It´s hard to sell 2 gramms of bottled passion [Idea and CarpeNoctem]

[Idea]

Drop. Drop. Drop. Drop. Drop.


Every little drop of water resonated through the echoes of the empty prison. If the thought they had emptied an entire alley just to make sure I couldn´t get my hands on anything from anywhere apart from what they gave me was pretty unbelievable. What was more unbelieveable, albeit expected, was that I could have perfectly blown myself out nonetheless. The placed stinked of sulfur and horse shit, I had enough air and I could find the rest of the materials in the bones, the hard bread and the water, since they were all contaminated with dusts from outside. I mean, they were not like me, they wouldn´t bother searching for something they didn´t know existed.


Then why didn´t I free myself? Why was I still stuck in here? I gazed at my own hands and thought about spitting to freshen them up, avoid the hard feeling of a dry exoskeleton. But I couldn´t, I wasn´t sure to have enough liquids to spare. And I couldn´t drink THAT one. I would only do it when it was between that and my life. When drinking it alone would save me. Until then, I could even allow myself to dry like a fallen in leave in the auttuum, watching the silent darkness of my cell as I tried to figure out how I would find the magicomium in that place. They probably had no idea what it was when they took it away, and would certainly not be able to enter without the key, which only I possessed, carefully hidden. But key nor book were enough, and if that magicomium was gone, so was my livelihood, my carrier of years and a renowed (and now despised) alchemist.

 

[Idea]

@Carpe Noctem

 

[Carpe Noctem]

Zinnia walked with her head held high. The click of her shoes echoed off the hall as she walked past stoic guards whose eyes followed her questioningly, but made no move to stop her. She straightened her posture even more. She was a princess, and she would not be questioned. She had all the right to visit any of the prisoners she wished. Besides, this wasn't an unusual practice for her. She sometimes liked to drop by and check out the inhabitants of the dungeon for no reason besides to satisfy her own interests. All of the most interesting people were criminals. It was almost a shame that they would be executed. However, she wasn't one to question a practice as old as that. She was a quiet and meek princess, never standing up to the law. Just as she should be. She almost snorted out loud. Instead, she gave a slight nod to the guards who opened the dungeon door. She walked down the damp stone steps and past the rusted metal bars of the prisoners' cells. She made no response to their murmurs and calls. She was not here to see them. Finally, she found the one she was seeking. She stood tall in the dim light of the dungeon, facing him through the bars. "Alchemist," she called to him, her voice level.

 

[Idea]

Suddenly, there was light. I covered my vision, realizing I had already gotten used to the dampened vampiric dusk of the prison cell. I heard steps, and my antennae (or what was left of them) twitched. I grinned at the voice that echoed inside.


"Oh, the puppy princess. Came to congratulate me on my new home?" I inquired. Getting her mad was the only way I could attain information, as of the moment. It was a wild card, but people would often be less suspicious of a bastardly criminal than a nice one, and anger can make tongs pretty loose. I bowed. "Or just going for a walk?"

 

[Carpe Noctem]

Zinnia willed herself to show no response. It didn't offend her, really. She'd heard such jeers before. "The former," she replied coolly. "I find the visitors to my family's dungeon fascinating. I've come to hear your story." There was no point in lying. She had come to learn about this prisoner, and she was going to learn about this prisoner whether he wanted to tell or not. He must be smart enough to realize that. The guards would come at her beck and call, and if he did not feel like sharing, she could provide a rather violent motive.

 

[Idea]

"Oh, really?" I inquired. Maybe I´d get some information after all. I stepped back and sat on the floor. "But I´m your..."Guest" here, am I not? And a merchant by trade. Is it not the host´s job to provide entertainment? Is it not my tak to provide fair trades for both parties? I have a loooong story, if you want to hear it, from the moment I awoke in the swarm. It would be no good for me to throw it out, though. So, how about some comforts? Something soft to lie on occasionally, some extra water, perhaps I could read my old book. I loved that book. How does it sound? My stories for the stories you took from me."

