Urbania
Synopsis:	Medusa has tea with Faruja and Ainsley, and they are as polite as they can ever hope to be regarding their conversation topics.
Cast of Characters:	22, 151, 152

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Medusa Gorgon (22) has posed:
    It's a quaint little cafe indeed. The snow falls outside, dampening the noise of Urbania itself, making the chatter and sounds inside this establishment even more prominent. The clatter of porcelain cups, soft Christmas music playing in the background, the idle chatter of the idle patrons... it's a calm atmosphere. Even the witch sitting in the corner by herself seem to fit in here if one didn't know about her true nature. But for now she's stirring her tea cup slightly, having put in a tea infuser as soon as the waiter brought her the pot of hot water as well as an assortment of various teas. Not to mention a large plate of various biscuits and cookies.

    Her heavy winter coat has been taken off along with her scarf and gloves, leaving her sitting there in a short sleeved black dress that goes down to her ankles, high heeled winter boots on her feet. And as she waits for her guest, she is busy jotting down some notes in a notebook, witch letters filling the pages with who knows what kind of information.

Faruja (152) has posed:
It chafes to not be able to simply kick in the front doors with a small gaggle of Templar, and start burning the witch to death. Faruja Senra can abide by many a member of the Confederacy. Indeed, he counts a number amongst his friends.

Medusa Gorgon is not one of those. Still, he's a diplomat. Thus, he arrives at the quaint little establishment in double-layered robes with a lizardess at his arm.

The smile he has on his face as he walks in is thinner than glass.

"Lady Gorgon, thus do we meet in the flesh, and without daggers to our backs nor serpents around our throats. Lord bless us with small miracles. Meet Lady Ainsley, mine most illustrious companion. May we?" He doesn't say more than that, for fear of giving her leverage against either.

FAruja, of course, pulls out a seat for Ainsley first. He's a gentleman like that.

Ainsley (151) has posed:
    Ainsley is probably more restrained about wanting to burn people alive than the rat is. She just calmly requested being there for the meeting, and put on a set of black robes so that she could at least seem somewhat formal, complete with white gloves and a bow tied to the end of her tail.

    She is only lightly grasping Faruja's arm, both hands resting on it. Her step is as light as a feather, even as the rat moves over to the table. She pays no attention to the other patrons at the cafe, focused solely on Medusa. The only time she breaks the stare is when she has to sit down, smiling at the Burmecian gratefully.

    Once seated, she gives a cold-as-ice stare at Medusa, hardly even blinking. The lizard girl remains almost completely still.

    "We've met," she tells Faruja, in a gentle voice.

Medusa Gorgon (22) has posed:
    There he arrives... and with a guest.

    The snake witch remains seated, her expression still calm, and the smile she gives the inquisitor looks far more genuine than his. Then again, she's got a lot of practice with smiling. "Ser Senra, welcome~ To both of you..." Her voice lowers slightly, and the bracelets around her wrists jingle merrily as she gestures for two of the empty seats at the table. A waiter is not slow with bringing them an empty cup each either, and Medusa smiles as she puts down her pen. "Feel free to partake. Tea is such a simple joy, isn't it? Yet so delicious..."

    The cold stare from Ainsley doesn't seem to bother her at all.

    "I trust the holidays have been good for you, hmmm?" she inquires politely even as she picks up her teacup to take a sip, leaning back in her seat.

Faruja (152) has posed:
"Mine thanks for thine most gracious offer this night, Lady Gorgon." He replies politely, taking a deep breath. A squeeze of Ainsley's arm, and he's smiling once again.

And then, he's pouring the tea for first his love, then to refill Medusa's, then his own.

On her question, he gives a genuine smile.

"I hath been blessed with life, friends, and love. Despite the troubles in mine land, war, Heresy..." He peers at Medusa for a moment.

"I cannot but count mineself as being mayhaps overly gifted with wealth of spirit and person. What of thineself? Hath this season given ye...insights into thine life, and the world?"

Ainsley (151) has posed:
    Ainsley may not be terribly diplomatic compared to Faruja. She doesn't hide the fact that she hates Medusa at all, and it's only by virtue of a well of patience that is unlikely to run dry in Faruja's presence that she remains quiet and observant of the conversation.

