(Untitled)

[count_zaroff]

Count Zaroff sits purposefully in one of the nicer Nexus chairs. His papirosi is dangling elegantly from his fingertips, while his left hand is busy tracing the line of a very deep, old scar on his head. He seems both mesmerized by the old wound, and also trying to will away an impending headache

Comments

[just_a_murder]

I would think it would be difficult to grow bored with something so important and all-consuming. Did it change, or did you?

[count_zaroff]

I believe it changed. I found a way to once again enjoy it, but it required a change on my behalf. That and I found I needed to also change the situation. Afterwards, things once again began to pick up. Still, I occasionally suffer from the old complaint of boredom. The price of committing oneself to a lifetime of perfection, I suppose.

[just_a_murder]

Hmm. ::Aya might be amused by the last statement but you'd never be able to tell from his face.:: It sounds like you made quite a commitment. Is the occasional spot of boredom reason enough to abandon this thing?

[count_zaroff]

I would prefer not to. It has been the drive behind all other passions since I was but a boy. To abandon it, would be to forfeit all that I have achieved.

[text, anon, untraceable]

[waterfell]

I want to truly end, and I want to move forward.

Re: [text, anon, untraceable]

[count_zaroff]

Zaroff Regards this remark with a curious glance, before replying to it in a deliberate fashion.

Such a thought has briefly passed through my head, but even I realize that there must be a way to change the situation. It is possible to push forward by force, if it is necessary.

[courtneycrumrin]

Courtney is hanging out in the Nexus with a chess set, carved prettily of soapstone, save for one pawn, which has been replaced with the head of a Barbie doll with its blond hair chopped off. She's playing both sides in a mediocre fashion, a little bit listlessly. The board is propped up off the floor by a stack of books on alchemy. She looks relieved by the interruption of someone nearby asking a question, moves the black queen, and raises an eyebrow.

"That depends on what escalation entails. You're describing something that could become an obsession, if it isn't already, and that's always risky. On the other hand, if it's something that's not inherently dangerous, there could be no problem. If we're talking macrame, then by all means, escalate to bigger and better macrame. If we're talking demon-summoning, I recommend against it. But if you want to find something new and alien to replace it, this is the place to do it."

[count_zaroff]

Ah, chess! Zaroff's second most favorite game. He is certainly perplexed by the severed Barbie head, but he is equally attracted to such a strange modification of the chess set. The person sitting before it is naught but a child, but he's willing to entertain anyone at the moment. A rare opportunity indeed.

"My dear, if there is no danger, what thrill is there?" He gives a weary grin as the fingers trace the scar repeatedly. "I have devoted my entire life, since I was but a boy, to this pursuit. I can think of nothing else that would bring me a greater sense of fulfillment, and at times, even though I have improved my situation, I am still haunted some nights by the weary hand of boredom." Fixing the tails to his suit as he stands, Count Zaroff stands over Courtney's chess set, watching with veiled curiosity, trying to determine if the Barbie head is indeed a new piece with new powers, or just a childish method of replacing a lost pawn.

[courtneycrumrin]

"Oh, we're talking thrills." She smiles wryly. "Well, in that case you're probably going to get yourself killed, but if that's what floats your boat, I say good luck. Just try not to take the rest of the world down with you."

Noting his look she gestures to the Barbie head sheepishly, "One of the goblins I live with ate the pawn. I told him he'd have to replace it himself, and this is what he brought me. I'm not that great at chess, but I like it. It's not like other games. Once you know you can't win, the game is over."

Indeed, her statement that she's not very good at chess is borne out by the game she's playing. She's a fair player, with a good grasp on the rules and some sense of strategy, but she's too aggressive and relies too much on her queens. White is currently winning.

[count_zaroff]

"Goblins?" She also mentioned demons earlier. More mythological things, and he begins to wonder how many people like her, and his earlier acquaintance there are in this place. He waves off the question with a trail of cigarette smoke, and makes a note to ignore her statement about his 'trill seeking'.

"And yet, there area always opportunities with which one may retaliate, and take their enemy by surprise, my dear. Turning the tides of battle..." Bred from a race of military prowess, Zaroff knows much about games of stratagem. He studies the chess board, and fluffs his goatee briefly. "It is not merely an opinion, but a fact of the matter. One is never finished, until the game is truly over." He narrows his eyes at the board and then gives a glance around. Still standing, he leans over, casting a short shadow over Courtney. "If it would not intrude, may I?" He pins his cigarette between his lips and shoves both hands into his pockets.

[packsakick]

Toad shrugs, briefly raising the collar of his stiff new leather jacket around his ears.

"They say a change is as good as a rest. I'd try something new for a while... or pursue and old goal in a new way."

[count_zaroff]

"My good fellow, pursuing an old goal in a new way is exactly the method I have chosen." Zaroff takes a drag of his cigarette, and puffs the smoke out, ringing his head in white. He studies the stiff leather jacket and it's raised collar a bit curiously. Such fashion the people here had.

[packsakick]

If the leather jacket gets the Count's attention the chainmail vest layered over it probably will as well.

"It's a choice I've been forced into recently myself."

"What is your goal? That is, if it's not imposing on secrets to ask."

From the way the man looks Toad thinks it could be anything from writing a symphony to ruling Europe.

[count_zaroff]

Indeed, the chainmail vest is a rather curious choice of apparel, and it has his attention. He studies its craftsmanship very, very closely for the briefest of moments before taking another drag from his cigarette.

"Interesting." He runs his fingertips along the scar with a grin. 'Ruling Europe' is definitely the closer of the two. "Have you found your attempt to rekindle interest in an old endeavor successful?"

[sarah_branigan]

A young woman in a nurse's uniform pauses, intrigued by the question. It seems doubtful that she and Count Zaroff share the same sort of passions. "I'd try to find out why I grew bored of such an all-consuming pursuit before taking on something new."

[count_zaroff]

"Indeed, a very logical solution to such a problem." The nurse uniform from a very similar era to Zaroff's gives him pause. He gives her a good natured smile, though he is wary. He's unfamiliar with the concept of alternate worlds that may be experiencing a similar time period, and wonders if she is from his own world. "Say you have pinpointed the problem, and that problem is that you have perfected yourself in your pursuit, and are being plagued by the demon of boredom. What would you do, my dear lady, to alleviate the situation?"

[sarah_branigan]

Sarah, in turn, is somewhat pleased to see someone dressed in a style similar to her time period, and formally at that. "That's a little hard for me to imagine," she smiles, self-effacing. "Perhaps then I'd try something new, but similar in spirit to my old pursuit. It'd be a shame to let all I'd learn go to waste simply because I was so good at it."

[count_zaroff]

At this, Zaroff breaks into a genuine smile.

"Such was my opinion as well." He pauses and then bows low, holding out his hand to take hers for an aristocratic kiss of the knuckles, if she is willing to allow him. "I am Count Zaroff. May I ask the name of the lady who graces me with her company?"