[ Oh. There's a little flinch. Nothing huge; she doesn't pin her hopes on easy solutions the way she used to, and obviously just having a Parliament won't solve all of her people's problems. But it's still - disappointing.
A breath. Don't dwell. Move ahead. ]
Any institution can become corrupted. That doesn't mean they have to be like that.
They can, and I have always believed that as long as... A base understanding can be reached regardless of difference, about wanting the best, there was hope for all people.
[ but something pinches unhappily. ]
Never mind it then, I suppose that is all there is to say, regardless of my worrying. Perhaps they do find teachings for good behaviour other places than the chantry and I have just not come across it. So there is no reason for me to be alarmed.
Look at you - [ amused as suddenly as that. ] one moment you tell me you are worried that people don't know what they're doing and are all just selfish and aren't worth confinding in or seeking confidence with, and the next you insist that to be good is something people spring up out of the ground as?
[ A bit annoyed at having this ridiculousness pointed out: ]
I'm not insisting on it. I just know that anything someone's tried to teach me, I've usually gone and done the exact opposite. So teaching's never been worth much to me, and it probably isn't to others, either.
You don't just do it in classes I've noticed, you do it even when someone is simply talking to you about something that might frighten them. I think you'd fight a brick wall if you decided it deserved it.
[ Took one to know one, after all. ]
But people don't usually do not, you might have noticed.
My point though, really, is that - you know. Ultimately, we understand a lot of morality from stories. I think. And not all stories come from the people above us. It's not just from the authorities. It's like how - Have you heard of Shartan?
He was a slave - an elven slave - who supposedly fought alongside Andraste. The Chanty's tried to suppress the records of him - destroying paintings, banning books - as part of broader anti-elven hatred. But stories about him continue to circulate, because they're needed by the Elves. To stay - you know - sane. And to stay brave.
[ She smiles, despite herself. Before Kitty can go squirming away, she cups her hands either side of her face and leans over, to kiss her once on the forehead firmly. More affectionate than she had been with anyone in quite some time.
But it was undoubtedly worth it for the way Kitty was going to wrinkle her nose up. ]
[ A flush comes into her cheeks, and it's only through some inner strength that she resists the desire to scrub at that spot with the back of her wrist. ]
[ With Kitty relinquished, she smoothes her hands over the pleats of her saree. ]
And I won't have any more of your excuses. You are coming to dinner this Thursday and everyone following, duties permitting. I will be by at dawn and you will commence your training. You won't run away, again, never again, as long as I have strength to teach you.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2018-12-24 01:57 pm (UTC)A breath. Don't dwell. Move ahead. ]
Any institution can become corrupted. That doesn't mean they have to be like that.
no subject
Date: 2018-12-24 02:21 pm (UTC)[ but something pinches unhappily. ]
Never mind it then, I suppose that is all there is to say, regardless of my worrying. Perhaps they do find teachings for good behaviour other places than the chantry and I have just not come across it. So there is no reason for me to be alarmed.
no subject
Date: 2018-12-24 02:23 pm (UTC)Why is it that good behavior has to be taught, though?
no subject
Date: 2018-12-24 02:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-12-24 03:16 pm (UTC)I'm not insisting on it. I just know that anything someone's tried to teach me, I've usually gone and done the exact opposite. So teaching's never been worth much to me, and it probably isn't to others, either.
no subject
Date: 2018-12-24 03:24 pm (UTC)[ Took one to know one, after all. ]
But people don't usually do not, you might have noticed.
no subject
Date: 2018-12-24 03:29 pm (UTC)I'll take that as a compliment, thank you.
[ A shake of her head. ]
My point though, really, is that - you know. Ultimately, we understand a lot of morality from stories. I think. And not all stories come from the people above us. It's not just from the authorities. It's like how - Have you heard of Shartan?
no subject
Date: 2018-12-24 03:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-12-24 03:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-12-25 08:49 am (UTC)But it was undoubtedly worth it for the way Kitty was going to wrinkle her nose up. ]
Thank-you, Mulagī.
no subject
Date: 2018-12-25 12:36 pm (UTC)What was that for?
no subject
Date: 2018-12-29 01:37 am (UTC)[ With Kitty relinquished, she smoothes her hands over the pleats of her saree. ]
And I won't have any more of your excuses. You are coming to dinner this Thursday and everyone following, duties permitting. I will be by at dawn and you will commence your training. You won't run away, again, never again, as long as I have strength to teach you.
no subject
Date: 2018-12-29 03:31 am (UTC)[ The color in her cheeks darkens, and she fidgets - but she doesn't fight. ]
I guess it'd be nice to eat something home-cooked.
no subject
Date: 2019-01-04 07:40 am (UTC)[ Please, not potatoes, she has so much pity on the poor of having that mush yet again. ]