    When tea is poured is when she breaks the stare, her coldness fading in favor of making sure her cup of tea is properly sweetened with far more sugar than most people would sanely enjoy. She would then sip at the tea and look aside at Faruja curiously after he was done speaking, her feathered brows perking at him.

    The cup gets set down, and she turns her head to look toward Medusa again, though it's not quite a 'i wish i had eyebeams so i could blow your head off' look anymore. She just seems neutral now.

    Pretty quiet, though. Eerily so. She just doesn't have much input to give.

Medusa Gorgon (22) has posed:
    It's not unexpected that Ainsley remains quiet, and so Medusa doesn't say much in her direction, instead she offers a sickening sweet smile in her direction even as she listens to Faruja be grateful for whatever he happens to possess. The comment about heresy doesn't bring much of a reaction from Medusa, only a nod of thanks as he refills her tea cup. "Thank you~"

    A wistful sigh leaves Medusa however as Faruja inquires about her own affairs during the holidays. "Sadly, with the truce in place I have to say I'm a bit... bored."

    That is never a good sign, now is it?

    Picking up a cookie, she takes a small bite of it, chewing slightly before she speaks. "When you get as old as I am, you don't really pay attention to these celebrations anymore. Yet I do have things expected of me, with witch masses being rather plentiful these days. It's a way to keep busy, I guess..." she offers with a brief shrug. Resting her elbows on the table as she leans forward in her seat, her tattooed arms should become even more visible. "I have spent some time reading up on the books I borrowed from your church's library, however. Such an interesting read~" she compliments Faruja with a bright smile crossing her lips.

Faruja (152) has posed:
Faruja looks to Ainsley in turn. His ears fold. There's this look of 'Please keep me from doing anything stupid' to his sweet. Given Medusa? Ainsley's calm may be well needed to keep the notoriously tempermental rat in check.

A brow rises. "/Bored/, ye say?" He doesn't like the sound of that. He glances to those tattoos. A question pops into his head.

"...Begging thine pardon for mine rudeness, but how old art ye /exactly/? While I wouldst hardly dream of asking otherwise, 'tis useful for...putting thine particular actions into context. I assume ye art hardly of mine own limited lifespan?" In the multiverse, it's a question one must often ask. Still, even he looks slightly mortified of asking it to a woman, witch or not.

Huff. "Ahh, yes, I quite remember. I pray they hath been insightful? Ye /do/ realize I hath not forgotten, nor art ye getting out of the associated borrower's fees for such? Quite overdue, even being so generous as to say we woudlst lend them to ye in the first place." Scowl!

"...However, ye wouldst be pleased to know thine action hath goaded our more...complacent members into new research. What is that hume term...silver lining in every cloud?"

Medusa Gorgon (22) has posed:
    The question brings another smile to the serpentine witch's lips, and she chuckles oh so softly. "My, I thought a man like yourself knew better than to ask a woman what her age might be~?" she teases him. "Indeed, I am far older than you..." The look on his face makes her narrow her golden eyes, as if studying him closely. "And I haven't aged in centuries, let me add. Nor do I imagine I will look different in a few centuries either."

    The rather brazen theft she had pulled off at the libraries of the church is not easily forgotten, and she seems to take great amusement from the scowl that is sent her way, practically beaming in return. "Oh, I can pay those fees with even more knowledge. I have some other books whose libraries have been long forgotten by now... that would suffice, I imagine? Knowledge in return for knowledge? And... I'm glad." Here she leans forward, her eyes intense as she watches the rat where he sits, her black fingernails a dark contrast to the fine china of her tea cup as she wraps her fingers around it. "A rolling stone does not gather moss, is another saying. Your church... has grown stale. Which will prove to be its destruction in the end. Perhaps not while you still live, though."

Faruja (152) has posed:
Twitch! Faruja doesn't take well to teasing. At least, from Heretics. It forms into a smirk after a moment as her eyes narrow.

"Ahh. So-called immortality. I wonder...doth ye work such evils as theft, attempting to kidnap victims of vampire attacks, and other Heresies due to thine overly long life, or art ye merely one to ignore righteous living? Ye see, part of mine job is to understand that which I fight. And I wish to understand thee, Medusa Gorgon. 'Tis entirely why I ask."

Faruja laughs.

