Act 2: Upheaval II - Revelations and search

Once the other party members have left the cabin, Nadzieja takes a chair facing Konrad and joins her hands together. "What did you want to ask me?"

"I wanted to talk politics. See, I remember our traditions being good enough, if not the best thing for us. Unfortunately the last time I was here, I was about ten years younger and hauling crates at the docks." He takes a breath. "You've been transparent with us, so I'll answer in kind."

He continues in Wytyrwaly. "You know the crisis at hand is two-fold."

"Which crisis are we talking about at the moment?" she asks, joining him in their native tongue.

He stops and blinks. "Why, the succession, and the meddling of third parties withal."

"Yes, these are... serious problems at the moment."

"My initial response to the reform is complete opposition. A little bit knee-jerk, honestly. And that has put me directly at odds with the people I travel with, who seem to have accepted your offer to name them your champions. I don't relish the thought of undermining your chances, if it means increasing the risk of endangerment to and of the possible death of my friends. Perhaps I was jumping to an unfair conclusion about the intentions of the reform. It may restrict or obligate the clans more than they already are, but I'm willing to permit that too much freedom, like restraint, can do more harm than good. The fates must want to make a running theme of 'nothing for it', but a champion should believe in the cause and the woman for whom he is championing, no? So unless you're fine with watching me sulk all day tomorrow in the event I accept to become your champion, I'd like you to do me the courtesy of convincing me that the changes are acceptable to my philosophy and my principles. Who knows, one can miss a lot in ten years."

"Hmm, let me think about this," the young woman replies. She ponders his words very carefully, not wanting to misread him, and after a long moment, she says, "Let me ask you this; do you think our current government would have a better chance against the Elementals than a more centralized political one?"

Konrad knows that Myr might do fine in an open war. The subterfuge used by the Elementals however... He props up an elbow to massage his temple. "External threats are what we're good at. Nobody messes with us. Defense against sabotage...I can say that a lot of damage would be done before Myr buttoned up and handled it. Compared to the Free Feathers..." He strains the answer to make it more palatable to his own ears. "They wouldn't be as good."

Nadzieja sighs and leans forward, appearing less stoic than before. "Listen... with fifteen, twenty years, maybe Myr could be reformed without sacrificing the clans' independence. But we don't have that kind of time. Am I right to assume you'll fight the Elementals even after the... ‘orb’ in your head is removed?"

He pauses. "I doubt highly that they'll give me much choice."

"Then we're in the same situation. Right now, my agenda isn't as important as the threat the Elementals pose. And I get the feeling we'll need each other if we want to survive this."

Even assuming she could oppose the Elementals another way, without taking office, the young szef of Zdetermiwa wouldn't be able to significantly mitigate the damage. It became clearer the longer Konrad thought about it. "Fair is fair. the system allows for this kind of coup to be, of all things, lawful. You've found a convenient loophole. After all is said and done, would you make up for that sacrifice, if you could?"

"Yes, I would. It's not like I want to take away all of the szefowie's power. Each region deserves to govern themselves, to an extent."

He squints. "So where must the line be drawn, then?"

"Practicality." She gazes at Konrad, waiting to see if he wants to hear a more thorough explanation.

He props his other elbow on the table and folds his hands together, his chin barely touching them, and mirrors her action, albeit more subdued. "I'm not interested in generalizations and buzzwords. I want transparency."

"Here's an example then; the Administrator must present the city's budget to the szefowie before she can implement it. They vote on it, and if the majority are in favor, she can use the funds. Otherwise, the city's coffers can't be touched. Three years ago, the szefowie were in a deadlock and for three weeks, the Defenders and civil servants of Odwaz couldn't be paid."

"I see. this is in favor of expediency. Quelling arguments, even if that means not everyone gets their way." He leans back. "Unlike some clan leaders, I happen to appreciate the art of Diplomacy. But arbitration? If it is required, perhaps. I see the detriments of the deadlock in your example. We can do with a lot less unabated frustration around here."

"Then you understand that what I'm fighting for is a government that is fair to its citizens."

"Yes. This eases my troubled mind on the prospect of reform, and on your offer."

Nadzieja nods and leans back in her chair. "I'm glad to hear it. And I hope you'll accept my proposition," she adds, with a hint of hope.

"Thank you. Perhaps I could return the favor and dispel what vexes you?"

"What vexes me?" she inquires, uncertain as to what Konrad is referring to.

"Have you forgotten? Goodness, perhaps I already have!" He grins impishly at his own intimation.

"Good for you?"

He clears his throat and wipes the grin away. "Excuse me. What I am referring to was your issue with me regarding my involvement in the incident with your monastery."

"Ah." Her expression hardens. "You mean how you threatened my family. ‘Stillborn-minded fools’ you said."

"Yes," he says, taking his elbows off the table, "and I know what I said before. I still meant it, but you need to release that anger, and I thought of a way."

She frowns at him for a moment. "Really?"

"There is the obvious solution of course: a fight. We battle it out on the ship. Whoever loses consciousness can be tended to by my crew. However, you have me at a disadvantage, so I thought of something on which we may share equal footing: a debate."

"...You could just apologize," she replies.

