Siren's Song [Closed]

[Moonlit_Demon]

Isabelle giggled, "Can't a woman have both? That is like asking if one would prefer a man or a woman. Why set such limitations?" 

 

The elezen would re-wrap herself comfortably with her silk shawl and sip more of her spiced ale, nearly done.

[Hal]

"You tell me," Tani drawled, taking her own sweet time with her drink.  "I'm sure a lady who enjoys spending her time amongst sharp-witted folks could surely come up with some reasons."

 

Challenge -- and mischief -- lit her expression.

[Moonlit_Demon]

Isabelle mused a bit, "Mm.. Personal challenges, perhaps? However, on the other hand, would it truly be a limitation if one finds both buisness and pleasure in it?" 

 

The elezen would tilt her head and ponder, "I suppose we'd have to set the rules on what exactly a limitation would be? Is it self-denial? An ordained rule? Something that is culturally unacceptable or acceptable?"

 

She shrugged, "It's the same as the expression, 'thinking outside the box'. What ordains the rules of the box? How big is the box? Is the box the standard or norm? Or is the box considered expectation? Expectations can far exceed standards, afterall."

[Hal]

"Any reason that would cause a restriction between personal pleasure and trade use," Tani said, her lips curling up in what was definitely a pleased -- and self satisfied -- grin.  "Let's make it easy, hm?"

 

A jibe, that, by the glint in her eyes.

[Moonlit_Demon]

Isabelle had an immediate response, "Intimacy. Fear of it or fear that it will control either aspect really."

[Hal]

"Fear of a sharp mind?"  Tani bat her eyes at the elezen.  Innocent, of course.

[Moonlit_Demon]

Isabelle shook her head and spoke rather non-nonchalantly, "No, to fear a sharp mind is to lack one." 

 

She'd finish her spiced ale and wait a little before ordering another. "Mm.. I still say intimacy. That is the one thing that can make or break either option. Intimacy in pleasure is a beautiful thing, even with as little a thing as simply playing music. Intimacy, on it's darker wave, towards pleasure is nothing short of controlling obsession."

 

The elezen would tap her chin, "Which I suppose is the reason why most people would fear intimacy in both buisness and pleasure. Obsession. Consuming desire. Overbearing control and jealousy.. all which leads to disaster."

 

Isabelle would glance at Tani. "What would you have chosen?"

[Hal]

Tani wrinkled up her nose in a laugh.  "Apologies, I was teasing; I was hoping you'd clarify your position."  A glance, her eyes full of mischief.  "What would the relation be between a fear of intimacy and a sharp mind?  That was the original position, wasn't it?  Me turning your question back onto you: why would a desire to engage with people who have sharp wits be limited to either personal pleasure or trade use due to intimacy?"

 

She ignored the question, leaning in as she awaited an answer that would satisfy her.

[Moonlit_Demon]

Isabelle was starting to catch onto Tani, "You don't like answering questions much, do you?" The elezen laughed, "Well, suit yourself. I'm rather enjoying the conversation... even if it is turning into nothing more than an audition."

 

She'd order something a little different this time. Spiced mead. Warm. The elezen would savor the honey wine for a moment before answering, "There is no connection between fear of intimacy and a sharp mind. All people have flaws or personality quirks. Fear if intimacy merely falls under this category. One either enjoys it... or they don't. Tis one of the more simple questions you've asked thus far."

[Hal]

Tani frowned, shaking her head.  "I asked a theoretical question; you didn't answer it clearly and concisely -- still haven't, to my satisfaction.  You enjoy sharp minds, so dazzle me with your rhetoric, dove."

 

She was, perhaps, being unfair.  Given the smugness in her renewed grin, she knew it, and was taking it as far as she could while it was allowed.

[Moonlit_Demon]

Isabelle chuckled, "There is no use in answering a question already answered. My answers don't satisfy which means you have them for yourself. Tis a battle made in vain. It isn't intellectual when both minds aren't open to the discussion."

 

She shrugged, "What dictates that I must answer to your conditions when you won't accept anything but your own?" 

 

The elezen was a bit smug as she sipped her honey wine, "I think, perhaps, you may have considered me a victim to prey upon. With this assumption, you have never been so wrong."

 

Isabelle looked at Tani and spoke plainly, "It is not I that is graced with your presence. Tis you who are graced with mine. I have no master to demand unruly things of me. I have no one to answer to but myself. Can you say the same?"

 

She mused, "Perhaps this is why you seek to bully me under the guise of 'intellectual' conversation."

[Hal]

The smirk Tani wore as answer was just this side of indulgent.  "You set yourself up the pieces -- why should I be held accountable for your inability to connect them?  The question that started this game was simple, and the boundaries lax.  Why you should now bow out as if I am beating you over the head with words is beyond me, but I'll not be scolded as if I have set some impossible task."

 

She drank, and chased the drink, and savored both with obvious pleasure.  Her attention returned to Minalla, her wicked amusement plain.

 

"But if you'd like, I'll give an answer -- one of many -- for you, with the pieces you've chosen."

[Moonlit_Demon]

Isabelle mused, "I'm all ears.. even if is you who repeats the same questions, tying in different things."

 

She would rest an elbow on the counter and give Tani her undivided attention.

[Hal]

"The different things are what you brought in," Tani said, tipping her mug towards Minalla.  "You asked me if a woman could have company of the sharp minded in both her trade and her personal pleasure.  I asked if you could give me a reason why she couldn't, and you responded with a fear of intimacy."