"/Do/ forgive me if I doth not trust any knowledge ye wouldst give to be untainted. Well, I am an Inquistior, therefore I cannot sit before thee and say that we art perfect. Nay, 'tis our Sinful nature that necessitates mine occupation. However, I believe the Church to be the best hope for Ivalice. And thus, for all its faults, I shall seek to prolong it. Shouldst it fall? Then may it only come when the Kingdom of God comes to Ivalice, to be ruled by the one and true Heavenly Father." Spoken like a true believer.

"For that is our purpose. To lead our fellow man into rightful living, for when the time comes, we may all be worthy of such a world." And hasten it into being. But the rat's not going to point that out.

Medusa Gorgon (22) has posed:
    Medusa appears to be only too happy to tease the poor rat, and she takes a large sip of her hot tea, looking rather at ease where she sits. As for her nature, she arches a quizzical eyebrow. "Hmm? Kidnap victims of vampire attacks? Now whatever are you talking about, Ser~?" she asks, looking genuinely like she has no idea what he is talking about. I am merely doing what a witch is supposed to do. I am honest to myself, which most people are not." With her tea cup still resting in her hands, she adapts a rather serious air about her. "Righteous. Such a flavourless word. It's a created construct, a word that certain people," people like Faruja, "use to shackle the world and its inhabitants. You wish to suppress the world itself."

    The smile is still here, but it's different. There is something more to it. Something far deeper than general pleasantness. This smile is far more real.

    "Sin is another of those words. You expect people to be filled with shame. But we are not. We are but mere creatures, and no matter how much you wish to bring reason into the whole equation, it only complicates matters. You seek to prolong the church, which again seeks to prolong the status quo beyond what is natural. It hinders progress, it hinders nature and upsets the balance of the world," Medusa states calmly, dipping her cookie into her tea before she takes a small bite. Why, she even chews it and swallows it before she continues on.

    "My purpose is to let the world lead itself, as the world knows far better than feeble minds what's best for it." Her eyes glimmer with intensity, and she crosses one of her legs over the other as she leans back in her seat once more. "Compared to other beings who have lived far longer, you are but a child. But then again, children are often quick to point out injustice, thinking that the world is a just place. It is not." Is that a look of pity that Medusa throws Faruja?

Ainsley (151) has posed:
    Ainsley takes one long sip out of her cup, and sets it down as the two of them exchange words on faith and immortality. Now she speaks up with a gentle tone of voice, as if she held no ire toward Medusa at all, despite how clear it is in those stormy blue eyes.

    "The very idea that you care about balance is a farce," she points out with a measured neutrality, "I will make it clear: Justice, law, virtue... these are, indeed, shackles. But that is because without them, chaos would drive us into a state where progress would be measured in how deep the blood was that pooled around our feet. Even with these laws, there is chaos brought, with conflicting ideas of what is right or wrong. So there is no balance. There never has been. It has never been a zero sum equation, ma'am."

    "The world does not lead anything. The world is an unthinking chaos that moves on with or without us. What must be led is society, and it is society that requires balance, and what you peddle is the destruction of that."

    "Like the older child kicking over a sandcastle for fun."

    She sips at her tea, blinking slowly.

Faruja (152) has posed:
"Utterly innocent of any wrongdoing, ye art, mine damsel so pure as the untrod snow." Deadpans the Inquisitor, before taking a long sip of his own tea. Ahh.

"...Though I must admit, ye hath excellent taste in tea."

There's a long, long sigh. "Well, if ye seek to play the textbook Witch and Heretic, ye art on a good bloody road. Between thee, that little vampire wench, and our 'dear ally'..." There's a barely restrained snarl. Clearly the rat still has his own opinions about D, Medusa, and their vampire-lady friend's attack. All three might eternally be off his Ajora's Day Card list.

A wave of a hand, and a politician's smile.

"But let us not violate the spirit of this truce by bringing up old grudges now, hmm?"

Faruja is silent all throughout Medusa's speech, before he finally smirks. Ainsley beats him to the punch, however, and with far less religion.

"Quite so, mine dear." The rat beams to his love. Mostly, they're on the same page.

