A Hallifaxian Conversation

Mica

Teleos asks Mica's guidance regarding the great art of Dramatics. A philosophical conversation ensues a while later. 
Couldn't really figure out when to put the starting point...At least the ending is clear.


You bow to Teleos - the lesson in Dramatics is over.

You say, "How far did you get in Dramatics now?"

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "I'm still an apprentice."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "But it's nice to not be inept."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "And I feel like I learned a lot of neat things."

You say, "It'll help you greatly in influencing."

You say, "Learn enough and you could replicate the incident at the Generator."

The corners of your mouth turn up as you grin mischievously.

The corners of Teleos's mouth turn up as he grins mischievously.

You say, "You need only be able to perform sober, perform drunkard, and acquire some firemead."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "I can pretend to be drunk, but I can't perform sober."

You say, "Never perform drunkard while under the influence. Doubles the afflictions."

You say, "Sober comes later than that."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "And I've learned how to use some of these ikons I have."

You say, "Oh? I only collect them, so I don't really know how they work."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "Me either!"

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "But they're neat."

You say, "Mm, and they make good pets. At least, the bird ikons do."

You have emoted: Mica smiles gently, taking out an ikon.

You say, "The only thunderbird ikon I have, I've named Rosedown."

Teleos watches Mica.

You sit yourself down.

You have emoted: Mica takes out all of her prized bird ikons and lines them on the floor.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "I have only gotten a few ikons."

Pointing to an exquisite hummingbird ikon of water, you say, "She is the first ikon I earned, her name is Wavewings."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "My generator work generally speaking."

You nod your head emphatically.

Teleos sits himself down.

Dull chiming noises echo in the distance at regular intervals, the sound of hammers on crystal.

You say, "Empowering generators does get you many ikons."

Teleos sits opposite Mica's collection.

You say, "I got Nori that way."

You have emoted: Mica points to one of the pigeons.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "I have no birds."

You say, "He's a feisty little fellow, always looking for fights."

You say, "You can get them while empowering! Or hunting vermin."

You say, "Though I swore off that method, myself."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "On accounts of our vermin are pigeons?"

You have emoted: Mica looks lovingly at her pigeon ikons.

Teleos nods his head at you.

You nod your head emphatically.

You say, "Nori's mate is Lelege. She's much gentler than him, I don't know how things are working out between them."

You say, "Still, they're happy together."

Teleos nods his head emphatically.

You say, "That leaves Starbobbles the only male pigeon left."

A wry smile spreads across your face.

Teleos blinks.

You say, "Incidentally, he was the first ikon given to me as a gift."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "Awwww!"

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "I don't have any bird ikons."

You have emoted: A faraway look enters Mica's eyes, and she falls silent for a moment.

Rousing herself from her thoughts with some difficulty, you say, "Hm?"

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "Sorry Miss."

You say, "Why the apology?"

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "You seemed... content in your thoughts."

You say, "Not...content, no. Well..."

You give a pained sigh.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "I didn't mean to distract you from your reverie."

You say, "The one who gave me Starbobbles...has been absent for some time."

Solemn, staid voices can be heard from somewhere outdoors, rising and falling in emotionless, precise monotone.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "That.... is always difficult."

You say, "Yes, for some time.... I promised myself I'd wait, and I will."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "That... is beautiful."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "I hope your song is happy."

Smiling bitterly, you say, "Some might say I am being foolish, sometimes I wonder about it myself. But still, what can you do."

Teleos ponders the situation.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "I don't know."

Her smile becoming gentle, you say, "Having good friends around always helps greatly."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "A privilege."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "He said humbly..."

Teleos grins mischievously at you.

You say, "I have had a few people to thank for that, and I am happy to say I thank you and Lakisha as well."

The corners of your mouth turn up as you grin mischievously.

Teleos ponders the situation.

eleos nods his head emphatically.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "If you don't mind me saying."

You say, "Go on."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "You are definitely one of my best friends since arriving here."

