54. freeeeeeeedom. sorta. not.

[deepdowndark]

And there was me thinking I'd have to wait for the Diamond Troll King to come persuade the Watch to let me go.

No offence to the watchman. I just expected the pathetic attempt to make me empathise with a dumb, drugged-up Troll to go the whole distance.

For the record. If I kill someone, I cover my tracks.

[Private to Narvin]Alright

Comments

[Private]

[timesbureaucrat]

[Narvin still looks a little ruffled around the edges from spending a few days as a wild Gallifreyan, but at least he's in uniform and not leathers.]

My apologies for failing in my responsibility to you. I was...temporarily inadequate in carrying out my duties. [Because grudge or not, Narvin does not at all like falling down on the job.]

When and where do you want to talk?

Re: [Private]

[deepdowndark]

Narvin, I don't hold it against you. You didn't fail.

At your leisure. I haven't got anything to do. But if you'd let me in the library for ten minutes, we can meet there.

[Private]

[timesbureaucrat]

In that case let's meet now. Get it over with. I'll meet you outside the library.

I trust you'll understand and not be offended if I come armed and my staser charged. [He says it calmly, with a hint of acrimony, even though just the thought of meeting Ardent while alone and defenceless makes him break into a cold sweat. He could just hide the weapon on his person, but he wants Ardent to *know* that he's armed. Hopefully, if he was thinking of trying another attack, it would deter him.]

Re: [Private]

[deepdowndark]

Not at all. I'd consider you an idiot not to.

I'll see you there.

[pause]

For the record, I didn't kill anyone. Which I'm sure you noticed.

Text.

[ifightfor]

Query: Redress required for time, resources lost due to false accusation?

[This is kind of an apology for accidentally framing you by killing himself in the wrong place.]

Re: Text.

[deepdowndark]

You didn't accuse me. It's fine.

Text.

[ifightfor]

Accusation arose regardless as unintended consequence of actions.

Understood.

Re: Text.

[deepdowndark]

If you're apologising, it's unnecessary, but accepted.

[sharpememory]

You know what, man, I kind of love you. You must be on so many drugs.

[deepdowndark]

I'm sorry, what?

[sharpememory]

Diamond Troll King. Amazing stuff.

[deepdowndark]

No... the King of the Trolls is a Diamond.

Yes, I know it's stupid, but it's how trolls think.

[strangehstorian]

I am not entirely sure what transpired but I am willing to let it be in the past.

Would you like to talk about the legend now that you're feeling yourself?

[deepdowndark]

The Barge framed me for murder, it would seem.

I'm willing to talk about the truth, yes. Where would you like me to start?

[strangehstorian]

I actually heard your version earlier this year. I'm a historian, so this sort of thing I find fascinating - when do you think the two disputed versions could have emerged?

[deepdowndark]

Ah, good. Someone remembers that.

I think the version in the Cube is an anomaly, and was probably put there by someone more recently as an attempt to discredit the weight of history, and to provide political support for the Low King. So it's a false divergence in history, not one that's generally believed by most Dwarfs. Or most trolls.