"A world without orderly, righteous leadership is one of mere contest of physical strength. A world where the weakest art devoured, that they wouldst dare take up a meager craft to earn their living. Progress, Lady Gorgon, is something that is to be rejoiced. But it must be taken in even, measured steps, for over-reaching our means leads to disaster, death, and the aforementioned chaos that Ainsley speaks of. Only through taking measured action, and trusting ourselves to the laws set down by our creator, may we truly come to know peace and serenity. A world of holy chains merely means that our baser, darker instincts art kept in check. For 'tis /they/ that lead to bloody war and chaos such as devours Ivalice as we speak."

Then, a shrug, and he stretches both hands before his face.

"Still, I agree. Ivalice is much wounded, and one that yet festers. 'Tis most unrighteous, for we become desperate and foolish in times of war and threat. Like cornered rats, we art." A self-depreciating smirk here.

"'Tis why I exist. I am young, weak, mayhaps hot-headed and foolhardy. But passion, mine dear, when combined with experience and strength may well serve a bulwark against the darkness that consumes all good-hearted folks. I lack strength and experience." A scowl, and a bitter one.

"But I endeavor to gain such, that I may better serve Church and country, that it might be one day saved." There's iron and conviction in his voice.

Medusa Gorgon (22) has posed:
    "I never claimed to be innocent, Ser," Medusa points out with a vibrant smile. "Few of us are."

    When Ainsley speaks up for the first time, Medusa calmly turns to look at the lizard girl and listens. When she claims that the idea concerning balance is a farce, a knowing smirk plays at the corner of the witch's lips. But no interruption is raised, no words to counter them just yet. Medusa is patient, and she takes her time enjoying more of her tea and even takes another biscuit that crunches between her teeth as she bites down on it.

    "Without them the only things that would shatter would be your imposed rules, and the world would be free. Society might be able to be lead, but should it? There will never be balance in society, and nobody will be happy with it. So why shouldn't it be destroyed?" Medusa offers with a casual shrug of her slender shoulders. "I see nothing wrong with the weak being devoured."

    As for progress... "Progress isn't true progress if it's something that you decide. How many haven't died or suffered you have limited yourselves, hmmm...?" Her eyes search Faruja's and then Ainsley's, and she empties her tea cup, setting it down on its saucer. "Yet... you do have your limits, that is true. After all, there is only so much you can do. Chaos will happen whether you want it to or not." The witch reaches a hand up to adjust the braid resting against her chest. "It's too bad for you that I do possess all three things that you mention. And strength comes in many forms. I might not be the most powerful witch there is," she admits with a modest smile, knowing fully well that she is far from weak and that people do regard her as a real threat, "but there is a reason I have lived for as long as I have. Even if one lacks what most define as strength, there are other values that can take its place in the equation~"

    There is a sly look on Medusa's face. "I disagree with your ideals and find them naive. Too much order will only hurt you in the end, and chaos is the natural order. The harder the shackles are tightened, the faster they will crack and break." Another sigh leaves her, and she closes her eyes as she slowly chews on the remainder of the cookie. "Mmmm. This place does have the best treats, do they not~?"

Ainsley (151) has posed:
    "'Natural order.' Tell me, is this a conclusion that you came to, or is this something passed down to you by the very beings that govern the rules of your world? Maybe an instinct?"

    Ainsley frowned at Medusa, her question probably rhetorical. "Your active interference in the order that you disapprove of tells me that you are just as guilty of this naive notion as we are. Imposing what you think is natural... that's what the Church does, and what governments do, and what the Union and Confederacy do... Your ideal for how the world works." She looks like she could go on, but stops herself.

    She looks aside at Faruja, for a moment, her eyes lidding. Some of what she's heard from him she doesn't really agree with, either, but that's probably normal.

    "It is a relief to understand that you wish the downfall of order. I may have been made to sympathize with you, otherwise." She finishes her tea-flavored-sugar and lets out a sigh, turning to regard to Burmecian. "Faruja, how long do we have to sit here and prolong this awful conversation?"

Faruja (152) has posed:
Faruja can't help it. She might be a witch, but Medusa is charming. His laugh is natural, before he catches himself. There's an awkward moment, and he adds booze from a hip-flask to his tea. Liquid courage save him!

"...All too true. 'Tis why one must work ever-harder to safeguard those whom art innocent." A certain ARthur Lowell's words about innocence ring in his head, a touch uncomfortably. He pours more booze. At this rate, his liver will be the death of him.