Your mouth turns up as your face breaks into a smile.

You say, "I am honored!"

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "I think that I ought to leave shortly for a bit."

You say, "Same for me as well."

You stand up and stretch your arms out wide.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "But we should at some point co-work on a project."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "Be it artistic or scholarly."

Smiling warmly, you say, "I'll be happy to collaborate."

Cold, clean breezes eddy through the air, driven indoors by the constant winds that buffet the city.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "Excellent."

Teleos flashes you a joyous smile.

A series of chiming notes, distinctly crystalline, ring out in the distance in a slow, descending 

scale.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "Not that I mean to ride your coat tails to academic or artistic glory."

You say, "I wouldn't expect you to do that."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "I just feel... more useful when in part of a dialogue."

You have emoted: Mica's eyes soften slightly.

You say, "Whether or not you do things alone, you will be useful."

Teleos nods his head emphatically.

Quickly, you say, "Not in a manipulative way or anything."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "Oh not at all."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "We have talked about feelings a lot."

Teleos ponders the situation.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "I started to read a book once here."

You tilt your head and listen intently to Teleos.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "That tried to quantify the emotive content of conversations."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "I think... that might be missing the point."

You say, "The book missed the point, or you bringing up the book is missing the point?"

The corners of your mouth turn up as you grin mischievously.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "Erm."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "That question... seems to indicate the second."

Teleos grins mischievously at you.

You say, "Well, I'm curious to hear more about the book if you were going to elaborate, but for now, shall we continue with your orignal plan for this conversation?"

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "Continuing with my plan for this conversation."

You nod your head emphatically.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "Would be difficult in that it gives me too much credit. And assumes that I had a plan."

You say, "Well... What were you going to say before you talked about the book, then?"

Smiling playfully, you say, "Better?"

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "Actually I think the book was relevant almost kind of."

Cold, clean breezes eddy through the air, driven indoors by the constant winds that buffet the city.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "In that I was going to say that I think perhaps emotions are meant to be qualified and not quantified."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "And hence inherently subjective."

You nod your head emphatically.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "And we can both feel okay about feeling how we feel about things be it sad or happy."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "And not worry about how we're supposed to feel about how we feel."

You say, "Yes. Feelings themselves aren't bad things."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "If that is a chain of thought that makes snese."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "Sense rather."

Cold, clean breezes eddy through the air, driven indoors by the constant winds that buffet the city.

You say, "We just have to keep negative emotions from leading us to make mistakes, but feeling those emotions would be no crime."

Teleos nods his head emphatically.

You say, "It's something no sentient being can root out, anyway, negative emotions."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "And i've read the articles very carefully. Feeling emotions is not in 

there."

You say, "Just a part of us all."

The corners of your mouth turn up as you grin mischievously.

Teleos grins mischievously at you.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "But is sadness a negative emotion?"

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "What is a negative emotion?"

You say, "Something that causes pain. I wouldn't say negative emotions have no positive effects, as paradoxical as it sounds."

You say, "No, when you think about it, it can make sense logically if we accept that complex things have many sides that can coexist."

Teleos blushes furiously.

You lift your eyebrow slightly, curious.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "I keep wanting to make theoretical frameworks. that are not necessarily germane to the heart of the discussion."

Solemn, staid voices can be heard from somewhere outdoors, rising and falling in emotionless, precise monotone.

You say, "Perhaps we should save them for later, then? Discussing theoretical things are 

entertaining too."

Teleos nods his head emphatically.

You say, "I'm rather eager to get to this 'heart' you speak of. You've got me curious."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "I didn't mean to oversell."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "I feel like what we were talking about was the heart of the discussion."

You say, "Emotions and not quantifying or villifying them?"

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "And the things I was thinking of were more filigree and curlicues."

You say, "It's all right, sometimes these curls and whorls can lead you to enlightenment."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "Pain and not pain."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "I'm not sure if I like as a paradigm for positive and negative."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "Which is weird given that I'm the scientist and you're the bard."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "But I feel like growth and stagnation, or beauty and ugliness might be..."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "More useful metrics for a positive and negative emotion."

