the second ◆ [ video ]

[imperils]

[ the camera is angled, gazing down on a chessboard resting on a surface draped with unblemished white. Its varnished surface looks somewhat dismal - the black-and-white squares faded, marred by abrasions and dull thin scratches exposing the rust-red wood underneath. Though all of the black pieces are lined up at one end, a white pawn stands alone

Comments

[12second_orz]

[Interesting. Tonegawa had worked out from her voice that she was probably young, but not that young. But then, it's entirely possible that witches don't age in quite the same way as humans, for all the crone imagery.]

That's one way of doing things. I've often been told that truth is relative; relative to what we know, what we understand. To what we can accept. With no one around to object... who's to stop a lie from being the truth?

[imperils]

[ they stay malicious teenage girls forever, yep. ]

Yes. It's easy to paint over truths that way. Especially if you can convince everyone who believes something else that what you say is what's real.

[12second_orz]

It's as they say- history is indeed written by the victors. Though one has to wonder if your princess was a 'victor' at all, in the end.

[imperils]

That depends on what happens next. If she finds her brother and lives happily ever after, that would be a certain kind of victory, wouldn't it?

[12second_orz]

'Happily ever after', hmm? [he gives a curt laugh] Make that scenario sound a little less convincing, why don't you?

[imperils]

[ interesting. She wonders... ]

Do you not believe in the possibility of good endings...?

[12second_orz]

If there's a possibility, it's a very slim one- only a few people could ever claim to be 'happy', never mind happy until the 'end'. Maybe the princess would have been happier in her tower.

[imperils]

Not knowing if her brother was alive or dead...? Who would want to live with that agony?

[12second_orz]

Some people seem to think that ignorance is bliss. It doesn't sound as though she'll be happy with any answer she gets, short of her brother miraculously appearing in front of her one day.

[imperils]

[ word choice. ]

Yes, that's one possibility. She isn't the kind to wait for something like that to come to her, however.

[12second_orz]

I must say, for a true story, you seem to know a lot about the way this woman thinks.

[imperils]

We were acquaintances, for a little while.

[12second_orz]

Did she ever ask you the question?

[imperils]

Yes. I couldn't answer it, however. It's not knowledge that can be found easily.

[12second_orz]

You took the sensible option, then. Who only knows what she might have called a 'lie', hmm?

[imperils]

A princess slaying a witch.... that might have made the story a little more fascinating.

[ like that would ever happen, though. Not when she was the one to bring "the princess" the news that sent her on her journey. ]