 

Tani paused, eyes sliding upward in thought.  She brought in her mug, tapping it against her chin as she mused, "I would say that, if a woman had such a fear, a possible reason to not have both would be that her fear of intimacy kept her from allowing such a person into her personal life.  Reason being that someone who is sharp of mind and wit might be able to see past whatever guard she had up.  See into her, into what makes her tick, into who she is in a way that might lead to emotional or mental intimacy.  Being that that scared her, she'd be more likely to keep such people at arm's length, preferring to interact with them on a professional level.  By nature of one's trade, it would be inappropriate to descend into the personal, and so she'd easily be able to deflect away from her personal life with just such an excuse of 'oh, we aren't here for that' or some such, teasing and leading on without actually ever allowing for a true connection."

 

Tani shrugged, and grinned, and it was a couerl's grin: all toothy and full of predatory glee.  "You see?  Such was the game -- a theoretical matching of cause and effect and reason where you indulge me in my need to be contrary."

 

At the very least, as she alternatively leaned in and away, gesturing with hands, eyes lit up and roving towards Minalla and then away, she was engaged -- but not necessarily combative.  Opinionated and scrappy, but not unfriendly.  Unkind, sometimes, but not intentionally hurtful.

[Moonlit_Demon]

Isabelle laughed light-heartedly. "As I had said, you already had your own answer. Nothing short of the same would satisfy."

 

The elezen would order another drink for the two, "Mm.. Tis only shows how long I have been away from Ul'dah. My silver tongue has lost it's shine." 

 

She would smile at Tani. Not a wicked or unwelcome smile but one sweet and soft.

 

"You are quite attractive going on a tangent. Very charming." 

 

The elezen would muse, sipping her new glass of spiced honey wine.

[Hal]

"There are different answers," Tani shot back, "but you misunderstood my intent, and when I tried to clarify it, you accused me of bullying you.  And then when I attempted to give you an example, you insist that it was the answer I was looking for.  I could very well accuse you of deciding my intentions for me, and being closed to any ideas beside your own."

[Moonlit_Demon]

The elezen raised her glass, "Touche. As for me, mine answers were perfectly suited for me just as yours were suited for yourself. Different minds, different ideas, different expectations, different personal limitations." 

 

She smiled, "This is why I love to sing for people. A song sung a thousand time can have a thousand different meanings for others. It's fascinating~"

[Hal]

Tani held up a finger on her free hand.  "Not so!  In a proper discussion, approaching the intent of the question matters just as much as providing content within the answer.  Otherwise each person is capable of twisting the whole of the discussion as they please.  It is why philosophers are so stringent in utilizing different types of inductive and deductive arguments."  Her smile turned wry.  "I am not so stringent, but I prefer concise communication.  My attempts to clarify my meaning were not meant to declare your answer wrong, but to impart upon you the spirit of the question -- what I meant.  If you do not understand my meaning, how else am I to explain myself?"

 

She tapped the edge of the bar.  "If I asked you what type of wood you prefer, and you answer 'green' -- should I not clarify that I meant what type of tree?  I can still accept that you prefer green colored wood, or wood that has not been seasoned, but the answer I was looking for was 'oak' or 'rosewood' or 'birch' or any other type of tree, because that was what I was interested in knowing.  Is that not reasonable to you?"

[Moonlit_Demon]

isabelle mused, "Quite.. however, would the answer 'green' truly be unacceptable? Whom would be at fault? The questionnaire or the respondent?"

 

She would sip her drink once more, "Why not simply ask, 'what type of wood do you prefer?' or 'what kind of tree produces your favorite wood?'."

 

isabelle would ponder, "I suppose that's often why people collect friends. Enough time with a person helps one connect to their wavelengths."

[Hal]

"There's no fault to be had.  The answer is an answer, but it isn't within the bounds of what the question meant.  It is why people grow upset with each other, because meaning can be so broad.  It is why being specific is important, and clarifying is a good thing."  She tipped her head to the side.  "In this case, my words were not specific enough, so I sought to clarify them.  Because what my question meant to me and what it meant to you were completely different."

 

She sat forward.  "Seeking to create understanding is something I view as important.  Not everyone does, and perhaps to you one answer is as good as another.  There is nothing objectively wrong with either view, unless you seek to attach other meanings to it, as I do.  Besides," a wink, "it makes for lively conversation."

[Moonlit_Demon]

Isabelle smiled, "That it does. I do hope we meet again once we've parted ways and other duties consume our time."

[Hal]

"Those sound like parting words.  Have I exhausted you of my company already?"  There was laughter in Tani's voice, an easygoing acknowledgement of her own foibles.

[Moonlit_Demon]

Isabelle would smile warmly, kindly. "Never. You fascinate me. Tis a mere wish to see you again."

 

She'd pause, "If.. you would allow such a thing?"

[Hal]

"Of course, darling, why else would I bother to tell you my name?" Tani's voice grew musical, and merry; some of her sobriety fell away.  "Nor, truthfully, would I have brought you here.  It grows late -- it's almost time for the fun to begin."

 

She gestured to the back.  Other musicians had climbed onto the stage, and were beginning to unpack and set up their instruments.  As Tani and Minalla had talked, the space had become more crowded.  And not just crowded, not as most taverns did; there was a range in the clothing, the accoutrements, the stylings of the patronage.  Though the light was sedated, it caught on the sparkling frivolity of many of the newcomers, setting gems and cloth alike to glittering and glimmering, their colors bright and bold.

 

"Welcome," she said, her eyes reflecting some of that light, "to the Posh Cosh."

[Moonlit_Demon]

Isabelle wasn't so sure that having drank so much ale or wine was exactly a good idea. She'd muse and glance around, curious to take in every detail of the room. The elezen noted the crowds and laughed. She'd finish her wine and muse, "A favorite place of yours..?"