[D4, EE] Toast of the Cage

[Thaddeus]

Sensing her unease, Thad listens calmly and intently while she speaks before responding.

"Didn't mean to belittle you by assuming you were worried about the slaadi. Lot of cagers 'round here are peery right now 'bout 'em.

I think everyone wants to think they're special or at least different. I can't say much, I was born and raised in the cage. I've been out a few times, but always with a purpose. I've never just lived somewhere else. So I won't claim to be any more lanned than the next.

I don't know about where you come from, but I'd be happy to sit down with you and learn about it. What I do know is that Sigil is a fickle place. We live on the edge of a knife. Could be that's why there's so many spikes and blades everywhere, just to remind us how precarious our lives are. I'm sure there are a lot of burgs out there like that... Maybe we all just play like it's different where we are so that way we can feel better for surviving it and keep hoping we can get out and there'll be somewhere, anywhere better.

As for me. I'm better than I could've ever hoped for. I was a little foundling in the streets, not much of a future to look for. Made my way up slowly but surely. Now here I am, planning a grand party for the Society of Sensation. Honestly, I wouldn't risk asking for anything different. Any little thing changed and I'd probably have ended up in the dead-book."

[Illiam'iira]

She looks around a moment; "You -- uhm -- are you not too busy to sit down with me, mister Thaddeus?"

[Thaddeus]

It shouldn't take too long to discuss the plans with Annali. The Society wasn't exactly inexperienced when it came to throwing outrageously decadent parties. He'd taken a liking to this drow lady and Cornelius approved of her, which was enough for him in and of itself. He'd spare some time for Illiam.

"It'd be my delight to sit down and spend some time with you Miss Illiam'iira. It's a bit boisterous down here. Let's change venue so we can speak more privately."

[Illiam'iira]

"It'd be my delight to sit down and spend some time with you Miss Illiam'iira. It's a bit boisterous down here. Let's change venue so we can speak more privately."

Illi offers him her arm with a smile. "Thank you. Lead the way, mister Thaddeus?"

She's a bit thankful they'll be walking. It give her a moment to consider everything he's said.

[Thaddeus]

They travel through the throngs of people and up a few flights of stairs. The deeper they go into the Festhall, the less crowded it is and more eccentric the decor becomes. Eventually they come to a small room with large, overstuffed chairs surrounding a small table housing a variety of ornate pipes, small boxes, and bottles.

"Please, make yourself comfortable." Thad lifts the lids of a selection of boxes, exposing various aromatic tobaccos. "Do you smoke?" He then reaches under the table and pulls out two small glasses, sets them down on the table, and motions to the bottles. "Or would you like a drink... Both is also fine." He adds with a wink.

[Illiam'iira]

"Or would you like a drink... Both is also fine."

"I do, sometimes," She says a little delicately, "But I probably shouldn't, tonight. I'm still adjusting to the air here and my lungs wouldn't appreciate the extra stress." As Illi speaks she finds a plush velvet armchair to flop into and curl up in, the girl happily making herself comfortable by... dangling her legs over the chair's arm? Well, at least she's in the right place for that. "A drink would be nice, though. Can't fuck up my throat too hard with that."

As he pours Illiam'iira watches him, quiet but for a small hm when he hands their drink over. There's no need to fill the silence -- Thaddeus does not seem a man so uncomfortable with life he needs every moment filled with distractions. Or maybe he is; she'll learn soon enough.

Where to start? Illi takes a sip.

[Thaddeus]

Reading the room, Thaddeus pours himself a glass before settling down into a plush chair. Sometimes people needed someone else to break the silence, other times they needed silence to break through. He would sit a while and see which case this was.

[Illiam'iira]

It takes her awhile to put the words together, but, finally, she pipes up -- "I think you're right. Uhm. About people here, playing like things are different. It helps. Or I imagine it would. People do wanna feel special, especially about the things that define them, especially about things that are hard to change." She swirls the liquor in her glass, watching it, unable to meet Thaddeus' gaze for now.

"Sure, Sigil's unique and special, but, it's also much of the same. Like -- the buildings, all the blades and knives. It reminds me a lot of my father's home, actually." In her mind's eye she remembers -- the tall black tower dominating the landscape, its imposing glass windows with skulls crushed underfoot, saviors with their black swords raised high above praising faceless hoards, the black iron blades along the roof and windows and fences to keep out trespassers. All the purple roses in the garden. The pet name he called her and her mother -- enlila. What she found in the basement. The eyes staring down at her from the iron maiden, pleading in their terror. The blood. There's only ashes left of that place now; her uncle made sure of that, salting the earth so no foul thing could grow from that soil. What does that make you, Illiam?

Illi takes another gulp of her drink.

"I've never been anywhere where life wasn't precarious. And I'm honestly pretty lucky, as far as lives go."

[Thaddeus]

Thaddeus raises his glass, "Well then, a toast is in order. To the fates. For the journey that brought you from your father's home to the here and the now, safe and sound." He drinks from his cup and sets it back down on the table. "You are safe are you not? Have you been bothered by anyone or anything since coming to Sigil? Any part of your past you fear might pop up?"

[Illiam'iira]

She hums a little bit as she raises her glass to Thaddeus. "I'm safe, or as safe as anyone can be! I got robbed, but it's not the first time that's happened, and it probably won't be the last." Illi giggles a little nervously. "I'm not too worried. I mean, I am worried, but it's normal to be cautious in a new place." Her head tilts as she regards the satyr again. "Where all have you been, Thaddeus?"