(Untitled)

[post_whitewash]

Cata recently remembered something that came up on her first night here - one of the things that convinced her this place truly draws from other worlds, as it happens - and has decided to investigate.
So she's at a table, reading a copy of Hamlet. She keeps expecting the names to be different, and some of the phraseology throws her off, but it's

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[singintheoven]

You know who's not shy about peering over people's shoulders to see what they're reading? Hedwig, that's who, especially when she's a bit bored, as she is today.

Hey, it's a decent conversation starter, except in some neighborhoods where it can get you shot at.

[post_whitewash]

It's possibly not the best idea to peer over an assassin's shoulder, but she won't comment on it too closely. She's still in a good mood overall.
"May I help you?"

[singintheoven]

If one is dead already, the danger's a little less. Doesn't mean it wouldn't be painful, though.

"Oh, I was just looking to see what you're reading," she says with a smile. "I don't read as much as I used to--not exposed to new books, I guess-so I'm always looking for new things to read."

[post_whitewash]

"Ah. I'm given to understand this is Earth's version of a play we have at home. It's... interesting, seeing the differences."
And what's stayed the same.

[singintheoven]

"Are you liking it so far?" she asks, straightening back up and collecting a beer from a passing waitrat. "Plays can be hard to just read--sometimes it's hard to really understand it until you've seen it performed. At least it is for me. Makes it easier to relate to, you know?"

[post_whitewash]

"I've seen it before, at home. I think this way makes it a bit easier to see what's different from the version I know."
It's still weird to see the names all wrong.

[singintheoven]

"Is it the story that's generally the same, or the words too?" she asks. "I've never really thought about whether there's, say, a Shakespeare on some other world, maybe under another name, but writing the same things."

[post_whitewash]

"The story's generally the same - it's still the one where the prince's uncle kills his father and marries his mother. But the names are all different, and some of the phrases are too."

[singintheoven]

She nods, and sips her beer.

"I'd think that it's kind of... one of those universal archetype things, dealing with questions of honor. Having to take sides within a family, to avenge someone--family makes things messy."

[post_whitewash]

"It does. But... really, the poisoning scenes are just ridiculous. I have to wonder why they never ask professionals."
She'll grant that maybe this Shakespeare fellow couldn't ask any professionals, but she doesn't know what excuse the playwright she knows would offer.

[singintheoven]

"What, you mean the..."

She mimes pouring into her ear.

"Or all the poisoned-blade stabbing and the dissolved pearl thing at the end? There's a lot of poison in there, thinking about it."

[post_whitewash]

"The ear. The other two are at least within the realm of possibility, if one is careful, though they're not well-described enough to say for sure."
Ears, though... there's no way for it to get into the victim's system, from there.

[singintheoven]

"I think there's some kinds of bugs that can burrow into people's ears and do damage, but I never thought much about whether poison there would work. Don't like to think much about stuff being put in people's ears while they're sleeping."

[post_whitewash]

"Unless you drop acid in someone's ear, there's no way for it to get where it needs to go."

[singintheoven]

"And it probably wasn't acid in the play, was it," she says. "I don't really remember. Just the pouring, and the ear--well, poison's not my strong point."

[post_whitewash]

"It is mine. And some of these scenes are just laughable, when you know the field."