They've achieved the bare minimum of mutual civility and Zel tells himself it means nothing. It never lasts. His past efforts to maintain a relatively non-hostile relationship with Rezo have all ended in failure. This is merely a failure in the making. Once they no longer have reason to cooperate, all scraps of goodwill will deteriorate. Second verse, same as the first.
He's sure of it. He's pretty sure of it.
Here's what he's less sure of: is that what Rezo wants?
Is that what he wants?
Zelgadis, scrawling out an equation and happy to leave Rezo to the 'acting personable' side of things, belatedly notices his cue to respond. ]
Huh? Uh, yeah, of course.
[ If Zelgadis has learned anything so far today, it's that holding a consistent attitude towards Rezo is impossible; he's bouncing all over the emotional spectrum: hostility, deference, something like the ghost of gratitude.
Uncertainty. Doubt.
Not hope. That one's not allowed. It will not be acknowledged.
Just focus on the math.
What Zelgadis settles on are three large tanks, each set up in the most population-dense areas of the town. If filled to maximum capacity, they'll serve the town for the next few days. The head of the stonemason's guild is not necessarily enthused about the amount of materials that will be required to achieve this, but the situation is what it is. ]
If we start now, we can have everything set up by tomorrow morning.
[ For Zelgadis, pulling an overnighter on this project is preferable to anything else. Watching the deterioration of the inn patients is getting to him. If he ever had any doubts before, he's certain he does not have a future in the medical field. ]
But first... Rezo, I need to discuss something with you in private. It won't take long.
[ Thankfully, he hasn't found anything new to be mad at. This is related entirely to the matter at hand.
Taking care that no one is listening in, Zelgadis says: ]
I want to talk about what happened in the inn with that woman. I hadn't thought that they could feel what they were experiencing, and now -- I'm not sure of that any longer. If we wait to break this curse, we could be prolonging a level of suffering I don't even want to think about.
no subject
They've achieved the bare minimum of mutual civility and Zel tells himself it means nothing. It never lasts. His past efforts to maintain a relatively non-hostile relationship with Rezo have all ended in failure. This is merely a failure in the making. Once they no longer have reason to cooperate, all scraps of goodwill will deteriorate. Second verse, same as the first.
He's sure of it. He's pretty sure of it.
Here's what he's less sure of: is that what Rezo wants?
Is that what he wants?
Zelgadis, scrawling out an equation and happy to leave Rezo to the 'acting personable' side of things, belatedly notices his cue to respond. ]
Huh? Uh, yeah, of course.
[ If Zelgadis has learned anything so far today, it's that holding a consistent attitude towards Rezo is impossible; he's bouncing all over the emotional spectrum: hostility, deference, something like the ghost of gratitude.
Uncertainty. Doubt.
Not hope. That one's not allowed. It will not be acknowledged.
Just focus on the math.
What Zelgadis settles on are three large tanks, each set up in the most population-dense areas of the town. If filled to maximum capacity, they'll serve the town for the next few days. The head of the stonemason's guild is not necessarily enthused about the amount of materials that will be required to achieve this, but the situation is what it is. ]
If we start now, we can have everything set up by tomorrow morning.
[ For Zelgadis, pulling an overnighter on this project is preferable to anything else. Watching the deterioration of the inn patients is getting to him. If he ever had any doubts before, he's certain he does not have a future in the medical field. ]
But first... Rezo, I need to discuss something with you in private. It won't take long.
[ Thankfully, he hasn't found anything new to be mad at. This is related entirely to the matter at hand.
Taking care that no one is listening in, Zelgadis says: ]
I want to talk about what happened in the inn with that woman. I hadn't thought that they could feel what they were experiencing, and now -- I'm not sure of that any longer. If we wait to break this curse, we could be prolonging a level of suffering I don't even want to think about.