 

[Carpe Noctem]

Zinnia crossed her arms. This was a new reaction. "Or I could have the guards pay you a little visit," she pointed out, her voice still calm. "And besides, as only a 'puppy princess', as you said, I do not have enough power to get you the things you wish. I can sway them to do something that is already in their job description, something completely normal for the treatment of prisoners. I can tell them to spill your blood all I want. But to request comfort for you? I would be called mad and ignored. I can sway the measure of what can normally be done, but I cannot sway what the normally done action is. Clear?" Without waiting for an answer, she knelt on the floor, so she was closer to his level, but not below it. She ignored the moisture seeping into her dress from the damp stone floor. "But since you seem a business-loving man, I will make another offer. You tell me your story, and I will tell you mine. Is it a deal?"

 

[Idea]

I grinned and leaned forward.


"Awww, what a cute little girl! Such an obedient puppy we have here, I would fetch you a biscuit." My grin dropped "I´ve been through worse. So, let me add a small increase: I will give you my story in return for yours, and information on my book. It´s rather precious to me, and I need to make sure it is being properly taken care of, more specifically, I just want a little peace of mind, knowing it is in a location with proper conditions. There are too many for me to just describe them here now, so could you not tell me it´s location at least?"

 

[Carpe Noctem]

Zinnia sighed. She knew fulfilling his request was probably an incredibly moronic thing to do, but this prisoner fascinated her. He was so unlike the other dungeon residents. That just made her burning curiosity grow stronger. Hating herself for it, she nodded. "Fine. I will tell you the location of your book, after we exchange stories." She made it clear the second part was not to be negotiated. "Now, before we begin, tell me your name, alchemist."

 

[Idea]

I grinned once again.


"Thank you, princess." I bowed. "My name is Kneckt. You have already realized my profession, so I doubt I need to repeat that. I have no idea how old I am, but I do know, that I am male. Now, what about me do you want to hear? I have a long story, I doubt we´d finish it before I´m executed."


(sorry for the crappy post)

 

[Carpe Noctem]

"Your crime, Mr. Kneckt," Zinnia replied. "And any details of your life pertinent to the story of it." She shifted into a more comfortable position, one where her dress separated her from the wet stone floor. She could call for a guard to bring her a chair, but she'd rather not. As much it was her motive for hearing their tales, she did not like to intimidate the prisoners unless necessary. The floor would do for now.


((s'okay))

 

[Idea]

"Well, where do I begin? Maybe indeed, with the time I was awakened. It was in a hive near a kingdom not far from this one, just some four borders away or so. You may or not have heard of this, but in fairly recent times, there was a war, one with my kind. Virtually no kingdom was involved though, as it was my former hive against that kingdom and a couple allies. Most of the kingdoms, like this one, chose not to enter the conflict. Anyway, I was always an expert at my craft, for as long as I can remember. I began by experimented on whatever I could get my hands on, putting them through trials, showing them lights, shoving food to them, dissecting them alive, burning acid through their skull, removing tissue before seeing them back up again, you know, the usual."


I pushed myself back to lean against the wall.


" due to the war, the queen made me make her weapons, which had to be tested too. I too, had to go to the war, and there suffered injuries that removed my means of communication with the queen, among other things. When I came to again, a young human boy had nursed me back to health and bandaged my injuries. He wanted my help to find his lost brother, who he claimed had been taken by the swarm. It took us some days to understand each other, as I did not know your language at the time. Eventually though, we teamed up and left, bringing some of his friends along. Long story short, we found his brother and parted ways, as we were both considered enemies of our two races. He gave me the book as a present."


I sighed and took a deep breath.


"Enjoying so far?"

 

[Carpe Noctem]

Zinnia dipped her head in a "yes" gesture. She was, indeed, enjoying this information that she'd worked to get. She wasn't sure if it was worth it, considering telling him in the info might be dangerous. But... it didn't matter. Even if he learned of his book's position, there was no way he could get to it. Besides, his story was fascinating. "Do go on," she pressed him.

 

[Idea]

I nodded and grinned.


"Well, let´s see what else matters? Well, after we broke apart, I took off to the kingdoms that were not in war, but found them to be hostile to strangers. I decided to put the few skills I had to use and began searching for rare items and creatures, and experimenting. During this time, I vastly increased my knowledge on the living things on this world, and more. On top of that, I understood how to work them into things, like weapons, clothing, armor, devices of all kinds, and of course, potions. It was due to the love potions I got in here."


I coughed, my smile faded.