You nod your head slowly in understanding.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "What do you think?"

You say, "Well...give me a moment."

Deep in thought, you lean your cheek on your hand.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "Of course."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "Also I feel like maybe we just wrote a book just now."

You say, "Yes, I agree about the growth and stagnation. An emotion that leads you to mature, to lessen your mistakes and elevate yourself would be quite positive."

Your mouth turns up as your face breaks into a smile.

You say, "What pulls you down or leads you to regress would definitely be negative. Hindering 

potential is never a good thing."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "But consider. if you were doing your job."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "And happy doing your job. and doing your job well."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "Contentment would cause you tend toward stagnation."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "Do we want contentment to be considered a negative emotion?"

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "Or do you disagree with one of those premises?"

You say, "Contentment does not always lead to stagnation. If you are happy doing your job and you do it well, wouldn't you want to be even better at it? To even amplify your happiness."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "Don't let me cheat."

Teleos ponders the situation.

You say, "And consider that..."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "Perhaps!"

The sound of quiet, muffled conversation drifts through the air.

You say, "You work better when you are happy than when you are in pain."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "But is happiness or pleasure the opposite of pain?"

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "And cannot pleasure be just as distracting as pain?"

You say to Teleos, "I would say, yes, happiness is the opposite, and yes, that it can also be 

distracting. What truly matters is how you react to th--wait, is this destroying the paradigm?"

You have emoted: Mica looks slightly confused.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "It was my contention that a different measure than pain or pleasure was appropriate for positive or negative emotions."

You say, "Hmmm.... At what point have I derailed? Have I even derailed?"

Teleos shakes his head.

You say, "My personal opinion is that nothing is inherently and completely positive or negative, that how we react to it matters more."

Teleos ponders the situation.

Teleos nods his head emphatically.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "And that is where my two axes were leadaing.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "Growth and stagnation as well as beauty and ugliness."

A series of chiming notes, distinctly crystalline, ring out in the distance in a slow, descending 

scale.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "In that a beautiful thing that causes growth would be positive."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "A stagnant ugly thing would be a negative emotion."

You have emoted: Mica raises her head sharply, but waits her turn to speak.

Teleos nods his head at you.

You say, "I've just had an idea."

You say, "Even painful and ugly things, if it led one to realize how bad the situation is and that they need to do something to get out of it, could be positive in a sense."

You say, "In a very result-oriented sense, though."

Teleos nods his head emphatically.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "But if it didn't it would clearly be bad."

You nod your head slowly in understanding.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "So we've looked at two corners. And discussed how the other corner could be both positive or negative."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "I'm genuinely curious as to your opinon on the final corner."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "What if a thing is beautiful and stagnant.

It is now the 20th of Klangiary, 449 years after the Coming of Estarra.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "For example a laborer who loves his job. and does his job well everday but doesn't seek to become a scholar eventually."

You say, "My immediate reaction is, 'a harpy.'"

You say, "But I ought to listen to your example first."

You blink.

You say, "Oh. Just a moment."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "Something in a harmonious state of equilibrium, I would argue is 

positive even if it doesn't lead toward growth."

Solemn, staid voices can be heard from somewhere outdoors, rising and falling in emotionless, precise monotone.

You say, "I suppose so...As long as it doesn't lead to laziness, of course. Although equilibrium and stasis would technically be against nature--which is always changing--that isn't necessarily a bad thing."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "I apologize if I've overly pontificated at all. I just love words and 

am loving this investigation."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "That would be roughly my argument."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "That things that are beautiful and cause growth are positive."

A smile spreads across her face, you say, "I'm quite enjoying this discussion as well."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "That things that are ugly and cause stagnation are negative."

 

Dull chiming noises echo in the distance at regular intervals, the sound of hammers on crystal.

