sixwordstories | (no subject)

Gotcha. Keep 'em coming, man.

...except of course in the pluperfect tense, which would be smitten.

I'm not really a grammarian, you know. I just can't stand it when people say they 'smited' something.

Haha... smited.

What are you, then?

I'm... [Huh. What is an angel that jumped out of Heaven? Good question.]

I suppose I'm a wastrel. That sounds archaic, but it's the most descriptive term I can come up with. And you?

Hey, man... don't get so down on yourself. Me, I'm a hero!

A hero! Well, that's an excellent profession for a man your age. Lots of room for advancement, too. [This could sound sarcastic coming from someone else, but Balthazar's smile is genuinely friendly.]

What's your specific area of hero-ing expertise?

Beating up monsters, rescuing princesses... well, anyone's cool. Princesses usually get in the most trouble, though.

Do they? I've never known any actual princesses. Why do you suppose they get into so much trouble?

Wondering why this is important

Thinking of hitting something? or just dropping a plague on a large population?

No, no. Plague really isn't my style. Not a real plague, anyway.

It just irks me when humans use the wrong form of a perfectly good word. I mean, they invented the language; they ought to use it properly.

I don't think they care. Most people don't like rules or they like breaking them. Allows them to 'live dangerously' without actually doing so and putting whatever afterlife they believe in, in jeopardy. I doubt their listed blackmarks will include offenses against the language.

Oh, I love breaking rules. I just don't see the point of creating a thing and then using it all wrong.

You're right, though. In the grand scheme of transgressions, misusing a word is minor.

Doesn't creating something grant some sort of power to the creator to test the limitations of the creation? Or do you prefer a create it and leave it ...a 'hands off' approach?

However, I must say that attempting that with language would be difficult. It has to be used to be passed on, unless one is resigned to leaving it in a drawer untouched and unspoken.

Mmmm. It depends on the creation. You have a point. Testing the limits of a language does make sense.

I still think 'smited' sounds silly. I suppose I'm just complaining, not really considering it from a philosophical angle.

[Laughter. A hand covers her mouth as she attempt to be serious and fails.]

'Smited' sounds utterly horrid regardless of the angle.

[Still laughing.]

Then we agree, in the end! That's good. I like reaching a friendly accord. [He grins, enjoying the laughter, and offers a handshake.]

[An ice cold hand clasps his, as if she's discovered some hidden snowbank or blizzard and just stepped out of it.]

So, not to beat a dead dog, but if you were going to drop a plague on a city, what's a 'not real' one?

[Oh my. He wasn't expecting her to be freezing cold. By contrast, he's a little warmer than a human might normally be. Being that he's not human.]

Well, I've never done any plaguing directly, myself, but I can see how it might be entertaining to give a large population jock itch or something of the kind. [Pranks, not death.]

[She snorts, very unladylike, and begins to laugh again, covering her mouth with her other hand.]

That's...that's awful! [Still laughing.]

You're dreadful. [She doesn't mean it, not with that admiring glance.]

[There's not much in the world Balthazar finds more gratifying than a pretty lady laughing at his jokes. Careful, don't feed his ego too much!]

I've been told that before, actually. I enjoy it. I'm Balthazar, by the way. Charmed to meet you.

Balthazar, I am Freya, daughter of...

[Trailing off. That kind of thing isn't important here. No one really cares and it is difficult to find friends or relations in common.]

[Shaking off the interruption, firmly.]

Nevermind. I am pleased to meet you as well.

Freya. A lovely name. [He smiles and gives a shallow bow. He's not flirting quite yet, but he's considering it seriously.]

[Skirts swish as she drops a curtsy, with an incline of the head. He is well mannered and good humored.]

Why thank you. Is Balthazar family name? Or does it have special meaning?

Edited (typo) 2013-02-07 20:26 (UTC)

It's a translation of part of my family name. My full name in my native language is very long. But it comes from an older royal title, 'Baal-sarra-usur', which means 'May God protect the king'. Make of that what you will. [He shrugs. He's not a king, of course, and certainly not a god.]

[Face scrunches as she makes an attempt.]

Was your family once household guards for a king? My brother has some guards whose families have been guarding the palace since the Orlesians were ousted, but that hasn't been very long...fifty years...they killed off everyone who didn't support their regime, which was most of the original families.