"What ye name freedom, I name destruction and disorder. Naught shall come of a world free of law and order. A long, slow climb of progress unhindered by mortality until a most dire fall as the Lord strikes down such an unrighteous society. Mortal folk art weak by nature. Control, law, and Divine Truth must guide them, lest they fall prey to their own inborn flaws. I know this well. I hath a bloody swathe of them. Mayhaps 'tis blind leading the blind. Curse me a fool, I shall not give up a fight for those whom carry not a bloodstain upon their hands, nay matter what weakness I possess." Scowls the rat in equal parts anger and irritation. Some part of what she's said about weakness has struck far too close to home.

Then, he snarls. "How many? Try what few remain in Ivalice. The Church's efforts hath forstalled the death of our country far more than the incompetent Cro..." He shuts up, quickly, single eye peering about. Such would be worthy of a quick trip to a headsman in Ivalice. Thankfully, there's only one snake to watch here.

"Our purpose is to limit such chaos as we may. Even if 'tis to spare a single life, then I consider mine well spent. Think ye mineself to singularly hold such convictions in mine homeland?" He states simply enough.

A shake of the head. "I gather ye art cunning, intelligent, and overall dangerous Medusa Gorgon. And quite the actor. Which is the entire reason why I believe ye must die as swiftly as possible. Thine motives art ephemeral at best, utterly destructive at worst. Ye art /charming/. And I hath found a way with words a most dangerous thing, far moreso than magical or martial skill." r
Faruja turns to his lizardly love, and offers the tiniest of smiles. By now, their disagreements are all but routine. It's reassuring to know there's omeone who will stand beside him, and challenge his more zealous nature at once.

"Only as long as ye may stand. I admit, thus far, I am more satisfied with what I hath learned of our mutual foe, mine dear." Then, turning to Medusa, he raises the glass of tea.

"A toast, to understanding of our unique natures, at least in part. Cheers." He might want to strangle the snake-woman, but he's nothing if not polite.

Medusa Gorgon (22) has posed:
    "Unlike you, dear," Medusa drawls as she regards Ainsley, "I do not seek to impose my laws and rules on it. I merely wish for the world to sort itself out and change like it should be free to do. And I'm not the one imposing, in case you weren't listening."

    The rat proves to be rather wordy indeed, and Medusa pours herself another cup of tea that she does not hesitate to begin drinking. It's far less scalding on her tongue now, and the cookies are dipped in her cup as they slowly begin to disappear from the plate.

    "I do not wish for nor expect sympathy, even less from people who obviously have a completely different view than myself. We all have different ideas on what the world needs... and after all these years I have seen precisely what order does. It... bores me." A sigh leaves the woman, and she listens to Faruja as he thinks he can describe her... and voices his opinion on what the best course of action would be to do regarding her existence.

    "I know many others who agree with you. My beloved has said those same words to me as well~" she says with amusement lingering underneath her voice, her eyes narrowed as she smiles softly. "I shall give you the same response..."

    Here the witch leans forward, her slender hand reaches out to pick up the cookie plate and offer it to Ainsley, then to Faruja before her eyes latch onto his. Yet now they have split pupils, and they seem to lack the soft warmth they had previously, and there is something else lurking under her words. "... do you honestly believe I would die easily~?" Or that she hasn't already died?

    Then her demeanor is charming once more, and she smiles amiably. "It is a witch's nature to be destructive. It's a basic need for us, just like how you two need to eat to eat," she claims.

    It's clear that Ainsley does not care much for her, even before she asks her companion that question. Medusa chuckles and raises her own tea cup to Faruja in return. "A toast. To our very natures," she says, then empties her tea cup. After setting it down she sighs, then pushes her chair back before she rises and begins the process on putting on her coat, scarf and gloves. The notebook and pen is deposited in her pocket, and she puts some money down on the table. "For the bill. Thank you for the conversation and the company, though I am sad to say I have other matters that require my attention. A pleasant new year to the two of you~"

    With that said and done the witch carefully maneuvers between the chairs and heads for the exit of the cafe and into the snowy weather outside after pulling up the hood of her coat.

Faruja (152) has posed:
Faruja Senra takes a cookie, and devours it ravenously. Nomf~

"Truly. A Witch and Inquisitor shan't dare end without violence in their meeting...only a miracle of holiday, a time of reverence, shall stay their hand."

A pause. "And to thee, Lady Gorgon. May we speak again, even as we shed the blood of one another."