Konrad wags his finger in the air**. "Ah-ah, you weren't satisfied with just an apology last night. Making up for my past actions is not the issue here. I'm offering you the chance to blow off steam."

"You already apologized to me. Not to my family."

"Oh." He looks disappointed. "That's rather...mundane. But of course, they deserve an apology."

"Mundane, uh?"

"I'm not belittling the importance of the gesture, but it does require far less time and energy."

"Oh." Her frown, and much of her tension, slowly recedes. "It'd be very appreciated if you apologised to them."

"I can do that. Do you want me to write a letter?"

"In person would be better, but a letter will have to do. And I'm sure they'd be very grateful if you made a substantial donation to the orphanage."

He raises an eyebrow. "'Substantial'?" he chuckles softly. "Now you're twisting my arm."

"Oh, am I now?" she asks, liveningly challenging such an untoward accusation.

"Fine, fine. I'll visit them again, but for now, a flowery handwritten note with a writ for 50 gold. How's that?"

"That's... acceptable," she answers with a small smile. Perhaps satisfied?

"Are you certain you're not a little wrathful? Just a thimble?"

"Wrath is better channeled for meaningful purposes. And I just proved it, haven't I?"

Did she...? Oh, I see what you did, sweetheart. "I... Well, so you did. But take it from me," he adds with a suggestive twitch of his brow, "that's not the only thing you 'channeled'."

"...I usually do," she replies while avoiding his eyes, abashed. She quickly regains her composure and asks, "Did you have any other concern you wished to share with me?"

"Just one. Have you ever experienced an epiphany?"

"...I guess I did, yes? Why?"

"Have you ever dated?"

"...Not lately." She studies Konrad's cocky expression.

"Well, have you ever experienced both at the same time?"

"Can't say I have."

He gets out of his seat, and begins to casually circumvent the table to reach her side. "Well Nadzieja, how would you like to go on a date so enchanting," he places his hand over hers, "that it could grant you a revelation?"

The young woman looks back up at Konrad and responds, coolly, "While I admit I'm curious about what you have in mind, I don't date people who've threatened my family."

He removes his hand. "I understand. Do you believe everyone should apply that principle universally?"

"Oh, it's not a principle. I'm only speaking for myself," she says cordially before standing up. "Was there anything else?"

The response, unfitting for his planned reply, forces him to hesitate, but he remains there with her near the chair she was just sitting in. "Nothing else. Are you sure? You aren't curious enough to lift the zero-tolerance policy for the sake of one tall dark and handsome, debonair," he purrs softly, "recovering career-outlaw seeking enlightenment under a new philosophy?"

She thinks for a few seconds before giving her answer. "You might be good for a one-night stand," she admits. "But I also want my lovers to be more than that." She pauses. "Can I ask you a personal question?"

He almost, almost, double-takes at her assessment. Eh well, a stoic monk szef is a stoic monk szef, and a stunning one at that. "Ask me anything you like."

"Steve and Mihai: you've been working with them for the last year now, right?"

He nods.

"Do they consider you a friend? Would they risk their lives for you, without thinking?"

That charm, that cool, breezy mannerism, disappears, and the red mage looks over her shoulder wistfully. "I hope so. A few months ago, I came to a realization, that I was missing something. Something in Steve and Mihai that I've never noticed before. They'd do anything for Fedler and Breeze, and so would I. I hope they never have to do the same for me, but misgivings remain, and at times cloud my thoughts."

"If you can't form a bond with the men you've fought with for the last year, how could you form one with me?" She gazes at Konrad for a moment before she sighs and sits on the edge of the table. "Maybe I haven't spent enough time with the three of you, but from what I've seen, you're allies by necessity. Not much else."

"They aren't the only people in my life, but I see what you mean. One always makes time for me, so we've been hitting it off recently. I wonder if he sees what I'm trying to do. The other one just seems like he can't stand me, but he and I are very different. The extreme lows have been petering out, but it was rocky before. I'm moving in a direction with them that I hope will lead to something positive, but genuine and honest above that." He walks around her and leans back to rest his butt against the table. "So, having laid that out, where does that leave us?"

"Between you and me you mean?"

"Yes. I hope I haven't given you the wrong idea."

"No, you didn't." She shrugs. "You've agreed to apologize to my family and make up for it. As far as I'm concerned, we're even."

He smiles. "I meant all of it, but you're reaching a little too far back."

"You really want me to go on that date."

"I really want you to enjoy yourself. I can't speak to whatever happens later, but first you'll have to give me a chance."

"You're quite persistent." Szef Zerva stands up, takes a step towards the door and faces Konrad again. "Prove yourself to be a man I can admire, and I'll consider it."

Yes, that persistence, one of his favorite virtues. "Oh, I'll keep trying."

"I'm sure you will," Nadzieja says with a grin. "So unless you have something else to say, I'll show myself out."

"I trust you can find your way. Say hello to Segel for me."

"I'll see you this evening," she says with a nod.

With that, Nadzieja opens the door and walks onto the deck. When it "clicks", Konrad steps away from the table and goes to the armoire to pick out his trunks.

** - think Dennis Nedry, Jurassic Park

that money is currently deducted from my own pocket, until we can agree on where it should come from.

Also, got a Natural 20 on the Charisma check. It's the "make an exception for me" bit.