I'm an angel. [He explains, with no certainty whether that will mean anything to her.] My entire species was created to serve their Father and defend His creation. My particular name came about when I commented--out of turn, I might add--that a particular young man in a tribe on my world seemed to have my Father's full attention. A man after His own heart, so to speak.

The boy later became a king.

[Freya is well read, even if her world has nothing of the kind.]

So you got to guard him...but you do not seem to have wings. That means that you must be in disguise. It certainly explains the smiting, [grinning almost wickedly] and smoting with plagues.

[She is snickering.]

[Ah, good, he doesn't have to explain 'angel' to her. The more he tries to encapsulate his species in words to other beings, the less certain he becomes about what they were made for.]

I did, once or twice, but I wasn't the only one. And I do have wings, but they tend to damage mortal vision, so I don't wear them openly. I'm in a vessel.

[He smiles, then laughs.] Smoting. That's awful!

Always glad to help put a language through its paces.

[Brown eyes drop almost embarrassed by how much she is smiling.]

So, you have wings that are more like weapons than for flying like a bird or a gryphon - extinct, I know... [Quickly supplying something else that flew and was not extinct,] fine, a dragon. You know, they're really good at smiting too...

[He wasn't aware gryphons were extinct, but he's not going to question that.] I don't breathe fire, but I suppose that's an accurate enough analogy. Were you looking to have someone smitten?

[Looking up through the fringe of lashes, ]

Besotted and lovestruck might be nice, perhaps for a short time. But I wouldn't want anyone fanatical or obsessed, especially over me... So no, I suppose I'm not looking to be-smite anyone.

[She bites her lips, about to laugh again.]

[Oh, is that flirting? Excellent. He smiles wider, laughing appreciatively.] My dear lady, you hardly need my help to get someone besotted with you. Your charm stands more than well enough on its own.

You ser, are a beguiling rogue. To start a conversation on the trials and tribulations of an impecunious language and turn it into an opportunity to complement and entice...I must say I’m impressed at your swift mind and quick tongue.

[Archly, someone was still playing with language,]

Next I will be inveigled into dinner or an evening affair and you'll find out that I'm just a country girl with no real education to speak of and is only really interested in knitting qiviut, raising livestock, and subsistence farming.

[He laughs again and shakes his head.] With that vocabulary? I'm not sure I believe you. You'll have to prove it to me.

If you'd like to convince me you're just a country girl over dinner, I would be delighted to take you to a restaurant or tavern of your own choosing.

[Grinning]

What can I say? Our tutors taught language, warfare, engineering, city sanitation, what required to feed a million people, how to armour a streambank, ride horses, shoot a bow, swordplay, how build a road...

[counting them off on her fingers and after reaching ten, shrugged.]

And many, many other things.

That said, I shouldn't invite myself to anything, kind as you are to cover my social gaffe - and yes, were were taught manners, even to the point of playing the parts of both the ladies and gentlemen on alternating days - quite illuminating that.

Edited 2013-02-18 06:22 (UTC)

[Balthazar may not look like the intellectual type--or act like it, usually--but he does appreciate people with brains. His smile softens a bit, but it's clear he's impressed.] Then you're quite well educated, I should think, and your manners are as refined as I require.

If you find me as beguiling as you do roguish, perhaps you'd allow me to adjust my invitation: I'm not a great cook, but I can usually handle a simple meal, and I know a good wine from a bad one. Would you care to join me for dinner some night?

I would love to see and speak with you again. Admittedly, I haven't met very many people here I would wish to spend much time with and avoid introductions with those whom I don't wish to know.

[Ignoring the 'beguiled', as she isn't going to stalk him, but does find him rather interesting and unusual...enticing and fascinating, certainly...after all, how many people complain and play with language these days?]

[Reaffirming,] I am very glad to make your acquaintance, Balthazar who no longer guards a king.

I'm pleased I meet your requirements, then. [He bows again, amused and flattered, and pulls a business card out of his pocket when he straightens. It has a conventional address and means of contact, as well as his room number at the hotel.]

And I'm likewise happy to meet you. Here. No pressure, but I can be found here the next time you're in the mood to discuss smitings.

Her smile said it all - besotted.

That one's cute too.