"It was one of my greatest hits. The love potion. I decided to tone it down, made it a simple potion to simulate passion. It was to be used to eldery couples who had lost the fire of their youth, to fathers and mothers whose love for one another had faded but had their children to concern over, to those forced into an unwilling marriage for the greater good or other greedier reasons to marry your children off. " I gazed at the girl "Much like you will be one day. I prepared the potions, and gave everyone a very personalized dose, it was a dangerous product, as came to be obvious. You see, not everyone followed my instructions. One particular lady was interested in having children with the husband of her arranged marriage, and fast. She had convinced herself that with enough passion she'd do it. So she took more potions that I prescribed. As a result, she became more than in love: she became obsessed, dependent. And that day, her lover went out for a day of hunting. Only one hour had passed when the woman missed him too much to live anymore, and threw herself out of the window of the tower. Needless to explain the results."


I sighed and tilted my head, with a far less cheerful grin now.


"But of course you won't believe me. Who would, right? It's crazy. But also, the truth. Nobody will believe through and those who would are to afraid to say so. After all, your father himself decided to put the law forbidding all alchemy from that incident onward. Of course, I couldn't just back off from my profession, especially not considering my product did nothing wrong. Had it been properly used, this whole mess wouldn't have happened. Well, a couple months later, a client ditches me, and the guards try to capture me, with their mages. I was caught by surprise, by the war golems that is. I had no idea those could legally be employed within the city. Anyway, I was captured, my shop was pillaged, and since then I've been rotting here, awaiting to get the rest of my head chopped off. A happy ending is always nice, no? But this is mine. So, what about you? Who is this princess the people speak of?"

 

[Carpe Noctem]

Zinnia blinked, unable to reply for a moment. In all her time of coming down to the dungeons to hear their prisoners out, she'd heard many horrible crimes. Murders so grotesque they made her skin crawl, betrayals so vile they made her shake, thefts so cunning she couldn't help but be impressed. But now matter how great the crime, they were here. They would be dead soon. They had no purpose left. So she gave them a purpose, even if it was only to tell their story. Never had a prisoner requested for her story. Never had she had to bargain with a prisoner. Never had she felt... dare she say... guilt? For a prisoner's fate. But she brushed that thought away. It wasn't her fault. It's not like she was the one executing him. It wasn't like he was innocent. He knew he was messing around with dangerous magic, and yet he had continued. He had dug his own grave, just like every other inhabitant of this dungeon. And yet there was still a feeling, a pit deep in her stomach, that felt this prisoner was different.


Clearing her mind of such embarrassingly sensitive thoughts, she tilted her head back, pondering an answer to his question. "What do you want to hear?" she asked finally. "The majority of this princess's life is dreadfully dull. Though I may have interesting tales, we would be here all night if I was to tell them all. So what do you wish to learn?"

 

[Idea]

I chuckled. This princess was...Well, I couldn't tell. It was like this trend, these daughters of the mighty were always sharper to see through than the mighty. Was this really just curiosity or was it an attempt at something different? Did she seek to intimidate me? Use the information to catch other criminals? It might explain how this kingdom was so efficient at this. Though, the system did have it's leaks.


I waved at the princess and then gazed at the ceiling of my cell with a smirk.


"Maybe you have not noticed, but my adorable little mansion isn't exactly...entertaining. It's hard to believe your story, even if all told, would be duller than weeks of staring at the same black rock and counting the pores. Besides, I won't be beheaded just yet, so I DO have all night. Or did the king by chance decide to skip the formalities with me? "

 

[Carpe Noctem]

"Your execution is still scheduled for three weeks from now," Zinnia replied stiffly.


She shifted uncomfortably on the hard floor, and for a moment, actually considered the idea of asking a guard to bring her a chair. But no. She would not allow this prisoner the satisfaction of seeing her give in. She was sure he would find it most amusing indeed, and he would have more than enough amusement for the time being if she was to pour her heart out to him to keep her end of the deal.


"But my previous statement still stands. Perhaps I am not concerned for your interest, but for my own, as I would rather return to my duties soon. I am not simply a 'puppy princess', as you have suggested. I am not a trophy to sit and look pretty for my parents. I have responsibility within my kingdom, and though my greatest worth may be to take the hand of a wealthy man, I take those responsibilities very seriously. So forgive me if I wish to return to them rather than stay the whole night providing entertainment to a prisoner. I do, however, have a deal to up hold. You told me a specific part of your past which I requested, so I find it fair to ask you the same. So, Kneckt, you may ask me about an aspect of my life. A chapter of my tale, and I will tell it, along with the location of your dear book. So what knowledge do you seek?"