You nod your head emphatically.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "And that things are beautiful and stagnant, or ugly and cause growth can be positive or negative."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "Though..."

You say, "That they are highly ambiguous things that depend on the response of the beholder."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "I think originally we were talking about emotions and I've used the word things a lot I think we're still talking about emotions right?"

You have emoted: Mica pauses.

You say, "We could link it to emotions, yes."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "I feel like emotions is where we started and then it because more and more philosophical."

You say, "Beautiful emotions would be what many people would point to as 'positive,' yes? Happiness and contentment, elation and a state of inspiration?"

The corners of your mouth turn up as you grin mischievously.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "Yes. Generally speaking."

You say, "Hm, I suppose even states of inspiration could cause stagnation if the idea was highly improbable."

You say, "Getting caught up in your ideas and losing yourself in dreams..."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "I think."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "The subject of your inspiration coudl be beautiful or ugly."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "People have been inspired to do ugly things."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "But as an act is beautiful."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "But yes! Generally doesn't cause stagnation."

Teleos takes a fragrant cedar tea bottle from a canvas backpack.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "I'm going to sip some tea, would you like some?"

You say, "What tea is it?"

You have emoted: Mica glances between her own tea bottles.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "It's Sapphire twilight black."

You say, "There's something I haven't tried before!"

The sound of buffeting wings is briefly audible.

Teleos takes a drink from a fragrant cedar tea bottle.

Teleos gives a fragrant cedar tea bottle to you.

A long sniff suffuses your senses with the cooling crispness of blended spearmint and peppermint, followed by the creamy richness of sweet vanilla.

You have emoted: Mica nods appreciatively.

You take a drink of black tea from a fragrant cedar tea bottle.

Your blood surges as the black tea enters your system.

Reminiscent of the luminous, mysterious hour of evening where day's 

brilliant glare and night's sombre gloom coalesce, this full-bodied dark

tea similarly contains a fusion between disparate, yet complementary

 elements into a unique, memorable brew. The intensely aromatic black tea

possesses a plush, almost velvety texture and bittersweet savour, 

unexpectedly enlivened by fresh, tingling notes of peppermint and

 spearmint. A creamy wash of vanilla balances out the cooling mint blend

 with rich, elegant sweetness, yielding a refreshing, thought-provoking

 gustatory experience with every sip.

You give a cerulean skybird tea bottle of cloudy glass to Junior Fellow Teleos.

Comprehension flashes across your face.

You have emoted: Mica takes out a piece of soft linen and wipes the top of the cedar tea bottle before handing it to Teleos.

You give a fragrant cedar tea bottle to Junior Fellow Teleos.

Teleos takes a drink from a cerulean skybird tea bottle of cloudy glass.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "Sorry, I thought you wanted to share your tea too."

Smiling, you say, "A gift from Mother."

Teleos gives a cerulean skybird tea bottle of cloudy glass to you.

You say, "I don't mind, good thins should be shared."

You say, "Things, rather."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "Wow."

You say, "Did you like it?"

Teleos nods his head emphatically.

You say, "The black tea was lovely as well."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "It's very delicate yet at the same time powerful."

You nod your head emphatically.

Teleos puts a fragrant cedar tea bottle into a canvas backpack.

You say, "My personal favorite is the Summer garland magnolia."

You give an opalescent tea bottle of polished rose quartz to Junior Fellow Teleos.

Cold, clean breezes eddy through the air, driven indoors by the constant winds that buffet the city.

Teleos takes a drink from an opalescent tea bottle of polished rose quartz.

Teleos gives an opalescent tea bottle of polished rose quartz to you.

You say, "I enjoyed the conversation immensely, my friend. I'd like to continue later, if we can."

Teleos nods his head emphatically.

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "If I tried to write the philosphy of this conversation down."

Junior Fellow Teleos says, "Would that be okay?"

You say, "Of course. Contact me if you have questions."

Teleos nods his head emphatically.

You curtsey gracefully before Teleos.

EDIT:typos and line issues.