 

[Idea]

I chuckled my lungs out, my mandibles echoing in the cell like the cry of crickets.


"Oh, but you ARE a puppy princess. So loyal, so adorable, so blind to you place in royalty. To your father's place in this city? Do you think he's king? There's a better word. I would dare you to take your time to guess it, but you've got mine in an hourglass, it would appear. Three weeks, huh? I wonder where you learned that. Not too hard, I suppose. Princesses are such a curious thing. Mighty yet feeble. Hard and soft in a paradoxical mix. Sleeping around pretending to lead, stating their royal lack of choice, but their submissive determination. Is what you have the potential to be what you are? Is what you could be that defines your future? But there are so many! Each by it's set of unruly tongues..." I chuckled again, but coughed, grabbing my throat. It occasionally happened, my body was begging water with the convulsions of it's dry throat. "So, I can ask for one aspect, huh? In that case, princess, I wish to know of your travels. Out in the world, aroud the city, in this dungeons...I want to hear all of that. The people you met, the stories you've heard, the things you've seen, tasted, smelled, the creatures you encountered, the lessons you learned.... Your life outside of the upper castle."

 

[Idea]

@Carpe Noctem

 

[Carpe Noctem]

Zinnia straightened her dress, relieved. It seemed an innocent enough request. Many of the prisoners she had spoken to over her many visits had tried to weasel information on how to escape out, with varying results. None of them had, though. She had been expecting at least slightly questionable intentions from this prisoner's question. However, he only seemed to be asking out of genuine curiosity.


"Alright," she began, holding her head a little higher. "I have been outside of the kingdom a handful of times, and outside the upper palace many. Most of the time it has been for political meetings, such as meetings with the leaders of our neighboring countries, speeches to the people, et cetera. In many instances it has been for personal entertainment, such as my escapades to these dungeons, or to one of the nearby theatres for a show. And yes, many times I believe it has been for my father to show me off as the 'puppy princess' I am, since you seem so bent upon that phrase to describe the political value I hold for sitting and looking pretty. In all of my trips I have met many wondrous people, seen many wondrous sights. Let's see, where to begin... ah, how about the meeting with the queen of Aven? That was an interesting trip. Do you know anything about Aven?" she asked Kneckt.


((sorry for my delayed response, I've had a crazy week with not much time to respond, and I didn't want to leave you with a rushed post.))

 

[Idea]

(it´s ok, I´m having a crazy week myself...)


I watched with delight as she didn´t seem to be suspecting anything. Not that I would be able to tell anyway, these princesses were more cunning than they showed most of the times, but I did have the hint of the naturality and quick fluency of the speech. Though, to be honest, that could be due to her experience in dealing with prisioners. This would be entertaining, in the least. I just hoped to get out of this conversation with SOME info that was helpful to my escape...And, of course, the location of my book.


I already had things prepared. I had guarded the chemicals I had produced over the weeks in a place the guards couldn´t find them, and if they tried, I´d escape in the commotion of them watching their hands getting evaporated because they mishandled the things I was going to use to erase this...cage...


I nodded every now and then. I was paying attention, but I wasn´t trying to keep much in mind yet. I needed to keep my memory for what mattered.


"Aven? Aven, Aven... I know the place, yes, beautiful plains and orchids...Though I wouldn´t be able to say anything about their royalty, I was there for the Highmane Goat pelts... That, and to get some horns from the ogres that had invaded the mines. Did you perhaps heard of those mines closing up due to the attack? How about the "head-driller massacre" a few days later?"


I chuckled again. I remembered people talking about it...If only they knew how easy it was to get ogres to turn on each other...

 

[Carpe Noctem]

Zinnia did, in fact, know of the events. It alarmed her how casually he seemed to feel about them. She started to wonder if, perhaps, this prisoner was not as different as she had thought he was. Perhaps she should take care with her words. Or perhaps she was simply being paranoid.


She simply pursed her lips and nodded.


"This visit happened before those events, actually. Three, maybe four years ago, when the Aven government was in disarray. There had been an assassination attempt on the crown and only Aven prince. At the time, the kingdom had not even a king, as he had died of the plague nearly a decade ago, and the Queen had refused to remarry. Thus, Prince Kinah remained the only heir to the throne. As he was underage, his mother was to stay in power until he was 18. You can imagine why there was such upset at the assassination attempt. Luckily, it failed, but only thanks to the assassin's own fault. The guards had no role in saving the young prince, which caused the Aven people to riot, saying that the guards should be executed for putting their precious prince in danger. The queen refused, saying that it was unessessary bloodshed. My family made a trip to the kingdom to share our opinions on the matter. My father, of course, thought they should be gullotined for their crimes. I agreed. Such a slip-up from a royal guard was not to be forgiven. But as it turned out, perhaps it was not quite the guards fault. You see, the assassin was a madman, a killer with a taste for royal blood. Particularly that of young princes and princesses. So, with all of the guards focused on Prince Kinah, I was left as a wide open target."


She paused dramatically, glancing at Kneckt to gauge his reaction and see if he had anything to say.

 

[Idea]

If my former queen had been like that, maybe I wouldn´t be in the position I was in today. I might still be in the swarm, preparing mixtures, maybe I would have become a healer instead of a weaponsmith for them. Though, I did find out the swarm was actually led by the genemancers manipulating the slug we foolishly still thought of as our queen. Bad days, terrible days.


I didn´t interrupt my visitor, though, I was delighted to hear the story, although I really had to hold myself back. This Aven place was more like a distraction than anything. What I really wanted to hear wasn´t some random kingdom´s political conflicts, it was information on how to get out of here and the location of my book. But I bared with it, knowing a wrong step could be my doom.


"Why did you stop?" I inquired as she did. "Do go on, please. It is being most entertaining."

 

[Carpe Noctem]

"Just taking a breath," she replied simply.


He seemed interested enough. Yet... He appeared a bit impatient. She figured it wasn't because he was anxious to find out next. She noticed little things. A slight forced feel to his voice, hardly recognizable. Small movement in his hands. Little things her mother used to point out to her at meetings and speeches. "You see that? That man is lying. Look at the way his eyes glance." She ran the things she knew over in her head and sighed inwardly. This prisoner was a complicated man.


"The assassin crept in through my window. He had crawled up the stones of the castle to the window of the guest bedroom I was staying in. How he avoided the guards, I do not know. All I know is that he pulled out a knife when he stood over my sleeping form, and raised it to plunge into my heart. And he would have succeded if it had not been for my mother. You see, she had been worrying that this exact thing would happen. So when she checked on me and saw him looming over my bed, she took the firepoker from the room's fireplace and hit him with it. He was knocked unconscious. The guards, of course, were executed for failing a second time. The assassin was as well. We brought him back to our kingdom to kill him. He was held in this dungeon for three days. In fact..." A sudden realization dawned on her as she looked around. "It was this exact cell, if I am not mistaken. Anyways, he was beheaded, and Aven has been an ally of ours ever since."


She glanced at Kneckt again.


"Is there anything other in particular you'd like to hear? Our relations with a certain country, my escapes in this town surrounding the palace, my other conversations with prisoners?"


A trap. If he wanted to know information on how to escape, she gave him a wide-open opportunity. The trap was set, and now she was to see if he would take the bait.

 

[Idea]

I clapped a few times as she finished her story. It wasn´t the most interesting I ever heard, but I wasn´t in for the interest, except that of getting out of this hellhole quickly.


"You people actually executed the guards, huh? Between humans and my kin, it´s hard to tell who values life less. Though, if you are gonna execute people for failing their duty, then you should have killed the prince yourselves. He, after all, committed the biggest mistake of all: Overworked those guards. It´s not much I have to work with, but from your story, those guards weren´t exactly given a break. Failing to spot the same assassin twice is a bigger miss than simple mindness can accomplish." My mandibules bashed onto each other as I stretched my neck. I was offered the very tempting offer of hearing about the stories with the prisioners, but I wasn´t dumb enough to fall for that.


How could I? She was a princess saying she didn´t have much time. More, she´d asked me for the topic before. The change in behavior was too great, this was foreplanned. I was treading on ice here, I needed care.


"Oh, is that so? May I request the second option, then? I personally didn´t get to wander much in the city, only went out now and then to get new supplies from the woods."